Richmond Players light it up at the Homestead

The Battle for the Homestead IV was held this past weekend and several Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour Players fared very well representing themselves and the Richmond Tour with some outstanding play.

(Click on players name to view full scorecards).

In the Championship flight Ryan Clark had a stunning come from behind win by firing a 1 under par (69) round on Sunday at the Cascades course. Ryan came from 5 shots behind for the victory.

In the Palmer flight Shawn Watkins, bolstered by stellar 2 under par (70) round on Saturday at the Old Course continued his fine play at the Cascades Sunday to hoist the trophy. An Eagle on the par 5 16th hole helped as well.

In the Sarazen flight, Mel Imad punched his ticket to the National Championship Tournament with the help of a low second round (82) at the Old Course on Sunday to move himself into a 2nd place finish.

In the Senior Jones flight Peter Socha (83) and Ken Cherry (82) both took advantage of the scoring opportunities on Sunday at the Old Course to qualify for the Golf Channel Am Tour Senior National Championship in Palm Springs. Socha finished 2nd while Cherry came from back in the field to finish 3rd.

Although already qualified for the Senior National Championship, Jay Corazza's low round of the day (75) in the Senior Palmer flight gave him a 3rd place finish in the at the Homestead.

Playing in his very first Golf Channel Am Tour 2 day Major was good experience for Tim Ritter and "ONE" he'll never forget. Standing on the scenic 180 yard par 3 finishing hole at the Cascades, Ritter would make 1 final stroke to finish his tournament. With the Hole in One, Tim not only picked up some nice skin money but also made a nice haul in the Feherty's Troops First 50/50 program, where a $500 donation was also made to the charity in his name.

Nice going Richmond Tour Players!!!

Now it's on to Irvington on June 27, at King Carter for the Rappahannock Open on the local Richmond schedule.

Hope to see you there/ 

The Continental Challenge

            "These guys are good....and so are the gals"

On Saturday, June 6^th, after a 1 month layoff, the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour was back in action at Pendleton Golf Club. Players representing 3 different Am Tours competed for “Top Honors” in 6 individual flights. There was no rust to be found in the competition

as during the hiatus’ many players kept sharp competing in Majors and neighboring Tour events, and the evidence could be seen as the scores began to be posted.  

The 7093 yard Thomas Walker (former lead designer at the Gary Player Design Company) layout in the Ladysmith area of Caroline county was in exceptional condition and ready to be challenged. Given the 4 previous days of rain the course held its own and surprisingly carts were able to access the fairways without harm. The plush fairways and rapid, true greens lent the advantage to the players that proved to control the most accuracy. Mostly sunny skies, a light breeze and a high of 82 set the conditions for a perfect day on the golf course for a tournament round.

The Staff of the Richmond Golf Channel Am Tour would like to extend a sincere Thank you to all that participated and for the outstanding pace of play that helped contribute to a very successful tournament.

Another huge Thank you goes out to the Staff at Pendleton Golf Club for their help, hospitality and for providing a great golf course for the competition.

RESULTS
Click on Players name to view Full Scorecard


CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Bolstered by 4 Birdies during the round, Jeremy Horn led wire to wire in the Championship flight and posted an excellent round of 3 over par 75. Following Horn in the standings were Sam Bailey 2^nd and Jose Talamantes 3^rd.

HOGAN FLIGHT

With the disappointing memory of how last year’s Continental Challenge eluded his grasp, Chris Turner loaded up and took dead aim on his inward 9 holes to shoot a 2 over par 38 and outdistance his closest rival, Tom Yeager by 5 shots. Richmond Tour newcomer Mike Miller finished in 3rd highlighted by his "Eagle" on the 13th hole

SARAZEN FLIGHT

The Sarazen flight offered up a good match as Jerry Jones and Ric Beltz went head to head throughout the entire round. Jones would hold a 1 shot advantage at the turn. Beltz would immediately bring the match back even on the 10^th hole, but a birdie at 13 would give the lead back to Jones. At 16 Beltz would once again bring the match back to even and then at 17 gain a 1 stroke lead. Unfortunately for Ric Beltz disaster would strike on the finishing hole as an untimely double bogey would be posted on his card while Jones remained steady with a par resulting in a 2 shot swing giving Jones the trophy. DC Tour member Wayne Crupi came home in 3^rd.

JONES FLIGHT

Shooting his best round on Tour Michael Eaton had a “Walk in the Park” at Pendleton when he shot identical 40’s on each side and posted an 8 shot margin of victory in the Jones flight over JB Martin. Each time Martin would make a move on him, Eaton would answer with a birdie on the next hole, totaling 3 during his stellar round. Pendleton’s own Simon Petty finished in 3^rd.

SENIOR JONES FLIGHT

On the strength of a terrific outward nine holes with a score of 40, Mary Allen, in only her 2^nd start on the Golf Channel Am Tour, was able to hold on and fend off all challengers to win the Senior Jones flight. Allen’s ability to manage the Par 3’s in level par, which no other player in the flight managed to achieve, was the difference in the 1 shot margin of victory she was able to post over Vincent Sarro. Rodney Newton finished in 3^rd two shots back.

SNEAD FLIGHT

In another close finish, Bill Goodman held a 2 shot lead over KeenanDavis and Jamie Iannelli at the turn. All 3 competitors, playing in separate pairings would basically match cards on the inward 9 holes with only Davis making any moves on the lead. But in the end it would be Goodman holding the trophy with a 1 shot advantage over Davis and 2 over Iannelli.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
Ramon Licha
Michael Miller
Perry Balser
James Porter

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
Click on Tournament name to register

June 27                The Rappahannock Open @ King Carter GC
July 5                   The Traditional @Royal New Kent
July 18                 The ColonialInvitational @ Colonial Heritage GC


LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/GolfChannelAmTourRichmond

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

.

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