Vincelli Outduels Carlson, Becoming Oldest Player to Win MGA Senior Players' Championship

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


LAKEVILLE, Minn. – Senior golfer Pat Vincelli doesn’t seem like the type of person that's in a hurry to get to the finish line. Relaxing and taking his time to enjoy the ride is probably more his style.

After advancing to the finals of the Minnesota Golf Association Senior Players’ Championship, Vincelli emphasized emphatically how fortunate he was to be playing the game, and to be playing with such great players.

Vincelli’s journey got a little sweeter Friday as he outlasted 2012 Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Leif Carlson, to win 1-up, becoming the oldest player to win the championship at 68-years-old.

“I’ve waited an awful long time for this and I’m elated," Vincelli said after his victory. "Leif is such a great competitor and he’s got a track record a mile long. I don’t know how many USGA events he’s played in, but I was probably the underdog and used that to my advantage.”

Vincelli played another tight match during Friday’s final round as three of his previous matches had to be decided in extra holes.

“No one was ever up more than one during the match. When you thought you were in good shape to win a hole, suddenly you ended up losing it," Vincelli said. "I was lucky; it was back and forth—back and forth. Leif was a pleasure to play with and it was a hell of a match.”

Carlson opened the round by winning the first hole after Vincelli made bogey, but Vincelli quickly shifted the momentum with back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth holes to take a 1-up lead.

Carlson responded with a birdie on the sixth hole to square the match before taking a 1-up lead on the following hole, capitalizing on a double-bogey by Vincelli.

Vincelli took advantage of a Carlson bogey on the tenth hole to even the match, but Carlson rolled in a long par putt on the 11th to regain the lead after both players found trouble off the tee.

From there Vincelli began to take charge as he would make par on his final seven holes. The match was all square after a bogey by Carlson on the 13th and Vincelli regained a 1-up lead after another Carlson bogey on the 15th.

When Carlson couldn’t get his birdie to fall on the 18th hole, Vincelli clinched the match, in regulation, 1-up.

“I putted extremely well the entire tournament, I think I three-putted once in five rounds,” Vincelli said after the victory. “I kept the ball in play for the most part—this course is long to begin with and then with all of the water, it was playing even longer. I was hitting 4-irons and 5-irons into greens which I normally don’t do. All of the young guys were pounding it 25-30 yards ahead of me, but I just kept it in play."

The final match was postponed from Thursday as heavy rain moved through the area, leaving the course extremely wet. Vincelli said the day off in between the semifinal and final match was certainly welcome.

“It helped me, I was able to rest. I’ve got a bad shoulder and my neck was bothering me, it’s hard on an old body and it was good to have a day to rest,” he said.

Carlson’s list of tournament wins is extensive, but the Senior Players’ is one that seems to elude him year after year. He was ousted in the semifinals last year at Island View Golf Club, losing to MGA Executive Director Tom Ryan, 2 and 1, and was a quarterfinalist in both 2011 and 2012.

“I didn’t think I played very well today but Pat played good and it was a really close match,” Carlson said. “I hit most of my irons pretty good this week but I didn’t putt particularly well. I had too many three putts and only made one putt over five feet.”

“I was really happy to make it to the finals but would’ve liked to play better at the end,” he said. “I feel like my game is getting a lot better. I have a few more things to work on and I have to clean up some things.”

Before the tournament started, Vincelli could’ve used his status as club champion at Brackett’s Crossing as an exemption into the tournament, but it meant he’d have to play his good friend, and No. 1 overall seed, Steve Whittaker.

Instead, Vincelli opted to try and qualify for the tournament in hopes of earning a different spot in the field, which also allowed another member of the host club to be eligible to play.

Vincelli qualified for the championship and was then placed as the 13th seed. However, the two friends ended up squaring off in the semifinals after all, with Vincelli getting the better of his friend and defending champion, 2 and 1.

With his trophy firmly wrapped in his arms following his round Friday, Vincelli just laughed when asked about his game and whether the victory gives him momentum moving forward.

“I don’t know. I’m not playing as much tournament golf anymore; I’m content playing in occasional tournaments. Some guys travel all over the country playing in all kinds of events, but I’m comfortable with where I’m at.”



15TH MGA SENIOR PLAYERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
BRACKETT’S CROSSING COUNTRY CLUB
LAKEVILLE, MINN.
6,593 YARDS, PAR 71


CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Pat Vincelli, Brackett’s Crossing CC, def. Leif Carlson, Valleywood Golf Course, 1-up