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POWHATAN –– Team members from Central Virginia-based Willow Oaks Country Club combined to shoot 8-under-par 136, fueling the team to a one-stroke victory over three other clubs at the 72nd Virginia State Golf Association Club Championship conducted today at The Foundry Golf Club.
For Willow Oaks, a club based in south Richmond, amateurs Cam Young (Richmond) and Hank Klein (Glen Allen) used a late surge to shoot 4-under 68, while the club’s head PGA professional, Richard White (Chesterfield) partnered with amateur Steve Serrao (Midlothian) to post the same number.
Their total was good enough to get past Spring Creek Golf Club (Charlottesville area), as well as fellow Richmond-area clubs Kinloch Golf Club’s ‘A’ contingent and Hermitage Country Club’s ‘B’ team. The trio of clubs completed the competition at 7-under 137.
The competition featured a morning and afternoon shotgun start and consisted of golfers representing 40 teams of VSGA member clubs. Each club divided its four players into two four-ball teams. In the four-ball format, each player played his ball into the hole, but only the best score was counted toward the team aggregate. The club’s total score was determined by adding the team’s four-ball score together.
Spring Creek delivered the best round of the morning. But as a part of the afternoon wave, Willow Oaks saved some of their best for the late moments. Young and Klein birdied their last three holes and four of their last five to help set the final margin. Starting their round on No. 4, in the closing stages, Young birdied No. 17 from 10 inches, Klein knocked in a six-footer at No. 1, Young added a birdie from five feet one hole later and Klein completed the surge at No. 3, sinking an eight-footer to bolster the team to the title.
“To birdie four of the last five—we’d sort of been in a rut—but we finished strong and never quit,” Young said. “It was really nice to finish well.”
Klein and Young have been playing tournament and casual golf together for more than 10 years; their camaraderie and competitive drive showed when it counted most.
“Neither one of us ever gives up,” Klein said. “We just kept going.”
Was he nervous standing over putts that would ultimately decide the outcome?
“Nah, that’s not me,” Klein said with a smile. “We just go out and play and have fun.”
Serrao and White registered five birdies against a bogey, were bogey-free over their last 13 holes and played the layout’s four par 5s in three under par. Serrao contributed three birdies, but White made two of his own at Nos. 14 and 16 as the tandem continued to build some momentum during their round.
“That’s about as well as we could’ve shot,” Serrao said. “We scored about as well as we could’ve.”
With both competitors having birdie opportunities for much of the day, Kinloch ‘A’ was paced by professional Michael Gebhard (Glen Allen) and amateur Leon Roday (Henrico), who carded 67, including firing 5-under 31 on the second nine. After Gebhard got the team to two under par with his third birdie of the day at No. 13, Roday’s putter caught fire and he accounted for a trio of birdies the rest of the way, including holing a 30-foot bomb at their last hole of the day, the par-4 18th.
“Leon was just so good—unbelievable all day,” Gebhard said.
Beginning their round on No. 15 for Hermitage ‘B’, Glen Allen-based amateurs Rick LaReau and Greg Bales birdied three of their first five holes to lead the team with 4-under 68. Also for Hermitage, Randy Milligan (Manakin-Sabot) and PGA professional Forrest Shuford (Richmond) added 69.
For Spring Creek, Vincent Nadeau (Gordonsville), combined with fellow amateur Brad Ferguson (Gordonsville) and contributed four of the team’s five birdies, including two in the late stages, holing a 15-footer at No 15 before snaking in a 30-footer at the next hole. Fellow team members and amateurs Jerry Burton (Gordonsville) and Judson Foster (Zion Crossroads) played the four par 5s in three under par en route to posting red numbers.
Both Burton and Foster admittedly had no idea what to expect when the round started. Burton had hip surgery more than two months ago and Foster, too, has played little golf.
“We were hoping to play at about even par and hope [Nadeau and Ferguson] would shoot about 10 under,” Burton said with a laugh.
Turns out they were part of a packed leaderboard in a friendly but competitive event that is gaining new life on the VSGA stage.
POWHATAN –– Results following the 72nd Virginia State Golf Association Club Championship at The Foundry Golf Club on Monday, April 14 (competitors’ hometown indicated as available).
(p) – denotes professional
Willow Oaks Country Club: 68-68—136
(p) – Richard White (Chesterfield)-Steve Serrao (Midlothian), 35-33—68; Cam Young (Richmond)-Hank Klein (Glen Allen), 34-34—68
Spring Creek Golf Club: 68-69—137
Brad Ferguson (Gordonsville)-Vincent Nadeau (Gordonsville), 34-34—68; Jerry Burton (Gordonsville)-Judson Foster (Zion Crossroads), 35-34—69
Kinloch Golf Club ‘A:’ 67-70—137
(p) – Michael Gebhard (Glen Allen)-Leon Roday (Henrico), 36-31—67; Harry Thomas (McLean)-Robert Bradshaw (Virginia Beach), 35-35—70
Hermitage Country Club ‘B:’ 68-69—137
Rick LaReau (Glen Allen)-Greg Bales (Glen Allen), 33-35—68; (p) – Forrest Shuford, PGA (Richmond)-Randy Milligan (Manakin-Sabot); 34-35—69
Farmington Country Club ‘A:’ 70-70—140
(p) – Rob McNamara, PGA (Charlottesville)-Brian Bassett (Charlottesville), 35-35—70; Turner Lisle (Charlottesville)-Mike Reese (Charlottesville), 36-34—70
Falling River Country Club: 69-71—140
(p) – Faber Jamerson, PGA (Appomattox)-Lee Fisher (Lynchburg), 36-33—69; Bobby Layne (Spout Spring)-Doug Marshall (Appomattox), 36-35—71
The Country Club of Virginia: 70-71—141
Clark Taylor (Richmond)-Andrew Crowley (Richmond), 35-35—70; Peyton Lawson (Richmond)-Alex Sleeker (Richmond), 33-38—71
Fort Belvoir Golf Club: 70-71—141
Jon Zampedro (Centreville)-Doug Stump (Alexandria), 36-34—70; Michael Lauler (Springfield)-Dan Hosek (Alexandria), 37-34—71
Hermitage Country Club ‘A:’ 68-73—141
(p) – Tim Crumrine, PGA (Richmond)-Mark Lawrence Jr. (Richmond), 35-33—68; Ben Keefer (Glen Allen)-Ben Beach (Glen Allen), 38-35—73
Two Rivers Country Club: 70-71—141
Dave Pulk (Williamsburg)-Nathan Dean (Williamsburg), 35-35—70; (p) – Christian Warring, PGA (Williamsburg)-Mike McDonald (Williamsburg), 36-35—71
Winchester Country Club: 70-72—142
Josh Riggleman (Winchester)-Jeff Weiss (Winchester), 33-37—70; Eric Anderson (Winchester)-Tag Corrigan (Winchester), 36-36—72
Farmington Country Club ‘B:’ 68-74—142
(p) – Todd Larson, PGA (Charlottesville)-Michael Millen (Charlottesville), 33-35—68; Philip Mahone (Charlottesville)-Craig Burpee, 38-36—74
Kingsmill Resort: 71-71—142
Wes Eure (Williamsburg)-Jerry Morelli (Williamsburg), 36-35—71; (p) – Jeremy Hyjek, PGA (Williamsburg)-Jeff Fleishman (Williamsburg), 38-33—71
Salisbury Country Club: 70-73—143
Brian McMahon (Midlothian)-Paras Pandya (Midlothian), 35-35—70; Tom Batthany (Midlothian)-Roby Blair (Midlothian), 38-35—73
River Bend Golf and Country Club: 71-72—143
Jason Pool (Dunn Loring)-Ryan Stuart (Arlington), 36-35—71; (p) – John Madden, PGA (Leesburg)-Robert Feinstein (McLean), 39-33—72
Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club ‘A:’ 72-72—144
Bill Williard (Virginia Beach)-Ralph Knapp (Virginia Beach), 35-37—72; (p) – Keith King (Virginia Beach), PGA-Jerry Flowers (Virginia Beach), 36-36—72
Mill Quarter Plantation: 72-72—144
Jim Woodson (Powhatan)-Chris Quick (Richmond), 35-37—72; (p) – Jay Woodson (Richmond)-Bob Efird (Richmond), 35-37—72
The Piedmont Club: 68-76—144
(p) – Scott Purpura (Round Hill), PGA-Gary Gallagher (Haymarket), 35-33—68; Steve Brown (Haymarket)-Scott Gilchrist (Haymarket), 37-39—76
Belle Haven Country Club: 71-74—145
(p) – Ben Landis (Alexandria)-Pete Barbera, 36-35—71; Dick Blackburn (Alexandria)-Chip Beveridge (Annandale), 36-38—74
Hobbs Hole Golf Course: 71-74—145
Calvin Collins (Tappahannock)-(p)– Troy Thorne, PGA (Warsaw), 36-35—71; Biff Brown (King George)-Cole Herrington (White Stone), 36-38—74
Kinloch Golf Club ‘B:’ 73-73—146
(p) – Matthew Tashenberg (Manakin-Sabot)-Patrick O’Toole (Midlothian), 36-37—73; Tommy Lesperance (Richmond)-Hunter Goodwin, 39-34—73
Augustine Golf Club: 69-77—146
(p) – John Good (Stafford)-Al Bello (Stafford), 37-32—69; Chris Robb (Stafford)-Patrick Hanlon (Stafford), 38-39—77
The Federal Club ‘B:’ 73-73—146
Rick Jarvis (Mechanicsville)-Alec Sorrel (Alexandria), 35-38—73; Adam Houck (Richmond)-Joey Colina (Mechanicsville), 36-37—73
Mount Vernon Country Club: 69-77—146
(p) – Bryan Armstrong (Bowie, Md.)-Ken Barlow (Alexandria), 35-34—69; Drew Smith (Alexandria)-Steve Thomas (Alexandria), 40-37—77
Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club ‘B:’ 73-74—147
Jeff Flax (Virginia Beach)-Jonathan Hauser (Virginia Beach), 37-36—73; (p) – Patrick Beverley (Virginia Beach)-Bryan Hannum (Virginia Beach), 38-36—74
The Foundry Golf Club ‘A:’ 72-75—147
(p) – Ralph Reahard, PGA (Richmond)-Tom Hackett (Powhatan), 34-38—72; Matt Brantingham (Richmond)-William Massey III (Richmond), 39-36—75
Williamsburg National Golf Club: 71-76—147
Ed Teer (Williamsburg)-John Weber (Williamsburg), 32-39—71; Larry Yeisley (Providence Forge)-Dennis Majewski (Williamsburg), 37-39—76
Washington Golf and Country Club: 74-74—148
Andy Coleman (Arlington)-Colin Coleman (McLean), 37-37—74; (p) – Rob Ferguson, PGA (Arlington)-Delk Hamaker, 38-36—74
Army Navy Country Club: 72-76—148
(p) – Greg Scott, PGA (Centreville)-Bill Engel (Alexandria), 35-37—72; Scott Digiusto (Burke)-Ben Biles (Alexandria), 36-40—76
The Federal Club ‘A:’ 73-76—149
David Peters (Richmond)-Austin Bingham (Glen Allen), 36-37—73; Jeff Spears (Richmond)-Ryan Taylor (Glen Allen), 38-38—76
Princess Anne Country Club: 70-79—149
Skip Zobel (Virginia Beach)-Joe Taylor II (Virginia Beach), 37-33—70; (p) – Paul Michaelian, PGA (Virginia Beach)-Mike Perkins, 38-41—79
The Foundry Golf Club ‘B:’ 74-76—150
George Fisher (Richmond)-Bill McNeer (Midlothian), 38-36—74; (p) – Mike Morrone, PGA (Glen Allen)-Tommy Jenkins Jr. (Chester), 39-37—76
Rock Harbor Golf Course: 74-78—152
Dayton Slater (Winchester)-Randy Duane (Winchester), 38-36—74; (p) – Cole Lee, PGA (Winchester)-Chuck Shimp (Stephenson), 36-42—78
Virginia Beach National Golf Club: 75-78—153
Scott Richards (Norfolk)-Lee Wight (Arlington), 41-34—75; David Henshaw (Virginia Beach)-Johnny Leonard (Virginia Beach), 41-37—78
The Manor Golf Club: 76-78—154
Michael Zelley (Farmville)-Mike Helmkamp (Rice); 39-37—76; Terry Towler (Dillwyn)-David Pleasants (Cartersville), 39-39—78
Stonehouse: 77-78—155
(p) – Aaron Kosh (Toano)-Alex Kosh (Newport News), 38-39—77; Jeffrey Pillow (Lanexa)-William Carr (Williamsburg), 39-39—78
Old Trail Golf Club: 73-82—155
Seve Sundeen (Waynesboro)-Michael Morgan (Crozet), 37-36—73; Claude Williamson-Richard Condrey, 42-40—82
Fredericksburg Country Club: 76-79—155
(p) – Carl Koons, PGA (Fredericksburg)-Bob Hagen, 38-38—76; Ed Cofsky (Fredericksburg)-Alexander Mabin (Fredericksburg), 41-38—79
Nansemond River Golf Club: 79-83—162
Jim George (Suffolk)-John Fisher (Suffolk), 39-40—79; William Chaney (Suffolk)-Christopher Capozzi (Suffolk), 41-42—83
The Keswick Club: 78-85—163
Eric Parlet (Palmyra)-James Cooper (Charlottesville), 39-39—78; (p) – Eric McGraw, PGA (Charlottesville)-Thomas Otterbein (Keswick), 44-41—85