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by Stephen Thompson
GORDONSVILLE –– Richmond-based golfers Adam Ball, 23, and Jordan Utley, 28, each shot 6-under-par 66 to pace the first round of stroke play qualifying as the 101st Virginia State Golf Association Amateur Championship got underway today at the Spring Creek Golf Club.
Ball, a rising junior at Virginia Commonwealth University, led the morning wave, while Utley (pictured right), a University of Richmond graduate, delivered the low round among the competitors who had afternoon starting times.
All told, 19 competitors posted rounds in red numbers on the first day. Collegians Addison Coll (Arlington), an 18-year-old rising sophomore at Ohio State, and Connor Hayden (Chilhowie), a 20-year-old rising junior at Radford University, had 4-under 68. Clifton’s Ji Soo Park, 21, a senior at the University of Virginia, and twice a runner-up at the VSGA Amateur, and mid-amateur Justin Young, 36, of Roanoke, each signed for 3-under 69. Eight other are at 2-under 70, while five more had 71.
Ball used a torrid putting round to collect seven birdies against a bogey. One under par through 10 holes, he reeled off four straight birdies at Nos. 12-15 and added another at the par-5 finishing hole en route to carding 4-under 32 on the inward half.
“I putted really well. The putter just got really hot,” Ball said. “I was hitting good shots all day and making the putts I needed to make. I scrambled well when I needed to. I only had one bogey on [No.] 10. Everything went right today.”
Ball led VCU in stroke average as a sophomore and his solid play continues. With a strong start, Ball knows that his opening day score takes some of the pressure off, with the second round of stroke play qualifying set for Wednesday before the field is reduced to 32 players for the start of match play on Thursday.
“It’s a bit of relief,” said Ball, a quarterfinalist at the 2012 VSGA Amateur at Bayville Golf Club in Virginia Beach. “[I have] to make sure I can get to match play and get the best seed I can get. I’m extremely happy and excited. On (Wednesday), I’ll get back into the zone, make sure my mind is right and get ready to play good golf again.”
Ball is already a VSGA veteran, having competed in association championships since his pre-teen years. He has plenty of competitive experience on his side; Ball is the only player in VSGA history to win five junior championships conducted by the VSGA and advanced to the semifinals of the 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
Utley is no stranger to the VSGA Amateur stage. During a three-year stretch from 2006-08, he reached the semifinals on two occasions, bowing out to the eventual champion both times—Chris McCartin of Arlington (2006) and Brinson Paolini of Virginia Beach (2008). And in 2007, Utley fell to eventual finalist John Rosenstock (Midlothian) in the quarterfinals. Paolini won the first of his record three straight championships in ’08 and went on to basically become the face of the event from 2008-13, recording his fourth victory in six years last year at The Homestead’s Cascades Course.
Paolini is now a professional competing on the European Tour, while Utley has been content to remain an amateur, enjoy a burgeoning professional career in the field of accounting and play golf as his schedule will allow. He showed little rust on day one. Starting on No. 10, his round was highlighted by an eagle-3 at his third hole of the day, the par-5 12th, where he knocked in a 15-footer. Utley shot 5-under 31 on his outward nine. His scorecard also included six birdies against two bogeys.
“I made a lot of putts today,” said Utley, who earned a spot in the championship by successfully qualifying for the event at Stonehenge Golf and Country Club in Richmond on May 27. “It was a pretty big surprise because I’ve only played [competitively] in this tournament and the qualifier this year.”
Coll figured out Spring Creek’s undulating and slick greens, using just 24 putts. Even par through 10 holes he made four birdies the rest of the way, including at the two par 5s on the second nine, Nos. 12 and 18. Hayden’s round included six birdies and two bogeys and he left himself in good position for a host of scoring opportunities.
“I felt really good,” Hayden said. “The key for this course is to drive it to the fairway so you can hit it to the flagstick. I think I gave myself a chance by doing that.
“I’m going to try and do the same thing Wednesday. I’m going to be aggressive where I can be and play smart. I still have to play good golf to make it to match play.”
Park, the runner-up at the VSGA Amateur in 2011 and again last year, is off to a strong start, posting five birdies against two bogeys on day one. Young’s scorecard was blemish-free with three birdies.
Following Wednesday’s second round of stroke play qualifying, the low 32 scorers will advance to match play. After the first day, there are 36 competitors at 1-over 73 or better. Past champions Keith Decker, 54, of Martinsville, the 1988 and 1991 victor, had 2-under 70, while Scott Shingler, 42, ofHaymarket, the winner in 2011, carded 1-under 71. The two other past champions in the field, Jake Mondy, 21, of Blacksburg, a rising junior at Auburn University, (2012) and David Tolley, 53,of Roanoke (1983) each shot 75 and are outside the top 32.
Following Thursday’s second day of stroke play qualifying, the first and second rounds of match play are on Thursday, June 26, the quarterfinals and semifinals are Friday, June 27 and the scheduled 36-hole final is on Saturday, June 28.
GORDONSVILLE –– Results from the first round of stroke play qualifying at the 101st VSGA Amateur Championship at Spring Creek Golf Club (7,103 yards, par 36-36—72) on Tuesday, June 24.
Adam Ball (Richmond), 34-32—66
Jordan Utley (Richmond), 35-31—66
Addison Coll (Arlington), 35-33—68
Conner Hayden (Chilhowie), 32-36—68
Justin Young (Roanoke), 34-35—69
Ji Soo Park (Clifton), 34-35—69
Mark Lawrence Jr. (Richmond), 34-36—70
Keith Decker (Martinsville), 36-34—70
Vincent Nadeau (Gordonsville), 36-34—70
Jon Hurst (Fredericksburg), 36-34—70
Griffin Clark (South Chesterfield), 37-33—70
Sam Sikes (Richmond), 36-34—70
Roger Derflinger (Alexandria), 37-33—70
John Rosenstock (Midlothian), 36-34—70
Scott Shingler (Haymarket), 36-35—71
Buck Brittain (Tazewell), 35-36—71
Ryan Rettberg (Front Royal), 35-36—71
Robert Bradshaw (Virginia Beach), 37-34—71
Lee Fisher (Lynchburg), 36-35—71
Bryce Chalkley (Richmond), 36-36—72
Doc Schulte (Haymarket), 33-39—72
Charlie Musto (Sterling), 37-35—72
T.J. Austin (Beaverdam), 34-38—72
Jack Wilkes (Roanoke), 34-38—72
Alec Kormanec (Vienna), 35-37—72
Brantley Kushner (Leesburg), 35-37—72
Bowen Sargent (Charlottesville), 37-35—72
Aaron Eckstein (Salem), 39-33—72
Jimmy Delp (Arlington), 38-35—73
Brad Ferguson (Gordonsville), 34-39—73
Kevin Yerks (Leesburg), 37-36—73
Wonsuk Rhee (Vienna), 34-39—73
Alex Lloyd (Virginia Beach), 35-38—73
Greg Gerczak (Richmond), 37-36—73
Clayton Forren (Rustburg), 37-36—73
Tom Wharton (Stafford), 37-36—73
Ryan Douglass (Leesburg), 39-35—74
Mike Krulich (Blacksburg), 38-36—74
Steve Serrao (Midlothian), 36-38—74
Matthew Gutowski (Midlothian), 36-38—74
Kyle Hart (Midlothian), 38-36—74
Nick Tremps (Williamsburg), 36-38—74
Chad Jones (Henrico), 39-35—74
Joey Lane (Great Falls), 38-36—74
Alex Thompson (Richmond), 38-36—74
Jeff Newman (Midlothian), 38-36—74
Adam Szwed (Woodbridge), 38-36—74
Matthew Brittain (Ashburn), 37-38—75
Jake Mondy (Blacksburg), 39-36—75
Scott Reisenweaver (Midlothian), 39-36—75
Zach Weaver (Williamsburg), 36-39—75
Blake Carter (Bassett), 36-39—75
David Tolley (Roanoke), 38-37—75
Nathan Chuwait (Herndon), 36-39—75
John Dawson (Chesapeake), 37-38—75
Brian Bassett (Charlottesville), 39-36—75
Logan Yates (Ruckersville), 39-37—76
Ryan Patrick (Reston), 38-38—76
Erik Dulik (Great Falls), 38-38—76
Taylor Chamberlin (Arlington), 38-38—76
Ben Beach (Glen Allen), 36-40—76
Adam Houck (Richmond), 33-43—76
James Gallagher (Yorktown), 37-39—76
Alston Newsom (Chesapeake), 37-39—76
Wes Smith (Virginia Beach), 39-37—76
Nicholas Bruner (Virginia Beach), 36-40—76
Mike Sweeney II (Chesapeake), 38-38—76
Kevin Clarke (Midlothian), 37-39—76
Edric Wung (Mclean), 38-39—77
Luke Malanchuk (Arlington), 36-41—77
Joey Jordan (Glen Allen), 36-41—77
Matt Paciocco (Glen Allen), 42-35—77
Kyle Mutter (Portsmouth), 39-38—77
Paul Babashanian (Chesapeake), 38-39—77
Christopher Drost (Charlottesville), 39-38—77
Philip Mahone (Charlottesville), 39-38—77
Charlie Wills (Charlottesville), 42-35—77
Jack Adkins (Martinsville), 40-37—77
Phil McQuitty (South Riding), 39-38—77
Jeffrey Klatt (Manassas), 36-41—77
Shelby Seamster (Midlothian), 38-39—77
Pete Detemple (Callaway), 39-39—78
Zack Henry (Front Royal), 38-40—78
Ray Dingledine IV (Richmond), 36-42—78
Parker Wingfield (Newport News), 37-41—78
Tyler Satorius (Annandale), 38-40—78
Matthew DiSalvo (Great Falls), 38-40—78
Will Byrne (McLean), 37-41—78
John Kinder (Quinton), 40-38—78
Zack Lauzon (Woodbridge), 38-40—78
Sam Stilwell (Potomac Falls), 37-41—78
Ryan N. Muthiora (Zion Crossroads), 40-39—79
Kevin Dillard (McLean), 42-37—79
Thomas Garner (Richmond), 39-40—79
Matt Angelelli (Virginia Beach), 39-40—79
Jacob Laughlin (Massanutten), 40-39—79
Brandon Grogan (Martinsville), 37-42—79
Jeremy Horn (Doswell), 40-39—79
Jake Miles (Spotsylvania), 39-40—79
Brodie Maitland (Petersburg), 42-38—80
John David Sanderson (Suffolk), 40-40—80
Jeff Fleishman (Williamsburg), 39-41—80
Nick Combs (Virginia Beach), 41-39—80
Steven Decker (Chesapeake), 40-40—80
Robbie Failes (Harrisonburg), 40-40—80
Frankie Smith Jr. (Lynchburg), 37-43—80
Garrett Sweeney (Salem), 38-43—81
Blake Forst (Haymarket), 41-40—81
David Price (Purcellville), 42-39—81
Nathan Dean (Williamsburg), 42-39—81
Austin Morin (Virginia Beach), 41-40—81
Andrew Butts (Salem), 39-42—81
Parker See (Verona), 39-42—81
Steve Nolin (Herndon), 39-43—82
Bob Ramsey (Bluefield), 44-38—82
Shaun Griffith (Ringgold), 43-39—82
Brian Therrien (Fredericksburg), 41-41—82
Clark Taylor (Richmond), 40-42—82
Scott Cornwell (Marshall), 42-41—83
Kenneth Van Wyck (Sterling), 40-43—83
Tony Good (Glen Allen), 44-39—83
Joshua Curtas (Lynchburg), 40-43—83
Sam Early (Leesburg), 45-39—84
Roland Beights (Afton), 42-42—84
Jason Dunn (Chantilly), 41-43—84
Korey Watts (Buchanan), 37-47—84
Nicholas Crowe (Williamsburg), 40-44—84
Wesley Smith (Martinsville), 44-41—85
He Zhao (Richmond), 41-46—87
Josh Kanney (Waynesboro), 44-44—88
Christopher Angelelli (Virginia Beach), 42-47—89
Dalton Taylor (Falls Church), 47-43—90
GORDONSVILLE –– Groupings and starting times for the second round of stroke play qualifying at the 101st VSGA Amateur Championship at Spring Creek Golf Club (7,103 yards, par 36-36—72) on Wednesday, June 25.
Wednesday (June 25), hole No. 1
8 a.m. – Bryce Chalkley (Richmond); Brandon Grogan (Martinsville); Matthew Brittain (Ashburn)
8:10 a.m. – Jack Wilkes (Roanoke); Jeff Newman (Midlothian); Matt Angelelli (Virginia Beach)
8:20 a.m. – Scott Shingler (Haymarket); Nathan Dean (Williamsburg); Tony Good (Glen Allen)
8:30 a.m. – Sam Early (Leesburg); John Rosenstock (Midlothian); Blake Carter (Bassett)
8:40 a.m. – Edric Wung (McLean); David Price (Purcellville); Tom Wharton (Stafford)
8:50 a.m. – Brodie Maitland (Petersburg); Matt Paciocco (Glen Allen); Brantley Kushner (Leesburg)
9 a.m. – Nick Combs (Virginia Beach); Roland Beights (Afton); Garrett Sweeney (Salem)
9:10 a.m. – Philip Mahone (Charlottesville); Alex Lloyd (Virginia Beach); Jordan Utley (Richmond)
9:20 a.m. – Frankie Smith Jr. (Lynchburg); Will Byrne (McLean); Brian Bassett (Charlottesville)
9:30 a.m. – Mike Krulich (Blacksburg); Charlie Wills (Charlottesville); He Zhao (Richmond)
9:40 a.m. – Paul Babashanian (Chesapeake); Nick Tremps (Williamsburg); Clark Taylor (Richmond)
12:35 p.m. – Thomas Garner (Richmond); Andrew Butts (Salem); Kevin Clarke (Midlothian)
12:45 p.m. – Austin Morin (Virginia Beach); Mike Sweeney II (Chesapeake); Steve Nolin (Herndon)
12:55 p.m. – Blake Forst (Haymarket); Matthew DiSalvo (Great Falls); Wesley Smith (Martinsville)
1:05 p.m. – Zack Lauzon (Woodbridge); Parker Wingfield (Newport News); Pete Detemple (Callaway)
1:15 p.m. – Jeff Fleishman (Williamsburg); Alec Kormanec (Vienna); Kyle Mutter (Portsmouth)
1:25 p.m. – Jon Hurst (Fredericksburg); Bowen Sargent (Charlottesville); Nathan Chuwait (Herndon)
1:35 p.m. – Jeffrey Klatt (Manassas); Ray Dingledine IV (Richmond); Zach Weaver (Williamsburg)
1:45 p.m. – Sam Stilwell (Potomac Falls); Ryan Kurtis Rettberg (Front Royal); James Gallagher (Yorktown)
1:55 p.m. – Steve Serrao (Midlothian); Scott Cornwell (Marshall); David Tolley (Roanoke)
2:05 p.m. – Keith Decker (Martinsville); Ben Beach (Glen Allen); Conner Hayden (Chilhowie)
2:15 p.m. – Tyler Satorius (Annandale); Luke Malanchuk (Arlington); Phil McQuitty (South Riding)
Wednesday (June 25), hole No. 10
8:05 a.m. – Jack Adkins (Martinsville); Matt Brantingham (Richmond); Ryan Muthiora (Zion Crossroads)
8:15 a.m. – Korey Watts (Buchanan); Kyle Hart (Midlothian); Christopher Angelelli (Virginia Beach)
8:25 a.m. – Griffin Clark (South Chesterfield); Wes Smith (Virginia Beach); John Kinder (Quinton)
8:35 a.m. – Greg Gerczak (Richmond); Kevin Dillard (McLean); Joey Jordan (Glen Allen)
8:45 a.m. – Alex Thompson (Richmond); Zack Henry (Front Royal); Addison Coll (Arlington)
8:55 a.m. – Jake Mondy (Blacksburg); Vincent Nadeau (Gordonsville); Kevin Yerks (Leesburg)
9:05 a.m. – Aaron Eckstein (Salem); Clayton Forren (Rustburg); Jimmy Delp (Arlington)
9:15 a.m. – Sam Sikes (Richmond); Bob Ramsey (Bluefield); Wonsuk Rhee (Vienna)
9:25 a.m. – Matthew Gutowski (Midlothian); Joey Lane (Great Falls); Nicholas Crowe (Williamsburg)
9:35 a.m. – Dalton Taylor (Falls Church); Kenneth Van Wyck (Sterling); Lee Fisher (Lynchburg)
9:45 a.m. – Brian Therrien (Fredericksburg); Parker See (Verona); Shelby Seamster (Midlothian)
12:30 p.m. – Roger Derflinger (Alexandria); Jeremy Horn (Doswell); Jason Dunn (Chantilly)
12:40 p.m. – Jake Miles (Spotsylvania); Taylor Chamberlin (Arlington); Chad Jones (Henrico)
12:50 p.m. – Mark Lawrence Jr. (Richmond); Brad Ferguson (Gordonsville); Robert Bradshaw (Virginia Beach)
1 p.m. – Justin Young (Roanoke); Ryan Douglass (Leesburg); Adam Ball (Richmond)
1:10 p.m. – Steven Decker (Chesapeake); Erik Dulik (Great Falls); T.J. Austin (Beaverdam)
1:20 p.m. – Adam Houck (Richmond); Alston Newsom (Chesapeake); Adam Szwed (Woodbridge)
1:30 p.m. – Ji Soo Park (Clifton); Logan Yates (Ruckersville); Ryan Patrick (Reston)
1:40 p.m. – John Dawson (Chesapeake); Christopher Drost (Charlottesville); Jacob Laughlin (Massanutten)
1:50 p.m. – Nicholas Bruner (Virginia Beach); Scott Reisenweaver (Midlothian); Josh Kanney (Waynesboro)
2 p.m. – Buck Brittain (Tazewell); John David Sanderson (Suffolk); Shaun Griffith (Ringgold)
2:10 p.m. – Doc Schulte (Haymarket); Robbie Failes (Harrisonburg); Joshua Curtas (Lynchburg)
Author Stephen Thompson is a VSGA P.J. Boatwright intern in golf administration.
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