Columbus Senior Amateur champion Ken Weixel
28 years after winning the Columbus District Amateur, Ken Weixel returned to his home state to claim the Senior Division of the same tournament. Weixel defeated Vin Cahill in the final match on Thursday, 3-and-2 to claim the title.
"It was a tournament I always played after I started competing seriously again in my late 20's," Weixel said of the event.
"When I won in 1993, it was played at my home club -- New Albany Country Club -- and I beat Rod Spittle [Champions Tour player] in one of the matches.
Weixel, who grew up in Eastern Ohio, went to high school at Worthington H.S. and college at Capital University in Columbus. While at Capital, his team won their conference championship and finished fourth in the Division III national championship. He was selected as an All American that year.
After moving to California in 1993, he returned to Ohio for a stint with Deloitte in 1997, before moving to San Diego, where he just retired as managing partner.
"I'm enjoying my retirement so far," said Weixel. "I've maintained my membership at New Albany over the years, and just joined The Golf Club."
With family in Ohio dictating frequent return trips, Weixel has tried to play at least one major Ohio event over the years. But this was his first time entering the Columbus Senior Amateur.
After qualifying with a 76, Weixel was in the opposite bracket from the medalist Bill Fuller, who fired 68 at Moundbuilders Country Club. The two had never met, but the potential to do battle was right there in the bracket.
"I knew that when I got the No. 4 seed, I was on the other side of the bracket from him," said Weixel. "I had never played him before but based on that if we met it was going to be in the finals."
After playing some of his best golf of the week (even par) n the quarterfinals against Steve Laslo, Weixel won his afternoon match 4-and-3.
"I was excited to play 36-holes, and didn't feel tired at all," said Weixel, who is no stranger to 36-hole days. "I think that was an advantage."
In Thursday's final, Weixel enjoyed a 3-up advantage after 10 holes. Known for playing aggressively, Weixel went for the green in two on the par-5, but his shot hit a branch and he wound up losing the hole after Cahill holed a monster putt of 40-feet for birdie.
Cahill would narrow the lead to just one hole after Weixel made bogey on No. 12, but Weixel plodded forward and birdied No. 13 to go back to 2-up. He closed out the 18-hole final match on No. 16.
"I was told I'm one of four players to win both the regular and senior titles," said Weixel. "I've known and respected the other three, and to be part of the same group is really special."
View results for Columbus Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE Columbus Senior Amateur
Match play championship for senior members of
the Columbus District Golf
Association. 18 hole of stroke play qualifying
determines a match play bracket of 16 players.
View Complete Tournament Information