Doug Clapp is the quintessential competitive golfer, calm and composed, dignified in victory, understanding in defeat. As he stood in a warm sunshine at The Kittansett Club last Saturday, he was the picture of complacency.
As the first alternate at the U.S. Senior Amateur, he was standing by, just in case. But if it didn’t work out that a spot opened up – and that is what happened – Clapp knew that it was part of this up-and-down world of competition.
Heck, just look at the wild week he had just experienced. Earlier in the week, torrential rain had finally fallen and wiped out the first day of what was supposed to be a 36-hole Senior Hornblower at Plymouth CC. So, reduced to 18 holes, Clapp went out and shot 2-under 67 before more rain came and darkness kept a dozen golfers from finishing.
The conclusion to the Senior Hornblower would come on Wednesday and there was the potential for someone to match his 67. Only if that happened, “I was going to have to forfeit the playoff,” said Clapp with a smile.