Vincelli to Face Carlson in MGA Senior Players' Final

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


LAKEVILLE, Minn. – As if playing four rounds of golf in two days wasn’t grueling enough, three of the four quarterfinal matches at the 15th Minnesota Golf Association Senior Players’ Championship needed to be decided in extra holes Wednesday at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club.

Once the dust settled and sweat was wiped clear, Pat Vincelli and Leif Carlson were the two left standing Wednesday as Vincelli defeated defending champion Steve Whittaker to advance to the finals, 2 and 1, while Carlson needed 20 holes to get past 2013 MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Jim Lehman.

Vincelli, Brackett’s Crossing Country Club, needed 20 holes to defeat David Steingart, Edina Country Club, during Wednesday morning’s quarterfinal round, while Whittaker downed Jerry Rose, Alexandria Golf Club, in 22 holes during his quarterfinal match.

Normally good friends, Whittaker and Vincelli were opponents on this occasion and went back and forth all round as the match saw five different lead changes.

“It was a great day. The funny thing is I was originally seeded number 32 because I was the senior club champ, but I didn’t want to play my friend [Whittaker], so I tried to qualify, which I did, and was re-seeded at 13,” Vincelli joked after his semifinal victory.

“It allowed another Brackett’s member to qualify, but as it turned out I had to play [Whittaker] anyway. He’s just a sweetheart—I loved playing with him,” he said. “It was a very relaxing round. He’s such a great player and even better person.”

Vincelli took the lead immediately with a birdie on the opening hole, but Whittaker evened it on the third. Vincelli won back-to-back holes on the fourth and fifth, but Whittaker again responded by winning the sixth and seventh holes.

Both players traded the eighth and ninth holes and headed to the back nine all square. Whittaker took his first lead of the day on the 11th with a par, but Vincelli rolled in a birdie on the 13th to draw even once again.

After taking the 15th hole, Vincelli made another birdie on the 16th to forcing Whittaker to win the final two holes to stay alive, but both players made par on the 17th and Vincelli clinched his spot in the finals.

“We both hit a couple of wayward shots but for the most part we both played really well,” Vincelli said. “I’ve been putting well the last couple of days and keeping it in play. The course is playing exceptionally long, I don’t normally hit 4-irons and 5-irons and I’m in spots I’m normally not in.”

“I’ve played pretty well over the last three rounds, you just have to be steady,” he said. “I’m just ecstatic about how I’ve played and I just feel honored to be where I’m at."

It’s the second appearance for Vincelli in the finals as he was runner-up in 2009, losing to Gary Johnson at Chaska Town Course.

Carlson, Valleywood Golf Course, has certainly earned the right to play in the finals as all four of his matches during the tournament have been extremely close.

Wednesday Carlson drained an 8-foot birdie putt to eliminate Jon Empanger, Island View Golf Club, in 19 holes before facing Lehman in the semifinals. Lehman ousted James Price, Wilds Golf Club, 2 and 1, during the quarterfinals.

Carlson and Lehman locked horns in another see-saw battle as neither player took more than a 1-up lead during the match. Carlson grabbed the early lead with a birdie on the par-3 second hole, but Lehman responded by winning the third and fourth holes to take a 1-up lead.

Carlson made par on the sixth hole to draw even once again and the match remained deadlocked for the next four holes. A missed par putt for Carlson on the 11th hole gave Lehman yet another 1-up lead, but Carlson answered with a birdie on the par-5 14th to square the match.

Lehman took the lead once again on the 15th hole after another bogey by Carlson and carried the lead to the final hole. Lehman’s approach on the 18th landed on the front edge of the green, while Carlson’s landed 12 feet past the pin and spun back, stopping 8 feet from the cup. After Lehman two-putted for par, Carlson tucked a left-to-right putt just inside the left edge of the cup to force extra holes.

Both made par on the first playoff hole before Lehman sent his shot left off of the tee and left himself an awkward second shot which he left short of the green and ended up making double-bogey. Carlson’s tee shot found the center of the green and he made a routine two-putt for the victory.

“I’ve played pretty good so far. I’ve made some mistakes, but I’ve hit a lot of good shots,” Carlson said after his semifinal match. “Today with [Lehman] the match was pretty even. I was hitting my irons pretty good, but when I made mistakes, I paid for them.”

Carlson, the 2012 MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year, had six Top-10 finishes a year ago and is making his first appearance in the finals at the senior players’, as he reached the quarters in 2011 and 2012.

“I’ve played [Vincelli] a few times and tomorrow I can’t make as many mistakes as I did today,” Carlson said. “My game is getting closer—when I feel like I get set up right, I’m hitting the ball really well. If I can hit the ball well tomorrow, it should be a good match. [Vincelli] is a very consistent and solid player and knows this course better than I do.”

The tee time for the final match of the 15th MGA Senior Players' Championship is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Brackett's Crossing Country Club in Lakeville, Minn.
 


15TH MGA SENIOR PLAYERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
BRACKETT’S CROSSING COUNTRY CLUB
LAKEVILLE, MINN.
6,593 YARDS, PAR 71


WEDNESDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
Steve Whittaker, Pebble Creek GC, def. Jerry Rose, Alexandria GC, 22 holes
Patrick Vincelli, Brackett’s Crossing CC, def. David Steingart, Edina CC, 20 holes
Jim Lehman, Windsong Farm, def. James Price, Wilds Golf Club, 2 and 1
Leif Carlson, Valleywood GC, def. Jon Empanger, Island View GC, 19 holes


WEDNESDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Patrick Vincelli def. Steve Whittaker, 2 and 1
Leif Carlson def. Jim Lehman, 20 holes