THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9406300689
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940630 LENGTH: Medium
On the locker to his immediate left was the name Stockton. That's Dave Stockton, two-time PGA champion, former Ryder Cup captain and long a world-class golfer.
{REST} Two lockers to the right, he found the name Trevino. Yes, Lee Trevino, who seemingly does everything in twos - like winning two British Opens, two PGAs and two U.S. Opens.
Down the aisle a bit were the other legendary names Strickfaden grew up worshiping as a youngster in Missouri; Nicklaus, Palmer, Player.
This is the world into which Gary Strickfaden - accountant, captain of the Missouri golf team 30-odd years ago and Virginia Beach resident - has stepped.
Three years ago, he nearly won the Virginia State Amateur, finishing second to Keith Decker. Asked about the rest of his career, Strickfaden evenly admits ``there isn't a whole lot to know.''
Today at 11:30, he, Rocky Nelson and Robert Irving will stand on the first tee of Pinehurst Country Club's fabled No. 2 course. With their first swing, they'll officially become contestants for the U.S. Senior Open championship.
For Strickfaden, 50, it'll be the continuation of a wild ride that began June 21 at The Crossings in Richmond. He fired a 73 and won an Open berth by parring the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
``I was a little bit stunned,'' Strickfaden recalled. ``I knew (winning meant) I was coming to the Open, but I didn't know what that meant.
``I'm fairly competitive in the state of Virginia. I can compete on occasion with most of the really good players. And I had a burning desire to be involved in competitive golf at the highest level. So I gave it a shot.''
He knows a few of his fellow competitors - he played against Jim Colbert and Dave Eichelberger as a collegian ``but that was way-back when, which translates into they don't remember me.''
He also knows Pinehurst No. 2; enough, at least, to know it presents a tremendous challenge for his often-erratic short game.
``The most suspect aspect of my game is from 100 yards in,'' he says. ``But, otherwise, it is fairly well suited to my game. It's a very interesting and difficult course to score on. It's non-traditional by today's standards in that it's a fairly wide open golf course, not very demanding off the tee in terms of keeping the ball in play.
``However, the greens are extremely demanding, generally mounted in the center and the ball runs off the green severely off both sides, back and front. If you don't hit the ball in the proper position, you find yourself with some really, really tricky approaches, almost impossible to get close.''
He pauses.
``It's a classic old course and really a treat to play.''
For Strickfaden, that's what this week's about. A treat. A well-deserved reward for 30 years devoted to family and career, for 30 years when whatever dreams of playing major professional golf were shoved into the subconscious because the kids were young, a client was waiting, the time and energy just weren't there to practice.
``To be quite honest, it's just enough to be here and enjoy this atmosphere and this opportunity,'' Strickfaden said. ``That's my primary goal, to enjoy this really fabulous experience. My secondary goal is making the cut.''
He laughs and says he's fought off the temptation to ask Nicklaus and Palmer and Ray Floyd for their autographs. Come today, he must thwart another temptation and not allow his skills and nerve to become lost in the magnitude of the moment. Open embarrassments can be legendary.
``The fact that I've had those same feelings, or some level of those same feelings, in the past in stepping up to the first tee, I'll remember that I got through it,'' Strickfaden said.
``I'll also remember that, occasionally, I hit the ball really good under those conditions.''
by CNB