Published: July 22, 2009 11:51 pm      

TIM'S TAKE: Captain Marucci still rolling along

LEWISTON — Buddy Marucci pulled out the flag on the 17th green and held it as if he was caddying, not playing in Wednesday’s opening round of the 51st Annual Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club.

Course, it’d be easy for Marucci to forget what role he’s in from time to time. Although he’s one of the eldest members of the field at the prestigious amateur golf event, age has nothing to do with it — Marucci has to change hats from competitor to evaluator to coach in an instant.

So as he watched Drew Weaver lining up a putt with flag in hand, you knew Marucci wasn’t just eyeing up his own line, but watching Weaver’s every move, seeing how the rising star handles himself in pressure situations.

As the captain of the 2009 Walker Cup team — the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup — it’s Marucci’s job to figure out who has the intestinal fortitude to represent the good ol’ U.S. of A. in the upcoming event, which will take place in September. The Americans have a two-match, four-year winning streak in hand and Marucci wants to build on his perfect 1-0 mark as team captain.

Weaver, who led the U.S. Open for a brief spell during a rain delay during the first day at Bethpage, will likely be a big part of the title defense. So Marucci pulled some strings with Porter Cup tournament director Steve Denn and spent Wednesday’s opening round with Weaver and longtime mid-amateur Nathan Smith.

“Drew’s had such a great year, I just wanted to get to know him a little better,” Marucci said. “It’s not about the golf, it’s about getting to know them a bit. And that’s easy to do when you spend four and half hours with a guy. It’s more about watching them, understanding their behavior and seeing how they react under adversity.”

Since the Porter Cup is one of the biggest stops on the amateur circuit, and since it pops up just a few weeks before Marucci has to make his final selections, the two events are bound together. In Walker Cup years, the Porter Cup field improves.

Oh, and the Marucci doesn’t mind playing a bit himself. On Wednesday, he shot a respectable 1-over-par 71, leaving himself in the thick of things for the final rounds.

He started his personal relationship with the Porter Cup in 1972, the year Ben Crenshaw took the title. He hasn’t made it back to Lewiston every year, but he’s tried.

“It’s meant a lot to me. It’s always been a great event,” he said. “The people come to the Porter Cup not just for the golf, but for the whole experience. The people here are great and there’s a lot going on.”

Former tournament director John Hoffman got to know Marucci at the Porter Cup, but his fondest memory was watching Marucci duel a young phenom named Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur. Woods pulled out an incredible victory, but nearly put his final tee shot in a bunker.

“I was standing right there,” Hoffman remembered. “Tiger hits a tee shot that clears the trap by an inch. If he hits the trap, Buddy wins the U.S. Amateur. It was one of the finest matches I’ve ever seen.”

It’s understandable if Hoffman was pulling for Marucci, who’s long been a supporter of the local event. When Hoffman and others were recruiting players to the tourney, Marucci would often lend a helping hand.

“Buddy’s been one of our biggest boosters. He always talked up the tournament wherever he went,” Hoffman said. “He’d tell people if they’re going to play one tournament, it’s got to be the Porter Cup.

“He’s one of the classiest guys you’ll ever meet. He’s the epitome of amateur golf.”

As for this year’s Walker Cup, Marucci thinks his team has a great chance to repeat this year, especially with the host venue of Merion (Pa.) providing a longer track that should favor the Americans.

“I think we’ll have a great team,” Marucci said. “It’s going to come down to putting. If we putt better than they do, we’ll win.”

And as for Weaver on No. 17? He missed a lengthy putt. So did Smith.

Then Marucci tossed the flag aside, stepped up and buried a winding 30-footer to save par.

If the Americans can putt like their captain, three straight wins seems a distinct possibility.

“I don’t much else well these days,” he said. “But I can still putt a little bit.”

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.