A birthday boy, a former New York Yankees farmhand, the medalist, a three- time champion, a guy who burned up a pocketful of miracles and a man who said he’d retire from golf if he could win this event are among the cast of characters heading into today’s quarterfinals of the 33rd U.S. Senior Amateur Championships at Saucon Valley Country Club.
Lewis Oehmig’s dream of an unprecedented fourth U.S. Senior Amateur championship is still very much alive.
The 71-year-old Southern gentleman from Lookout Mountain, Tenn. will have his work very much cut out for him this morning when he runs into John Richardson of Laguna Niguel, Calif.
That’s an enticing rematch of the 1976 finals that saw Oehmig win 4 and 3 at Cherry Hills in Englewood, Colorado.
“I thought we’d had enough of him,” Oehmig grinned. “Goodness, gracious, he’s a very strong player. Age hasn’t effected hisgame at all. He’s still hitting it a ton and I’m pitty-pattying it like a little old lady. It’s going to be a one-sided match. I should be caddying for him.”
Oehmig remembers his triumph over Richardson.
“He was the toughest nut that I had ever run against,” Oehmig said. “I just had some breaks. We had a good time.”
Oehmig struggled to a 19-hole win over Ed Barnes Jr. of Rome, Ga. in his morning session.
“I had flashes of brilliance here and there, but basically we both played poorly. It was the Christmas season the way we were giving holes back and forth,” Oehmig said.
Oehmig’s 2 and 1 triumph over Duane Haley was another scramble.
“I played like a dog but he played just a little bit worse,” Oehmig said. “We played poor golf. If we stay in any farther we’ll have to improve tremendously.”
Richardson, the tourney’s medalist, did a yeoman’s job yesterday when he bested long-time rival Alton Duhon, the 1982 Senior Amateur champion, on the 19th hole of the morning round before ousting John Harbottle, last year’s runner-up, 3 and 2.
“I hit the ball well, but I putted bad against Alton until the 19th hole, where I made a birdie,” Richardson said.
Richardson tore up the course in the afternoon, blazing his way to a three-under par total through 16 holes.
“I was really playing well, so was John,” Richardson said. “The pins had the same placement, which helped. The more I play here, the more familiar I am with everything. If I can keep this up I’ll be very happy.”
The two rounds started to take a toll.
“I’m pretty tired,” he said. “I try to walk it all the time, but 36 holes is a bit much. I’m going to rest up now. I’m ready to try pretty hard against Lewis.”
Robert Wylie, who celebrates his 58th birthday today, has won threestraight Canadian Senior Amateurs. And, he is looking sharp in a bid to conquer another chunk of North America as he toppled Philip Trofibio 3 and 2 and Dick Estey 3 and 1.
“‘I’ve been fortunate to win those,” Wylie said. “But I assure you there are many more quality golfers here in this field. Every guy can beat you.
“Winning here would be the biggest thrill of my life,” said Wylie, who works for a company that makes tubular products for the oil and gas industry. “To win any national championship is the greatest honor anyone could have. But, I’m not thinking about that yet. It’s one match at a time.
“I played well today, I was one-under par for the holes I played,” the Calgary resident said. “Knowing the pin placements was a big help. In fact, I missed a birdie putt on a hole in the morning, came back and made it from the same spot in the afternoon. These greens are the wildest I’ve played on in a long time, so it helps to know where the pins are.”
John Jacobs III is the golfer who said he might retire if he could win here.
“Does this surprise me? I don’t think I’m awake yet,” Jacobs said after disposing of William Ikard 3 and 2 in the morning round before waltzing past Ronald Moore 7 and 6 in the afternoon session.
“I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t think maybe I could win,” the Cedar Rapids, Iowa resident said. “This is amazing though. And, it amazes me more each day.
“I played way over my head,” Jacobs said. “I hit most of the greens and I putted better than I have in the past two or three months. Winning 7 and 6 is almost unbelievable. Ronald Moore is just too fine of a player for that to happen. He had a bad day and I happened to get it up and down.”
Jacobs, a retired Amana refrigerator executive, is savoring every delicious moment of his march to the Big Eight.
“I’ve always looked forward to this event,” he said. “This is my fifth trip to this event.”
Jacobs, 66, won the U.S. Senior Olympics in St. Louis in July.
“That was a big thrill,” Jacobs said. “This would really do it, though. I might retire from golf if I could win this.”
George Holland of Tacoma, Wash., used up a pocketful of miracles heading back to the clubhouse to salvage his match against Ted Katula, 1 up.
“Those last four holes were incredible,” Holland said. “I was one down coming into 15. I knocked my third shot into a trap and then holed it for a birdie to win it. On 16, I was in deep right rough off the tee, I played it out on the rough twice, and then canned a putt for a four. On 17, my tee shot was so far right it was almost lost. Then I found a trap, knocked it out and saved a four. On 18, I chipped out of back rough to within a foot for a par. And, I holed a 5-iron for a two on the fifth hole. Crazy stuff.
“Ted was so long and strong I felt like a 60-year-old weakling,” Holland said. “Hopefully, I can get my driver squared away so I can scare some folks.”
Holland, who reached the quarterfinals two years ago at Crooked Stick and to the final 16 a year ago, is an insurance man for Guardian Life, which has a home office in Bethlehem.
“I’ve been planning to go out there, but I’ve been so busy. I hadn’t planned on being around this long,” Holland said.
“This is a great course,” Holland said. “I’ve heard so much about it I knew I couldn’t pass up this trip no matter what. It’s everything I’ve been and the people are so beautiful and hospitable. You can’t say enough about it.”
James Kite Jr. of Wolftown, Va. was a pro baseball player in the Yankees minor league chain for years. He took up golf at age 29 because he wanted something to do.
What he did yesterday was heady stuff. He defeated Robert Zink 2 and 1 and then rallied to send two-time former champion William Hyndman III, a real sentimental favorite here, home to nearby Huntingdon Valley.
Rounding out the field are Bobby Lee Darnell of Westminster, Ca., who defeated Richard Spangler 2 up and Frank Tenfel, 4 and 3, and Howard Derrick of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a 2 and 1 victor over Allan Doyle and a 1 up winner over Allan Sussel of Bala Cynwydd.
