Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play: Concord

Fieger, Kliewer win Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play

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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Craig Kliewer and Chris Fieger knew what they needed to do Monday in the Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play at Concord Country Club (par 70, 6,255 yards). With an 8-under number in mind to begin the day, the goal was set.

And then it was accomplished.

The duo combined to fire an 8-under card of 62, taking the event’s Senior Division trophy and matched the Senior Four-Ball Stroke scoring record of 62, previously set by Ed Chylinski & Richard Umani in 2010 at Golden Oaks Golf Club. They bettered a field of 47 Senior teams.

The Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play is a better-ball-of-partners event.

Kliewer, a Lebanon Country Club member, got the scoring going on No. 3 (par 4, 335 yards) with birdie 3, sparking a red-number run. Fieger, a Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association member, followed that up with a 2 on the par-3, 174-yard 4th after his 6-iron tee landed to 15 feet and jarred it. Next up, on the par-5, 535-yard 6th, Kliewer clipped one perfectly from 20 yards and holed out for eagle. They’d make the turn at 8 under.

“We really had so many good lucks for birdie out there. We were consistency each hitting greens in regulation. We had a lot of good chances,” said Fieger, 58, of Denver, Pa. “[On the front nine], I think we said that 8 under was going to win this thing, and we wanted to get there.”

Well, the duo did.

On the back nine, four more birdies would drop to get them there. Fieger’s 9-iron on No. 12 (par 4, 435 yards) got them to 5 under after a 15-foot make for 3. A 50-foot birdie bomb from Kliewer dropped on No. 13 (par 4, 418 yards). Another Kliewer birdie arrived on No. 14 (par 4, 363 yards) after a gap-wedge approach nestled up to 18 feet before finding the cup. On Concord’s closer (par 5, 523 yards), it was Fieger who would card the champion’s final birdie. After finding the right bunker off the tee, Fieger was forced to lay up, but a wedge approach landed 15 feet behind the hole, and the putt for 4 was converted.

“Playing with Chris, it gives you a lot of confidence as his partner because of his playing ability. That speaks for itself. And that made it fun today,” said Kliewer, 61, of Ephrata, Pa.

“Craig is just so consistent. He’s really steady, so that allowed me to kind of get more aggressive out there. I was able to play aggressive at some pins,” said Fieger. “I hadn’t played this course in 20 years. I really liked seeing all the changes they made here. There’s a lot of good things happening.”

Good things happen when you match an event’s scoring record.

Kliewer and Fieger have been friends, and teammates, for over a decade now. They’ve each had their fair share of GAP glory, too. Fieger is the reigning two-time Senior Amateur Champion. Kliewer has three Father & Son (Middle) titles to his name, all won with his son Alan. Today, they acquired a team title together — their first in the Four-Ball event.

“Every time you go out, you want to win. It sort of validates all the work you put in,” said Kliewer. “With all of Chris’ major successes, and some of my minor ones, it’s a great feeling.”

McCool, Scott take Super-Senior crown

Robin McCool of Saucon Valley Country Club and Craig Scott of Great Bear Golf Club took the day’s Super-Senior title with a respectful 4-under 66. They bettered a field of 27 teams for the trophy by three strokes.

On the day, the super Supers carded five birdies overall. This marks the first Senior Four-Ball crown for both McCool and Scott.

NOTE: A lightning delay struck at 4:25 p.m. Play resumed an hour later at 5:25 p.m.

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 Association’s 300 Member Clubs and 80,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.