Bill Schumaker of Crooked Lake Golf Course is now thought to
be the first super senior to claim victory at a regular Indiana PGA event.
After turning 60 last November, he joined the super senior ranks and had quite
the showing at Indiana’s season opener April 19 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in
Fort Wayne. He carded an even-par 72 at the first Pepsi Club Car Tournament
Series to finish tied with Todd Smith of Rock Hollow Golf Club and Chris Drake
of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
The three competitors went back to the hole #1 for the
playoff where Drake pulled it slightly left into the rough between some trees,
and Schumaker landed his 185 out in the right fairway bunker. The advantage
immediately went to Smith, who drove his into the rough. Despite the different
lies, all ended up in the front greenside bunker after their approaches. It was
Smith who put his bunker shot to four feet, just in front of Schumaker. Drake
bladed his bunker shot to a hill over the green and took himself out of the
playoff. After the other two made par, they continued to the par-5 second hole.
Schumaker again drove into the bunker and again gave Smith
the advantage. This time he drove into the fairway. Smith hit the green in
regulation but couldn’t convert an eight footer for the win. Two pars continued
the showdown to the third and final hole.
Both players approached the green from the fairway, but left
themselves long birdie putts. Schumaker was on the fringe and lagged up to
within a foot. Smith left his first putt five feet short and lipped his second
putt out, creating opportunity for Schumaker to end the playoff. But
surprisingly, he lipped out as well and tapped in for a bogey. The small crowd
that had gathered started going to the 4th tee, but was stopped when
Smith missed the short putt for bogey to stay alive.
Schumaker showed gratitude to his long-time friend and
competitor. With nine Player of the Year honors, Smith overshadows Schumaker’s
five titles, but Schumaker’s senior status has also earned him eight Senior
Player of the Year awards since 2000 – an honor Smith has to wait three more
years to chase.
The only other fact more remarkable than Schumaker’s
competitiveness as a super senior and number of awards to his name, is that
only six months ago he underwent heart surgery and was forced off the golf
course for nearly three months. Close to Christmas this past winter, he was
able to head south to Florida and pick up a club again. After a brief recovery
time, his debut in Indiana in April proved that experience and determination
can still win over youth.
See full results here.