Extra Holes needed to decide the Henrico Championship

On the greatest of Golf’s weekends, the US Open, while everyone’s eyes are glued to Merion Golf Club est. 1912, the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour decided the Henrico Championship on one of Central Virginias oldest courses at Jefferson-Lakeside CC est. 1915. Lacking the brutal conditions of a US Open, deep rough and hard fast greens, Jefferson-Lakeside nonetheless proved to be a formidable challenge for the players that competed in 6 flights. Some may think that the only Donald Ross layout left in the Richmond area lacks the yardage to lend challenge to today’s long ball hitters. Make no mistake; an errant shot will penalize the challenger. The small old style greens demand pin point accuracy and precision putting. If the competitor survives the first 5 starting holes without an exaggerated score then they stand a chance of turning in a good round. The weather could not have been better in the mid 80’s with just enough breeze to make it perfect. Jefferson-Lakeside stood up to the challenge and as the players entered the scoring area the same request was made multiple times…..Can we get this on the schedule again next year?

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Tip Wight punched his ticket to Palms Springs California to compete in the 2013 Golf Channel Am Tour National Championship by recording his 3^rd win of the season at the Henrico Championship Troy Yeager finished 2^nd

PALMER FLIGHT
Jim Davidson made sure that his 3^rd play-off of the season was not going to be another runner-up finish by chipping in for Birdie on the 2^nd play-off hole. After 3 near misses Jim laid claim to his 1^st trophy of the season. Also in the play-off and tying for 2^nd were Mike Sheehan and “Home Course Hero” Chris Dvorak

HOGAN FLIGHT
Two players in the Hogan flight enjoyed the course enough to want to go an extra hole to decide the Henrico Championship winner. Houston Tour member Michael Castaneda and Edward Shine teed up for the play-off, but it was over quickly as Shine won it on the 1^st hole

SARAZEN FLIGHT
Not to be out done by the Palmer’s or Hogan’s, two players in the Sarazen flight, Paul Davidson and Jerry Jones, played 21 holes at the Jefferson-Lakeside Country Club before deciding who would take home the Sarazen flight trophy for the Henrico Championship. Jones was vying for his first ever back to back wins, but it was not to be as Davidson made a crucial putt on the 3^rd play-off hole to claim victory

JONES FLIGHT
Vincent Sarro posted an early score that he felt would never hold up for a win. But the demanding short course proved to be the ultimate challenge for the rest of the flight and Sarro’s score was just good enough to best first year player Chris Heipel by 1 shot. It was Heipel’s 3^rd runner-up finish of the season.

SNEAD FLIGHT
George French was the 2^nd player in the field on the day to punch his ticket to California as he secured his 3^rd win of the season and qualified for the 2013 Senior National Championship with a 2 shot margin of victory over 2^nd place finisher Wayne Rose

Seniors Dominate at the Caroline Classic

Throughout the years whenever there have been combined flights of Senior and Open players competing together, its been heard over and over from the Senior players,  “Why am I playing against these younger guys?”. Or, “I can’t hit it as far as the Limber Backs.” On May 6, 2013 at Mattaponi Springs GC for the Caroline Classic, Senior’s dominated the “Younger” guys by winning 5 of the 6 flights. One good reason for a Senior not winning the 6^th (not taking anything away from the other competitors) is because there was no Senior in that flight. So the next time you “Younger” guys are on the tee listening to one of the Seniors groaning about having to compete in a combined flight, BEWARE……..you’re being set up!!!

With the threat of rain looming all day players took to one of the toughest courses on the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour schedule and completed their rounds in record time. The first eleven of the fourteen pairings completed their rounds in less than 4 hrs. with all groups coming in under the recommended 4 ½ hrs. This is why the Richmond Tour is the benchmark for the entire Golf Channel Am Tour when it comes to pace of play, and we want to Thank everyone for their effort in making the Caroline Classic a very successful tournament.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Tip Wight of the Richmond Tour came back from a 3 shot deficit at the turn to draw even with the Washington DC’s current Championship Flight points leader Chris Boshoff to force a play-off. Wight then made quick work of the play-off by winning on the first extra hole. Paul Strader of the Richmond Tour finished 3^rd.

 

PALMER FLIGHT
A birdie on the final hole was the score that Senior Palmer player Mike Sheehan needed to draw even with the low score already turned in by Jim Davidson, also in the Senior Palmer Flight. The play-off went to Sheehan as he became the 1^st of the next 5 Senior’s to claim their trophies for the day. Tied for 3^rd place were Tyler Vrolyk and Chris Dvorak.

 

HOGAN FLIGHT
It didn’t take Senior Hogan player Gene Gorman very long to find his way to the “Winners Circle” as he became a first time Golf Channel Am Tour winner in only his 2^nd tournament. Carding 3 birdies on the day for an outstanding score of 79 gave Gorman a 3 shot margin of victory over Senior Hogan member Tom Yeager. Jeff Oakes finished another 2 shots back in 3^rd.

 

SARAZEN FLIGHT
Paul Davidson kept the “Victory Parade” going for the Seniors when he fended off 3 Open players all by one shot to claim the Sarazen Flight trophy. Tied for 2^nd were Troy Bannister, Michael Davidson, and newly promoted Ron Velasco, who showed by his finish he is ready to take on the Sarazen flight competitors.

 

JONES FLIGHT
Richmond Senior Jones player Peter Socha seemed to like the layout at Mattaponi Springs as he turned in his best round on Tour with a steady outward nine and earned a 1 shot margin of victory over late charging DC Player Richard Phillips. Richmond Tour member Dan Hines finished 3^rd.

 

SNEAD FLIGHT
After posting 5 runner-up finishes this season Richmond Senior Snead player Jamie Iannelli returned to the stage to pick-up his first place trophy by posting a 4 stroke win over DC Tour member Lobke Boshoff and Richmond Senior Snead member George French.

 

Up next on the schedule is The Memorial at the Golf Club at Brickshire, which is always one of the favorites of the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour. Wonder if we’ll hear moans from the “Limber Backs” if they have to play against those “Seniors?”