David Sheman Plays The Long Game; Takes Both Trophies at 2021 Player of the Year
September 30th, 2021
One of the things David Sheman (Emerald Hills Golf Club) said after his win only a week earlier at the 2021 Match Play Finals was that he really wanted to focus on his discipline.
"I told myself to really focus on playing things safe, work on my shot, and ultimately not mess with things that work," he explained.
Flash forward to round 2 of the 2021 Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year Championship on Tuesday - Sheman, after recording a 2-over (74) in round 1, came into the scoring table with an impressive 3-under (69) on his way to being crowned the 2021 Player of the Year tournament winner and 2021 Breenie Cup champion after a thrilling playoff hole.
Does anyone care to guess what his secret was?
WIND WREAKS HAVOC DURING ROUND 1
"Out of the last 20 or so years of doing this, I have never seen wind with this much force at an event," said Stacey Hewett at the first tee.
She wasn't wrong - with winds reaching up to 55 km/hr from the southwest, players were thankful to be teeing-off with the wind, not against it.
Recently Grand Niagara Golf Club, with 18 holes laid beautifully around various hazards, reverted back to its original layout with the first tee behind the Pro shop. This caught the attention of some of the players as they hit their tee shots off 1.
"Having played the POY here back in 2019, it will be nice to be able to go out with the wind rather than against it. Allows you to get to know the conditions a bit more and make any adjustments for the back," said one player.
Thank you to the entire team at Grand Niagara and our POY sponsors Greenside Social for everything you did for the event.
Most PGA of Ontario two-day events include a Senior division where Seniors can play in the one-day Senior event as well as take part in the main championship.
This one-day event had a field of 11 players, most of whom were in the Player of the Year category also. Danny King (The Performance Academy at Magna), a tournament regular, recorded a score of 72 (E) to be crowned the 2021 Senior Player of the Year tournament champion.
ROUND 2 BRINGS THE BEST OF THE BEST
Danny King's even performance on day 1, combined with the wind, placed him fairly competitively for a title push in round 2. Scores from round 1 were as sporadic as the day itself.
Going into round 1 Jake McNulty (Oshawa Golf and Curling Club) lead the tournament at 1-under (71). Hot on his heels sitting one stroke back (72) was Jakob Montemurro (Oak Gables Golf and Country Club), Gordon Burns (Gordon Burns Golf School), and Danny King.
Sheman, our future winner had some work to do after his 2-over performance on day 1.
"I was struggling on the first day, so today I just really focused on telling myself to play the right way, have confidence in my shots, and the results will come," explained Sheman.
He went on to score an impressive 3-under (69) to crawl back into the title competition. This included some key birdies and even an eagle on 17.
"17 was a fun hole that really set the stage for the playoff," alluded Sheman. "It was one where I was a bit back from the pin, I took a good look at it and frankly wasn't even trying to place it in the cup, and it just sort of rolled my way and I was lucky to one putt."
Both David Sheman and Jakob Montemurro were tied at 1-under for the tournament. In order to crown the POY champion, a sudden victory playoff was declared and the two players headed to hole 1.
After some equally distanced tee-shots from the first tee box, Sheman placed it about 50 feet back from the pin with a nice approach. Jakob, who also had also carded 1-under on the tournament (143) fired it long behind the green.
"Jakob is a great player and is not someone you want to have to chase, so seeing him put it over like that was a relief, but not completely," said Sheman.
Jakob, with his trusty pitching wedge, shot a great ball to bring him within a few inches of the pin.
"It was a great shot that clearly would have set him up for par, so luckily I had the chance to two-putt, and that was what I was trying to do," said Sheman.
Call it luck or whatever you might, but when Sheman approached his 50-foot putt, everyone in the audience expected a good putt, but something to set him up for par. The gods had other plans as it broke two ways and with little power remaining, dropped into the cup for the birdie, and the win.
"Like 17, I never expected to make it, I was already recalling what hole 2 looked like," said Sheman. "It was one of those things that make this game so beautiful I guess."
Sheman proudly thanked Blair Breen, son of the late Bob Breen, whom the 2021 Player of the Year trophy is named after.
"It means a lot to have a player like David who embodies all the things my father tried to practice in his career in golf, holding a symbolic piece of him today," Blair stated.
"We have some great players in this association, and it means a lot to have a great team at the PGA of Ontario, a great course, and a great golfer here today to celebrate the season," added Sheman.
Congratulations David on a great season.
THREE MINI-TOURNAMENTS CONDENSED INTO ONE
Players weren't only battling for the Player of the Year tournament trophy, there was a handful of trophies available to be won at the 2021 Player of the Year.
The Senior Player of the Year tournament title also rendered Danny King the winner of 2021 Senior Player of the Year, a trophy that ranks performance in the entirety of the Player of the Year tournaments. Congrats Danny!
On the Apprentice side of the Player of the Year standings, Alan McLean's (Echo Valley Golf Club) performance leading up to the Player of the Year tournament landed him squarely in the lead, crowning him the Apprentice Player of the Year even before the Player of the Year Championship had begun.
And finally, Emma De Groot (Modern Golf) won the Women's Player of the Year title after her standout performance at the 2021 Women's Zone Championship.
Those looking for photos from the event will find them on the PGA of Ontario Facebook page.
Check out the PRP Leaderboard as this year’s program is on its final stretch!
Our final (and most popular) event of the season, Fall Scramble, is happening on October 4th and is SOLD OUT. It's sure to be an exciting day so make sure to follow us on social (@PGAofOntario) for highlights as they happen!