S
UCCESS IS neither magical nor mysterious. Success is
the natural consequence of consistently applying basic
fundamentals.”
Wise words from Jim Rohn, known worldwide for his
motivational public speaking, and words that no doubt apply to golf
in a multitude of ways. Winning any golf tournament, let alone a
season-long points race, requires remarkable consistency throughout
each hole, round, tournament and season. Mention the word
“consistent” to any CSGA tournament player, and there isn’t much
doubt that the name “Dave Szewczul” will come to mind.
It should come as little surprise that Dave Szewczul of
Tunxis Plantation Country Club wrapped up his sixth-consecutive
Dick Siderowf Senior Player of the Year. After all, since entering the
senior ranks in 2009, he has won his Senior Player of the Year titles
by a combined 5,244 points - that’s an average winning margin of
874 points!
He began his season with an eleventh place finish at the
Russell C. Palmer Cup, shooting a final round score of 70 to move up
the leaderboard and claim low senior player honors. The following
week, Szewczul began his title defense at the 8th Senior Match Play
Championship, a tournament he had won three times before (2010,
12 and 13). After claiming medalist honors by two strokes with a
round of 71, he went on to knock off Gary Mattesen, Craig Dubois
and three-time Connecticut Amateur Champion William Lee on his
way to the finals. While the final match against Jon Groveman of
Connecticut Golf Club proved to be his toughest test, Szewczul
made the putts when it mattered most, including an eagle putt on the
par-5 12th that all but sealed the deal. Another Senior Match Play
was in the books, and Szewczul was once again the Champion.
Being competitive at the state and regional level is impressive
in and of itself, but to consistently compete on the national level is
a whole different animal. In 2013, Szewczul made national headlines
by advancing to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Senior Amateur. By
virtue of that tremendous finish, he was exempt for 2014, and made
the trek to Newport Beach, California to compete in his twenty-fifth
USGA national championship.
After shooting rounds of 72-72--144 to claim the #17
seed, he went on to knock off Don Marsh of Alpharetta, Georgia
and Don Reycroft of Norfolk, Massachusetts to advance to his
second consecutive “Sweet 16”. Although he eventually fell to to
Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, South Carolina, who went on to the
semifinals before losing to the eventual champion, Patrick Tallet of
Vienna, Virginia, it was yet another amazing display for Szewczul.
“Each year, I just try to play consistently as best I can, and
if I happen to play well, the points will reflect that,” said Szewczul.
“Every year it gets tougher - the competition gets younger and I get
older - so every year I am able to be near the top of the points list is
a little more gratifying than the previous one.”
28 | CSGA Links // March, 2015
2014 Dick Siderowf Sr. Player of the Year
1
Final Points Standings
Dave Szewczul, Tunxis Plantation CC 1654.7
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
T9
T9
Bill Torza, Wethersfield CC
Mark Vasington, Wampanoag CC
James Romaniello, Shorehaven GC
Ray Underwood, Torrington CC
Jon Groveman, Connecticut GC
Kevin Foster, Hop Meadow CC
William Lee, Course at Yale
Shawn McLoughlin, Ridgewood CC
Bob Spaniotis, Wethersfield CC
480.7
407.2
357.2
329.2
285
250
245.2
190
190
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