Editors Note:
One of our California members, John Sawin,
posted an account of his experience in a "22-
for-2" playoff at the U.S. Mid-Am on his
Facebook page. We enjoyed it so much that we asked
John if we could post it on AmateurGolf.com, and if he
would write for us in the future. While the former
Stocker Cup and Travis Invitational champ didn't get
through to match play this time, we know he'll have
plenty more opportunities to do so, and to make a run
at the title.
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by John Sawin
There seems to be a lot of interest in the playoff
at John's Island Golf Club - I guess the thought of 22
guys playing one hole for two spots in the match play
bracket of the US Mid-Am sparks some intrigue. So I
figured I'd post a quick summary.
When I went to bed last night, I was pretty sure I
had thrown away my chances. I followed a near
flawless 2-under par round on Saturday -- which was
about as high as I could have scored and left me one
shot off the lead -- with a dismal 79 Sunday, which
was about as low as I could have scored. Yes, golf can
be a strange and humbling game.
My hopes were lifted just after dawn Monday
however, as the few relevant players left to finish out
their stroke play rounds stumbled home, moving the
cut from 5-over and opening the door back up, if only
slightly, for a group of 22 guys who had posted 6-
over. I say slightly because there were only two spots
to compete for - longer odds than I'd ever seen let
alone heard of in a playoff - but at least we had a
chance.
The playoff hole was the par-3 13th, the signature
hole at Johns Island West, whose teeing ground sits
just below the clubhouse and faces the green 185
yards down the hill and across a beautiful lake. The
pin was set precariously close to the water hazard
guarding the front and right sides of the green. Under
normal circumstances, a 6 iron to the center of the
green would be the prudent play, but these were not
normal circumstances. Most if not all realized a birdie
would likely be needed to survive the first hole, and
we all dreamt of the unlikely walk-off ace. Might as
well dream, right?
Two of the 22 players somehow missed the
memo, so the remaining 20 were broken into five
groups of four based on the order of score posted. I
had the honor in the second group and watched
closely as three in the first group made 2-putt pars,
while the fourth pushed his in the water and promptly
headed straight for the parking lot.
As I waited my turn, I couldn't help but notice
what a cool setting I was in the midst of.
I'm pretty sure the members and volunteers had
been speculating about and waiting anxiously for this
playoff type moment for months, as they were out in
full force, both around the tee and behind the green.
In addition, most of the 62 players already in the
match play field and their caddies and family
members were there watching before their matches
started. So yes, I was VERY nervous.
I barely remember swinging my 7 iron, but I
definitely remember the contact, which felt like a
tentative wipe. My eyes quickly caught the ball and
confirmed the feeling - headed right. But somehow
instead of fading off into the water, it fell a hair left
and landed on the tiniest sliver of green. The hop was
a big one, which I thought still might send my ball
over the edge and into the hazard, but the thick dew
on the fringe held it up. All of a sudden, I had a 15
footer for birdie.
My playing partners missed their longer attempts
first, so still no birdies in seven tries, but I was sure I
needed to make mine. I put a good, firm stroke on it,
but the grain in that one foot of fringe I had to go
through pulled it just a hair left off the face. Still, as it
rolled briskly toward the hole, I thought it had a very
good chance to catch the low edge. My heart sunk
when it didn't. And then rolled another 3 feet by. Ugh.
Somehow I got the next one to drop, and then
the waiting game began. Through three full groups,
still no birdies. Justin Young in the fourth group broke
the drought with a 10 footer straight down the hill to
effectively clinch his spot. The fifth and final group
contained 4-time champion Nathan Smith, and we
could all see how this was shaping up. The guy seems
to have that X factor in this tournament, and this
moment was another perfect example.
He dropped his tee shot 15 feet above and left of
the hole, leaving a slippery left-to-right breaker that
most people would lag and be content going to the
next playoff hole. I could tell right off the putter this
was no lag, and he is not most people. His putt was
the last shot struck of the wild playoff and sent the
gallery into a tizzy. At that point, all I could do was
take my hat off and go shake the guy's hand, offering
"I feel bad for the medalist." He nearly
took that medalist and defending champion, Scott
Harvey, down four hours later, eventually losing in 19
holes to a birdie-birdie finish - a taste of his own
medicine, I guess.
ABOUT THE
U.S. Mid-Amateur
The U.S. Mid-Amateur originated in 1981 for the
amateur golfer of at least 25 years of age, the
purpose of which to provide a formal national
championship for the post-college player. 264
players
begin the championship with two rounds of sroke
play
qualifying held at two courses, after which the low
64
(with a playoff if necessary to get the exact number)
advance to single elimination match play.
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