Cuttrell/Fairman, Erickson/Corsi victorious in Senior Four-Ball Championships
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • July 8, 2024
For Arnold Cutrell, winning isn’t exactly old hat. But it is undeniably familiar.
Cutrell, for the second time this season, won a WPGA senior team championship Monday.
The former WPGA Amateur champ teamed up with Frank Fairman to shoot 11-under in the 14th WPGA Senior Four-Ball Championship at Green Oaks Country Club.
The duo posted a 67 in the first round, but trailed the team of Martin Slovonic and Michael Kaminski by three strokes.
Following lunch, however, the winning pair came alive.
“We got off to a good start,” said Cutrell. “The turning point was when Frank made an eagle on 13. He hit it in to about ten feet and made a putt for eagle.
“I was scoreboard watching a bit and knew that got us ahead of (Slovonic and Kaminski). That was the putt that did it.”
While Cutrell knows the feeling of winning recently, Fairman is in the process of making a return to competitive golf after a lengthy time away due to injuries.
“It was a lot of fun,” Fairman said. “Those guys were playing well. It really stirred the competitive juices that I haven’t seen in myself in quite a few years.”
And perhaps it was rust that led to his surprise in the match’s turning point.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t even realize it was an eagle until we came in (to scoring) and Arnie said it just a little bit ago,” Fairman said with a laugh. “I hit a good drive and a good 6 iron in. I don’t know. I didn’t even realize it was an eagle.”
Making the duo’s performance even more impressive was the way they handled the elements. With temperatures eclipsing 90 degrees throughout most of their two rounds, Cutrell and Fairman kept the ball in advantageous positions, alleviating additional hard work.
“Arnie was playing great today,” Fairman said. “Especially in the second round, I don’t think he made a bogey. I tried to make solid pars and give him runs, be there for him and help him out.”
Cutrell won the Semple Century Foursomes Championship in early May, combining with Jeff Hovanec to win. Hovanec finished third Monday at Green Oaks, teaming up with Bill Rosemeyer to shoot 4-under.
“It’s senior golf, but still, it’s competitive,” Cutrell said. “That first round, we were three back. It got us going a little bit. It was nice to be able to respond.”
After Senior Division was decided, the Super-Senior Division brought some drama. A playoff was needed to decide a winner thanks to birdies from a pair of teams on 18.
In the two-hole playoff, Don Erickson and Jospeh Corsi edged Fred Stern and Jan Rihs. Both teams shot 5-under through the first 36 holes.
Erickson came through clutch for his team multiple times, including a par save after his tee shot went into a green-side bunker during the second playoff hole.
“Donny got it up and down from the bunker,” said Corsi. “And then he made a good putt. Unfortunately for (Stern and Rihs), the other guy just lipped out his par putt.”
Just to get to that point, however, Erickson needed some heroics. He drained the birdie putt on 18 to force the extra holes.
“You don’t have like over 20 USGA national titles without having nerves of steel,” said Corsi. “Don’s quite the accomplished player.”
And Erickson is also no stranger to WPGA victories this season, having claimed the Senior Series #1 Super-Senior division in April. This event, however, was far more grueling with twice as many holes and about 30 more degrees on the thermostat than his previous win.
“At 72 years old, you’ll take a win any time,” Erickson said. “A win’s a win’s a win.”
Corsi, meanwhile, is now a five-time winner of the Senior Four-Ball, having won four times previously alongside John Jones — including a victory at Green Oaks in 2019.
“It’s always super fun to win,” he said. “You don’t know how much longer you’ll play when you’re this age. Luckily, we still have events to play. It’s really a lot of fun. The competition is great.”
To see the leaderboard for the 2024 WPGA Senior Four-Ball Championship, click here GGID: 24WPGASR4BALL).
For media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and 34,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.