Martinsville's Decker captures another title by winning state Senior Am

The Roanoke Times l File

Keith Decker of Martinsville added to his impressive golfing resume by winning the state Senior Am title Friday.

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Saturday, August 31, 2013

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Martinsville's Keith Decker added another title to his long list of accomplishments with a 3-and-2 victory over Col. James Gallagher (Ret.) of Yorktown on Friday in the Virginia State Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship final at Farmington Country Club.

Decker, 53, has now won 21 VSGA championships. The last two, including the Senior Stroke Play earlier this year, have been senior events. He became eligible this year when the VSGA changed its age requirement for seniors from 55 to 50.

He owns a third senior trophy, the Senior Open of Virginia, which he won shortly after turning 50 in 2010. The age requirement for the Senior Open always has been 50.

"It's never easy to win anything, anywhere. Two hundred and some guys started out [in the VSGA Senior] so I'm honored to be on top. There's a lot of great names [on the trophy]," Decker said. "I won't ever forget playing against Vinny [Giles in the quarterfinals]. I'd never played him. I'll cherish that from now on. I wound up winning the match. He had the upper hand so I guess I'm sort of lucky to be here, but it all worked out."

Gallagher, who turns 55 today and was also a first-time participant in the VSGA Senior, didn't win a hole in the match. Decker won the second hole with a par, the fifth with a conceded birdie and No. 14 with a par.

"You can't make a mistake against Keith Decker. He's just a great player," Gallagher said.

Decker's VSGA title count of 21 includes a victory at the Senior Amateur, Senior Open of Virginia and the Senior Stroke Play, as well as collecting multiple triumphs at the VSGA Mid-Amateur (seven), the VSGA Four-Ball (six), the State Open of Virginia (three) and the VSGA Amateur Championship (two).

Saturday, September 14, 2013