"Lets get it started"

Off and Running on the Northern Neck

 

 

 

 

On March 26, 2016, players from 4 different Golf Channel Am Tours converged on the historic Northern Neck peninsula of Virginia, to King Carter Golf Club,  for the opening Golf Channel Am Tour tournament in the Northeast Region.

 

The day began with overcast and threatening skies, accompanied by bone chilling windy conditions. What had been forecast earlier in the week as the ideal day, had quickly deteriorated into a day that would behold many challenges, especially that of staying warm.

Not to be overlooked also was the fact of this being the first tournament of the season, and very few of the competitors had any chance prior to get any serious work on their game in.

 

But with the chance to get out and get a reprieve from “Cabin Fever” plus get back to the competition they love, ALL were ready to tee it up.

 

The challenging 6818 yard, Joel Weiman layout in Irvington Va., does not lend itself to low scoring on  the best of days and Saturday with the wind it flexed its muscles and played even tougher and longer than usual.

 
 

 

By the end of the round however the sun had come out, the temperatures had warmed up, jackets were shed, smiles had appeared and the 2016 Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour season was underway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

The description on Social Media as “Up at 4am to drive 3 hrs to get his 1^st win of the season”, left out a lot of the story for Ryan Clark’s victory in the Championship flight. By going out in Even par 35 on the front 9 to post a 3 shot lead over Tour newcomer Christopher Greenfield, Clark looked to have it on cruise control, but the brutal finishing 9 holes would add some excitement to the round before it was over. Greenfield was the one now that seemed to be cruising as he recorded par on 7 of the remaining 9 hole with a stretch of 6 in a row to finish. Clark meanwhile, had a rollercoaster back nine with a couple of birdies, a couple of pars, a couple of bogeys, and a couple of “others” that allowed Greenfield to pull within 1 shot of him headed to the 18^th tee.
In the end it was the words of Romeo (Cheech Marin, in the movie Tin Cup) that would resonate.
“Sometimes Par is good enough to win”, and it was for Ryan Clark as he posted a 1 shot win over Christopher Greenfield. Tip Wight finished 3^rd.

 

PALMER FLIGHT

Bolstered by an outgoing score of 40 on the opening 9 holes, Jim Davidson held on through a tumultuous finishing 9 to post his first win in a while in the Palmer Flight. Michael Owens and Chris Alderucci both had a shot to tie Davidson going to the finishing hole, but the long and demanding Par 5, 18^th hole at King Carter proved to be their undoing relegating them to a 2^nd place tie.

 

HOGAN FLIGHT

DC Tour player, Mike Barton put together 2 good sides of steady play Saturday at King Carter to out distance his closest competition in the Hogan flight for a 7 shot margin of victory. Tour Rookie, Allison Cherry finished 2^nd in her very 1^st tournament on the Golf Channel Am Tour, followed by Ferdinand Hudencial and Chris Turner tied in 3^rd.

 

SARAZEN FLIGHT

Starting off 5 over par after playing only 1 hole is usually not a positive indicator that it’s going to be a good day. Every golfer has that looming fear that there is going to be 1 bad hole during the round just to mess things up, so for Mel Imad, he just got it out of the way to begin with and then got down to business. Imad recovered from his atrocious start and went on to shoot the low round (82) in the Sarazen flight and claim top honors. Baltimore Tour player Sly Prioleau had a chance to give Imad a go for the title, but the quick, perfectly manicured greens at King Carter were his nemesis throughout the day and forced him to a 2^nd place finish. Another Tour Rookie had a good start to his Am Tour career as Troy Stavens finished 3^rd,

 

JONES FLIGHT

Keenan Davis is no stranger to the winners circle, but it’s no longer to pick up Snead flight trophies. Davis captured his first win of the 2016 GC Am Tour season, in the Jones flight, Saturday at King Carter with a 6 stroke margin of victory. James Porter finished 2^nd and Tour newcomer Authur Tutor finished 3^rd.

 

SNEAD FLIGHT

DC Tour player John Henry went about business as usual at King Carter when he claimed a 4 shot win in the Snead Flight. Jeff White came home in 2^nd followed by DC member Bill Jackson and Richmond newcomer Ruel Basilan tied in 3^rd.