Champions Tour - Scott Parel (WHO??)

[bkuehn1952]

It has been quite a few years since I paid much attention to The Champion's Tour.  I went to the tour's website and was casually looking at the past season.  Then I noticed some guy named Scott Parel.  Scott Who??

He won three times in 2018 (one was unofficial).  He won $3,000,000+.  He did not play golf in college and joined the Web.com tour in 2003 at the age of 38.  I have read that the Champion's Tour has tried to make it increasingly difficult for a no-name to qualify and stay on the senior circuit.  Apparently one guy managed to swim against the tide.  Good for him. 

[iacas]

10 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

I have read that the Champion's Tour has tried to make it increasingly difficult for a no-name to qualify and stay on the senior circuit.  Apparently one guy managed to swim against the tide.  Good for him. 

They have, much to my chagrin. I enjoyed the days of a farmer or a mechanic or something making his way onto the Tour and winning or playing well in a second career or something.

Those guys were characters and I enjoyed reading about them and following them.

[Carl3]

4 hours ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Scott Parel

I played in a pro am with some guys from my home town and one of us was split off and played with Scott. I had never heard of him, but started following the Champions Tour after that. Scott does great and gives me hope as I am not tall and am a little overweight. Doesn’t present a problem for him. I played with a tall and lean Gary Halberg, but Gary gets smoked by Scott in event after event.

What you say makes sense as they went from the Senior to the Champions tour. Not good for the game to make it seem more elitist and not based on skill/merit.

[Herkimer]

If you haven't played on the regular tour, I don't think you have much of a chance of beating those guys.  Occasionally, someone will make it through but those guys are few and far between.   

[David in FL]

11 hours ago, Herkimer said:

If you haven't played on the regular tour, I don't think you have much of a chance of beating those guys.  Occasionally, someone will make it through but those guys are few and far between.   

This.  ^^^^

I get a kick out of the amateurs, even those very good by amateur standards, who think that they’ll finally make the jump to professional golf on the Champions Tour when they turn 50.  I always ask the same question.  Look at the guys your age on the PGA  Tour right now.  If you can’t compete with them now, why do you think you’ll be able to do so at age 50?!

[iacas]

31 minutes ago, David in FL said:

I get a kick out of the amateurs, even those very good by amateur standards, who think that they’ll finally make the jump to professional golf on the Champions Tour when they turn 50.  I always ask the same question.  Look at the guys your age on the PGA  Tour right now.  If you can’t compete with them now, why do you think you’ll be able to do so at age 50?!

Some of them did do that 20 years ago, though.

The Champions Tour was different then. Less money, less incentive, etc. But it happened.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Some of them did do that 20 years ago, though.

The Champions Tour was different then. Less money, less incentive, etc. But it happened.

Jay Sigel comes to mind.  

 You’re right though, with more money and incentives available now, the guys from the regular tour are much more likely to make the transition. Which makes it extraordinarily hard for anyone not already playing at the highest level to compete.

[Wally Fairway]

Couple of names come to mind related to unknowns on the Champions Tour.

Mike Hill, he is from my hometown (he went to HS with my uncle) - was at best a journeyman on the tour, with 3 wins between 70-77, but he made his mark on the Senior Tour with 18 wins (plus 5 Liberty Mutual Legends teaming up with Trevino). Mike led the Sr Tour money list in 1991. .

the other is Walt Zembriski - tried to make it on the tour but had to give it up and became an iron worker. Then qualified to play the senior tour and won 3 events in '88-'89. Those were the early years on the Sr. Tour.

They both have player pages on pgatour.com - Champions Tour section  - quick estimate Mike made about $10 million in prize money on the Sr. tour, Walts page doesn't have prize money listed

[iacas]

I can think of a few others.

Larry Laoretti had a bit more of a career than some, but he still stands out a little.

There were two others, too: a farmer, and a truck driver. I'm not 100% certain of their names, but their best years were probably the mid-90s.

Tom Wargo might qualify. Maybe he's the farmer I'm thinking of: http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-30/sports/sp-29301_1_senior-pga-championship.

[Herkimer]

There was also the guy who ran a driving range in Georgia.  He was a true exception, because when he went on the Senior Tour he was VERY successful.

Regarding Jay Sigel.  I remember when he was a fantastic amateur golfer who won scads of tournaments.  I used to see his name in the paper all the time.  I believe he was a stockbroker and wanted to remain an amateur.  Now, if I recall correctly, he became a pro and tried to make it on the PGA Tour but did not do well at all when competing against the incredibly gifted PGA Touring Pros (not that Jay wasn't gifted).  Bruce Zabriskie is another constant winner (as a club pro).  He was dominant here in New York State.  He also was on Tour but didn't make it. 

But, all in all, you don't stand much of a chance in making it on the Senior Tour unless you come over from the regular tour.  That's how good those guys are.  Some are so good, in fact, that they play both tours for a few years -- like Vijay.  Let's never forget that Tom Watson was about a week or shy of 60 years old when he lost the Open in a playoff! 

[GrandStranded]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

I can think of a few others.

Larry Laoretti had a bit more of a career than some, but he still stands out a little.

There were two others, too: a farmer, and a truck driver. I'm not 100% certain of their names, but their best years were probably the mid-90s.

Tom Wargo might qualify. Maybe he's the farmer I'm thinking of: http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-30/sports/sp-29301_1_senior-pga-championship.

My daughter was in a summer golf program at Bethpage Park about 20 years ago, and Tom Wargo put on a clinic one afternoon at the range for the kids (plenty of dads showed up too). Wargo was a really nice down to earth guy, and talked about the various jobs he had before getting on the Senior Tour. My memory isn't the best, but I think he said he was an steel worker. That would make sense, because even in his 50's, he looked wiry strong in a Marlboro Man way. He came off more like a Bethpage regular then a Tour Pro. 

Edited November 14, 2018 by GrandStranded

[colin007]

On 11/12/2018 at 12:25 PM, iacas said:

They have, much to my chagrin. I enjoyed the days of a farmer or a mechanic or something making his way onto the Tour and winning or playing well in a second career or something.

Those guys were characters and I enjoyed reading about them and following them.

WTF why the hell are they doing that?? That's super shady

[Buckeyebowman]

Because the guys who played the PGA Tour don't want some interloper winning any of "their" money! 

[Carl3]

On 11/13/2018 at 11:51 AM, David in FL said:

If you can’t compete...

Maybe, but I would venture there a number of 70 somethings that can whip Jack’s rear right now. That guy looks in sad shape.

[Wally Fairway]

On 11/16/2018 at 11:23 AM, colin007 said:

WTF why the hell are they doing that?? That's super shady

Because, although it occasionally makes an interesting human interest story, sponsors and fans are not going to watch (in person nor on TV) a bunch of guys they've never heard of. No matter how good they are.