In an epic match that provoked memories of the golfing greats who played at Beverly Country Club many decades ago, Vinny Giles, of Richmond, Virginia, won "the only senior amateur championship I ever dreamed of winning" with a remarkable, downhill putt on the 18th green to beat his good friend, John Grace, one-up. Neither player was more than one up in the match as the lead went back and forth all day. John Grace may have lost, but it wasn't for lack of heart and his remarks to Vinny Giles summoned up the "grace" that he is known for in the world of amateur golf.
The match was conducted under another day of brilliant sunshine and concluded a week of spectacular golf on the hallowed grounds of our golf course. Beverly played fair, firm and fast all week and the final match again demonstated our course's ability to identify the best golfers in the field.
Both men in the final match possess a thick golfing resume, with Giles winning the U.S. Amateur in 1972 and Grace again a bridesmaid in the '74 U.S. Amateur. Both men became fast friends when they competed on the Walker Cup together in the '70's. The friendship between the two men didn't take away from the steely determination that both demonstrated on the golf course today. It was truly a match to stir the golfing soul and the trophy presentation evoked memories of Bobby Jones congratulating Francis Ouimet after his victory in the 1931 National Amateur at Beverly.
This is the last post for the week. And what a week it was! A scriptwriter couldn't have written it up any better for the USGA or our club. Perfect weather, perfect ground conditions and a perfect match which ended with a perfect putt on the final hole.
Drama and glory have visited The Beverly Country Club once again!
Terry Lavin
Thursday, September 17, 2009
OUR COUSIN VINNY
Vinny Giles is no stranger to competitive golf, having won the 1972 U.S. Amateur. He is also quite familiar with the pressure of championship golf, having represented the likes of Davis Love III for many years. This smooth-talking Virginian finds himself, at the ripe old age of 66, in the finals of the USGA Senior Amateur at Beverly CC.
John Grace, Giles' very worthy opponent, is no stranger to competitive golf, either. He was Giles' teammate on the Walker Cup back in the 70's on a squad that included Craig Stadler, Jay Haas and two-time U.S. Open winner Curtis Strange. Grace is a reinstated amateur, having tried his professional luck in Europe some years back. He made it to the final match in the 1974 U.S. Amateur where he was defeated by Jerry Pate.
In a scene that exemplifies the "friends and family" vibe of this Senior Amateur Championship, Giles and Grace and their wives are sitting at a "four-top" in the Main Dining room at Beverly enjoying breakfast. The chatter has been lively and full of laughter. This is a feel-good pairing if ever I saw one.
Giles and Grace have made it to this grand stage for the first time. The winner will achieve a signature milestone in his amateur golfing career. For Giles, it would end a 37 year "dry spell" in between USGA championships. For Grace, it would give him a chance to "even up" in USGA final matches.
As for Beverly CC, it's a win-win. We couldn't have asked for a better final match.
Look for media coverage in many outlets, including a nice article in today's Southtown. The Golf Channel is covering the match today, for later broadcast, and Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune will be on hand to cover the final match.
We'd love to see all of you for the trophy presentation, which should occur sometime around 12:30.
Terry Lavin
John Grace, Giles' very worthy opponent, is no stranger to competitive golf, either. He was Giles' teammate on the Walker Cup back in the 70's on a squad that included Craig Stadler, Jay Haas and two-time U.S. Open winner Curtis Strange. Grace is a reinstated amateur, having tried his professional luck in Europe some years back. He made it to the final match in the 1974 U.S. Amateur where he was defeated by Jerry Pate.
In a scene that exemplifies the "friends and family" vibe of this Senior Amateur Championship, Giles and Grace and their wives are sitting at a "four-top" in the Main Dining room at Beverly enjoying breakfast. The chatter has been lively and full of laughter. This is a feel-good pairing if ever I saw one.
Giles and Grace have made it to this grand stage for the first time. The winner will achieve a signature milestone in his amateur golfing career. For Giles, it would end a 37 year "dry spell" in between USGA championships. For Grace, it would give him a chance to "even up" in USGA final matches.
As for Beverly CC, it's a win-win. We couldn't have asked for a better final match.
Look for media coverage in many outlets, including a nice article in today's Southtown. The Golf Channel is covering the match today, for later broadcast, and Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune will be on hand to cover the final match.
We'd love to see all of you for the trophy presentation, which should occur sometime around 12:30.
Terry Lavin
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Giles vs. Grace
The only Quarterfinal match that finished 18 holes today was Giles and Pallin. Grace and Bemowski's match was decided on the 17th green with a 3&2 victory for Grace,61.
The 17th green decided a lot in today's matches- Giles needed to sink a 15 foot putt to keep from going All Square into 18 with Pallin, a challenge that he conquered beautifully. Heading to the tee box on 18 Giles and Pallin saw the group behind them head into the clubhouse, I can only imagine the thoughts going through their head.... Quickly refocusing on the hole ahead, that would determine their fate, Giles and Pallin teed off both placing their shots to the right at the turn of the dogleg. Both of their second shots starred into the tree line on the right side of the fairway and made the anticipation of their second shot nail biting.
Giles, a considerable distance behind the 56 yr old Pallin, hit his second shot, clipping tree branches landing 115-120 yards from the green in the middle of the fairway. Wow!!!
Pallin, clipping the tree branches as well, lands to the left of the fairway in the rough about 105 yards from the green. Giles with considerable advantage.
Third Shot: Giles places the ball below the pin about 20 feet. Pallin place the ball off the back of the green in the second cut.
Putts and fourth shot: Giles putts putting it inches from the hole close enough that Pallin gives him the putt. Giles is in for a 5.
Pallin: in the rough stuff tries to baby it onto the green not even making it past the fringe and he concedes the hole and Giles has his 6th match play victory and moves onto the final round with Grace.
Giles, coincidentally enough, has defeated all match play opponents with one thing in common, their age. Each player that Giles has competed against in the match play rounds has been 10 years his junior and he has prevailed like a champ.
Tomorrow is sure to be a historic day for the USGA, Grace and Giles and I hope that all of you can come out to witness golf at its finest.
Ashley Whitten
The 17th green decided a lot in today's matches- Giles needed to sink a 15 foot putt to keep from going All Square into 18 with Pallin, a challenge that he conquered beautifully. Heading to the tee box on 18 Giles and Pallin saw the group behind them head into the clubhouse, I can only imagine the thoughts going through their head.... Quickly refocusing on the hole ahead, that would determine their fate, Giles and Pallin teed off both placing their shots to the right at the turn of the dogleg. Both of their second shots starred into the tree line on the right side of the fairway and made the anticipation of their second shot nail biting.
Giles, a considerable distance behind the 56 yr old Pallin, hit his second shot, clipping tree branches landing 115-120 yards from the green in the middle of the fairway. Wow!!!
Pallin, clipping the tree branches as well, lands to the left of the fairway in the rough about 105 yards from the green. Giles with considerable advantage.
Third Shot: Giles places the ball below the pin about 20 feet. Pallin place the ball off the back of the green in the second cut.
Putts and fourth shot: Giles putts putting it inches from the hole close enough that Pallin gives him the putt. Giles is in for a 5.
Pallin: in the rough stuff tries to baby it onto the green not even making it past the fringe and he concedes the hole and Giles has his 6th match play victory and moves onto the final round with Grace.
Giles, coincidentally enough, has defeated all match play opponents with one thing in common, their age. Each player that Giles has competed against in the match play rounds has been 10 years his junior and he has prevailed like a champ.
Tomorrow is sure to be a historic day for the USGA, Grace and Giles and I hope that all of you can come out to witness golf at its finest.
Ashley Whitten
Vinny Giles Attempting Historic Victory
Now that the "fantastic four" have been named, Giles, Grace, Pallin and Bemowski, the hunt for the trophy is in full force.
Vinny Giles, 66, defied all the odds and conquered in the early round this morning and has since teed off for his second 18 against the very capable John Pallin. Giles seems to be not only the Clubhouse favorite, "He is a breath of fresh air." says Tom Harrigan, but he would be the second player to ever win the US Amateur Championship and the US Senior Amateur Championship titles. Quite an accomplishment especially since if he were to win tomorrow he would hold the record for the longest span between Amateur tiltes, having won the US Amateur Championship back in 1972!!
Continuing the excitement of the already, "Biblical golf"-Steve Coates, the final four players are sure to kick it up a notch as they come up 18 later this afternoon with their growing group of spectators.
Carp continues to ride the course storing more historic memories in his mental book and awing the players with his everlasting stamina and Bev knowledge. The week has turned out to be the best of summer in Chicago, beatiful skies and weather that only the golf Gods could bring forth for Beverly's first National Championship since 1931. Meteroroligist, Jerry Taft, and loyal Bev member, dicussed the rainfall totals from this time last year. 12.6 inches soaked Chicago's terrain from September 14th-21st 2008, so in short we have been extremely blessed.
For everyone here at Bev we have enjoyed every moment of the past week. We hope to see you out as the final four make their way up 18, and please come join us tomorrow at 9AM for an exciting and hopefully historic finale.
Vinny Giles, 66, defied all the odds and conquered in the early round this morning and has since teed off for his second 18 against the very capable John Pallin. Giles seems to be not only the Clubhouse favorite, "He is a breath of fresh air." says Tom Harrigan, but he would be the second player to ever win the US Amateur Championship and the US Senior Amateur Championship titles. Quite an accomplishment especially since if he were to win tomorrow he would hold the record for the longest span between Amateur tiltes, having won the US Amateur Championship back in 1972!!
Continuing the excitement of the already, "Biblical golf"-Steve Coates, the final four players are sure to kick it up a notch as they come up 18 later this afternoon with their growing group of spectators.
Carp continues to ride the course storing more historic memories in his mental book and awing the players with his everlasting stamina and Bev knowledge. The week has turned out to be the best of summer in Chicago, beatiful skies and weather that only the golf Gods could bring forth for Beverly's first National Championship since 1931. Meteroroligist, Jerry Taft, and loyal Bev member, dicussed the rainfall totals from this time last year. 12.6 inches soaked Chicago's terrain from September 14th-21st 2008, so in short we have been extremely blessed.
For everyone here at Bev we have enjoyed every moment of the past week. We hope to see you out as the final four make their way up 18, and please come join us tomorrow at 9AM for an exciting and hopefully historic finale.
Giles and Pallin are ALL SQAURE thru Hole 5
&
Grace and Bemowski ALL SQAURE thru Hole 4
Ashley Whitten
FROM PAT IN THE LOCKER ROOM
Wednesday, September 16 at 8:15 a.m.
We’re down to eight players who are competing for the Frederick Dold trophy that is annually given to the winner of the USGA Senior Amateur Championship. Four matches will be played in the morning and two in the afternoon, leaving just two players who will square off tomorrow morning in the 18 hole finale.
We had our last big dinner last night, honoring the Sweet 16. All of the USGA committee members were there, along with our club committee, the players and various staff members. At the USGA’s request, Tom and Dan made a Taste of Chicago selection from various restaurants to feed the tourist tastes of our guests. From deep dish pizza to ribs and Greco’s chicken, followed by a Rainbow Cone dessert, everybody got a bit of Chicago’s best.
After the dinner, Mike Bell of Indianapolis took a moment to praise our staff for the phenomenal job that they’ve done. “From Pat in the Locker Room to big Tom upstairs, the guys in the Pro Shop to Keith on the golf course, everybody has made us feel welcome,” he said. Bell said the players uniformly felt that they have been treated better at Beverly than at any other venue that he had played at.
From the club side, we have all felt appreciated by the players and the USGA staffers. It does seem like everybody is working well together. Now it’s off to the first tee for some exciting golf.
Terry Lavin
We’re down to eight players who are competing for the Frederick Dold trophy that is annually given to the winner of the USGA Senior Amateur Championship. Four matches will be played in the morning and two in the afternoon, leaving just two players who will square off tomorrow morning in the 18 hole finale.
We had our last big dinner last night, honoring the Sweet 16. All of the USGA committee members were there, along with our club committee, the players and various staff members. At the USGA’s request, Tom and Dan made a Taste of Chicago selection from various restaurants to feed the tourist tastes of our guests. From deep dish pizza to ribs and Greco’s chicken, followed by a Rainbow Cone dessert, everybody got a bit of Chicago’s best.
After the dinner, Mike Bell of Indianapolis took a moment to praise our staff for the phenomenal job that they’ve done. “From Pat in the Locker Room to big Tom upstairs, the guys in the Pro Shop to Keith on the golf course, everybody has made us feel welcome,” he said. Bell said the players uniformly felt that they have been treated better at Beverly than at any other venue that he had played at.
From the club side, we have all felt appreciated by the players and the USGA staffers. It does seem like everybody is working well together. Now it’s off to the first tee for some exciting golf.
Terry Lavin
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
YOU NEVER KNOW...IN MATCH PLAY
Tuesday, September 15 at 6:15
Just when you think somebody has no chance, the impossible happens. This statement accurately summarizes many of the happenings in the afternoon matches at Beverly. Vinny Giles, well into his 60's (I've heard differing numbers, but he's at least 66) had no chance against Paul Simson. Simson was the clear favorite, having shot 65 in the morning match. Giles had to be tired, especially since it was the second of two matches today and he is probably ten years older than Simson. But in the end, it was Giles who prevailed, 2&1 in a scintillating match as the shadows gathered around the golf course.
A bunch of matches were decided on the 18th green this afternoon, usually because of three putts. Stan Lee and Mike Bell, both past champions of this event, went to the 18th tee all square, but Lee missed a three footer, giving Bell a one-up lead. Heartbreaking for Lee, the turn of events seemed to truly stun Bell, who was still shaking his head when talking to Steve Coates near the scoreboard.
John Grace was the beneficiary of a three putt by Bill Zylstra on 18. Zylstra had played strong all day, but his stroke on his last putt was eerily reminiscent of Tom Watson's miss at the British Open, with the putter fairly waving at the ball.
Another shocker had Mike Bemowski beating Jeff Burda. Bemowski is a former champ so he's no slouch, but Burda has been en fuego at Beverly this week. Burda missed the fairway on 18 so far left that he played up the 16th fairway. It's hard to win like that when the match is all even, so Bemowski got a concession without having to putt.
But perhaps the oddest outcomes of all in the afternoon matches was the self-destruction of Pat O'Donnell, who was looking like the Terminator all day. He was three up with four to play and lost on the 18th hole after shanking his approach shot into the green. An hour later, he was still talking to Mr. Budweiser on the patio. A wrenching loss for the talented O'Donnell, but an early Christmas present for Bill Doughtie of Amarillo whose wife has been watching the matches. And I should note that Doughtie played very tough down the stretch, knocking it within two feet on 17 with a wicked northeast breeze blowing hard against the left center hole location.
Tonight is the Sweet Sixteen dinner, which is a little odd, since there are only eight players feeling sweet; the other eight are slightly sour, if you ask me, but they have all been gentlemen.
Two matches in the morning and two in the afternoon tomorrow, setting up for an 18 hole finale on Thursday. The weather is getting cooler and the hawk is gonna blow tomorrow, so we're in for some exciting golf.
Terry Lavin
Just when you think somebody has no chance, the impossible happens. This statement accurately summarizes many of the happenings in the afternoon matches at Beverly. Vinny Giles, well into his 60's (I've heard differing numbers, but he's at least 66) had no chance against Paul Simson. Simson was the clear favorite, having shot 65 in the morning match. Giles had to be tired, especially since it was the second of two matches today and he is probably ten years older than Simson. But in the end, it was Giles who prevailed, 2&1 in a scintillating match as the shadows gathered around the golf course.
A bunch of matches were decided on the 18th green this afternoon, usually because of three putts. Stan Lee and Mike Bell, both past champions of this event, went to the 18th tee all square, but Lee missed a three footer, giving Bell a one-up lead. Heartbreaking for Lee, the turn of events seemed to truly stun Bell, who was still shaking his head when talking to Steve Coates near the scoreboard.
John Grace was the beneficiary of a three putt by Bill Zylstra on 18. Zylstra had played strong all day, but his stroke on his last putt was eerily reminiscent of Tom Watson's miss at the British Open, with the putter fairly waving at the ball.
Another shocker had Mike Bemowski beating Jeff Burda. Bemowski is a former champ so he's no slouch, but Burda has been en fuego at Beverly this week. Burda missed the fairway on 18 so far left that he played up the 16th fairway. It's hard to win like that when the match is all even, so Bemowski got a concession without having to putt.
But perhaps the oddest outcomes of all in the afternoon matches was the self-destruction of Pat O'Donnell, who was looking like the Terminator all day. He was three up with four to play and lost on the 18th hole after shanking his approach shot into the green. An hour later, he was still talking to Mr. Budweiser on the patio. A wrenching loss for the talented O'Donnell, but an early Christmas present for Bill Doughtie of Amarillo whose wife has been watching the matches. And I should note that Doughtie played very tough down the stretch, knocking it within two feet on 17 with a wicked northeast breeze blowing hard against the left center hole location.
Tonight is the Sweet Sixteen dinner, which is a little odd, since there are only eight players feeling sweet; the other eight are slightly sour, if you ask me, but they have all been gentlemen.
Two matches in the morning and two in the afternoon tomorrow, setting up for an 18 hole finale on Thursday. The weather is getting cooler and the hawk is gonna blow tomorrow, so we're in for some exciting golf.
Terry Lavin
AT GROUNDS LEVEL
Tuesday, September 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Here's a question for you: How do you prepare a club golf course for a National Championship? There are many parts to the answer, but the first answer this week is, "Get up early." The Grounds Crew at Beverly shows up around 4:30 a.m. every day of the Championship. They hit the golf course in vehicles equipped with headlights and flashlights. They stay all day and start preparing the golf course in the early evening, when play has finally concluded. They kill time in the Maintenance facility (an antiquated shack, to be sure) waiting for play to finish so they can get back out on the golf course.
Most of us know who Keith Peterson is, but very few know the crew. Joe Schneider is Keith's talented Assistant Superintendent. He has only been with us for seven months, but you can tell he's going to get a "head" job someday soon. Julius Liptak is the guy in charge of taking care of the equipment and he's been at Beverly for more than twenty years! And that's nothing compared to Genro Alvarado, who has been working on the crew at Beverly since April, 1978. Jimmy Carter was the President at that time, for those keeping score. His buddy Seve Gutierrez came just a year later.
The rest of the guys are named Joaquin, Bravlio (two men with this name), Juan (two Juans), Vicente, Jesus, Paulino, Erik, Pedro, Jose, Avel, Pedro, Rene, Dave and Mauricio.
The next time you're out on the golf course and you see any of these guys, please say thank you. It is these men who have made your golf course into a Championship layout that equals anything the USGA has seen in many years. To paraphrase Barbra Streisand, the golf course didn't maintain itself and the "director", Keith Peterson, who has a constant, if quiet presence on the golf course has done a magnificent job.
And just so he doesn't think I've forgotten, Ed Golz has done a great job heading up the Grounds Committee. The entire crew had their photograph taken on the 18th Green this morning. I'm going to request that we hang one copy in the clubhouse to remind everybody who is taking care of their golf course.
The other one can go in the Maintenance facility.
Which hopefully will be demolished soon. They deserve a better work environment.
Terry Lavin
Here's a question for you: How do you prepare a club golf course for a National Championship? There are many parts to the answer, but the first answer this week is, "Get up early." The Grounds Crew at Beverly shows up around 4:30 a.m. every day of the Championship. They hit the golf course in vehicles equipped with headlights and flashlights. They stay all day and start preparing the golf course in the early evening, when play has finally concluded. They kill time in the Maintenance facility (an antiquated shack, to be sure) waiting for play to finish so they can get back out on the golf course.
Most of us know who Keith Peterson is, but very few know the crew. Joe Schneider is Keith's talented Assistant Superintendent. He has only been with us for seven months, but you can tell he's going to get a "head" job someday soon. Julius Liptak is the guy in charge of taking care of the equipment and he's been at Beverly for more than twenty years! And that's nothing compared to Genro Alvarado, who has been working on the crew at Beverly since April, 1978. Jimmy Carter was the President at that time, for those keeping score. His buddy Seve Gutierrez came just a year later.
The rest of the guys are named Joaquin, Bravlio (two men with this name), Juan (two Juans), Vicente, Jesus, Paulino, Erik, Pedro, Jose, Avel, Pedro, Rene, Dave and Mauricio.
The next time you're out on the golf course and you see any of these guys, please say thank you. It is these men who have made your golf course into a Championship layout that equals anything the USGA has seen in many years. To paraphrase Barbra Streisand, the golf course didn't maintain itself and the "director", Keith Peterson, who has a constant, if quiet presence on the golf course has done a magnificent job.
And just so he doesn't think I've forgotten, Ed Golz has done a great job heading up the Grounds Committee. The entire crew had their photograph taken on the 18th Green this morning. I'm going to request that we hang one copy in the clubhouse to remind everybody who is taking care of their golf course.
The other one can go in the Maintenance facility.
Which hopefully will be demolished soon. They deserve a better work environment.
Terry Lavin
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