It's an Outside Game

                                 "Ya just gotta love it"

The Traditional Golf Club at Brickshire, in Providence Forge Va., was the site of the New Kent Classic for the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour, on Saturday, April 2, 2016.

Rain for most of the morning made the conditions deplorable to say the least, but the competitors, suited in their rain gear took to the challenge regardless.

The 7,291 yard, Tom Clark layout, billed as a Curtis Strange Signature design, is already a supreme challenge to any golfer, so given the soft conditions and mind altering attempt to keep oneself and their equipment dry made it all the more challenging.

A quick glance at the winning scores and the heated competition in each flight, in no way would lead the outside observer that conditions were anything but perfect. By the afternoon the sun had made it appearance, the rain gear had been shed and the New Kent Classic was in the books as a successful day for the Winners of each flight.

RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
It took 19 holes to decide the outcome of the Championship Flight as Tip Wight and Ryan Clark were deadlocked at 77 when the round was completed in regulation. Clark made quick work of the play-off by winning on the 1^st extra hole

PALMER FLIGHT

After an up and down start in his first 5 holes, Shawn Watkins righted things with 9 consecutive pars, to hold off a furious charge by Sam Bailey, and win the Palmer flight by 1 stroke. Mike Sheehan and Tour Rookie Ryan Dodson tied for 3^rd.

HOGAN FLIGHT

Two holes into the tournament, Chris Turner had no reason to feel optimistic about his chances at the New Kent Classic. Never one to throw in the towel however, Turner rang up 12 pars, (9 in a row at one point) in his next 16 holes to post a 2 shot margin of victory over 2^nd place finishers Mike Barton and Allison Cherry. In her first 2 tournaments on the Golf Channel Am Tour, Cherry has posted two 2^nd place finishes.

SARAZEN FLIGHT

Making his 2016 debut, Michael Eaton captured the trophy in the Sarazen Flight by remaining steady through the finish. Ken Cherry, unknowingly with the tournament in hand, needed only par on the final hole to win. As would be the case with so many on this day, the demanding 18^th hole at Brickshire demands accuracy from tee to green on every shot, claimed another victim relegating Cherry to a 2^nd place finish. Chris Heipel and Michael Davidson finished tied for 3^rd.

JONES FLIGHT

James Porter turned in one of his better rounds, since joining the Golf Channel Am Tour, on Saturday when he posted a score of 88 to win the Jones Flight by 2 strokes over Peter Socha. Steven Despres finished in 3^rd.

SNEAD FLIGHT

Maury Gatewood won his 1^st tournament of the 2016 season but not before an epic 3 hole play-off with Tour newcomer Eric Clevenger.
Clevenger had the tournament in hand, but once again the punishing 18^th hole had something to say about the outcome. Jeff White finished 3^rd.