Two for Thelen

Tim Thelen of Texas won his second PGA Club Professional Championship in four years at Twin Warriors Golf Club on Sunday. He and the rest of the top 25 finishers earned spots in the 2003 PGA Championship.

Bob Denney
PGA.com Contributor

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. -- Tim Thelen of Richmond, Texas, made a 20-foot eagle putt on the first hole Sunday at Twin Warriors Golf Club to grab a lead he wouldn't relinquish in the 36th PGA Club Professional Championship. And despite a furious rally by Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, Thelen went on to capture a one-stroke victory and his second PGA CPC title in the last four years.

Thelen, 42, an assistant professional at Bushwood Golf Center in Houston, Texas, finished with a 3-under-par 69, capped by a spectacular recovery for a bogey-5 from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole. His winning total of 6-under-par 282 earned him a first-place prize of $53,000 from a total purse of $400,000 along with exemptions into six PGA Tour events. In addition, the top 25 finishers earn berths in the PGA Championship in August.

Schneiter, the 1995 PGA CPC Champion and an assistant professional at Schneiter's PebbleBrook Golf Links in Sandy, Utah, just missed a 60-foot uphill birdie putt to finish with a 71 and 283.

Thelen, who also won the 2000 CPC, joined Roger Watson (1974-75) and the late Larry Gilbert (1981, '82, '91) as the only multiple winners of the nation's showcase event for PGA Professionals.

"It's awesome," said Thelen, who collected an eagle, three birdies and a bogey on Sunday. "When I got the trophy (The Walter Hagen Cup), I got goose bumps. You're Champion again for another year. And people earn their way to get here, all 156 players. They're all great players and you just got to stick to your game plan and not get disgusted if you hit a bad shot, especially on the golf courses that they have this tournament on each year."

Ron Philo Jr. of Amelia Island, Fla., who had the day's low round of 68, led a foursome tied for third at 287. He was joined by Bob Sowards of Columbus, Ohio, who posted a 69, Dino Lucchesi of Round Lake Beach, Ill., with a 70, and Kevin Burton of Boise, Idaho, with a 74.

Schneiter began the day with a one-stroke lead over Thelen and Burton, but went on a near-collapsing run of double bogey-bogey-bogey from the second through fourth holes and was six strokes behind Thelen after six holes. Burton never could find momentum, falling five strokes behind Thelen after nine.

Schneiter gradually battled back to within two strokes after a birdie run from the seventh through 10th holes and added birdies on the 12th and 13th holes. But Thelen responded with birdies on the 12th and 13th holes to hold his two-stroke advantage until the final hole.

"I had a two-shot lead coming into the last hole and I thought I hit an absolutely perfect drive," said Thelen. "But it hit a little right where it's supposed to kick left and hit a rake and was buried. I tried to get it out into the fairway, where I'd have a sand wedge in. That was a mistake, I should have laid it back further and have a 5-iron in."

Thelen's 88-yard sand wedge approach into the wind landed in the front greenside bunker. He then stepped in, and blasted to within inches of the hole. Schneiter responded by lagging a 60-foot uphill birdie putt just past the hole.

"The sand wedge was probably one of the worst shots I've hit all week, " said Thelen. "Then I responded with a great bunker shot. I'm glad I did, because Steve hit a great putt."

Thelen's wife, Lucinda, caddied for her husband for the third consecutive CPC, earning a caddie's victory bonus.

"You got to live with her," joked Thelen. "I've got a very good demeanor and she's got a very good demeanor and she wants to caddie for this golf tournament. So I let her do it and I'm going to have to write her a check for caddying."

Lucinda had never caddied for her husband until the 2001 CPC, when he tied for second. She missed the opening 36 holes due to a foot infection in 2002, but finished the weekend rounds as Thelen tied for fifth. At Twin Warriors Golf Club, a 7,624-yard layout that was the longest course in PGA of America competitive history, she appeared fresh and was beaming.

"Win or lose, it doesn't change how it is between us," said Lucinda. "We're both competitive and we both want to win. I think I'm more practical than him. I had foot problems the first 36 holes last year at Valhalla (in Louisville, Ky.) and a local caddie filled in, but I worked the weekend. This was a great week and just unbelievable."

Schneiter could not pinpoint why he stumbled early during a week when he appeared steady for 54 holes.

"It was ugly, it was bad," said Schneiter. "But, I was proud of the way that I fought back and finished. I tried to keep to my game plan and I knew I need to make birdies. I knew that Tim wouldn't do anything stupid. He's a good player and steady. I played enough golf with him to know how he plays. I couldn't give it up to Tim. I was proud that I could come back. I was shocked to see Tim hit into the bunker at the 18th hole, but he made a great recovery."

The 36th PGA Club Professional Championship was presented by Buick, Club Car, Titleist/FootJoy Worldwide and Cobra Golf.

The low 25 scorers earned berths in the 85th PGA Championship, Aug. 14-17 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. Along with Thelen, they are: Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah; Ron Philo of Amelia Island, Fla.; Bob Sowards of Columbus, Ohio; Dino Lucchesi of Round Lake Beach, Ill.; Kevin Burton of Boise, Idaho; Terry Hatch of Pottsville, Pa.; Alan Morin of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; Mike Schuchart of Lincoln, Neb.; Jeffrey Lankford of Mocksville, N.C.; Don Berry of Maple Grove, Minn.; Sean Farren of Oakmont, Pa.; Michael Combs of Kennewick, Wash.; Ken Schall of Waterloo, Iowa; Wayne DeFrancesco of Baltimore, Md.; Rick Schuller of Chester, Va.; Scott Porter of Lexington, Ky.; John Guyton of East Williston, N.Y.; Chip Sullivan of Roanoke, Va.; Tim Fleming of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Rob Labritz of Palm City, Fla.; Cary Sciorra of Centreville, Va.; Dave Spengler of Luxemburg, Wis.; Dave Tentis of Woodbury, Minn., and J.C. Anderson of Carrollton, Texas.