The CSGA Links Volume 3 Issue 1 March/April, 2015 | Page 28

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 www.csgalinks.org