Wet, miserable,
chill, gloomy, cart path only, suspect carts………..was anything forgotten?
Ah, YES, a stellar
field of contestants that was willing to forgo all of the distractions and
obstacles to take on the challenge of Mattaponi Springs Golf Course and compete
for the trophy and bragging rights in 8 individual flights.
The Three River Fall
Classic (so named for the 3 rivers that join close by to make up the Mattaponi)
hosted by the Baltimore, DC, and Richmond Golf Channel Am Tours, drew a field
of 64 players.
On the toughest of courses to ever have to be confined to cart path only the entire field navigated the course in a very timely fashion given the conditions. A BIG “Thank You” from both Tour directors for making the tournament a GIANT success.
On the toughest of courses to ever have to be confined to cart path only the entire field navigated the course in a very timely fashion given the conditions. A BIG “Thank You” from both Tour directors for making the tournament a GIANT success.
SHOT of the DAY
Congratulations go out to Michael Davidson, who effectively completed the 160 yd, par 3, 7th hole with a minimum total of 1 shot. That was Michael’s first ever “Hole-in-One”.
Congratulations go out to Michael Davidson, who effectively completed the 160 yd, par 3, 7th hole with a minimum total of 1 shot. That was Michael’s first ever “Hole-in-One”.
CHAMPIONSHIP
FLIGHT
A close match ensued between 3 players of the Championship flight when making the turn, Gregory Kidd (DC Tour), Paul Strader (Richmond Tour), and Patrick Bogue (DEC Tour), were separated by only 2 shots. Birdies by Kidd and Bogue on the 10th suddenly put the pressure on Strader. At the demanding par 4, 11th hole, bogey’s by Bogue and Strader further increased the gap from Kidd. But the inward 9 holes turned out to be the “Greg Kidd Show” as he fired an outstanding 1 under par score of 35 for a 4 shot margin of victory. Patrick Bogue finished second in his first competitive round in the Championship flight followed by Paul Strader .
A close match ensued between 3 players of the Championship flight when making the turn, Gregory Kidd (DC Tour), Paul Strader (Richmond Tour), and Patrick Bogue (DEC Tour), were separated by only 2 shots. Birdies by Kidd and Bogue on the 10th suddenly put the pressure on Strader. At the demanding par 4, 11th hole, bogey’s by Bogue and Strader further increased the gap from Kidd. But the inward 9 holes turned out to be the “Greg Kidd Show” as he fired an outstanding 1 under par score of 35 for a 4 shot margin of victory. Patrick Bogue finished second in his first competitive round in the Championship flight followed by Paul Strader .
PALMER FLIGHT
The Palmer flight was hotly contested as 5 players were in position to lay claim to the first place trophy after their outward 9 holes. Donald Owens (Baltimore Tour), Justin Schorr (DC Tour), Tyler Vrolyk (Richmond Tour), Brian Thomas (DC Tour), and Troy Barrall (Baltimore Tour) were only separated by 4 shots when stepping to the 19th teeing ground. The final 9 holes quickly developed into a 2 man race for the finish as Owens and Vrolyk both took dead aim and began to distance themselves from their closest rivals. The 2 players, playing in different pairings had no idea what it would take to win, so even though they were in tight competition with one another all they had to judge themselves by was each against the course. After experiencing a disastrous 4th hole which could have possibly dashed all hopes of victory, Vrolyk played his next 8 holes 2 under par to take a 3 shot lead after Owens had an uncharacteristic struggle on the 11th hole. But Owens remained steady after that and capitalized on mistakes by Vrolyk at the 13th and 14th holes to draw even. A birdie at the par 4, 15th hole now had Owens owning a 1 shot lead in the Palmer flight. Stepping to his final hole Donald Owens could ill afford any mistake as Vrolyk now sat in the clubhouse as the leader after posting a score of 81. As Owens teed his ball on the final hole little did he know that through 17 holes he and Vrolyk stood even on the same score. Donald Owens would carefully manage the downhill par 4, 18th hole in even par and claim a 1 shot victory over Tyler Vrolyk. Justin Schorr finished 3rd with a score of 83.
The Palmer flight was hotly contested as 5 players were in position to lay claim to the first place trophy after their outward 9 holes. Donald Owens (Baltimore Tour), Justin Schorr (DC Tour), Tyler Vrolyk (Richmond Tour), Brian Thomas (DC Tour), and Troy Barrall (Baltimore Tour) were only separated by 4 shots when stepping to the 19th teeing ground. The final 9 holes quickly developed into a 2 man race for the finish as Owens and Vrolyk both took dead aim and began to distance themselves from their closest rivals. The 2 players, playing in different pairings had no idea what it would take to win, so even though they were in tight competition with one another all they had to judge themselves by was each against the course. After experiencing a disastrous 4th hole which could have possibly dashed all hopes of victory, Vrolyk played his next 8 holes 2 under par to take a 3 shot lead after Owens had an uncharacteristic struggle on the 11th hole. But Owens remained steady after that and capitalized on mistakes by Vrolyk at the 13th and 14th holes to draw even. A birdie at the par 4, 15th hole now had Owens owning a 1 shot lead in the Palmer flight. Stepping to his final hole Donald Owens could ill afford any mistake as Vrolyk now sat in the clubhouse as the leader after posting a score of 81. As Owens teed his ball on the final hole little did he know that through 17 holes he and Vrolyk stood even on the same score. Donald Owens would carefully manage the downhill par 4, 18th hole in even par and claim a 1 shot victory over Tyler Vrolyk. Justin Schorr finished 3rd with a score of 83.
HOGAN FLIGHT
No let up in the competition was found in the Hogan flight as once again through 9 holes 4 players,
all playing in different pairings, stood separated by a grand total of 4 shots before starting the incoming 9 holes.
Ferdinand Hudencial 39 (Richmond Tour), Mark Brockway 43 (DC Tour), Jennifer Kitchen 41 (DC Tour), and Steven Zannos 41 (DC Tour).
Hudencial, the first of the leaders to negotiate the back 9 got off to a rocky start going +3 through the first 2 holes. Brockway, the next through played the 10th and 11th in even par and made up big ground on the leader. The beginning of the final 9 holes was not kind to Kitchen and began to remove her from contention. The final competitor with aspirations of victory was Zannos, and after completing the first 2 holes on the back didn’t realize that he now held a 1 shot lead. The one player of the contenders with the most ground to make up, Mark Brockway, did everything in his power to overcome the deficit by firing a second 9 score of 39. But Hudencial and Zannos weren’t in the mood on this day to be generous and remained steady with back 9 scores of 41 and 40 respectively. When all was said and done Ferdinand Hudencial posted first with a round of 80 and watched as competitor after competitor challenged to beat his score, before he eventually hoisted the trophy. Steven Zannos finished 1 shot back (81) in 2nd and Brockway’s strong finish earned him 3rd place.
No let up in the competition was found in the Hogan flight as once again through 9 holes 4 players,
all playing in different pairings, stood separated by a grand total of 4 shots before starting the incoming 9 holes.
Ferdinand Hudencial 39 (Richmond Tour), Mark Brockway 43 (DC Tour), Jennifer Kitchen 41 (DC Tour), and Steven Zannos 41 (DC Tour).
Hudencial, the first of the leaders to negotiate the back 9 got off to a rocky start going +3 through the first 2 holes. Brockway, the next through played the 10th and 11th in even par and made up big ground on the leader. The beginning of the final 9 holes was not kind to Kitchen and began to remove her from contention. The final competitor with aspirations of victory was Zannos, and after completing the first 2 holes on the back didn’t realize that he now held a 1 shot lead. The one player of the contenders with the most ground to make up, Mark Brockway, did everything in his power to overcome the deficit by firing a second 9 score of 39. But Hudencial and Zannos weren’t in the mood on this day to be generous and remained steady with back 9 scores of 41 and 40 respectively. When all was said and done Ferdinand Hudencial posted first with a round of 80 and watched as competitor after competitor challenged to beat his score, before he eventually hoisted the trophy. Steven Zannos finished 1 shot back (81) in 2nd and Brockway’s strong finish earned him 3rd place.
SENIOR HOGAN
FLIGHT
The top 3 finishers in the Senior Hogan flight were not even the 3 low scores after the beginning 9 holes. 3rd place finisher Phil Shubert, after a tough start to the round battled back for the remainder of the day for a respectable finish. Bob Will (Indianapolis Tour) and Mark Trimmer (Baltimore Tour) playing in the same pairing, both turned in 44, and then turned it into a shoot-out down the finishing 9 holes with Trimmer leading the way by posting a dazzling score on the back 9 holes of 39 to claim victory.
The top 3 finishers in the Senior Hogan flight were not even the 3 low scores after the beginning 9 holes. 3rd place finisher Phil Shubert, after a tough start to the round battled back for the remainder of the day for a respectable finish. Bob Will (Indianapolis Tour) and Mark Trimmer (Baltimore Tour) playing in the same pairing, both turned in 44, and then turned it into a shoot-out down the finishing 9 holes with Trimmer leading the way by posting a dazzling score on the back 9 holes of 39 to claim victory.
SARAZEN FLIGHT
It was the “Tale of two Rounds” for 2 of the players in the Sarazen flight. For Russell Kuyawa (Baltimore Tour), it appeared it was going to be an outstanding day, and for Michael Davidson it appeared it was going to be “another one of those days”. After posting an awesome front 9 score of 40, Kuyawa held a 2 stroke advantage over his nearest threat, Corrie Bukle (DC Tour), and 4 clear of Fredrick Edwards (DC Tour) and Michael Davidson (Richmond Tour). On any other given day and especially the conditions under what the Three River Fall Classic was played under, Kuyawa’s second 9 hole score would have been good enough to win in the Sarazen flight. But not on this day. Michael Davidson’s round looked like it was going “No where” but downhill fast as through his first 5 holes he was already 9 0ver par. Never one to throw in the towel, Davidson managed to par the narrow par 5, 6th hole and then hoping to hit the green at number 7 is when lightning struck. One swing……hole completed……the aforementioned “Hole-in-One” set Davidson on fire and from a +9 first 5 hole start the final 13 holes were played in 1 under par, including an even par finishing 9 holes. The stellar performance gave Michael Davidson a 5 shot win over Russell Kuyawa, with Frederick Edwards finishing 3rd.
It was the “Tale of two Rounds” for 2 of the players in the Sarazen flight. For Russell Kuyawa (Baltimore Tour), it appeared it was going to be an outstanding day, and for Michael Davidson it appeared it was going to be “another one of those days”. After posting an awesome front 9 score of 40, Kuyawa held a 2 stroke advantage over his nearest threat, Corrie Bukle (DC Tour), and 4 clear of Fredrick Edwards (DC Tour) and Michael Davidson (Richmond Tour). On any other given day and especially the conditions under what the Three River Fall Classic was played under, Kuyawa’s second 9 hole score would have been good enough to win in the Sarazen flight. But not on this day. Michael Davidson’s round looked like it was going “No where” but downhill fast as through his first 5 holes he was already 9 0ver par. Never one to throw in the towel, Davidson managed to par the narrow par 5, 6th hole and then hoping to hit the green at number 7 is when lightning struck. One swing……hole completed……the aforementioned “Hole-in-One” set Davidson on fire and from a +9 first 5 hole start the final 13 holes were played in 1 under par, including an even par finishing 9 holes. The stellar performance gave Michael Davidson a 5 shot win over Russell Kuyawa, with Frederick Edwards finishing 3rd.
SENIOR SARAZEN
FLIGHT
Propelled by a remarkable opening nine hole score of 39, Chuck Englehart (Baltimore Tour), held off the closing challenges of a trio of 2nd place finishers to claim “Top Honors” in the Senior Sarazen flight on Saturday, Oct. 12th in the Three River Fall Classic at Mattaponi Springs Golf club. Tied for 2nd were Jerry Jones (Richmond Tour), Paul Davidson (Richmond Tour), and Michael Schaal (Baltimore Tour).
Propelled by a remarkable opening nine hole score of 39, Chuck Englehart (Baltimore Tour), held off the closing challenges of a trio of 2nd place finishers to claim “Top Honors” in the Senior Sarazen flight on Saturday, Oct. 12th in the Three River Fall Classic at Mattaponi Springs Golf club. Tied for 2nd were Jerry Jones (Richmond Tour), Paul Davidson (Richmond Tour), and Michael Schaal (Baltimore Tour).
JONES FLIGHT
Finding the Mattaponi Springs layout much to his liking, Willie Winfree (DC Tour), bolstered by 2 steady 9’s (42-41) posted a 5 shot margin of victory in the Jones flight. Charlie Griffin (DC Tour) toured the course with a round of 88 for a 2nd place finish, and Daniel Ripple (Baltimore Tour), who started out with an opening 9 holes that surly left him unpleased turned it all around on the back to move into a respectable 3rd place finish.
Finding the Mattaponi Springs layout much to his liking, Willie Winfree (DC Tour), bolstered by 2 steady 9’s (42-41) posted a 5 shot margin of victory in the Jones flight. Charlie Griffin (DC Tour) toured the course with a round of 88 for a 2nd place finish, and Daniel Ripple (Baltimore Tour), who started out with an opening 9 holes that surly left him unpleased turned it all around on the back to move into a respectable 3rd place finish.
SNEAD FLIGHT
A good match-up developed in the Snead flight as Bill Goodman (Baltimore Tour), and Jeff White (Richmond Tour) had their own personal match to determine the outcome of the victor. It was a “see-saw” battle throughout as at one point during the round each player would hold as much as a 2 shot lead over the other. But the closing holes are where the drama would thicken. Headed to the 17th hole Goodman held a 1 shot lead. Both players negotiated their way through the par 3 with identical scores of par, then on to the difficult par 4, finishing hole. As the hole was completed it was White’s par that had brought him into the clubhouse to post an equal total to that of Goodman. Bill Goodman was awarded the victory on default as White was unable to continue. A scorecard play-off would have resulted in the same result. Jamie Iannelli (Richmond Tour) posted a 3rd place finish.
A good match-up developed in the Snead flight as Bill Goodman (Baltimore Tour), and Jeff White (Richmond Tour) had their own personal match to determine the outcome of the victor. It was a “see-saw” battle throughout as at one point during the round each player would hold as much as a 2 shot lead over the other. But the closing holes are where the drama would thicken. Headed to the 17th hole Goodman held a 1 shot lead. Both players negotiated their way through the par 3 with identical scores of par, then on to the difficult par 4, finishing hole. As the hole was completed it was White’s par that had brought him into the clubhouse to post an equal total to that of Goodman. Bill Goodman was awarded the victory on default as White was unable to continue. A scorecard play-off would have resulted in the same result. Jamie Iannelli (Richmond Tour) posted a 3rd place finish.
