MIDLOTHIAN — Rick Schuller, a professional at Richmond’s Stonehenge G&CC, made a clutch up and down for par on the final hole on Tuesday to win the 17th Senior Open of Virginia, held at Independence Golf Club. Schuller shot a two-day aggregate total of 10-under-par 134 to win his second title in the event, his first coming in 2013 at Country Club of Virginia’s Westhampton Course.
Schuller finished one shot clear of Midlothian amateur Steve Serrao (Willow Oaks CC), who posted a two-day aggregate total of 9-under 135.
A REAL ROLLER COASTER: Serrao opened Tuesday’s second round with a three-shot lead, made a double bogey on No. 2 and another on No. 7 (in between he made three straight birdies), and was behind by as many as four strokes. Serrao made an eagle on No. 13 and eventually tied Schuller on the 15th hole before making another bogey on 16.
STUNNER: Schuller made a long birdie putt from off the green on No. 17, one that hit the flagstick and dropped home. Serrao, admittedly a bit rattled, missed his birdie putt, allowing Schuller to head to the 36th hole with a two-shot lead.
TURNING POINT: Serrao drove to the middle of the fairway on 18. Schuller’s drive slipped left into a fairway bunker. He escaped the bunker but couldn’t make it back to the fairway, leaving him a tricky lie in Independence’s sticky Bermuda rough. Serrao hit his approach to six feet, pressuring Schuller to hit a great shot out of the rough. He did just that, and his approach settled three feet from the hole. “So good,” said Serrao, who was standing on the green as Schuller’s approach landed.
FIRST-ROUND LEADER: Serrao posted a 7-under 65 on Monday.
NOTE: The Senior Open of Virginia is conducted jointly by the VSGA and Middle Atlantic PGA.
QUOTABLE
Schuller on the time between his two victories (nine years):
“There’s been some strong amateur play in that time. We have a really strong contingent of amateurs in the state of Virginia. I’m honored again to hold the title.”
Schuller on the approach on 18
“My tee ball kind of left me on the back nine. I aimed for the bunker and ended up hitting the bunker on 18. I had a really difficult lie on the second shot, and I knew Steve was in great position to make a birdie. I was doing everything I could to take a stance and make clean contact with the ball. Unfortunately, it hit the lip, and that left me with the hardest shot I’ve had all week. I can’t believe I got that ball as close as I did. It turns out Steve made his putt so I had to make that to cap it off. What a grind.”
Schuller on his putt on 17
“I hit a poor tee ball, and I laid up nicely but was stuck in between yardages with that back pin. I know that swale is over there on the left. He had hit another really good shot to put the pressure on me to hit a decent shot. Stuck in between, I went with a pitching wedge instead of my gap wedge, tried to flight it, and it got up on the hill and rolled back down the hill into a little collection area. It was a weird situation. I don’t know if it was from a divot or if it was a piece of turf, but my ball rolled onto it where the turf was in a U shape on either side of the ball. Wedge, putter, whatever I hit with, the grass was going to be stuck between the ball and the club face. I told myself not to leave it short, because it could easily come back to my feet. I hit it a little too hard, and it was going really hard, but it was dead center on the pin. I thought it was going to deflect out but it fell in. I think that kind of stunned Steve.”
Serrao on Tuesday’s rough start
“I was playing great, but my nerves kind of got to me. I lost my tempo. I lost my swing. I made some dumb mistakes. But I knew I was playing well, so I just hung in there and hoped to get hot, and I did.”
Serrao on the bogey on 16
“I thought I hit a decent drive, but I ended up in the bunker. He made a great par there. He made a great birdie on 17. And you saw the shot he hit on 18. I did the best I could at the end. I’m just disappointed in how I started off.”
Serrao on the mood swings of the tournament
“He played great. He started off well, cool and calm. I did not. I don’t know. I hung in there, made some birdies, got that eagle on 13. I guess I’m semi-happy. I wanted to win that badly. But I came back, so I guess that’s OK.”
FUN FACTS