PLAYING THROUGH Former A&M golf standout Steve Veriato finally breaks the drought to win his first Tour event By Rusty Burson

He took detours along the way, re-evaluated his path several times and had even come to grips with the realization that it might never happen. But Steve Veriato never stopped dreaming. Not once in the last three decades did he ever completely relinquish the dream of winning on tour.

That resolve was finally rewarded last month when Veriato, at age 55, shot three consecutive rounds of 4-under-par 68 to win the Novell Utah Showdown. The former Texas A&M star had to fight back the tears when discussing his first victory on the Senior PGA Tour.

"I never thought I’d win, even though I always knew I could win," Veriato said immediately following his victory in Park City, Utah. "Sometimes, you play your very best and people beat you. That’s how good the competition is out here.

Former A&M golfer Steve Veriato and his wife and caddie, Karen, enjoy a special moment together.

"It’s pretty much like a 30-year dream come true. I played the regular tour and then played some other tours and was waiting for this Senior Tour to happen, and I’m obviously glad it did. It’s like a long journey accomplished."

Veriato, who lettered at A&M from 1970-72, is certainly not one of the big-name players on the Senior Tour. But his persistence has earned him the respect of his peers.

In fact, during the week leading up to the Novell Utah Showdown, Jimbo Colbert gave him some rather timely words of encouragement.

"Jim Colbert told me it takes courage to do what I do, to keep playing even though I’d never won," Veriato said. "I’ve done well sometimes and not so well sometimes. Did he talk to me on the right week or what?"

Whether Colbert’s words of wisdom had anything to do with it or not, Veriato played exceptionally well a the Novell Utah Showdown. He also proved he could handle the pressure with the tournament on the line.

Veriato had three birdies on the back nine on Sunday, taking the lead when early leader Bruce Summerhays and other leaders stumbled. Veriato’s last birdie, on the 17th, moved him to 12-under just as Summerhays mis-hit on the tee.

But on 18, Veriato’s first win was in jeopardy when his approach shot landed in the front bunker. But Veriato, who ranks second on the tour in sand saves, calmly pitched to 7 feet, then lined up the putt and rolled it in for the win.

The victory was worth a career-best $225,000 for Veriato, who, through the first week of September ranked 31st on the 2001 Senior Tour money leaders at $469,509. His previous best finish in six years on the Senior Tour was third at the 1996 Kaanapali Classic and third at the same event two years ago.

Victory was sweet. But Veriato acknowledges it was not all that he had ever dreamed of.

"Not really," he said from his home in Buda, which is just south of Austin. "I went to a celebration and went to a party and got home real late (that Sunday night), and then the next day I’m totally fatigued.

"I got up at 4:30 that next morning and got on the road and headed on to Toronto Canada for the next one. That part was exhausting and tiresome. But the elation that you get from your fellow players, that’s probably more than I really ever expected. It was really rewarding."

Veriato kisses a championship trophy after winning his first Tour Event.

Perhaps the last time he had experienced that type of rewarding elation on the golf course was back at Texas A&M when, as a junior, Veriato won the individual Southwest Conference championship title on his home course.

His 64 on the second day of the 1971 SWC meet still is the single-round record on the Texas A&M Course. And his four-day 273 still ranks second in A&M history for the lowest 72-hole score.

Veriato says he remembers the thrill of winning the SWC title in ’71. But he is more struck by the memory of the following season.

"I played for Henry Ransom when I was at A&M, and he was one heck of a taskmaster," said Veriato, who was undefeated in SWC matches in 1970. "I was pretty proud of myself heading into 1972, and I was making big plans. But I remember being brought back to earth when Ransom said I had to qualify to be on the team.

"That was just his style. We had to qualify every week to be a part of the team. I guess that was good preparation, because in this business, you can’t be thinking about what you did last Sunday, because it’s a whole new situation every week."

Veriato also had big plans for himself after he left A&M. He played on the PGA Tour from 1976 to 1980, but failed to win an event. His best finish on the PGA Tour was second at the 1977 Atlanta Classic.

After leaving the PGA Tour behind in 1980, Veriato began an extended career in teaching the game. He served as the club professional at Wimberly’s Woodcreek Resort then went to Quail Creek in San Marcos and to Onion Creek in Austin.

Throughout his teaching stops, Veriato continued working on his game, sharpening his skills in hopes of another run at the Tour. This time, however, his sights were set on the Senior Tour, and in 1995 he left the club professional life behind.

"I went to Asia for a while to get my game back in competition shape, and in May of 1996 I started on the Senior Tour," Veriato said. "I had never given up on winning, and my family provided me with plenty of support."

Veriato’s wife, Karen, provides much more than just emotional support. She serves as Veriato’s caddie.

"There’s an awful lot of traveling involved, and this really keeps us together," said Veriato, the father of three. "It’s a unique situation, but one we enjoy quite a bit."

Especially when the couple can celebrate a victory together. And hopefully, Veriato says, there will be more to come.

It took him 99 events to win his first tournament on the Senior Tour. But now that he’s got that first one under his belt, perhaps the next one will come much more quickly.

"You’d like to hope so," Veriato said. "I know I’d love to win some other events, but in this game I’ve learned you can’t take anything for granted. You just have to take them as they come. But I’m having a great time playing now."

Veriato says perhaps the only negative of playing on the Senior Tour is that he doesn’t have much time to return to Texas A&M. An avid sports fan, he’d love to return to Kyle Field to see his Aggies play. But his schedule simply doesn’t allow for it.

"I’d love to get back much more than I am able to do," Veriato said. "I have a lot of great memories of my time at A&M, I still remember the chills I used to get when we would be out playing and practicing and I would hear the Aggie Band playing.

"I guess a lot of golfers would like to have absolute silence when they are playing, but I got pretty used to hearing the band play. I still get a few chills thinking about it."