Oh brother, Vana again faces Drohen

This time, though, it will be Bill Drohen that Vana will try to beat. In 2003, the last time The Country Club served as host, Andy Drohen defeated Vana in the final, with Bill serving as his older brother’s caddie. Today, the roles are reversed. Bill will play, Andy will caddie. In their way is Vana, a nine-time state player of the year seeking his third State Amateur title in six years, while trying to avoid two losses to the same family.

“The golf gods couldn’t have written a better story,’’ said Andy Drohen, who lost in the first round of match play Wednesday, then worked for Bill during two lopsided wins yesterday. “This is pretty neat.’’

“It’s almost deja vu a little,’’ Vana said. “I definitely don’t want to lose twice, I can tell you that.’’

If Drohen - making his first appearance in the final after losing three times in the semifinals - plays like he did yesterday, Vana will have his work cut out. In dusting John Hadges in the quarterfinals (6 and 5), then Brad Kushner in the semifinals (5 and 4), Drohen played only 27 holes, and recorded 21 pars, five birdies, and an eagle that was conceded. He’s seldom used driver this week, opting to hit 3-iron off many tees in order to find more fairways, the best place to attack The Country Club’s small greens. He’s let his opponents make the mistakes with drivers and 3-woods, content to be farther away from the hole, but playing from a spot where he’s comfortable.

It also helped having Andy on the bag. Against Kushner, who lives primarily in New Jersey but plays his summer golf at the Country Club of New Seabury and will be a freshman next month at Yale, the Drohens were a synchronized team, discussing clubs, picking lines, reading putts. It worked like a charm.

“He’s returning the favor,’’ Bill Drohen said. “We have a good chemistry. He knows my game, I know his game. It’s all working out pretty well so far. To play 27 holes at The Country Club with no bogeys? I played great.’’

For much of this year, Drohen, 36, wasn’t even sure he’d be able to play. His left shoulder kept popping out of its socket last year, causing severe pain and limiting his tournament schedule. He had surgery in January, spent two hours every day for six months rehabbing, and has adhered to a steady daily routine: heat and exercise in the morning, ice and exercise at night. He’s also been sleeping on the sofa because it’s more comfortable, which suits his wife, Deborah, just fine, because she’s 7 1/2 months pregnant with the couple’s first child, a boy. She’s been here every day this week.

“She’s been my good-luck charm,’’ Drohen said. “The last four months I didn’t even know if I was going to play. There’s not so much pain anymore, just soreness. Every time I put a bad swing on it it hurts.’’

That’s been rare this week. Drohen opened with rounds of 76-71 to qualify for match play (the same 36-hole total as Andy) and didn’t have any of his first four matches extend past the 17th hole.

Vana has authored a similar run. The 46-year-old beat Benjamin Bridgeo (5 and 4) in the quarterfinals yesterday morning, then eliminated Scott Congdon (3 and 1) in the semifinals. Through his four matches, Vana has yet to trail.

“I’ve managed to stay out of big trouble,’’ he said. “I’m hitting it pretty solid, and I feel really comfortable on the greens.’’

Drohen and Vana have met twice before in the State Amateur, with Vana winning semifinal matches in 2004 and 2005, the two years he went on to bring home the title. Both matches went extra holes, perhaps setting the stage today for a close, tense, well-played final, which is scheduled for 36 holes.

“Coming this far and not winning is not fun. I like this place. I won’t like it very much if I lose twice,’’ said Vana, who lost the 2003 final to Andy Drohen and also lost in the 2007 final to Burgess Houston. “Hopefully I’ll be focused and calm and have a good day.’’

Said Bill Drohen, when asked how he’ll feel on the first tee this morning: “Excited, nervous, emotional. Everything. I’m really looking forward to it.’’

Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com.