A historic trip to The Olympic Club
April 27, 2015
Earlier this year, SCGA members and 2013 SCGA Senior Four-Ball champions Iain MacDonald (56) of Bear Creek GC and Industry Hills GC and Bob Valerio (58) of South Bay Public Links GC teamed up for a chance to play in the USGA’s inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. With a 64 in the Goose Creek GC sectional qualifier, the duo captured a spot into the championship, which takes place May 2-6 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
We caught up with MacDonald (IM) and Valerio (BV) as they prepared to make the trip north.
What part of competition do you enjoy most?
BV: I just enjoy competition. That is why, at 58 years old, I am still competing in golf today. I have two older brothers, which also made me more competitive.
IM: I enjoy seeing all my good friends out on the amateur circuit and seeing if I can still compete with the mid-ams!
Have you played in a USGA event before?
BV: This is my 11th USGA event. I’ve played in four U.S. Amateur Public Links, five U.S. Mid- Amateurs and one U.S. Senior Amateur.
IM: Yes, 10 of them!
How do you know each other? Why did you team up for this event?
IM: We’ve known each other since playing on the men’s team at El Camino College. We decided to enter this event together and really were not expecting to make it and we did.
How are you preparing for the U.S. Four-Ball?
BV: We’ve only gotten together once, but I make sure I am playing and practicing every day.
IM: I’m playing the back tees at Bear Creek GC to prepare, which is the entire course you want.
Teamwork is big for this event. Does the Four-Ball format fit your games well?
BV: Yes, Iain and I are pretty consistent. But we see the length of The Olympic Club as a possible problem. Being 58 and 56 years old, we just don’t hit it as far as the younger golfers.
Do you have a strategy in place for the qualifying rounds?
BV: No, not really. It will depend on our short games. The one strategy we have is Iain hits first. We also help each other out with putts.
IM: Being seniors, we went out [at the Goose Creek GC qualifier] with a nothing-to-lose attitude and just kept making birdies. We’ll do the same at Olympic.
Is it intimidating to know seven past USGA champions are in the field?
BV: Since we are older than most of the field, we have been through it all. Nothing really to be intimidated about. We’ll just will focus on playing our game.
IM: No, I think it’s great! It gives this tournament credibility right from the onset.
Have you played The Olympic Club before? If so, how do you feel the course fits your game?
BV: I have and, to be honest, it really does not fit my game.
IM: I have not, but Bob has, and it’s long. We don’t hit the ball far, but we control our golf ball which always helps in any USGA event.
Any other comments on the event?
BV: I’m sure by far we are the oldest two competitors in the field and I hope we make a respectable showing. Just looking forward to playing at The Olympic Club!
The inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship will also feature the following SCGA members. Starting times for Rounds 1 and 2, which will be held Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, are below. Stay tuned to scga.org to follow our members' journeys.
7 a.m. - 10:24 a.m. - Jeff Forston (Palm Desert)/Michael Walton (Indian Wells)
11:48 a.m. - 8:24 a.m. - Daniel Ragsdale (Oak Park)/Satchel Hermann (Ventura)
12:48 a.m. - 9:24 a.m. - Jordan Nasser (Irvine)/Taylor Wood (Rancho Santa Margarita)
7:12 a.m. - 10:36 a.m. - Iain MacDonald (Fullerton)/Robert Valerio (Hawthorne)
7:48 a.m. - 11:12 a.m. - Oliver Rheinfurth (Encino)/Marc Reyes
9 a.m. - 12:24 a.m. - David Bartman (Los Angeles)/Edward Fryatt
11:36 a.m. - 8:12 a.m. - Ashwin Arasu (San Diego)/Sahith Theegala (Chino Hills)
12:12 p.m. - 8:48 a.m. - Chase Nicolai (Long Beach)/Cole Young (Carlsbad)