Marfori, Mason Win Chantilly Four-Ball – Heye, Buckner Win Seniors Division
July 26, 2016
Chantilly National’s Brain Marfori teamed with Craig Mason (1757 GC) for rounds of 65-68 (133) to win the Chantilly National Invitational by two shots of Jimmy Delp (Laurel Hill GC) and Jon Hurst (Fredericksburg CC) in the four-ball event held July 23-24. Delp and Hurst had rounds of 66-69 (135). In the Senior Division, Andy Heye (Chantilly National) and Rich Buckner (RTJ) won in a playoff with the teams of current Northern Virginia Senior Four-Ball champions Tim Vigotsky (RTJ) – Eddie Walker (Laurel Hill) and Leon Roday (Kinloch) – Skip Zobel (Princess Anne CC). All three temas tied for first place with 137, with Heye – Buckner having rounds od 69-68, Vigotsky-Walker 66-71, and Roday – Zobel 70-67. Jim Gallagher (Williamsburg GC) and Jim Nirich (Stonewall GC) finished one shot back with 70-68 (134). Army Navy’s Lynn Wessman and Walt Martin won the Super Senior Division with 69-75 (144).
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Jeffrey Long Is the Northern Virginia Amateur Champion – Defeats Matthew Ashley in Playoff
July 10, 2016
Jeffrey Long had a completely different thought process than the spectators watching the first extra hole of a playoff for the 43rd Northern Virginia Amateur championship today at Fauquier Springs. While having played the most consistent golf throughout the three days of the tournament, shooting rounds of 70-72-72 for a 1-over 214 total, it wasn’t enough to overcome Matthew Ashley’s final round 3-under 68, which, combined with his opening rounds of 75-71, gave him the same total, requiring the two to go back to the uphill 302 yard par-4 first hole to determine the winner. Ashley, a rising senior at UVA, hit his drive toward the middle of the green about 290 yards into the front bank of the green for an uphill 10-15 yard chip for eagle. Long powered a 325 yard drive over directly over the flagstick – and the green – onto a downslope for an awkward chip to a green that also slanted downhill. While the comments among the crowd were centered on how difficult a shot Long had facing him, he was looking at the relatively straight path to the hole once the ball got on the green, thinking he could make the 25 yard shot for eagle – which he almost did. The ball slid just past the hole four feet away, making Ashley’s shot a little more difficult. Ashley chipped seven feet above the hole and missed his attempt at birdie, leaving the door open for Long to make his for the win. It was a rare miss for Ashley on a day when he said he “really had the putter going” for him. After birdies at 1, 9, and 13, a long putt to save bogey at the par 3 15th kept his round going, where he added a final birdie at the 16th. Long bogied the 3rd and 7th holes, but got back to 1-over for the day with a short birdie at the par 5 12th hole. It was two difficult par saves at the 14th and 15th holes, however, that were keys to his back nine. After a hooked tee shot near the high grass on the uphill par-4 14th, Long put his second shot into the front bunker, but made a downhill eight foot putt for his par. On the next hole, the par-3 15th, he hit his tee shot well short of the green and faced a difficult chip to a precarious pin location, but an excellent chip to within two feet saved another par. He had chances on both 17 and 18 to make a birdie and avoid the playoff, but his six-footer at 17 hit the edge and a fifteen footer on the final hole missed to the right. The 29 year-old Long played for Old Dominion in college and won the Portsmouth Amateur in 2009, and the Evergreen Invitational in 2010, before trying the mini-tours for several years. Having his amateur status reinstated within the past year, he stated that he is rededicating his game to amateur golf. He was the low qualifier in local qualifying for the VSGA Amateur and Virginia Open last month, with the Open being his next event this week in Roanoke at the Ballyhack GC.
Dudley Payne (Fauquier Springs) and Zack Henry (Shenandoah Valley) were in the final threesome with Long and finished tied for third at 218 after each shot 74 today. Frank Mader (Raspberry Falls) finished fifth with 220.
The Northern Sections would like to thank Head Golf Professional Mike Bell (PGA), General Manager Larry Spielberg, CMAA, and their staffs for hosting this year’s championship.
Pictured (L to R): Champion Long, Tournament Director Mark Vandegrift
Final Results
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Long Leads Northern Virginia Amateur After Second Round – Payne, Henry in Second
July 9, 2016
Jeffrey Long followed up his opening round 70 with 72 today for an even-par total of 142 to take the lead going into the final round Sunday of the Northern Virginia Amateur at the Fauquier Springs CC. Long started strong with birdies at holes 2, 4 and 5, but bogied 6, 7 and 9 to make the turn at even par 34. His lone birdie on the back was at the 14th, but it was bracketed with bogies and 13 and 15. Long leads by two over Dudley Payne (70-74) and last year’s runner-up, Zack Henry (71-73). Tied for fourth at 145 are Randall Jones (145) and Frank Mader. Mader had one of only two sub-par rounds today, a 1-under 70. The other round in red numbers belonged to the only former champion in the field, Rich Buckner (1993), who had a 68 to move up to a tie for sixth place at 146.
To follow scoring results throughout the tournament and for Sunday’s pairings, (Sunday Rd 3 Tab) click here.
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Grady, Martin Win Age Groups in VSGA Super Senior, Kapetanakis Wins Mid-Senior
July 9, 2016
Tom Grady (Shenandoah Valley) won the 65-69 age group in the VSGA Super Senior Championship with a 3 and 2 victory over Bill Engel (Army Navy) in the finals. Grady has captured the Virginia Senior Open and several Northern Virginia senior titles, but this was his first VSGA championship. Walt Martin (Army Navy) captured the 75 and over age group with a 1-up win over Bob Moyers. George Kapetanakis (Trump National) won the inaugural Mid-Senior Championship by defeating Jeff Flax (Virginia Beach) 2 and 1, playing 3-under par for the match. Both the Super Senior and Mid-Senior championships were held concurrently this week at the Spring Creek Club in Gordonsville, VA. For complete results, see www.VSGA.org
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Struhar Leads Northern Virginia Amateur With 67 – Giri at 69, Three at 70
July 8, 2016
Normally par-birdie wouldn’t be considered a “jump-start” to a round, but for Lansdowne’s Kirby Struhar it probably met the definition. The Randolph-Mason College rising junior started on the par-5 12th hole in the first round shotgun start of the 43rd Northern Virginia Amateur today at the Fauquier Springs CC in Warrenton. He made a six foot comeback putt for par, then hit a hybrid to 6 feet for birdie on the difficult par-4 13th hole en route to a bogey-free, 4-under 67. The twenty-year old, who went to Park View High School in Sterling, added birdies at the 18th, 4th and 6th holes. In second place, two shots back, is Vishal Giri (Chantilly National) who played in the same foursome with Struhar. Giri birdied the 12th, his opening hole as well, and added birdies on 15, 16, 1 and 3. Bogies at 17, 2 and 11 gave him a 2-under 69. Tied for third with one-under 70 include two golfers with considerable local knowledge, the current Fauquier Springs CC’s General Manager, Larry Spielberg, and member Dudley Payne. Also at 70 is Jeffrey Long (Evergreen), whose round included 3 birdies and no bogies, but a double-bogey at the par-4 seventh hole. The field was cut to the low 40 players and ties (score of 80) for the weekend rounds, with tee times beginning approximately 10:00 AM Saturday and Sunday.
To follow scoring results throughout the tournament click here.
Day 2 Pairings
Pictured (L to R): Chase Rathbone (71), Jeffrey Long (70), Zack Henry (71)
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Area Golfers Advance to Match Play in VSGA Super Senior, Mid-Senior
July 8, 2016
UPDATE: July 8 – Bill Engel advanced to the finals of the 65-69 age group division by defeating Lynn Wessman 4 and 3 in the quarterfinals, then winning over Bill Guerrant in the semifinals. He’ll face Tom Grady in the finals, who defeated Mike McDonald 2 and 1, then Jay Kingel 7 and 6. Kingel defeated Don Jeanes in the first match. Grady won the Super Senior division in the Northern Virginia Senior Am last week. In the 70-74 age group, Dave Stewart won his quarterfinal match but lost in the semifinals to Jim Hudson on the second extra hole. Dave King lost his opening match. Walt Martin won his semifinal match in the 75 and over age group and will face Bob Moyers in the finals. In the Mid-Senior championship, George Kapetankis advanced to the finals, winning two matches, including defeating Ron Clatterbuck 2 and 1 in the semifinals. Clatterbuck won his opening match 2 and 1 over Jim Woodson. Bill Apple lost in the opening round to Jack Allara II.
The VSGA Super Senior Championship and the new Mid-Senior Championship are being conducted this week at the Spring Creek Club in Gordonsville, VA. The Super-Senior is divided into three age groups, with eight players advancing to match play in each of the 65-69 year and 70-74 year age groups and four advancing in the 75 and older age groups. Army Navy’s Bill Engel (co-Medalist) and Lynn Wessman both advanced in the 65-69 age group and will face each other in today’s quarterfinal match. Also making match play in that age group was Jon Abbett (Trump National), Don Jeanes (Heritage Hunt) and Tom Grady (Shenandoah Valley). In the 70-74 age group, Dave King (Trump National) and Dave Stewart (River Bend) qualified for match play, while Walt Martin (Army Navy) captured one of the four slots in the 75 and above division.
In the Mid-Senior championship, three area golfers made match play – Bill Apple (Lansdowne), Ron Clatterbuck (Evergreen) and George Kapetanakis (Trump National). For complete results, see www.VSGA.org
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Northern Virginia Amateur Pairings Available – Championship July 8-10 at Fauquier Springs
July 7, 2016
The 43rd Northern Virginia Amateur will begin Friday with a 10:00 AM shotgun start at Fauquier Springs CC in Warrenton. Fauquier Springs hosted the Four-Ball championship in 2007, but this will be the first time the Amateur has been conducted there. A field of 62 golfers will produce a new champion as Ryan Douglass, last year’s winner, is not back to defend his title, but last year’s runner-up, Zach Henry, is entered. The field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties for the weekend rounds, with tee times beginning approximately 10:00 AM Saturday and Sunday.
To follow scoring results throughout the tournament and weekend pairings, click here.
Opening Round Pairings
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Lane Wins Virginia Amateur
July 3, 2016
Joey Lane (Great Falls) jumped to a 7-up lead over Clifton’s Ji Soo Park with 7-under par golf in the first 15 holes, eventually winning 8 and 6 in the scheduled 36-hole final Saturday of the VSGA Amateur Championship. Lane attended Flint Hill High School in Oakton before going to Virginia Tech, were he is a rising senior. This past year, he led the Hokies with an all-time scoring record, posting 16 rounds at par-or-better, many on the Pete Dye River Course at Virginia Tech where this year’s championship was held. Lane plays out of Congressional Country Club. Park reached the finals for the third time, losing in 2013 to Brinson Paolini and in 2011 to Scott Shingler.
For complete results, see www.VSGA.org
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Lane, Park Advance to Quarterfinals of Virginia Am – Six Area Golfers Made Match Play
July 1, 2016
UPDATE: Lane and Park both won their quarterfinal and semifinal matches today. They will meet Saturday in the 36-hole final.
Great Fall’s Joey Lane, a rising senior at Virginia Tech and Ji Soo Park (Clifton) each won their first two matches yesterday at Virginia Tech’s Pete Dye River Course in Radford to advance to this morning’s quaarterfinals matches in the VSGA Amateur Championship. Lane was the medalist in the 36 hole qualifying rounds Monday and Tuesday, while Park has been runner-up in this event twice before. Addison Coll (Arlington), Charlie Musto (Sterling), and Ryan Patrick (Vienna) each won first round matches before falling in the second round, Coll being defeated by Lane. Musto had advanced by defeating 2011 champion Scott Shingler (Haymarket). Tyler Satorius (Annandale) had also advanced to match play before losing in the first round.
For complete results, see www.VSGA.org
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Pool-Krouse Win Middle Atlantic Mid-Am Senior 4-Ball
July 1, 2016
Jason Pool (River Bend CC) and Tim Krouse (Westwood CC) teamed together to win the Middle Atlantic Mid-Am/Senior Four-Ball held June 28 at Crofton CC. The pair played bogey-free in shooting a 7-under 65, with Pool recording five birdies and Krouse two. For complete results, see www.middleatlanticga.org
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