61st Delaware Open: Day Two

Shattuck repeats, earns fourth title

WILMINGTON, Del. – Braden Shattuck continues to do Braden Shattuck things.

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Jolt out to what feels like an insurmountable lead and tighten the vice.

Wednesday at DuPont Country Club’s DuPont Course (par 71, 6,980 yards), Shattuck closed out his fourth (2018, 2021, 2025) Delaware Open title.

His 11-under-par (62-69-71) 54-hole total was good enough for a four-shot victory over professional Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club. He earned $3,500 for being the low professional.

Chesapeake Bay’s Noah Wallace claimed low amateur honors at 3 under.

“Winning the Delaware Open again is fantastic,” Shattuck, 32, of Hockessin, Del., said. “I feel very grateful and honored to be able to say I won back-to-back titles. I limped in a little bit but was able to get it done. Winning again was an amazing experience, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Shattuck, the Director of Instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club, became the fifth player in the history of the event to win consecutive titles. The others include: Richard Osberg (1974-77), Pete Oakley (1986-87), Joey Maxon (1998-99) and Chris Anderson (2003-04). 

“When I worked at Bidermann Golf Course, Chris lived behind the driving range, and he would come out with his dog,” Shattuck said. “I got to talk with him every couple of weeks when I was on the range. What a legend and such a huge loss way too soon. His accomplishments won’t be forgotten, and to share one with him is pretty cool.”

Shattuck held a six-shot lead over Barbin heading to the final round after a second-round 69. 

“I was in control of my game for the first two rounds, and my ball striking was great,” Shattuck said. “In the second round, I couldn’t get anything to fall on the greens, so the score wasn’t reflective of how I played, which was unfortunate. I ran out of gas in the last round but with the lead I had, I didn’t need anything special. I figured the setup would be tricky, and they moved some tees around to create some driveable par 4s, which was awesome. This course is tough to shoot low scores. It definitely holds its own.”

On No. 13 (par 4, 344 yards), the lead was only two. Three trips to the beach, each accomplished in two shots on the final five holes, would be the daggers needed to secure victory.

He shoveled a 52-degree wedge from the left greenside bunker on No. 13 approximately 35 yards from the back right pin to 20 feet. Barbin blasted from the front right greenside bunker to four feet. Shattuck canned the putt to keep his lead from shrinking.

He grabbed a three-shot lead with four to play after a Barbin bogey on No. 14 (par 3, 150 yards). On No. 15 (par 4, 384 yards) he left his approach with a wedge in the front greenside bunker with no room to work with. He tapped in for his par. On No. 17 (par 3, 175 yards), he left himself shortsided in the right greenside bunker to a right pin. He tapped in for his par.

For Shattuck, the execution on these shots is ho-hum, but the level of technique and finesse required to take them on is the most impressive.

“I’ve been in those situations a lot when I am shortsided and I need to step up and hit a shot,” Shattuck said. “I was pretty confident I could execute those shots under pressure, so it wasn’t an issue.”

Shattuck begrudgingly walked all the way back to his cart on the last (par 5, 548 yards) after realizing a pitch mark on line with his ball on the fringe couldn’t be fixed. He grabbed his 52-degree and chipped it over the mark and in. Once again. Ho-hum.

Anytime Shattuck shows up at an event, competitors know he’s the one to beat. Shattuck doesn’t see it that way because the competition he focuses on is in his own mind.

“The expectations in my head are well beyond what anyone else puts on me,” Shattuck said. “I’ve never really worried about what other people do or say. I’ve been like that my whole life and have been focused on going in the right direction.”

There aren’t many days in Shattuck’s annual 365 that don’t include golf. When he isn’t playing he’s helping his students improve at Rolling Green. He takes both paths very seriously.

“People have differing opinions in the golf business on whether or not it is important for the coach to be a player or not,” Shattuck said. “I am in the school of thought that you should be playing. I don’t think you need to be exceptional, but I think it is pertinent to being relevant. I want to be relatable to my players. Being able to play well only helps you when you get the chance to help others improve.”

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 345 Member Clubs and 140,000 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.