"Home Cookin' in Va. Beach"

                                                "Home Sweet Home"

On Saturday, Aug. 15, the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour made it’s 3^rd appearance of the season in the Hampton Roads area. The venue was Va. Beach National Golf Club for the Va, Beach Open

In appreciation of the many members from Hampton Roads, the Richmond Tour wanted to hold a tournament in their backyard. Virginia Beach National formerly TPC of Virginia Beach, a Pete Dye/Curtis Strange design was the perfect place to host a Golf Channel AM Tour event.

The course was in excellent condition and awaited the challenge of

the players. Tournament scoring was conducted under the Stableford/Points Quota system offering maximum Order of Merit points and a larger prize fund for the 2 flights

.

Several of the players in the field were either members, former members or played Virginia Beach National on a regular basis giving them the advantage of course knowledge, knowing that hitting fairways was a premium as many of the long holes demanded

accuracy from the tee for a better opportunity to reach the green

Many of the holes were visually deceptive to a lot of the players that

are used to having holes defined by being tree lined on both sides. Virginia Beach National offers many wide open holes that are 

subjective to the wind.

 Weather conditions were perfect for the day reflective of a Chamber of Commerce day in Virginia Beach. Many positive comments were heard from local open play members as to how the course was

 defined with the Golf Channel AM Tour signage and were impressed how players were introduced at the first tee. As a gathering stood around and watched, applauded and encouraged the local members of the Golf Channel AM Tour, they began their rounds.

Home cooking was on the menu Saturday at Virginia Beach National. Winners in both flights were course members. In the Tidewater flight

3 of the top 5 finishers were Hampton Roads natives, and the top three finishers in the Hampton Roads flight were all local players. As play was completed and scoring wrapping up, the Tidewater players all had 1 common theme, “We don’t have to drive through a tunnel today”. And the trophies remained there also.

A Special Thank you goes out to Head Pro Russ Dodson and the Staff at Va. Beach National for their attention and dedicated service to our Tournament

RESULTS

(Click on players name to view full scorecard)

Tidewater flight winner Hudson Crabb put on a dominating performance on the outward 9 holes with a one over par 37 giving him his quota with 9 holes to build bonus points on. Crabb’s 18 bonus points on the back nine seemed to be a safe lead but Chris Heipel, aided by the knowledge of a local Caddy made a furious charge on the inward nine holes to amass 17 bonus points and only fall one point short for a second place finish. Tom Yeager finished in third with 16 points

Virginia Beach National member JBMartin started out on fire and never looked back in his wire-to-wire victory scoring points on 16 of the 18 holes. Martin finished with 19 points, 4 better than 2nd place finisher and former VB National member Bill Crowley. Kenneth Cherry and Virginia Beach native Keenan Davis finished tied for third with 13 points each.