Golf Channel Am Tour-Richmond: The Grapevine Classic/Richmond Tour Championship

"For a Shot at the National Championship"

On the weekend of August 8-9, the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour held “The Grapevine Classic/Richmond Tour Championship” at the Club at Viniterra in New Kent County, Virginia.

Players representing 5 different Golf Channel Am Tours competed in 7 individual flights for the trophy, prize fund and 1 year bragging rights as the Winner of the Richmond 2 day Tour Championship.

An inspection of the course on Friday left one to wonder whether it would be playable on Saturday, with water standing in many places resembling the look of lakes, with bunkers full of water as well. Heavy rains prior to the tournament left the 7,725 yard, Rees Jones layout quite soft and the 80+ sand bunkers virtually unplayable. By Saturday the course had drained remarkably well enough to actually allow carts off of the path. A rule was instituted to make the bunkers playable and the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour Championship was under way.

Overcast skies on Saturday represented a threat of more rain. As rain fell to the east and west in heavy amounts none was recorded in Tallysville Virginia and the day turned out to feel like a fall day with sunshine late in the afternoon. The course set up perfectly for scoring as the scorecards indicated when they were being posted with many birdies making the skins pot favorable to the recipients. Those that were able to navigate the course and avoid the many bunkers were rewarded on their score.

In most flights the scoring was very tight and the tournament was still anybody's to win. Ryan Clark led the Championship flight on the strength of a 1 under par 71. The Palmer flight was tied with Mike Sheehan and Jim Davidson tied at 78 With Craig Crowley and Jay Corazza only five back. The Hogan flight leader, DC Tour member, Patrick Franklin had a 3 shot cushion over Ferdinand Hudencial, with many others in hot pursuit.

The Sarazen flight frontrunner Ron Velasco led by one over Minnesota Tour member Charles Miller with a tightly packed bunch all within 4 shots. Two players in the Jones flight James Porter and JB Martin were destined for a shootout on Sunday. A 5 shot lead by Peter Socha, over Vincent Sarro, seemed safe in the Senior Jones flight but 18 holes remained to determine the Winner.

With only a two shot lead and another round remaining, DC Tour member, John Henry, the leader of the Snead flight knew that anything could happen on Sunday, with Jamie Iannelli and the “Sweet Swing” of 12 yr old Cory Campbell, of the Baltimore Tour, in hot pursuit.

As Sunday dawned into the perfect day for golf, players arrived at the course anxious to begin round two. The leaders, in hopes of protecting what they had worked so hard for the day before, were the ones to feel the most nerves as they were now the hunted. The pursuers could let it all hang out as they went on the attack, making sure though not to take the chances that would result in them going backwards.

Finishing positions were at the utmost importance as the double point’s tournament would be a large factor in determining the chance to go to one of the National Championship tournaments for several players based on their Order of Merit point standings

At 9 a.m. Sunday morning the first ball of round 2 for the Richmond

Golf Channel Am Tour Championship went into the air and it was game on for the seven flights to determine who would hold the trophy at the end of the day. As anticipated the seemingly safe leads disappeared in a hurry and the shootouts were on.

At the end of the day after the round was over there were smiles from many, disappointment on the faces of a few, congratulatory handshakes, many individual stories about their round and even a first time winner. Overall everyone had a great time, the course was well liked and the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour Championship was a huge success.

RESULTS

(click on players name to view full scorecard)

Ryan Clark's round on Saturday, backed up with a 77 on Sunday allowed him to hoist the trophy as the Championship flight Winner. Jeremy Horn finished 2nd. Ryan will now take his game to Palm Springs and pit it against the best in the country on the Golf Channel AM Tour at the National Championship.

Dr. Mike Sheehan continued his torrid play on Sunday with a four over par round of 76 to easily outdistance the competition in the Palmer flight. Craig Crowley finished second and Senior National Championship qualifier Jay Corazza finished third

Patrick Franklin's 3 shot lead grew to four shots by the 10th hole on Sunday but beginning with hole number 13 Ferdinand Hudencial caught fire to pull within one shot of the lead. Stepping to the 18th tee box, both players knew what was at stake and what was needed to win. Both players recorded level par on the final hole to give Franklin the win relegating Hudencial to second. Jim Bryant finished in third.

Ronald Velasco was able to hang on to his lead despite a furious charge by 2nd place finisher Mel Imad. The top five places in the Sarazen finishing order were separated by a total of 5 strokes with many players coming from back in the pack to gain valuable finishing positions and pick up crucial Order of Merit points. Charles Miller of the Minnesota Tour finished third

After a rough start on the opening nine holes on Saturday, JB Martin fired a back nine 37 to pull within one shot of first-round leader James Porter. As a seasoned veteran of the Tour and having been in the situation many times at the highest level of Majors and Nationals, Martin figured he had the “Tour Rookie” right where he wanted him. Whether it was nerves or unaccustomed to playing in the pairing with the Leaders, Porter began to struggle on the opening nine holes on Sunday and at the turn his one shot lead had now turned into a three shot deficit. Martin could now put it on cruise control, but no one told Porter that first year players aren't supposed to win the Tour Championship. As Martin left the door cracked, Porter would take advantage of it. If Martin would bogey, Porter would par if Martin would par, Porter would birdie. "The Kid" just would not go away and as a result James Porter shot a back nine round of 37 to win the Richmond Tour Championship in the Jones flight by one shot over JB Martin. Keenan Davis fired a great round of his own to come from back in the pack and finish third.

The most back and forth match of the day developed in the Senior Jones flight. Entering the round with a 5 shot lead, Peter Socha had grown that to 6 at the turn but the back nine would be a spectacular turn of events for both he and Vincent Sarro.

Socha's 6 shot lead at the turn was gone by the 12th hole and by the 13th hole he was now at a two-shot deficit. By the time the pair had finished the 15th hole Socha now lead by two. After 16 they were even. Then going to the 18th tee box Vincent Sarro held the lead by two. As well as the rest of the finishing 9 holes the 18th hole would also reflect a dramatic swing as Peter Socha would walk off the 18th green as the Senior Jones flight Champion by two shots. Steven De0res shot the best round of the day, (84) in the Senior Jones to improve his finishing position to third.

Not to be outdone by any other flight the guys in the Snead flight were going to have a barn burner finish of their own. DC tour member John Henry started out as the 2 shot leader by virtue of owning the back nine at Viniterra on Saturday. However, the back nine waited for him on Sunday with retribution and sent him to a T-3 finish. The biggest moves of the day were made by Bill Goodman and George French both who shot 87 coming from 9 and 11 shots back respectively to finish second and tied for third. The Jamie Iannelli of old showed up for the Richmond Tour Championship at Viniterra and played steady over the two day period to capture his first win of the 2015 season.