Fourth-Round Notebook: Low Amateur High Over Finish

By Alex Miceli

Baltimore, Md. -- Bob Clark was playing in only his second U.S. Senior Open this week. His first was last year at Salem Country Club, where he didn't make the cut, but at Caves Valley, Clark got to play all four rounds.

"I've been sleeping on it for two years," Clark said of playing in the Open, making the cut and getting an exemption for next year. "I turned 55 this year. And I've been preparing for this year for two years."

Clark, who hails from Murrieta, Calif., was in a battle for the low amateur exemption with Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. Simson was low amateur at Salem, the same place that Clark shot 77-76 and missed playing on the weekend. Entering the final round, Clark was six strokes in front of Simson.

"He shot 70 the first round, so you know he can do that," Clark said of Simson. "If I shoot over 76, he can win it again. So it really depended on what he shot today."

Simson shot a 75 instead of the 70 that Clark was concerned about, and the low amateur and exemption was never in doubt.

"This year when I stepped on the course, on Monday, this is a monster," Clark said of Caves Valley. "This is so long. And to tell you the truth, you don't know if you can shoot 70. Those par-4s coming down the end, you've got to get it in the fairway and hit a perfect shot to hit it on the green.

"But somehow, I managed to get it in. I made the cut and that is a dream. That's a dream."

With his play this week, Clark will receive an exemption into this year's U.S. Senior Amateur at Timuquana Country Club in late September and the U.S. Senior Open next year at Inverness Country Club in Toledo, Ohio.

Strong Flagsticks

The flagstick placements at Caves Valley this week were described as difficult, unfair and Larry Nelson's description of "borderline."

"I think the pin placements are a little bit on the strong side," Nelson said. "There were some pin placements that were on side of hills and over mounds. If you try to make the golf course difficult that's what you do. But it was borderline, really."

Speedy Play

Starting as the first player each day makes a four-hour round unlikely. In Saturday's third round Mark McCumber and Caves Valley Pro Dennis Satyshur went around the first nine in 1:50 minutes.

In Sunday's final round, John McPhee made the turn in a brisk 1:30. McCumber shot a 75 in Saturday's third round and McPhee a 74 in Sunday's final round.

New Format

Sunday's playoff between Tom Watson and Don Pooley was the first using the aggregate three-hole stroke-play format.

However, it was the fifth overall playoff in U.S. Senior Open history and the first since 1991 at Oakland Hills when Jack Nicklaus defeated Chi Chi Rodriguez over 18 holes, 65 to 69.

The USGA instituted the current format in 1999.

Streak Ends

For the first time in five years at the U.S. Senior Open, the 54-hole leader went on to win. Before Pooley's win on Sunday, Graham Marsh was the last player to lead after the third round and go on to win. Marsh edged John Bland in 1997 at Olympia Fields Country Club near Chicago.

Alex Miceli is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.ussenioropen.com.