18th Frank H. Chapman Cup Super Senior

Wilmington’s Walczak wills way to Chapman title

WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Steve Walczak walked off the last hole of the Francis B. Warner Cup Super Senior on May 31 at Medford Lakes Country Club disappointed and disheveled.

| Scoring portal | History | Photos |

After getting through his first 11 holes in 2 under, the Wilmington Country Club member was 8 over in his final seven holes. He went out in 33 and came in with 44.

“I have been playing well in the early part of the season,” Walczak said. “I got off to a hot start at the Warner Cup Super Senior and fell apart coming in. That was disappointing. My game has been good aside from that.”

Resolute and determined, Walczak took charge to earn the bounce-back victory in the 18th Frank H. Chapman Cup Super Senior Monday at Penn Oaks Golf Club (par 71, 5,811 yards).

His round of 71 was good enough for a three-shot victory over Mike Moser of Kennett Square Golf & Country Club and Craig Scott of Glen Brook Golf Club.

“It feels nice to be back in the winner’s circle,” Walczak, 66, of Greenville, Del., said. “It is tough to win an event with the depth of talent in these events. Things have to go your way for you to win. It’s hard.”

Walzcak’s worldly short game kept him afloat early. He rolled in a 15-footer for par on No. 2 (par 4, 307 yards) and a seven-footer for par on No. 3 (par 3, 131 yards).

The clean card was in jeopardy on No. 9 (par 4, 355 yards) after Walczak flew the green and found the back greenside bunker. A splendid splash left him 15 feet for a save. He walked it in and made the turn with nine consecutive pars.

His first red number came on No. 10 (par 4, 310 yards). A rare driver on the day for Walczak left him just short of the green. A chip and a putt resulted in his first red number but he would give it right back on No. 11 (par 4, 350 yards).

“The course doesn’t suit me that well, honestly,” Walczak said. “I only hit a few drivers today. The course is tight off the tee. I hit it fairly long so it was hard for me to take advantage of that. But I stuck to my plan.”

He made an uncharacteristic three-putt bogey on No. 17 (par 4, 355 yards). A tricky two-tiered green left Walczak a tough two-putt up a tier from 45 feet. He rolled a putt to two feet. He had four-feet coming back for bogey.

“I completely lost my concentration,” Walczak said. The entire round I was locked in on the short putts. I wasn’t there. But otherwise my putter was the strength of my game today. I was able to scramble well.”

With a field scoring average of 79, Walczak said he wasn’t looking to force a birdie at the last (par 5, 470 yards) when he was at 1 over through 17. Walczak smothered a driver and 3-wood from 215 to flag high. A delicate chip off a sandy lie to tap-in range capped off the only even par or better score with a birdie.

“I approach these events the same way I would any other event regardless of the length,” Walczak said. “I try to hit the best shot for my game at the given time and try not to force it because it is only a single round.”

Walczak’s pedigree is one of longevity. He won the Delaware Mid-Amateur in 2005, GAP Senior Amateur in 2015 and the Delaware Senior Amateur the same year. 

“I have been fortunate enough to have generally good health and the time to play golf,” Walczak, who works in consumer marketing, said. My balance has shifted from a lot of work to less work and more golf. I have time to focus on the game, which helps. Golf is not easy.”

Super Senior Silver Cross Update – At the halfway point, LuLu Country Club’s Roc Irey holds onto a three-shot lead over Don Donatoni of White Manor Country Club. Irey followed his 66 that won him the Francis B. Warner Cup Super Senior at Medford Lakes in May with a 76 at Penn Oaks. Irey is 3 over through the first two legs. The Super-Senior Amateur Championship Sept. 25-26 at Conestoga Country Club represents the final two rounds that comprise the award.

Frank H. Chapman, a Whitemarsh Valley Country Club member, served as the Association’s secretary-treasurer for 23 years. He died on June 7, 1955 at the age of 88. It is held in his honor.

To meet the needs of its members, GAP separated a Super-Senior Division from its traditional Chapman Cup counterpart.

GAP

Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 340 Member Clubs and 100,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.