Kevin VandenBerg, Pulaski, NY
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. – The 10th Founders Cup concluded on Wednesday at Silverado Resort & Spa where the heart of wine country collides with championship golf. The North Course, which was an original 1966 Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design that was redesigned in 2011 by PGA Tour Hall of Famer Johnny Miller, again provided quite the challenge in the final round with its thick rough and tricky putting surfaces. This was the first of three consecutive years that the Society of Seniors will be visiting the famed resort, which also currently hosts the Procore Championship on the PGA Tour, won this year by Scottie Scheffler.
Senior Division
In the highly competitive Senior division, Kevin VandenBerg, Pulaski, NY, held on for the win as he withstood a strong challenge from runner-up David Glabicki, Cary, NC, who fired a bogey-free closing round of 69 (-3), the low round of the tournament. VandenBerg finished the tournament at 218 (+2) to win by one. Stephen Maddalena, Jackson, MI, finished in third place at 220 (+4).
Looking to force a playoff, Glabicki had one last birdie chance on the closing No. 18 (par 5, 535 yards), but couldn’t get the putt to drop. Glabicki’s final round 69 was also the low round in the Senior division on Wednesday by four strokes.
Reflecting on his performance, VandenBerg admitted, “I didn’t play that great last week, so coming in, I was really just trying to find my game again. I struggled on the North Course—both day one and day three—but played really well yesterday. I didn’t have my best stuff today, but I guess it was good enough.”
His standout performance came on the South Course the previous day, where he posted the only under-par round of the second round, a two-under 70. “That gave me a three-shot cushion coming into the final round, which turned out to be pretty important while trying to hold off Steve and David,” he said.
VandenBerg acknowledged the challenges of the final round, noting, “I had a couple of three-putts each day that were a little irritating, but I hit it okay—especially yesterday—and just did enough to get it done today.” He also recalled a moment of perspective mid-round: “At one point I turned to Steve and said, ‘You know, we’re making this way too hard—it’s not this hard.’”
The closing holes were tense. “I three-putted 12 to get back to only a one-shot lead and just hung on from there. I missed a pretty easy 10-foot birdie putt on 16, and 18 was a little nerve-racking—I hit a poor drive into the rough and had to two-putt from about 50 feet, but I did it to secure the victory,” VandenBerg said.
When asked about the final par putt, he smiled: “That last par putt was probably two feet—not too stressful, thankfully.”
In praising the venue at Silverado, he said, “My wife and I have already booked it for next year. This place is so great, we can’t wait to come back the next couple of years.”
Richard Kerper, Oldsmar, FL
Super Senior Division
Richard Kerper, Oldsmar, FL, pulled away late on Wednesday and finished at 221 (+5) to win by four strokes over Todd Palmaer, Carmel, CA, who finished runner-up at 225 (+9). Kerper began the day trailing Palmaer by a shot, but made three quick bogeys to start his round while Palmaer got off to an even par star through three. Palmaer then had some struggles of his own, and at the turn his lead was just one.
Kerper described the final round as, “a good battle until about our 16th hole, when Todd hit a wayward shot and ended up with double bogey. Then I turned it around on 17 with a birdie and actually played the last three holes one under.”
Reflecting on his performance, Kerper said, “I started off poorly — it was four shot deficit, then brought it down to one at the turn and just kept grinding and grinding.” He admitted, “It wasn’t my best ball striking day, but my short game was pretty good today.”
Praising the venue, Kerper remarked, “The venue’s great. It’s great for family. I brought my wife with me, which I love doing. She loves the venue as well.” He added, “The courses were in great shape, the rough is a little bit on the tough side, but you keep it in the fairway, it’s very fair and very fun,” and concluded by saying, “I look forward to coming back in the next couple years.”
Gregory Goode, Salina, KS, battled back after struggling in round one to take third place at 228 (+12), as he played the final two rounds even par.
Michael Jonson, Sammamish, WA
Legend Division
Michael Jonson, Sammamish, WA, won the Legend division at 222 (+6) over Mark Weston, Windermere, FL, who finished at 227 (+11). Jonson played his first nine of the final round in two-under par, creating a cushion that was just too much to overcome for the rest of the field, despite a few bogeys on the way in.
In summary, Jonson said, “My mindset was to just keep driving it well and make birdies, but it didn’t quite work out that way. I thought the greens were very difficult today, and I just didn’t putt very well, but I’m very happy to come away with the win at such a great venue, I think everyone really enjoyed it.”
Dan Parkinson, Lehi, UT, finished in third place at 230 (+14).
Michael Mahoney, La Jolla, CA
Super Legend Division
In the Super Legend division, Michael Mahoney, La Jolla, CA, emerged victorious on the second playoff hole over Sam Robinson, Jacksonville Beach, FL. Robinson fired a closing round of even par 72 to force a playoff after a late double-bogey by Mahoney. On the second playoff hole, Mahoney drained a 12-foot birdie on No. 11 (par 3, 115 yards).
“My wife showed up on the 54th hole and I ended up making my first double-bogey of the tournament,” mentioned Mahoney. “I played solid golf for the most part and then just didn’t finish well as Sam battled back with a great final round. On the second playoff hole, I made about a 12-footer up the hill and through the little swale there, so that was nice. It’s always great coming to Silverado and looking forward to being back again.”
Special thanks to entire staff and membership at Silverado Resort & Spa for hosting the event, and to Callaway Golf for their sponsorship of the Society of Seniors.
Event GGID: 25SOS7
