First Time Winners Highlight the Battle for Fredericksburg

                   EVERY SHOT IS CRUCIAL

Lee’s Hill Golfers Club in Massaponax Va. was the site of the 2^nd annual Battle for Fredericksburg for the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015.

A warm summer day awaited the competitors for the afternoon start on the 6,572 yard Bill Love design, just south of Fredericksburg. The course was in excellent condition as players in 6 flights from the Richmond, DC and Carolina’s Tours were primed and ready to challenge it and each other for the trophies, valuable Order of Merit points and bragging rights.

As the Richmond Tour schedule enters its final month of the 2015 season, every shot is crucial to those that are vying in the standings

for the right to compete in the National Championships and for the Player of the Year standings.

As players teed it up to begin their round the thoughts were numerous as to what scores would be needed, and who would need to be beaten in order to move up in the standings. In the end however some big surprises were witnessed, and those without big expectations would be rewarded.

RESULTS
(Click on players name to view full scorecard)

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Jeremy Horn broke into the win column for the first time on the Golf Channel Am Tour at Lee’s Hill when he toured the course with an impressive round of 77. Horn’s round was aided by a stellar 1 over par front 9.  Ryan Clark finished 2^nd

PALMER FLIGHT

Another first time winner on the Richmond Tour, on Saturday, was Jack Welch. As a former member of Lee’s Hill, the course knowledge and his ability to scramble from everywhere netted him 13 par’s on the card for a round of 79 and a 3 shot margin of victory over Sam Bailey and Jim Davidson. Davidson owned the "Shot of the Day" with a 3 wood 2nd shot on the demanding 590 yard 18th hole to 10 ft then drained the Eagle putt.

HOGAN FLIGHT

Tom Yeager has worn a path in the ground to receive trophies as of late. Yeager notched his 3^rd victory in a row and punched his ticket to the Senior National Championship yesterday with a round of 80. Ferdinand Hudencial finished 2^nd and Ron Oxendine 3^rd.

SARAZEN FLIGHT

As he stood on the 1^st tee for the second time of the day, Nathan Glass was shaking so much he could have threaded a sewing machine while it was running. Having the opportunity to capture his first ever trophy on the Golf Channel Am Tour was finally a reality. All that stood in his way was the seasoned Tour veteran, Michael Berndt, of the DC Tour. The pair played together in the same group, and quite a match developed throughout the day. Berndt posted an outstanding 39 on the outward 9 with the help of a couple of birdies, but Glass remained steady as he made par on the final 6 holes of the front 9 to stay within 2 shots of the leader. A big swing on the 10^th hole changed the complexion of the match and now it was Berndt who was the chaser. The match remained close through the next 7 holes and coming to 18, Glass held a 1 shot lead. The 18^th hole at Lee’s Hill has no mercy for a wayward shot and Glass figured that par would be good enough for the win. Berndt, however had other ideas and when his birdie putt found the bottom of the cup, a sigh of new life escaped.
It was to be his day, when Nathan Glass calmed his nerves and remained steady on the 1^st hole of the play-off to gain his long awaited first Golf Channel Am Tour trophy. Chris Heipel finished in 3rd just 1 shot back.

JONES FLIGHT

After experiencing the same difficulties at Chambers Bays that the best players in the world did, JB Martin found the plush level lies of Lee’s Hill much to his preference.  Martin posted his low round of the year on way to winning the loaded Jones flight with an amazing round of 80. DC Tour member GradyLovett finished second at 84 with Peter Socha coming home in 3^rd at 85

SNEAD FLIGHT

Playing in different pairings, Maury Gatewood, Bill Goodman, and John Henry (DC Tour) had little idea that they were each in contention to win the Snead flight. Goodman held a 2 shot lead at the turn but soon fell victim to the tight back nine of the Spotsylvania County layout, Gatewood and Henry remained neck and neck throughout the inward nine holes until Henry recorded a par on the final hole to pull out his 2^nd win on the Richmond Tour this season.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

Aug. 8 & 9       Richmond Tour Championship @ Viniterra
Aug. 15           The Va. Beach Open @ Va. Beach National
Aug. 22           The Hanover Open @ The Federal Club
Aug. 23           The Tournament of Champions @ Swan Point