Byron Center, MI--Eight months after the 2011 James E. Vos Memorial Invitational Tournament there is still no clear winner of the Stroke Saver trophy. The Stroke Saver trophy has traditionally been awarded to the winning team's most valuable player but, like college football's Heisman Trophy, by what criteria that is measured has never been clearly defined.
Playing well certainly helps as does one's overall win-loss record for the weekend. But these, too, are not as easy to measure as one might think. Is it more valuable be the the team's low-net player for the tournament or to have one's handicap drop the most significantly for the tournament? And what if the team's low-net player does not carry the best tournament win-loss record?
An undefeated record can be misleading as well. In foursome play, paired with a partner with a hot hand, one's play may be wretchedly poor save for holing a put or two at the right time and resulting in a win.
And what about the quality of the match? A tough match, hard fought against stiff competition may go down to the wire, but still end up in a loss. Conversely, a last-day singles competition draw against an opponent clearly struggling with his game may result in a relatively easy "w" but a "win's a win" as they say. Right? Well, maybe.
These factors, and others, are making this year's decision all the more difficult as the conversation continues longer than it ever has on who will be the 2011 Stroke Saver winner. The decision is further complicated by the fact that this year's winning team played so exceptionally well together their play resulted in one of the most lopsided victories in the tournament's 24-year history. Five have a legitimate shot at MVP, four of whom are previous Stroke Saver winners.
First, there's Doc Mulder. Mulder entered the 2011 tournament carrying a 19 handicap index. A blistering 88 followed by a 90 on Shanty Creek's friendlier Cedar River course resulted in two first day wins and a 15 index going into the next day. Only one other player (Rice) dropped their index four points that day. Mulder would go on to post another dramatic victory in the 2-man scramble and go on to a 3-2 record in 2011. Combine that with his role at official tournament photographer and his 3-2 record and exceptional play is even more astounding. Rarely is his camera out of reach, and frequently he switches, almost instantly, between club and camera. Mulder has never won the Stroke Saver Trophy.
Three players posted 4-1 records: Chris Grek, Mark Rice, and Jack Vos.
Grek would do his damage in his usual--insanely frustrating to opponents--manner of consistency, his handicap index rarely moving 1 or 2 points throughout the week. Never out of a hole, always even-tempered, his short game kills, especially when your initials are Dan Vander Wal. Grek might have been overlooked for the 2011 Stroke Saver were it not for the Vander Wal legend. As luck or fate would have it, Grek drew Dan Vander Wal for the singles match...again. And, again, miraculously, Grek took the big fella down, shooting 80 to Vander Wal's 78. Granted, VW was wounded, coming off hip replacement surgery just four months prior. But a win is a win, as they say and Grek did it in stunning fashion. Grek has never lost to Dan Vander Wal in singles play.
Mark Rice and Jack Vos played stellar golf as well. Rice played superb on day one, lowering his index 4 points and shooting 77-81, carding two victories, hard fought. In the morning he paired with Jon Vos against the father-son long-hitting Dan and Kyle Vander Wal. In the afternoon he paired with Don Van Zee to again take down the young Kyle Vander Wal, this time paired with Jimmy Warners. Both matches came down to the wire; both decided by Rice birdieing the par-3 17th at Cedar River to seal the victory. To date Rice has beaten the young Vander Wal more than anyone else. On Saturday, Rice played 18 very nervous holes against his father, Rodger Rice, eeking out a victory to end with a 4-1 record.
Jack Vos was the unsung hero of the trip in many ways. A bulldog to face in competition, he simply never gives up and is an excellent 2-man partner. Always thinking, always finding ways to win, always with one more miraculous shot still in the bag when the opponents least expect it. Vos won several tight matches including a 2&1 victory paired with Don Van Zee and 1-up victory paired with Christ Grek against (who else?) Dan Vander Wal and Rodg Rice. Ironically, the younger Rice and Vos' only loss of the tournament came when they were paired together in a very tough match, losing on the last hole--a blemish for both.
And then there's 2-time Stroke Saver winner, Jon Vos. Seemingly unflappable, Jon posted the only undefeated record of the tournament going 5-0. His rounds of 79-84-84 the first two days were not the most blistering rounds of the tournament. His gift is one of inspiration. He is inspiring and uplifting to his playing partners, serving as friend, comedian, and coach all at the same time. And, he just never lost. He won with Rice and then Doc Mulder on day 1; and then with Chris Grek and his brother Jack on day two. Alas, Jon Vos' only blemish was due to Mother Nature. Late-night Friday rains postponed the Saturday singles matches by almost 2 hours. Conflicting home schedules forced Vos (and three others) to cut their singles matches down to a 9 hole match. Vos won 3&1 against Jeff Stuk but we'll never know what would have happened had the match been played over the normal 18 holes.
And so, the conversation continues....
