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A Celebration of Amateur Golf at Pinehurst
The 2005 CMAA National Club Championship Harwell Conquers Competitors and Pinehurst
Cover and cover story pictures courtesy of Bruce Mathews
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| It's a very special feeling and I'm thrilled to say I'm the CMAA National Club Champion." In becoming so, Steve Harwell accomplished just what his general manager Michael Ambrose wanted him to do: "Win."
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| The 43-year-old Harwell from the River Run Golf and Country Club, Davidson, NC, fired a sparkling 69 in the third round and then held off the rest of the field to win the 2005 CMAA National Club Championships.
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| "This ranks as one of the biggest victories of my career. I've been fortunate to play in 12 USGA National Championships with some success, but to win with the competition level so high is a very rewarding experience," he related.
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| "I knew I was playing well and had a lot of confidence, so I felt ready to win. Our club pro David Ross and I had worked very hard on my swing. He encouraged me to believe I could win it all based on how well I was striking the ball. He's been such an encouragement to me." It seems Mike Ambrose, who volunteered each day at the event, kept calling Steve to follow his success. "When I called to tell him I won, he already knew and was ecstatic. It was nice to have the support from him and the rest of the club," Harwell added.
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| Ninety-nine competitors from private clubs across the country tackled the beautiful but tough courses in the 3rd annual NCC at the Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, NC in early November. The CMAA National Club Championship provides a national platform for all amateur club champions from around the world to compete at the highest level.
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| Senior champs
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| Following the second round, golf analyst Jim Kelly and PGA champion John Mahaffey hosted an awards ceremony honoring the Senior and Super Senior Champions, and named the 56 players who qualified to continue the tournament.
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| Paul Simson won the senior division (50-59) with Bill Argus, Fort Wayne Country Club, Ft. Wayne, IN finished second. Richard W. VanLeuvan of Cherokee Town and Country Club, Atlanta, GA won the super senior division (60 and over) with John Wheeler of Concord Country Club, Little, MA the runner-up. Competing in these divisions did not preclude players from advancing in the main tournament.
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| Champion rebounds
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| Harwell was out to make amends this year. Last year he lost one down in the round of 16 at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. "Match play is great but I'm glad the format changed to stroke play. I was disappointed after playing so well but that's the nature of match play."
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| And he has words of praise for Pinehurst and the CMAA, which sponsored the event. "The Pinehurst Resort courses are a tremendous challenge and were in prime condition. The greens were some of the finest putting surfaces I've ever played. The layouts are awesome - No. 2 speaks for itself but No. 8 was as good as any course there," he explained.
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| "The CMAA did an outstanding job of organizing the event…it's one of the finest events I've ever played from start to finish. The sponsors were very generous and all the volunteers, who served to make the event a huge success from all the players stand point, was unmatched," Harwell exclaimed.
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| "What an event! CMAA's national board of directors worked hard to launch the inaugural event three years ago and it just keeps getting better," exclaimed CMAA president Bill Wagner. "As a club manager, I'm proud to be a part of the National Club Championship. A prestigious national event like this gives CMAA the chance to elevate the image of club managers and association and reach out to club members. Offering an event like this - top-notch golf coupled with unmatched hospitality - really reflects positively on CMAA members."
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| Jim Singerling, CMAA chief executive officer, was equally full of praise.
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| "CMAA couldn't be happier with the caliber of the play and the quality of golf CMAA members have been able to offer their champions the opportunity to participate in a first-rate amateur tournament and, by all accounts, the competition was remarkable - from the players to the courses to the weather. The CMAA national Club Championship is a celebration of the game of golf and a success that we can build on in the future," Singerling commented.
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| Club can designate a competitor in the NCC if the club makes a $1,000 (or greater) non-refundable contribution to The Club Foundation. There's no registration fee for golfers because that would violate the amateur status guidelines of the USGA. CMAA also ensure that its procedures protect the amateur status of competitors.
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| Champion Harwell, his wife Tracy and twin daughters Heather and Haley live in Mooresville, NC. A New York Life agent, with his own agency specializing in employee benefits, Harwell has won the River Run Golf and Country Club Championship 11 times. "My wife is a great supporter of my golf and both my girls began playing golf this summer. Heather won the 12 and Under at River run and Haley finished second." Maybe a couple of chips off the old block!
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| Stroke play tourney
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| Harwell, in the 72-hole stroke play tournament, beginning with a 36-hole qualifier, put together rounds of 73-70-69 and 79 for a final score of 291, two on the runners-up Cliff Benson, III from the Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, NC and Paul Simson, NorthRidge Country Club, also in Raleigh. Both finished with 293 and the Benson win in a playoff for second place.
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| The club champions played the first qualifying round on the incomparable Pinehurst No. 4. Redesigned in 2000, this Fazio course has 140 bunkers and a beautiful lake, making it a challenge and a lot of fun. Taylor Massey of the Country Club of Virginia and Jefferson Murray of West Lake Country Club, Augusta, GA, tied with the best score on opening day - 71.
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| Harwell began making his move in the second round played on the picturesque Pinehurst No. 5. Here designed Ellis Maples relied on Mother Nature as the architectural guide. It has more water hazards than any other course at Pinehurst. Harwell and Bob Royak of St. Ives Country Club in Alpharetta, GA fired a round leading 70.
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| Harwell put it all together on day three played on the newest Pinehurst course, No. 8. Designed to be a pleasurable walking course, it's a proven championship course that daunts and delights all who play it. Harwell fired a 69 to move ahead of the field, putting him in fine position for the final championship round.
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| That was played on the treacherous Pinehurst No. 2, site of the 2005 U.S. Open. The best of the best…No. 2 is a challenge not only because of its length, topography, unruly routing, water features and green size, but also because of the combination of factors that have made thousands of golfers laugh and cry at the same time.
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| Undulating greens. Carefully placed bunkers. A strategic layout that tests both the long and short game - it's golf the way it was meant to be played, "the fairest test of championship golf" ever designed by Ross. It's also top 10 in the country, and site of more championships than any other course in the country, including the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open Championships.
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| Jefferson Murray of West Lake Country Club in Augusta, GA, had the best score of the round with a 70. Kim Mansfield of High Point Country Club in High Point, NC; Johnny Elam of Carmel country Club in Charlotte, NC, and Paul Simson of North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh, NC, each shot a 71.
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| Harwell scored a final round 79, but he stayed out of reach in the tussle for the National Club Championship. The win is history and now Steve will ready himself for 2006 saying, "I will definitely defend my title."
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