Becker’s own Steve Whittaker finished second on the sixth playoff hole Wednesday to Don Berry at the Jewel Golf Club in Lake City.
The two-day tournament saw Whittaker and Berry finish the 36-hole contest at five-under 137s. The open features players aged 50 and over and Wednesday’s win was Berry’s sixth title.
Both Berry and Whittaker had several chances to close out the tournament during the playoff, but a patient Berry pounced on a Whittaker mistake when he failed to get up-and-down for par on the sixth playoff hole, leaving Berry with a short par putt for the win.
Opening the championship with a two-under 69 Tuesday, Whittaker made a late charge by carding birdie on his final two holes Wednesday to post a 3-under 68 and into a share of the lead with Berry at 5-under 137. Whittaker had the better birdie chances during the playoff, but was unable to convert to claim his second win at the event.
Finishing as runner-up and earning low-amateur honors Wednesday, the always humble Whittaker said it’s hard to be frustrated about second place finishes these days after a myriad of surgeries and health concerns over the past decade.
“I’ve had some good rounds so far and I’m kind of getting back to healthy. I feel pretty lucky to be here. I remind myself that this is golf and I get to be out here and enjoy it with all of these great men.”
Whittaker was asked if he was nervous playing against a Minnesota golf icon in a sudden death playoff.
“My answer was, not really. I can’t control anything he does so my attitude was just go out and do my best and leave the results up to God.”
Whittaker posted a 1-over 73 Thursday at the U.S. Senior Open Qualifier at Prestwick, missing the qualifying spot by three strokes before going toe-to-toe with one of the state’s best professional players this week, despite facing one of his most serious health scares during the offseason just months ago.
Whittaker was on vacation in St. Louis and passed out at breakfast. He regained consciousness, but flatlined again in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and twice more when arrived.
“The ambulance was there in minutes. We got to the hospital and doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong,” Whittaker said. “I flatlined again and there was a nurse outside my room when all of the alarms went off. The electro cardiologist finally figured it out—there were no emergency surgeries and they put in a pacemaker and I’ve been fine since.
“I was 600 miles away in a strange place and we happened to be two miles from a top-30 heart hospital in the United States—how do you explain that? It was a miracle.”
Though his body seemingly tells him otherwise, Whittaker continues to return to the course year after year, continuing to play at a high level.
He’s claimed seven top-10 finishes in the last two seasons with his last victory coming at the 2016 Minnesota Golf Association Senior Players’ Championship. In 2015 he claimed the Minnesota Public Golf Association Mid Public Links in a field of players half his age.
“I love the game and I love being out here. It’s a real joy for me and my family has been so supportive. Maybe I’m too dumb to give up,” the 66-year-old Whittaker laughed.
“What made this so special was that I was fortunate enough in 2008 to tie another Minnesota golf icon in the Senior Open named Mike Zinni (I lost in sudden death). I won this tourney in 2010 when Pebble Creek hosted it and since then have had numerous health challenges which have limited my time and ability to play.”
(Two rotator cuff surgeries, lower back surgery, four total knee replacements, and a pacemaker) .
“So I have not played at this weeks level in eight or nine years,” he said. “I can only explain it that the Lord gave me a gift and I am very thankful for this experience.”
