John Werner (L) and John Finnin (R) ham-and-egged it to win the CDGA Four-Ball
(CDGA photo)
ITASCA, IL (October 6, 2017) - The CDGA championship calendar began in May with Terry Werner (Dyer, Ind. / Briar Ridge CC) and John Finnin (Mokena / Olympia Fields CC) battling in the final match of the CDGA Senior Amateur. It ended at the 2nd CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship with Finnin and Werner teaming up to win the championship at Itasca Country Club, besting Dirk Anderson (Libertyville / Merit Club) and Steven Jacobs (Highland Park / Pine Meadow GC), 6 and 4.
“We talked about it after the CDGA Senior at Ridge to join up and play this tournament at the end of the year,” Finnin said about the duo coming together. “When one of us was out of the hole or was making a bogey, the other was making birdie or par.”
Finnin and Werner got started at the fourth hole on Thursday, halving the hole, as Finnin rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 moments after Anderson had holed a 40-foot birdie. That momentum carried over to the fifth, where Finnin drained a 30-foot par putt, this time to win the hole, and take the lead.
From there, Finnin and Werner systematically pulled away as they had in their three previous matches, taking the seventh when Finnin holed out for eagle from the fairway, the eighth when Werner stuck his approach to 5 feet for birdie and the 10th when Werner again put his approach to 5 feet. With the 4-up lead, the pair cruised in, winning the 13th and 14th holes to capture the title.
“We ham and egg it really well,” Werner said following the event. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we play to them. He talks me into things and I talk him into things and we just back each other up. That’s what you do in a match play situation.”
For Werner, it was his second CDGA championship of the season (having won the CDGA Senior) to go with three titles he won in his native Indiana this summer. For Finnin, it is his first CDGA championship. The pair dominated the field in match play as the second seed, needing only 57 holes to complete four matches and only losing two holes during that stretch.
“This has been a great season,” Werner added. “To win two here (in Illinois), it’s amazing. You’re thankful you’re able to do it, keep healthy, play and get some good partners who can putt.”
View results for Chicago Senior Better-Ball
ABOUT THE Chicago Senior Better-Ball
The Championship is open to any CDGA Member,
who
has reached his 55th birthday on or before the
start
of
the championship and has an individual handicap
index
not exceeding 10.4. The format is 18-
holes of stroke play qualifying which
determines the low 16 who will advance to match
play.
View Complete Tournament Information