"Patience the Key at Stonehouse"
On Friday, April 24, 2015 the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour
hosted the Williamsburg Open at the Traditional Golf Club at Stonehouse.
Toano Va. was the site where 85 competitors
representing 18 different Golf Channel Am Tours met to decide the outcome in 8
individual flights
.
A sunny, but chilly and windy day awaited the Am Tour
players as they made their way to test their skills against the award winning,
but diabolically challenging 6962 yard *Mike Strantz layout. Stonehouse, given
Golf Digest highest honor of being named the “Best New Upscale Public Course”
in 1996, received many comments on this day from both ends of the spectrum.
*(Click on Mike Strantz name above and read, You'll be surprised what other courses he designed that you may have played)
Playing the course for the first time under tournament conditions held great
odds against all but the most patient of the contestants, but everyone was up
for the challenge. Winding its way through steep hills and deep ravines as well
as being guarded by blind shots, deep bunkers and long carries the course
balances itself out with wide fairways and tremendous sized greens.
Given the challenge of the layout and its 10 miles of cart
path, Stonehouse is not your typical 4½ hr golf course as it proved under
tournament conditions. The objective when choosing the course for this
tournament was achieved however, “Give Them Something They Will Remember”. And
for those that held the trophy at the end, the memories will be much fonder.
The Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour would like to extend a
sincere THANK YOU to everyone that made the tournament a huge success and
wishes you GOOD LUCK on your Tour for the 2015 season. And please come back and
join us for another tournament when you are nearby.
RESULTS
Click on Players name for full scorecard
CHAMPIONSHIP
FLIGHT
Bolstered by an outgoing 2 over par 38, Gavin Barton, of the
New England Golf Channel Am Tour, was able to remain steady throughout the
final 9 holes as well in order to hold off his nearest rivals to win ”Top Honors” in the Championship Flight.
Robert Corbello (Houston Tour) finished 2nd, followed by PatrickBogue (DC Tour) and Al Swanson (Oklahoma City Tour) tied for 3rd.
Robert Corbello (Houston Tour) finished 2nd, followed by PatrickBogue (DC Tour) and Al Swanson (Oklahoma City Tour) tied for 3rd.
PALMER FLIGHT
No strangers in going head to head in competition with one
another, the trio of Troy Barrall (Baltimore Tour), Brett Coddington (Philadelphia Tour) and Donnie Owens (Baltimore Tour) were at it once again when they renewed
their friendly rivalry in the Williamsburg Open. Paced by a score of 39 on his
outward 9 holes Owens held off a furious challenge by Barrall on the inward 9
to gain a 1 shot margin of victory. The stellar finishing 9 by Barrall held
Coddington at bay by 1 shot relegating him to a 3rd place finish.
HOGAN FLIGHT
Baltimore Tour member David Wachnish found the Traditional
Club at Stonehouse much to his liking as he navigated the difficult layout for
a 3 shot margin of victory in the Hogan Flight. By posting his best round since
joining the AM Tour, 1st year Richmond Tour member Alan Bodle
finished 2nd followed by Thomas Matte (Baltimore Tour) and Jeff Couch (Richmond Tour) tied for 3rd
SARAZEN FLIGHT
Robert Scally of the NYC-Hudson Valley Tour did not allow
the intimidating backdrop of Stonehouse to deter him at all as he overcame a 3
shot deficit at the turn to go on to clear his closest challenger by 2 shots at
the finish and win the Williamsburg Open in the Sarazen Flight. Russell Kuyawa
of the Baltimore Tour came home to a 2nd place finish with Michael Davidson (Richmond Tour) finishing 3rd.
JONES FLIGHT
Based on the strength of 3 birdies during the round in
addition to a stellar finishing 9 holes, Richmond Tour member Michael Eaton captured his first victory of his Am Tour career and the Trophy for the Jones
flight. Paired together with Eaton, and pressing him through the first 9 holes
was the always formable challenge of Daniel Ripple (Baltimore Tour) who
finished 2nd. Richmond Tour member Peter Socha finished 3rd
in the Jones flight which represented a 20 player field.
SNEAD FLIGHT
By carefully positioning his way through the most difficult backside
at Stonehouse, Bill Goodman, of the Richmond Tour was able to overcome a 6 shot
deficit at the turn and go on to pull out a win in the Snead flight by 1 shot
over John Casady of the Cleveland Tour. Steven Eureste of the Baltimore Tour
finished in 3rd.
SENIOR PALMER
FLIGHT
The always rock solid play of Washington DC Tour member Bill Stamm was once again on display at Stonehouse as he took full advantage of the
softer front side to post an outgoing score of even par 36 which enabled him to
cruise home to victory in the Senior Palmer flight. Following Stamm in the finishing
order were Richmond Tour members Mike Sheehan in 2nd and Louis Autry
in 3rd.
SENIOR SARAZEN
FLIGHT
In perhaps the best match of the day, fellow Carolinas Tour
members Bob Fogerty and Randy White battled down the stretch to decide the
outcome of the Senior Sarazen flight. After an encouraging front 9 score of 36
on the strength of 3 birdies White carried a seemly insurmountable 5 shot lead
to the demanding finishing 9 holes. Not yet ready to throw in the towel however,
Fogerty began to make his move immediately with a birdie at the 10th.
Another birdie by Fogerty at the tough par 5 thirteenth hole had completely
erased the deficit and now had Fogerty leading by 2 shots. Beginning with the 15th
hole Randy White righted the ship and reeled off 3 consecutive pars to regain
the advantage. It all came down to the final putt for Fogerty and when it failed to find the bottom of the cup, he tapped in and congratulated White on the win. Cleveland Tour
player Jeffery Gerrick came home to a 3rd place finish.
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
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