Final Senior Player of the Year Standings
Erickson claims Senior Player of the Year
Don Erickson tees off during his 2nd round match at the U.S. Senior Amateur (Photo courtesy of USGA/Chris Keane)
Don Erickson, III, of Indiana, Pa., won that elusive player of the year award he’s been chasing for some time. Playing out of Indiana Country Club, he certainly hasn’t been a stranger to leader boards during his solid career. Erickson came out on top in a tight race among a ‘who’s who’ of Pennsylvania senior golfers. He finished with a total of 475 points, just 50 ahead of 2013 PA Senior Amateur champion Robin McCool, of Saucon Valley Country Club. Also nipping at his heels were Paul Schlachter (four-time Sr. POY), of The Club at Nevillewood, and Chip Lutz (2012 Sr. POY), LedgeRock Golf Club.
“The courses we played this season were great and well suited for my game,” Erickson said. “Previous course knowledge was a big help. I was proud to earn the only spot available in the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier and to win the senior division of the Art Wall, Jr. at Allegheny Country Club in the last event of the year. My game progressed all season long, with the best coming in September. Most of the season I was disappointed that I didn’t score better for the way I was hitting the ball, but I guess that’s senior golf.”
Erickson started the season by earning points in the Senior Better-Ball, where he and partner John Benson of Punxsutawney Country Club finished in eighth place. He finished sixth in the PA Senior Amateur at the Country Club of Scranton and tied for first with John Benson in the senior division of the Art Wall, Jr. Memorial Championship. Erickson also made plenty of noise on the national scene at the USGA Senior Amateur at Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, N.C. He played his way into the quarterfinals, where he came up just short to eventual champion Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga.
“My highlight of the year was at Wade Hampton,” Erickson said. “The course was perfect for my game and the weather was a big factor with rain affecting the qualifying rounds and also my quarterfinal match. In all my 17 USGA events, I played the best golf of my life in my first match. I made eight birdies in 13 holes. I felt bad for the guy. Of course, I feel I should have won my quarterfinal match, and it could have gone either way. That would have set up a match with Chip Lutz and that would have been fun. Even though I lost to the winner, it still doesn’t sit well with me and I can’t wait to get back next year and hope I can do better.”
What’s in the Bag?
Driver – Cobra ZL 9.5 degree with a Motore F1 55 stiff shaft
3-Wood – TaylorMade Rocketballz 17 degree with stiff shaft
Hybrid – 3h (19 degree) and 4h (22 degree) Cobra T-Rail with Regular shaft
Irons – (5-9) Titleist AP1 with NSpro-105t Regular shafts
Wedges – Titleist Vokey 50, 56, 60 degree
Putter – Odyssey Sabertooth
Congratulations to Don Erickson!