Whittaker Comes From Behind to Win MGA Senior Players Championship

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By Nick Hunter
nhunter23@hotmail.com


WACONIA, Minn. – After almost a year away from golf, Steve Whittaker proved Thursday that he still remains one of the best senior amateur golfers in the state by winning the 2013 Minnesota Golf Association’s Senior Players Championship, defeating Tom Ryan 2 and 1.

Whittaker, Pebble Creek Golf Club, overcame a 3-down deficit through nine holes and overtook the lead with four holes remaining.

Tom Ryan, Hazeltine National Golf Club, got off to a quick lead as he took advantage of two back-to-back bogeys by Whittaker on the fourth and fifth holes to take a 2-up lead. Ryan birdied the par-3 sixth hole by chipping in from about 30 yards and it appeared as though he was in complete control of the match.

But momentum began to swing in Whittaker’s favor as Ryan would bogey three straight holes to end the back nine, maintaining just a 1-up lead. Ryan and Whittaker would halve the first three holes on the back nine before Ryan made another bogey and the match was squared with five holes remaining.

Staying patient paid off for Whittaker as he made back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th to take a big 2-up lead into the 16th hole. The two would have the par-3 16th and from there Ryan would need to win the last two holes to extend the match.

Both players were on the green in three shots on the par-5 17th and both had about 25 foot putts for birdie. When Whittaker’s par putt didn’t drop in the cup, Ryan had an opportunity to win the hole but his par putt went just wide and Whittaker closed out the match, winning 2 and 1.

“I had a string of bad holes and he went three up right away, but I’m a grinder. Good shots and bad shots are a part of golf,” Whittaker said after his victory. “I just kept telling myself to do my best on every shot and soon he had a few bad holes and things changed.”

“Overall I feel I played about like a B-plus today; we both played like a B-plus but nobody shoots the same score every time you golf. You just have to grind away, and focus on making good shots. I was fortunate yesterday, against two guys that are way better than me, to have my A-game. Tom (Ryan) could’ve beaten me today—he had four or five putts that hit the edge of the hole,” Whittaker said.

It’s a scary thought for a two-time MGA Player of the year, who won his first tournament after almost a year away from the game and three major surgeries, to grade his game as only a ‘B-plus’ or ‘C-plus.’

“Am I back to playing the way I was before? Not yet. But I’m going to be doing my best,” he said.

“Like I said yesterday, I’m just thankful to be here. Two years ago I had to have my knee re-done and I wasn’t sure I’d ever walk normal again. When I had back surgery I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t move—I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play golf again,” Whittaker said fighting back emotion.” “I have to say that it’s an answer to prayer with my whole family. I love playing with these guys—it’s so much fun.”

Ryan, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the MGA, stated after advancing to the finals that he had gone above and beyond his expectations in the tournament. In just his third appearance at the Senior Players Championship, he’d never made it past the Round of 16.

“Steve is a really, really tough competitor; he doesn’t make any mistakes,” Ryan said. “I didn’t make the putts that I needed to make, especially on the last five holes. I didn’t putt badly, but I didn’t make anything. I missed a couple of birdie chances and a couple of 4-footers that would’ve tied a couple holes.”

“It was fun; a good experience. To win four matches before the championship was a fun. With the injury last year, I haven’t played well in a while. My game matched up against everyone I played with. To beat Leif (Carlson), the reigning senior player of the year and to play tough against a two-time player of the year is something I’m proud of.”