The Caroline Classic

"It's a bird, it's a plane,...........no, it's the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour at Mattaponi Springs for the Caroline Classic"

On Saturday, May 9^th, the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour hosted the Caroline Classic at Mattaponi (pronounced matta-pone-aye) Springs Golf Club where players representing 3 different Tours vied

for the coveted title of Champion in 5 individual flights. No one could have asked for a better day or conditions as the temperature hit 83 and the course was nothing short of spectacular.

Always one of the absolute best courses on the Richmond schedule, Mattaponi Springs zoysia grass fairways were in peak condition and a welcome treat offering perfect lies for each and every shot. The unblemished greens rolled true and smooth and offered up many birdies throughout the day, making for a lot of happy competitors who cashed in on the opportunities.

The 6937 yard Par 72, Bob Lohmann layout, nestled away in Caroline County didn’t intimidate the golfers that took advantage of the generous fairways over the wildly undulated natural terrain. Scoring was impressive by the top finishers in each flight as they waited and shared stories of their respective rounds while the results were posted. The fierce competition on the course turned into the regular friendly camaraderie as the Champions were congratulated.

A “Special Thank You” goes out to ALL of the competitors for their participation in the Caroline Classic and for an outstanding tournament and Pace of Play. The Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour would like to also Thank the staff at Mattaponi Springs for their Hospitality and diligence during our visit there.

RESULTS

Click on the Players name for the full scorecard

PALMER FLIGHT
DC Tour Member Jim Hicks “Love/Hate” relationship with Mattaponi Springs was nothing less than “Pure Affection” as he delivered his card to the scoring table on Saturday. The seasoned veteran of the Golf Channel Am Tour navigated the course with deadly accuracy from tee to green as he recorded 4 birdies for a +1 round of 73 to outdistance his closest rival, Sam Bailey (Richmond Tour) by 3 strokes. Bill Stamm (DC Tour) and Mike Sheehan (Richmond Tour) finished tied for 3^rd

HOGAN FLIGHT
Richmond Tour player Chris Turner sat distraught as he waited for scores to be posted in the Hogan flight. Thinking that a big number on one hole had maybe once again cost him the chance to hoist the trophy. Turner’s gloom soon turned to glee when his strong front 9 proved to be the deciding factor that no one else in the flight could overcome to deny him the win. Finishing in a tie for second were Gary Knighting (DC Tour) and Jim Bryant (Richmond Tour).

SARAZEN FLIGHT

Some great competition developed in the Sarazen flight, although not head to head, as Richmond Tour players Nathan Glass, Chris Heipel and Ric Beltz all had strong beginning nines. Beltz and Heipel tied at the turn began their quest of the inward nine holes only 2 shots ahead of Glass. Having an advantage of knowing the course as one of its members, Beltz quickly gained a stroke each on his competition at the 10^th. But it would be the long, narrow and demanding 13^th hole that would be the undoing of both Heipel and Glass and give Ric Beltz the edge he needed to hang on and ward off a furious finishing charge by both players. Chris heipel finished 1 back in 2^nd and Glass came home in 3^rd.

JONES FLIGHT

Vowing to make his way to the Senior National Championship tournament in Palm Springs, CA., Richmond Tour member Michael Radan took a giant step on Saturday to accomplish that goal against a full field in the Jones flight. Staging a stunning come from behind victory, aided by 2 birdies on a remarkable back 9, Radan finished 1 shot better than runner-up Peter Socha (Richmond Tour). Michael Eaton (Richmond Tour) finished 3^rd.

SNEAD FLIGHT
Richmond Tour member, Keenan Davis now has plans for 1 week in September as he punched his ticket for PGA West and the National Championship by way of his 3^rd win of the 2015 Golf Channel Am Tour season. By posting a solid outward nine holes, Davis was able to fend off fellow Richmond Tour player BillGoodman by 6 shots.  Jamie Iannelli and Maury Gatewood both of the Richmond Tour finished tied for 3^rd.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

June 6     The Continental Challenge @ Pendleton GC

June 27    The Rappahannock Open @ King Carter GC

July 5       The Traditional @ The Traditional Club at Royal New Kent

The Williamsburg Open

                            "Patience the Key at Stonehouse"

On Friday, April 24, 2015 the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour hosted the Williamsburg Open at the Traditional Golf Club at Stonehouse.  

Toano Va. was the site where 85 competitors representing 18 different Golf Channel Am Tours met to decide the outcome in 8 individual flights

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A sunny, but chilly and windy day awaited the Am Tour players as they made their way to test their skills against the award winning, but diabolically challenging 6962 yard *Mike Strantz layout. Stonehouse, given Golf Digest highest honor of being named the “Best New Upscale Public Course” in 1996, received many comments on this day from both ends of the spectrum.

*(Click on Mike Strantz name above and read, You'll be surprised what other courses he designed that you may have played)

Playing the course for the first time under tournament conditions held great odds against all but the most patient of the contestants, but everyone was up for the challenge. Winding its way through steep hills and deep ravines as well as being guarded by blind shots, deep bunkers and long carries the course balances itself out with wide fairways and tremendous sized greens.

Given the challenge of the layout and its 10 miles of cart path, Stonehouse is not your typical 4½ hr golf course as it proved under tournament conditions. The objective when choosing the course for this tournament was achieved however, “Give Them Something They Will Remember”. And for those that held the trophy at the end, the memories will be much fonder.

The Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to everyone that made the tournament a huge success and wishes you GOOD LUCK on your Tour for the 2015 season. And please come back and join us for another tournament when you are nearby.

RESULTS

Click on Players name for full scorecard

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Bolstered by an outgoing 2 over par 38, Gavin Barton, of the New England Golf Channel Am Tour, was able to remain steady throughout the final 9 holes as well in order to hold off his nearest rivals to win  ”Top Honors” in the Championship Flight.
Robert Corbello (Houston Tour) finished 2^nd, followed by PatrickBogue (DC Tour) and Al Swanson (Oklahoma City Tour) tied for 3^rd.

PALMER FLIGHT

No strangers in going head to head in competition with one another, the trio of Troy Barrall (Baltimore Tour), Brett Coddington (Philadelphia Tour) and Donnie Owens (Baltimore Tour) were at it once again when they renewed their friendly rivalry in the Williamsburg Open. Paced by a score of 39 on his outward 9 holes Owens held off a furious challenge by Barrall on the inward 9 to gain a 1 shot margin of victory. The stellar finishing 9 by Barrall held Coddington at bay by 1 shot relegating him to a 3^rd place finish.

HOGAN FLIGHT

Baltimore Tour member David Wachnish found the Traditional Club at Stonehouse much to his liking as he navigated the difficult layout for a 3 shot margin of victory in the Hogan Flight. By posting his best round since joining the AM Tour, 1^st year Richmond Tour member Alan Bodle finished 2^nd followed by Thomas Matte (Baltimore Tour) and Jeff Couch (Richmond Tour) tied for 3^rd

SARAZEN FLIGHT

Robert Scally of the NYC-Hudson Valley Tour did not allow the intimidating backdrop of Stonehouse to deter him at all as he overcame a 3 shot deficit at the turn to go on to clear his closest challenger by 2 shots at the finish and win the Williamsburg Open in the Sarazen Flight. Russell Kuyawa of the Baltimore Tour came home to a 2^nd place finish with Michael Davidson (Richmond Tour) finishing 3^rd.

JONES FLIGHT

Based on the strength of 3 birdies during the round in addition to a stellar finishing 9 holes, Richmond Tour member Michael Eaton captured his first victory of his Am Tour career and the Trophy for the Jones flight. Paired together with Eaton, and pressing him through the first 9 holes was the always formable challenge of Daniel Ripple (Baltimore Tour) who finished 2^nd. Richmond Tour member Peter Socha finished 3^rd in the Jones flight which represented a 20 player field.

SNEAD FLIGHT

By carefully positioning his way through the most difficult backside at Stonehouse, Bill Goodman, of the Richmond Tour was able to overcome a 6 shot deficit at the turn and go on to pull out a win in the Snead flight by 1 shot over John Casady of the Cleveland Tour. Steven Eureste of the Baltimore Tour finished in 3^rd.

SENIOR PALMER FLIGHT

The always rock solid play of Washington DC Tour member Bill Stamm was once again on display at Stonehouse as he took full advantage of the softer front side to post an outgoing score of even par 36 which enabled him to cruise home to victory in the Senior Palmer flight. Following Stamm in the finishing order were Richmond Tour members Mike Sheehan in 2^nd and Louis Autry in 3^rd.

SENIOR SARAZEN FLIGHT

In perhaps the best match of the day, fellow Carolinas Tour members Bob Fogerty and Randy White battled down the stretch to decide the outcome of the Senior Sarazen flight. After an encouraging front 9 score of 36 on the strength of 3 birdies White carried a seemly insurmountable 5 shot lead to the demanding finishing 9 holes. Not yet ready to throw in the towel however, Fogerty began to make his move immediately with a birdie at the 10^th. Another birdie by Fogerty at the tough par 5 thirteenth hole had completely erased the deficit and now had Fogerty leading by 2 shots. Beginning with the 15^th hole Randy White righted the ship and reeled off 3 consecutive pars to regain the advantage. It all came down to the final putt for Fogerty and when it failed to find the bottom of the cup, he tapped in and congratulated White on the win. Cleveland Tour player Jeffery Gerrick came home to a 3^rd place finish.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

May 9     The Caroline Classic @ Mattaponi Springs GC

June 6    The Continental Challenge @ Pendleton GC

June 27  The Rappahannock Open @ King Carter GC

The Ironclad Open

                                     "Back in Hampton Roads"

On Saturday, April 18^th, 2015 the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour made its long awaited return to the Hampton Roads area. Players from 3 different Golf Channel Am Tours met at Riverfront Golf Club,located along the banks of the Nansemond River in Suffolk Va., to determine who would be the “Best” player that day in 5 individual flights.

It was absolute “Chamber of Commerce” weather conditions, for the Ironclad Open, as the competitors waged their best efforts against the award winning 6735 yard Tom Doak layout, located in the Harbor View community.

Players contended against the course and each other overlooking the waters where the famous battle of the first ironclad warships did battle on March 9^th, 1862. Although the Monitor and Merrimac battle ended in a draw, the Ironclad Open ended with several wins and many smiling faces.

A very gracious Thank you goes out to all the players that competed and to Riverfront Golf Club for their Hospitality.

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CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Tim Ritter used an outgoing 2 over par score of 38 to propel himself to his 2^nd win of the season which moved him one step closer to a National Championship Invitation. Jay Corazza finished 2^nd in the Championship flight.

HOGAN FLIGHT

The always steady play of Susan Koger was on display at Riverfront as she navigated the final 4 holes of the competition in 1 under par, including a birdie on the difficult finishing hole that sent her to victory. Following Koger in the final standings were Brian Gutierrez in 2^nd with Chris Turner and Riverfronts own Paul Schleier tied for 3^rd

SARAZEN FLIGHT

Extra holes were needed to settle the outcome in the Sarazen flight, after an unfortunate mistake by Chris Heipel on the finishing hole snatched a certain victory from his hands and sent him into a playoff with Carolinas Tour player Bob Fogerty. Still reeling from a 2 stroke penalty incurred for playing a wrong ball on the 18^th hole, Heipel yielded to Fogerty on the 1^st playoff hole. Luke Carpenter finished in 3^rd.

JONES FLIGHT

After rallying from a 3 shot deficit at the turn, Ken Cherry stood poised to claim his 3^rd win of the season in the Jones flight. Playing in the same pairing, JB Martin had watched a magnificent display of golf by Cherry erase his lead that now had him at a 2 shot disadvantage heading to the final hole. As many players, prior and afterwards, discovered the demanding 18^th hole at Riverfront Golf Club would not cater to errant golf shots. The finishing hole would once again provide the drama that developed into a 2 shot swing eventually sending Martin and Cherry into a playoff. Ken Cherry would right himself in the playoff and dispose of JB Martin on the 1^st hole to claim the victory and stamp his ticket to the Senior National Championship. Peter Socha would come home to a 3^rd place finish.

SNEAD FLIGHT

On a celebratory visit home, former Richmond native, CarlDaniels, now of the Phoenix Golf Channel Am Tour, made his return visit worthwhile when he traveled to Suffolk and claimed victory in the Snead flight. The 18^th hole would once again change the perceived outcome. With 2 holes remaining in the competition, Keenan Davis held a 1 shot lead over Daniels, who was playing in the following group. The scorecards reflect the duo being tied after the completion of hole #17. The 18^th would claim another victim in Davis as Daniels negotiated it in even par to claim the win. George French finished in 3^rd.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER

Mike Miller



"QUESTION of the WEEK"

What is the most accurate yardage device?

The Range Finder?
The SkyCaddie?
The GPS Watch?

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

Friday, April 24th The Williamsburg Open  (SOLD OUT)
at Stonehouse GC

Sat.      May  9th   The Caroline Classic
at Mattaponi Springs GC

Sat.     June  6th    The Continental Challenge
at Pendelton GC

The New Kent Classic

                                         "A Day Made for Golf"

On Saturday, April, 11^th Players from the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour gathered at the Traditional Golf Club at Brickshire to contest for the Trophy and “Bragging” rights in 5 individual flights for the New Kent Classic. The already long and demanding, Curtis Strange design layout, in Providence Forge Va. played

even longer and tougher than normal due to saturating conditions from a drenching downpour the evening before. As a result carts were limited to the paths for the day, forcing players to navigate the hilly terrain of Brickshire on foot for the better part of the day.

Having weathered the long winter better than many courses Brickshire had a hint of green starting to make its appearance into the fairways, and the greens were in remarkable shape and rolling rapidly. With sunny skies, temperatures in the 70’s and virtually non-existent wind the day was ideal for the 3^rd of the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour tournaments for the 2015 season, where the points battles in each flight are starting to heat up along with the weather.

Click on players names to view scorecard

PALMER FLIGHT

In a mirror image of a week ago where they went head to head, Sam Bailey and Mike Sheehan battled it out down the stretch for top honors in the Palmer flight. In the end however Bailey made the necessary shots when it counted to once again thwart the bid of Sheehan for the win. Craig Crowley finished third.
The win was the 2^nd of the season for Bailey, leaving him needing only one more for a bid to the National Championship

HOGAN FLIGHT

A brilliant display of golf to begin the round was the deciding factor in allowing Ferdinand Hudencial to hold off the challenge of Tom Yeager and claim the trophy for the Hogan flight. The win was the 2^nd of the season for Hudencial and moved him one step closer to qualifying for the National Championship. Tour newcomer Alan Bodle finished 3^rd.

SARAZEN FLIGHT

Making his 2015 debut, Chris Heipel, showed no signs of rust as he went out and picked up a win in the Sarazen flight with a 1 shot margin of victory over Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour newcomer Roger Moore. It was Heipel’s steady play down the stretch that was the deciding factor. Finishing 3^rd was Nathan Glass

JONES FLIGHT

Propelled by a “Rock Solid” finishing 9 holes Ken Cherry was able to pull out a win in the Jones flight for the 2^nd tournament in a row, besting his closest competition by 4 shots. The victory left Cherry one win away from an invitation to the Senior National Championship in Palm Springs. Finishing in a deadlock for 2^nd were Rodney Newton and another Tour rookie, Michael Eaton.

SNEAD FLIGHT

Standing on the 18^th tee, the duo of MauryGatewood and Bill Goodman were all even on their respective scorecards with the final hole waiting to be the deciding factor on who would take home the trophy in the Snead flight. The final conclusion showed that Goodman had made 1 less stroke to complete the round than Gatewood. Jamie Iannelli came home in third

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

April 18 The Ironclad Open @ Riverfront Golf Club

April 24 The Williamsburg Open @ Stonehouse