Jul 27

How not to lose a USGA National Junior quarterfinal match

Man, oh man! When the USGA calls a kid “ostentatious,” it’s on! I’d always been an ignorant Peter Uihlein fan, figuring that the son of the CEO of Titleist must have some game if he can get to be the number one junior in the country, despite all the pressure and profile. Until today, that is. Here, in essence, is what Ken Klavon of the USGA had to say about Uihlein:

Augusta, Mo. – The script was supposedly pre-conceived. David versus Goliath. Fourteen year old against 17 year old. The top-ranked junior player from the Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla., against an up-and-comer who could hold his own with anyone.

Even the 14 year old, Anthony Paolucci, admitted the odds were stacked against him Thursday when he saw he had to take on the monolithic Peter Uihlein. At the end, one would bolt away red-faced, offering a terse “I’m not talking” while the other spoke so soft that the whir of a fan above had more pitch.

Paolucci did the inconceivable and sent the ostentatious Uihlein bee-lining for the Boone Valley Golf Club parking lot in a tizzy. When Paolucci drained his 10-foot birdie offering on the 18th hole, an incensed Uihlein tossed his ball into Irwin Lake. Not bad for a young stalwart getting his first taste of the match-play format.

“I could tell he was really mad,” said Paolucci, who trailed just four holes in the quarterfinal match.

PAOLUCCI
…

An infuriated Uihlein heaved his ball into the lake, offered Paolucci a quick handshake and departed his final Junior Amateur empty-handed. In the meantime, Paolucci has just started building his resume, a vibrant feather at that by taking down a giant.

Wow, that says it all, huh? You’re supposed to go into a match imagining two possibilities: a gracious victory and a gracious defeat. Someone forgot to tell young master Uihlein about that script.

UIHLEIN

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3 comments

Comment from: Renee [Visitor]

Pretty snide comments for someone who wasn't there. (Do you or Ken even know what 'ostentatious' means? If you do and if you know even a little bit about Peter Uihlein, you know it does not describe him.) If you didn't see it first hand, you've got no right to judge either player. The media chose to make this a 'David vs. Goliath' story - and in order to do so, they had to bais their writing to favor Paolucci. I walked all 18 holes of this match, and I could just as easily write a summary that would favor Uihlein. In all fairness, they BOTH had good moments and they BOTH had bad. Considering all the media attention, though, not to mention the fact that they are both TEENAGERS, I think they both handled themselves far better than most. As for Paolucci declaring that he 'could tell [Uihlein] was really mad', I'm sorry, but it was not his place to discuss Uihlein's emotional state. So he threw a ball in the water. Big deal. I've seen people do that when they WIN a match. He congratulated Paolucci and left when his caddy said 'let's go'. Where exactly did he show any display of anger? Would it have better for him to speak with the media? Maybe, but it makes a much better story if he doesn't, doesn't it? PROFESSIONALS have chosen not to speak with the media before, too. (I have to wonder what YOU would have done in his place...) Sports reporters should stick to writing about sports and leave the psychoanalysis to the professionals.

07/30/07 @ 10:21

Comment from: Ron Mon [Member]

Which comment is snide, Miss Renee? I need more to go on than what you give. Next, "ostentatious" was the USGA writer's word choice, not mine. Third, here is a pair of definitions for the word... 1. characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others: an ostentatious dresser.
2. (of actions, manner, qualities exhibited, etc.) intended to attract notice: Lady Bountiful's ostentatious charity.

Tossing a ball into the water is done not to return the ball to its natural habitat, but to attract attention.

I'm not certain what your connection to Mr. Uihlein is, but a recruit from Oklahoma State on an international stage will be held to a higher standard than you or I on a weekend stage. He is fortunate to have such a stalwart supporter as you.

By the way, if you can find one shred of psychoanalysis in my blog entry, please point it out.

07/30/07 @ 15:08

Comment from: James [Visitor]

Renee, You too must not have been at the US Junior. At the conclusion of the Uihlein Paolucci match Peter threw his ball into the water and stormed of the green. He then locked himself in his car for an hour refusing to speak to anyone. Although this tournament meant a lot to Peter this instance says a lot about his personality.

08/11/07 @ 23:17

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