Steeple View Country Club: 2011

It was a day of rain
It was a day of sun
It was a day for champions and the man who almost Won!

The troubling sky was not nearly enough to keep away eight men who sought to make history at the storied Steeple View Country Club. The rain drops seemed hurried as they fell, as if informed by some higher power that it was time to get a good seat to what would become the stage for the greatest backyard golf tournament of all time.

Past Steeplechase champions were there and Gary Simpson and Derek Schulz were both focused, determined and as the rest of the field was aware-very, very, good.
Rober' and Bill were there.

The Auld's-two Scotsman who took the challenge of the other contestants as a personal affront to their countryman who created the very game. Bravehearts armed with mashies and niblicks.

Tony D'anna was there. The best player in the field statistically-if only in the lesser known 18 hole version of the sport where the weapon of choice is a club headed stick known as a driver.

The good doctor Tom made the trip. His bright smile and cigar made for a Cagneyesque "yah see" drawl.

Superstar Johnny Z returned to the hallowed fields of Hunterdon in attempt to return to the form the had so much promise not that many years ago.

And finally, Mr. Jeff Dreitlein, the perennial darling boy of countless backyard golf galleries. The fan favorite with no hardware on his mantle but who's friendship is held like a trophy by those who are fortunate enough earn the title.

"The Chase" was on. And the 2010's version of the Steeple Chase Golf Championship had two trophies up for grabs-the famous Fawkirk and the brand new Hotz trophy which would go to the Silver flight champion.

Simpson would start quick, as he is known to do, scoring 2 birdies and 4 points in the first two holes en route to 1st round leading 11pts. Rober' went toe to toe with defending champ Derek in round one, scoring 6 pts-good enough for the second place tie. Bill Auld would score 5 in the opening stanza matching the score of one Jeff Dreitlein to round out the top 5. JZ and the Doctor had some troubles and could only muster 2 points each. So, who are we missing, Gary, Rober, Derek, Bill, Jeff, JZ and Tom and hold it . . .wait a second where is Tony? What no points? Is that possible? Well the best player to never win a major would have his work cut out for him.

Round 2 was highlighted by Derek's fourth "Hoop-in-one" in tournament play. The eagle gave him a 2nd round total of 10 points and a legitimate claim at the absentee Pete Johnson's nickname. Rober' stayed strong and returned to the finals with a 2 round 14pt total. G-again a finalist with 15pts as was host Bill with 11. TD scored on 4 of 9 holes in round two but they were split with others and he would be forced to join JZ and Dr. Tom in the first ever Silver Flight Hotz final.

That meant that fan favorite Jeff Dreitlein would not have a chance to play for the Hotz Trophy . . . that's because he would be in the main draw . .. he would fight to have his name inscribed on the FAWKIRK.

And what a main draw this would be. Epic. Historic. An up and down rollercoaster of emotion set on the backdrop of the rolling hills of the SVCC which were now drenched in sunlight-the rain a distant memory.

After seeing the Silver Flight combatants Johnny Z, Tony D'anna and eventual Hotz Trophy Champion Dr. Tom Lapinski set forth on their own quest, the finalists for the Fawkirk began battle. Host Bill Auld would birdie the first to gain his only lead-being shut out on the next 8 holes.

Simpson-no points on 1,2,3,4.
Derek and Rober' no points on 1 and 2.

So who was making his mark on the 2011 Steeplechase. That's right, gallery favorite and Mr. "not just content on making the finals" Dreitlein found himself the clear leader after 3 holes!! But could he hold up to the pressure- Derek would charge with a birdie #4 and Gary would follow with his own on #6. No points for Jeff during that span brought him back to the pack and tied with Derek and G with 3pts after six holes.

A nice run for Jeff but the experience of two past champions would surely make this a two man race to the finish.

and then just like that,
SMACK!!!
Yes fans, a BIRDIE has just hit the scorecard and it made Dreitlein your leader by 2 after 7 holes.

And how quickly the pressure would shift to thetwo past champions Schulz and Simpson with Rober and Bill out of contention. They would each need to shut out Dreitlein in the final two holes and score 2 of their own just to force a playoff with the man who clearly would be the story of this championship, win or lose.

And would it be called the greatest backyard tournament of all time if that wasn't what happened? Simpson would birdie # 8 forcing the defending champion to birdie #9 which he did forcing the 3 man playoff.

By rule the players would play a 3 hole aggregate score playoff on holes 4,5,6- the first ever of its kind in backyard tournament golf.

Hole #4- Gary 1pt, Derek 1pt, Jeff 0pt
Hole #5- Gary 1pt, Derek 1pt, Jeff 0pt.

For the Cinderella story to continue for one Mr. Jeff "our hero" Dreitlein he would need to a clean 2pt win on #6 to force the near unthinkable scenario of sudden death double overtime. But after 29 holes of tension filled championship golf, the glass slipper did not fit . An offline tee shot would force Jeff to leave the tournament without a Steeplechase championship. He would however leave the tournament with much more than that. He would leave having won the hearts of the backyard golf world, playing with class and poise in one of the most dynamic championships in sporting history.

Jeff's departure could have meant the juicy storyline to the 2010 Steeplechase was over. But the full story had yet to be told and the FAWKIRK was still waiting on Champions Bridge for its warrior to return.

Gary in with 2 looks to be the winner. Derek has a difficult shot to tie and force sudden death double overtime.
But would it be the greatest backyard golf tournament of all time if it didn’t go in?

Crazy. Sudden death double overtime to start on 120 yd hole #5.
Gary again holds an advantage with a great tee shot. Derek probably would need a birdie to beat him. Doesn't look good from where he is-in the tree line to the right of the hole.

SWACK, BOUNCE, IN!
Gary Simpson was left shaking his head in what looked like a combination of disbelief, awe and admiration. The rollercoaster of pressure was now on a collision course with the Big G. He has come through numerous times in this situation. But as storied a champion as he is, this would not be his day-his second shot falling just short.