Senior Open Spotlight: Former CC hockey player qualifies for U.S. Senior Open
Story By: Jordan Mason
Source: KOAA
Colorado Springs Published 130 day(s) ago
We've all seen the movie “Happy Gilmore.” It’s about a former hockey player who turns his hockey swing into a championship level golf game.
This guy with the sweet mustache is Dave Delich, one of the all-time greats for CC Tiger hockey. In fact, he's CC's all-time points leader by a landslide.
And get this; Delich was a teammate and roommate of current CC Tigers coach Scott Owens.
Delich was a multi-sport athlete at CC.
“I played on the golf team and Scotty [Owens] was our manager, so he could get on the Broadmoor with me,” said Delich.
And now he's taken his golf game to another level.
A couple weeks ago, in just his second year of eligibility, the 51-year old Colorado Springs resident placed second in a U.S. Senior Open sectional qualifier. That was good enough to earn him a spot in the Senior Open field and a significant home course advantage at the Broadmoor. He'll play on the course he's called home for over 30 years.
“I'm just hoping for no embarrassment, and some good, solid golf,” said Delich. “I can certainly play the course and play it well, but that's a whole different stage and one that I'm not used to being on.”
But don't be surprised if Delich can compete with big guns like Greg Norman and Tom Watson. His part-time caddy says, his hockey experience is a huge advantage.
“He just had such tremendous hands as a center forward at CC as a hockey player, it just really helps him on the golf course,” said caddy Jim Morley. “He's got an unbelievable touch out there.”
He may be a little more fired up than your average golfer. The hockey mentality is not completely out of his system.
“It shows up every now and then in self-talking to out there,” said Delich. “Yeah, controlled anger, controlled violence.”
He’s kidding about the violence.
“You'll never see me cross check anyone on the green or elbow anyone who I'm playing against.”
Delich won gold at the 1983 Ice Hockey World Championships as member of Team USA. He also played in the Minnesota North Stars organization for a few years.
As far as golf, he tells us he's only been playing competitively since he was 40 years old.
The U.S. Senior Open is July 31 through August 3 on the historic Broadmoor East Course.
