Late Bloomers Experience First Amateur

By Stuart Hall

San Francisco – On one hole during Steve White’s opening round at the U.S. Amateur on Monday, his ball was a distant 80 yards behind his playing competitor.

White, 35, of Jackson, Wy., was nonplussed by the occurrence and resigned himself to accepting the differences between an aging mid-amateur and an aspiring amateur with professional dreams.

"You just see a lot more power here," said White, who posted a 4-over 74 round The Olympic Club’s Ocean Course. "But I’m old enough to know you just have to hit fairways."

White, owner of The Putting Green Co. Inc., and the utterance of the phrase "I’m old enough" is a common refrain among the seven players who are mid-ams of various experience playing in their first U.S. Amateur.

The group includes Chad Frank, 40, of Sanford, Fla.; Tom Madden Jr., 46, of Tupelo, Miss.; Jeff New, 50, of The Woodlands, Texas; Matthew Sughrue, 47, of Alexandria, Va.; and Ed Wholey, 44, of Chepachet, R.I.

White is making his seventh USGA appearance - one Junior Am, three Amateur Public Links and two Mid-Amateurs accounting for the previous six - and none have been on the scale of this championship.

"No college bags," he said of the biggest difference in the championships while nodding to the putting green and the proliferation of college-aged players. "The Mid-Ams are fun tournaments to me because we’re all in the same boat. This week, I have nothing to lose. Most of these guys are trying to play well for any number of reasons."

Clark Holle, 39, of South Orange, N.J., knows this all to well. From 1999-2003, he coached Seton Hall, his alma mater. In 2000, he earned Big East Coach of the Year honors for leading the Pirates to the NCAA Regional.

Holle often implored his players to stay in the moment and to not let the enormity of an event overtake their emotions. Many of his players were of a similar age as many in this week’s field.

"Trust me, it’s easier to say those things than do them," joked Holle, 39, who was waiting out a four-hour fog delay early on Monday.

Holle considers his game better suited for the state and regional level, so stepping onto one of golf’s oldest and more revered stages somewhat unexpected.

"It’s a matter of controlling emotions," said Holle, who is now a co-owner of two funeral homes.

Like White, Holle is cognizant that his game, while suited for The Olympic Club, does not closely resemble those being displayed by players half his age. Instead of matching booming drives, many of the aging first-timers are countering with guile and creativity.

Holle had tried qualifying for U.S. Mid-Amateurs and Amateur Public Links championships in the past, and three times was an alternate who failed to get the call.

"As time went on, I knew the odds of me making the Amateur were dropping fast," he said, "so I’m excited to be here."

At the sectional qualifier in Blue Bell, Pa., on July 23, playing conditions were sloppy as a result of rain. Numbers began to rise and Holle’s pair of 74s negotiated him into a four-man playoff for two spots. Holle earned the second spot.

"I’m more of a grinder and like conditions tougher than easy," he said. "I’ve never considered myself a mudder, but I just hung in there. That’s sometimes what you have to do."

Holle’s goal, like those of his playing peers, is based more on realistic expectations than a wishful whim. Qualifying for the 64-payer match play draw is the first priority. After that, bracket play can produce any number of possibilities.

White said an old teammate familiar with his game told him he could be a dangerous draw for any player in the match-play field. The reason?

"He said I’m going to being hit first most of the time [on approach shots] because I’m not long off and then I’m a good putter," White said.

They may be aging, and even new to this championship, but with age comes a different kind of experience that just present some surprises by week’s end.

Stuart Hall is a writer for the Golf Press Association whose work has appeared previously on USGA championship Web sites.