Berry Birdies Second Playoff Hole to Win Fourth Minnesota Senior Open

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  WACONIA, Minn. – Don Berry may have only recorded one birdie during his round Wednesday, but it came at the most opportune time as Berry birdied the second playoff hole to outduel Brad Schmierer and claim his fourth consecutive Minnesota Senior Open title at Island View Golf Club.

Berry, Schmierer and Bump Werness all finished at 1-under par 143 after 36 holes of regulation, and after Werness failed to get up-and-down for par on the first playoff hole, Schmierer forced a second playoff hole with Berry after dropping a 25-foot, downhill putt to stay alive.

Hitting his third shot from the sand at the par-5 first hole, the three-time defending champion Berry spun his ball back to within three feet of the pin and rolled in his birdie to claim his fourth straight Minnesota Senior Open title.

“It’s always nice to play with [Schmierer] and I thought [Werness] played really well today, but I feel like I could’ve made things a lot easier on myself,” Berry said following his victory. “The way I hit the ball I felt like I could’ve shot quite a bit under, but it’s nice to win.

“I hit the ball well today but my putting has been so bad this year so far. I hit a lot of good shots but I didn’t make a birdie until the 20th hole today and only made three yesterday.”

Unfavorable conditions pestered the championship on both days of competition as heavy winds contributed to some higher scores during the opening round Tuesday.

On Wednesday it was the rain that caused problems as play was suspended at 11:29 a.m. Following a two-hour delay, play resumed with rain continuing to fall for the remainder of the round.

Playing a solid round with three birdies and 15 pars to open the tournament Tuesday, Berry continued to be a model of consistency as he rolled in 10 consecutive pars before making bogey on the 11th hole to slip to 2-over for the championship.

Berry, playing in the final group with Werness, Jon Empanger and John Harris, would roll in six more par putts before he had a chance to close out the tournament with a two-putt on the final hole.

His short par putt slipped past the cup on the left as he would finish in a tie with Werness and Schmierer at 1-under par (69-74—143).

“I was a little disappointed to be in the playoff, but [Schmierer] made a great par and I had a birdie putt that I lagged a little too much, I guess,” Berry said of going extra holes.

“I didn’t hit a very good 5-wood on the second hole but I feel good about my bunker game so when it went into the sand, I knew I was going to hit a good shot. Inside eight feet would’ve been a good shot from there and I wasn’t sure that I’d make the putt, but I hit a good one.”

In his first year eligible as a senior, Berry edged Joe Stansberry by a stroke at Edina Country Club to earn his first victory in 2012.

Berry fired a 2-under par 70 during the final round in 2013 to beat John Harris and Bill Israelson by two shots at Hillcrest Golf Club before defeating Schmierer by four strokes last season at Hastings Country Club.

When asked of his secret to success for this particular event, Berry said, “I just try to stay in shape—maybe 50 isn’t so old.”

After starting the championship with a 1-over par 73 Tuesday, Schmierer got things rolling quickly with three birdies over the first four holes to quickly jump to 2-under for the tournament.

Schmierer gave away a shot on the fifth with a bogey, and after missing a five-foot putt for par at the ninth, he would make the turn at even par.

Perhaps sensing the lead was within reach, Schmierer tightened his game over the final nine holes by rolling in a birdie at the 13th to get back to 1-under and finished his round with five consecutive pars to card a 2-under par 70 during the final round.

“Yesterday was my round, really. I took an eight on 14 and still shot 73. I had 35 putts and hit the first 13 greens—I played great yesterday,” Schmierer said after his round Wednesday. “Today I didn’t play as good, but I scored better.”

Werness opened the championship with an even par 72 Tuesday and after trading a pair of birdies for a pair of bogeys on the front nine Wednesday, Werness played the final nine holes at 1-under to shoot 71 and finish tied for second at 143.

Empanger, co-leader after 18 holes, earned a share of low amateur honors with David Kokesh Wednesday as the two finished tied for fourth at 2-over par 146.


For complete tournament results go to: http://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga15/event/mnpga1517/contest/4/leaderboard.htm