Dan VanderWal is 2009 MVP! Going 5-0 in the 2009 tournament with amazing rounds of 76, 83, and 79 from the difficult black tees (slope 132, course rating 72.8, length 6,935) Dan captured the 2009 Stroke Saver Trophy. Unleashing powerfully long and straight drives and silky putting Dan paired with Jim Warners Thursday morning to defeat Jack Vos and Chris Grek 2&1 on the Sundance course. He then teamed with Tony Vroon later that afternoon to gut out a tough, well-earned 1 up victory over the dream team of Don VanZee and Jack Vos, coming from 4-down in the stroke play event after 6 holes to climb their way back to to even after hole 10. From there the match see-sawed the rest of the way with blood being drawn on almost every hole. The match was dead even through 17 with Dan posting the only par on the watery grave #18 hole for the 1 up victory.
Dan's only stumble came in Friday morning's 2-man best-ball match play event, played over the tight, highly criticized Torch course. Alas, Dan's length gave him no advantage on the short, watery, tree-lined course as he stumbled is way to a grumbling 85. He managed to win the match thanks, in large part, to the new and improved and longish Mark Vandenberge 5&3 to Chris "VanderWal Killer" Grek and Brian VanHall. The match was very close through 7 holes until MVB net birdied 8&9 and the VW/MVB team never looked back, ultimately taking an easy win 5&3 despite VanderWal's 85.
Dan rebounded in the 2-man scramble format Friday afternoon. While again played on his nemesis Torch course, the scramble format suited his game better, as his partner, Jon Vos, breathed a sigh of relief. Jon's length and pinpoint accuracy perfectly complemented Dan's length off the tee. Spotting Chris Grek and Bob Warners 9 strokes in the modified scramble format the two fearsome players immediately began erasing their deficit with a birdie on #1 and never looked back, pulling even after birdieing 13 and adding another birdie on hole 15 to post +4 victory with an incredible scramble format 69, soothing the pain from Dan's morning debacle.
Dan's knees were knocking Friday night after pulling what, on paper, looked like the toughest match he would have all week. He would face the impenetrable, unflappable, Don VanZee in the Saturday morning singles match-play event. Only "VanderWal Killer," Chris Grek, would have been tougher, but alas, Chris had a family emergency and took his exit Friday night leaving Don as his team's best hope to tame the giant. In what became a hotly debated issue Friday night, Dan, handicapped from the blue tees, again decided to play the black tees and in so doing erased Don's +3 stroke advantage to a mere 1 stroke. Immediately, Don knew he was in for a rough match. Alas, Dan's strategy may have been the dagger that deflates the balloon. Don's 82 on the Sundance course was one of the best rounds of the week but he was no match for Dan. Firing a 1-over 37 on the front nine to Don's 43 Dan was 5 up before Don knew what hit him. Dynomite Don is nothing if not a fighter. Still reeling from witnessing a near-perfect front nine from Dan, Don clawed, fought, scratched his way back, drawing the match to as little as -2 with four holes left to play, but the hole was too deep. One slip and the match was over and the slip came on hole 15--a difficult 435-yard par 4 rated the third toughest hole on the course. As he had done all week, Dan parred the hole to go dormy, leaving Don on the outside looking in. Alas, Don would never get any closer.
In winning the coveted Stroke Saver, Dan joins an illustrious and diverse group that includes the tournament's namesake himself: James E. Vos, Sr. It should be noted Dan had serious compeition for the award including Jim Warners, who also went 4-1 for the week, and Jon Vos who's record was an impressive 3.5-1.5. Ultimately, it was Dan's impressive play from the black tees on Sundance that earned him the 2009 award. Dan shares the 2002 MVP award with his brother, Nick VanderWal. With the win Dan joins Dirk VanZee and Jon Vos as the award's only multiple winners. Dirk VanZee holds the record with three winning it outright in 1996 and sharing the award in 2003 with Chris Grek and in 2007 with Jack Vos.
