73rd Delaware Senior Amateur: Round Two

Gordon earns first GAP win in 25 years, Keeney claims third title

OCEAN VIEW, Del. – A quarter of a century has passed since Neil Gordon’s name resided at the top of a GAP leaderboard at the conclusion of an event. 

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Some close calls and life got in the way of continuing the success he had entering the 21st century.

Gordon, the 1999 GAP Middle-Amateur champion at Indian Valley Country Club, hoists hardware once again. A bogey-free final round of 68 vaulted him to the 73rd Delaware Senior Amateur title Thursday at Bear Trap Dunes (par 72, 6,227 yards).

“While it is hard to believe, 25 years went by faster than you can imagine,” Gordon, 56, of Warrington, Pa., said. “I love to play and will keep on playing. You go through life and it turns you in many different directions. Golf was always there for me.”

His two-day total of 1 under was good enough for a two-shot victory over Round One leader Tom Finn of DuPont Country Club. Finn shot 76 in the final round. Gordon was the only player to finish the tournament in red figures.

“There are some great names on this trophy,” Gordon, of Doylestown Country Club, said. “I am glad to be able to follow those guys. We’re seniors and we play hard trying to win something like this. It is exciting for me.”

Gordon faced a six-shot deficit after an opening round of 75. He teed off 50 minutes before the final pairing. But he wasn’t discouraged.

“I thought I was going to have to shoot 65,” Gordon said. “I started off quick and was driving the ball great. I was in the rough once all day. I kept the ball in front of me and it paid off. The guys I played with kept me loose and in the round the whole way. Pressure does weird things.”

Birdies on Nos. 1 (par 4, 315 yards) and 2 (par 4, 371 yards) gave him the jolt he needed. He rolled in a 6-footer on the first and stoned a gap wedge from 115 yards to 10 feet on the second.

He made the turn in 3 under after using his length to reach No. 6 (par 5, 515 yards) in two. He rifled a 4-wood from 235 yards to 30 feet and two-putted.

His next 11 holes were steady, mistake-free and all pars. His Championship moment came on No. 18 (par 5, 500 yards). With his ball sitting in a depression in the fairway, Gordon kept his spirits and centered a 5-iron from 200 yards that finished 15 feet away from the treacherous front-left hole location. His eagle putt hung on the edge. 

His birdie at the last put him in a tie for the lead with Finn but after Finn lost his tee shot on No. 16 (par 4, 397 yards) and made double bogey, Gordon’s grip on the trophy tightened.

While 25 years separate his victories, his game remains similar. A primary emphasis on driving and limiting mistakes, Gordon sees more senior success. 

“Golf for me in 1999 was about playing and not practicing,” Gordon said. “A lot of maturing happened in my golf game. Over time, with your body changing, you have to figure out new ways to keep playing well. I’m definitely more strategic of a player than I used to be. The game now is staying out of trouble and keeping the ball in play.”

He was the medalist at the Brewer Cup in July at French Creek Golf Club and ended up making the semifinals. He was in the hunt at U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying Monday at Wyncote Golf Club.

“Being a semifinalist at the Brewer Cup was a huge deal,” Gordon said. “I’ve really improved my driving and my putting. This year, something clicked in my iron play. That’s three parts of the game that have been firing on all cylinders. I’m not losing much distance yet.”

While he’s got his eyes set on the upcoming GAP Senior Amateur at Rolling Green Golf Club Sept. 3-4, he’s going to use his three-hour drive home to soak in this great performance.

“I am going to keep trying as long as I can to keep at it in golf,” Gordon said. “I have come a long way since 1999. It’s easy to get impatient when you don’t win but I love golf and love to compete. This year has been great. I just want to keep it going.”

Women’s Division

Wilmington Country Club’s Nicoll Keeney completed her trifecta in the form of her third-consecutive Women’s Delaware Senior Amateur crown Thursday at Bear Trap Dunes (par 72, 5,278 yards).

Keeney fired consecutive 76s to take the title by 11 shots over Jackie Everett of Kings Creek Country Club.

“I am proud of how I played today,” Keeney, 53, of Wilmington, Del., said. “I wasn’t thinking about getting my third title and what that means. I’ve played consistently throughout the last three years and even though this year I’ve been playing and practicing less, I’ve found my game when I needed it most.”

She got off to an inauspicious start by bogeying three of her first four holes. She played the remaining holes in 1 over. Highlighted by a birdie on No. 5 (par 4, 302 yards). Keeney flagged a 9-iron from 99 yards to 15 feet for her lone red figure of the day.

“There’s absolutely pressure to back up what I have done in the past,” Keeney said. “I feel that I need to put more energy into my putting and chipping to be more consistent with that. I had a fair amount of birdie looks today that I didn’t make. Each year I’ve gotten better at all facets of the game.”

Keeney is coming off a trip to Pinehurst Resort & Country Club for the North & South Senior Women’s Championship. She finished 24th.

“Playing in the North & South Senior has been a great experience because I can learn what is holding me back in comparison to players who are better than me,” Keeney said. “I’m looking forward to working with someone to help conquer my confidence challenges and decision making to help improve my game, whether that is a caddie or a coach.”

After winning three-consecutive Delaware Senior Amateur titles, Keeney still wants more. She isn’t satisfied with what she has accomplished.

“The drive to keep getting better is what keeps me wanting more in golf,” Keeney said. “There’s always better players and they keep getting better so I can as well. I have thought a lot about my game this year and compartmentalized what I need to do. I am on the journey of striving to do better.”

Keeney isn’t a stranger to finding her way around a golf course. But in other aspects of life, she said she’s looking to expand her surroundings. She said it will be helpful to her in more than just golf. Come this time next year, she’s expecting to be stronger mentally and in her game.

“This year, I have challenged myself to do things outside of my comfort zone,” Keeney said. “Whether that is going to a show in Philadelphia by myself or doing an experience I wouldn’t normally do. Change is hard but for me it has been the most rewarding thing I have done for myself. Stepping out of my comfort zone has shown me that I can do so much more. I’m excited to open my eyes to more things in life and in golf.”

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 110,000 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.