Tommy Sharps, from Baltimore Country Club, in the tenth group off the first tee at the Country Club of Woodmore, returned a 2-under-par 35-31–66, and it held up for the low score as the Maryland State Golf Association conducted its first Amateur/Open qualifying event on April 25. The course was playing as a par 68 due to the 15th hole being closed for a watershed restoration project. Three players followed Sharps with even par rounds — 2009 Maryland Open Champion Matt Bassler (Forest Park GC), Head Professional at Bethesda Country Club, Daniel Bengtson, and Salisbury University’s Head Men’s & Women’s Golf Coach, Dalton Deardorff.
With Sharps only entered in the Open, Nicholas Graziano and Douglas Hurson, both from Columbia Country Club, recorded rounds of 67s and were able to claim the top spots in the Amateur Qualifying. Graziano and Hurson were followed by five players at even-par 68– Matthew Malits (Argyle CC), Ryan Kane (Hayfields CC) Matt Bassler (Forest Park GC), Will Mullally (Columbia CC), and Matt Hollerbach (Crofton CC).
There were 16 places and ties available for the Amateurs, and 19 players at 72 will move on. 14 spots and ties were available for the Open, and 15 were at 71 and better. The Amateur will be played June 6-9 at Manor Country Club, with Kevin Grady, of Rolling Road Country Club, shooting for a seventh MSGA victory. The Open will be July 8-10 at Tablot Country Club in Easton, where Ryan Siegler, of Baltimore Country Club, will be the defending champion.
