The "Golden Bear" Growls
On Sunday May 22, 2016 the 4th in a series of 8 tournaments for the Chesapeake Cup Challenge was held on the Nicklaus Course at Bay Creek Resort and Club. The tournament was held in Cape Charles, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, over-looking the Chesapeake Bay.
Hosted by the Washington DC Golf Channel Am Tour, players from 5 different Am Tours challenged each other in 5 individual flights on the Nicklaus course at Bay Creek.
Opened in 2006, the 7,417 yard Jack Nicklaus Signature designed course is characterized by large waste bunkers and 100+ formal bunkers. With acres of dunes, mature trees, small well-protected greens and water on several holes, one could easily see that Jack took to the challenge of competition in designing a golf course that would rival the one that Arnie had designed for Bay Creek.
Although the rains had subsided for Sundays Cape Charles Classic, the skies were still very overcast and a cool stiff wind had now lent itself to the already demanding course. The welcomed news was that carts would be allowed off of the paths for Sunday’s tournament which brought a sigh of relief to all of the competitors and the Golf Channel Am Tour staff.
It’s not often you get to take your pick between golf on a Nicklaus or Palmer course, two of the biggest names in golf. Bay Creek’s award winning resort is the first in the United States to feature Signature courses from both.
Golf World ranked Bay Creek 12th on its list of best golf resorts in America. Golf Digest ranks the two courses among the best in the state. One would be hard pressed to choose a favorite among the 2 courses, but ask any member of the Golf Channel Am Tour that made the trip to Cape Charles to play in the Chesapeake Challenge and the Cape Charles Classic and they would agree that Bay Creek will rank with the best courses ANYWHERE!!!
It was a new day on Sunday and a new tournament. Players were excited to challenge their skills on the Nicklaus course and claim Top Honors in their respective flights. Players that had won the previous day on the Palmer course were looking to add another trophy to their ride home, while those that had applauded for the Champions the day before were in quest of hearing the applause for themselves at the conclusion of the round. Unlike the first 2 tournaments of the Chesapeake Cup Challenge, at Riverfront and Nansemond River golf clubs, there would be no 2 day winners at Bay Creek.
However, with individual and team honors still up for grabs at the halfway point of the series, every player still knew that their finishing position would be critical in determining the outcome of the Chesapeake Cup Challenge.
RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
(Click on Players name to view full scorecard)
After watching a startling sub-par display the day before on the Palmer course consign him to a 2nd place finish, Tip Wight, of the Richmond Tour, set out and succeeded in his quest for a 1st place trophy on Sunday in the Cape Charles Classic. Jack Welch, also representing the Richmond Tour finished 2nd.
HOGAN FLIGHT
Richmond Tour member, Mike Miller, appeared to have enjoyed the congratulatory attention he had received by winning the Chesapeake Challenge the previous day as he continued his torrid play on Sunday through the first 9 holes on the Nicklaus course. Kyle Hoge, also from the Richmond Tour, had other ideas for the outcome of the Hogan flight. Although 3 down at the turn, Hoge began to chip away at Miller’s lead when he began to faulted down the stretch of finishing holes. In the end Hoge had overcome Miller for a 2 shot margin of victory. David Wachnish, representing the Baltimore Tour finished 3rd. In doing so Wachnish picked up quite a few points for the Baltimore Team over the weekend allowing them to gain ground in the Chesapeake Cup Challenge standings.
SARAZEN FLIGHT
Rick Knepp, of the Baltimore Tour, wanted desperately to add his name to the list of winners at Bay Creek over the weekend. After a 3rd place finish the day before, Knepp set out to achieve that goal by building a 3 shot lead at the conclusion of the outward 9 holes. Richmond Tour member, Mel Imad seemed to still be reeling after being defeated in a play-off in the Chesapeake Challenge the previous day. Imad got off to a very rocky start in the beginning of the Cape Charles Classic, but beginning at Hole #6, Imad played the next 8 holes in Even par. The match would swing in favor of both Knepp and Imad for the start of the outward 9 holes. An absolute crushing blow would occur on the 15th hole for Knepp, but the Winner of the Kingsmill Classic Major wasn’t ready to throw in the towel quite yet. As Imad began to have his own difficulties on the finishing holes, Knepp began to make a comeback. But at the conclusion Imad was able to hold on to a 1 shot lead for the win. Willie Dixon (Baltimore Tour) and Michael Davidson (Richmond Tour) finished tied for 3rd.
After watching a startling sub-par display the day before on the Palmer course consign him to a 2nd place finish, Tip Wight, of the Richmond Tour, set out and succeeded in his quest for a 1st place trophy on Sunday in the Cape Charles Classic. Jack Welch, also representing the Richmond Tour finished 2nd.
HOGAN FLIGHT
Richmond Tour member, Mike Miller, appeared to have enjoyed the congratulatory attention he had received by winning the Chesapeake Challenge the previous day as he continued his torrid play on Sunday through the first 9 holes on the Nicklaus course. Kyle Hoge, also from the Richmond Tour, had other ideas for the outcome of the Hogan flight. Although 3 down at the turn, Hoge began to chip away at Miller’s lead when he began to faulted down the stretch of finishing holes. In the end Hoge had overcome Miller for a 2 shot margin of victory. David Wachnish, representing the Baltimore Tour finished 3rd. In doing so Wachnish picked up quite a few points for the Baltimore Team over the weekend allowing them to gain ground in the Chesapeake Cup Challenge standings.
SARAZEN FLIGHT
Rick Knepp, of the Baltimore Tour, wanted desperately to add his name to the list of winners at Bay Creek over the weekend. After a 3rd place finish the day before, Knepp set out to achieve that goal by building a 3 shot lead at the conclusion of the outward 9 holes. Richmond Tour member, Mel Imad seemed to still be reeling after being defeated in a play-off in the Chesapeake Challenge the previous day. Imad got off to a very rocky start in the beginning of the Cape Charles Classic, but beginning at Hole #6, Imad played the next 8 holes in Even par. The match would swing in favor of both Knepp and Imad for the start of the outward 9 holes. An absolute crushing blow would occur on the 15th hole for Knepp, but the Winner of the Kingsmill Classic Major wasn’t ready to throw in the towel quite yet. As Imad began to have his own difficulties on the finishing holes, Knepp began to make a comeback. But at the conclusion Imad was able to hold on to a 1 shot lead for the win. Willie Dixon (Baltimore Tour) and Michael Davidson (Richmond Tour) finished tied for 3rd.
JONES FLIGHT
After an uncharacteristic finish on the Bay Creek Palmer course in Saturday’s Chesapeake Challenge, Richmond Tour player, Stephen Despres returned to form enough to grasp a 2 stroke margin of victory over a determined Jeff Tomlinson of the DC Tour. Tomlinson held a 2 shot advantage at the turn, but a big swing on the 13th hole put it in Despres’s favor as the 2 players would basically match scorecards the rest of the way in. Keenan Davis of the Richmond Tour finished in 3rd.
SNEAD FLIGHT
The Baltimore Tour sent in the heavy artillery on Sunday when Howard Crossan made his first appearance in the Chesapeake Cup Challenge 4th (in the series of 8) tournament and captured some valuable 1st place points for himself and his team. Crossan’s steady front 9 holes of the Cape Charles Classic, would turn out to be the cushion he would need to fend off the spirited charge of the DC Tour’s previous day winner, Duane Dodwell. Richmond Tour member Jamie Iannelli finished 3rd.
The Baltimore Tour sent in the heavy artillery on Sunday when Howard Crossan made his first appearance in the Chesapeake Cup Challenge 4th (in the series of 8) tournament and captured some valuable 1st place points for himself and his team. Crossan’s steady front 9 holes of the Cape Charles Classic, would turn out to be the cushion he would need to fend off the spirited charge of the DC Tour’s previous day winner, Duane Dodwell. Richmond Tour member Jamie Iannelli finished 3rd.
Chesapeake Cup Challenge Team Points earned on Sunday’s Cape Charles Classic on the Nicklaus course at Bay Creek
Richmond 18.5
Baltimore 13.5
DC 6
Did you know that there are Individual Honors for the Chesapeake Cup Challenge?
For more information on the Chesapeake Cup Challenge click on the Tab at the top of the page or the link below.
CHESAPEAKE CUP CHALLENGE
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
(Click on tournament name to register)
June 11 The Chesterfield Open
at Lake Chesdin CC
June 25 The Hampton Roads Invitational
at Cahoon Plantation GC
June 26 West Neck Open
at The Signature at West Neck
July 2 The Traditional
at the Traditional Golf Club Royal New Kent
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