In the final One-Day event of the 2019 season Tim Coxon and Bill Polinsky, from Greystone GC and Fox Hollow GC respectively, were on top of the leaderboard in both the gross and net competitions for the Men’s Back division at Hillendale Country Club on Friday, October 4. The Baltimore County players were comfortable in the modified alternate-shot format known as Chapman with a net score of 33-34—67 and a gross total of even par (36-36—72). The golf course was in terrific condition under partly cloudy skies, with winds gusting 15+ mph and temperature in the mid 60s.
With Coxon-Polinsky winning first place net, Josh Campbell (MSGA eClub) and Jeff Wunk (Mountain Branch GC) earned first place in the gross category at 37-37—74. Wunk-Campbell weren’t able to convert any birdies, but their steady played included 16 pars and one bogey on each side in the challenging format. After going +1 on the front nine, Eric Anderson (Hobbit’s Glen GC) and Chris Minar (Montgomery CC) righted the ship on the back nine with 33 (-3) to finish at 2-under 70 and earn second place the net category. The Men’s Back division played the blue tees from 6386 yards.
In the Men’s Forward Division, Sunil Ahluwalia (The Timbers at Troy) and Randy Skold (GC Players Club – Baltimore) also preferred the back nine with scores of 34-30—64 to take first place in the net category. Ahluwalia-Skold edged Piney Branch GC members Matt Margolies and Mike Shaver by one shot, but Margolies-Shaver still earned first place in the gross category with 38-36—74 (+2). Greg Lawson (Fox Hollow GC) and Tom Hornbeck (Pine Ridge GC) earned second place in the net category with 35-31—66. The Men’s Forward division played the white tees from 5786 yards.
Four mixed teams and one team of women competed in a combined division with prizes awarded for first place in the net and gross categories. Turf Valley members Sandy Loys and Jessica Abel returned 32-36—68 to earn first place in the net category, while Greystone GC members Karen Crowley and Danny Palumbo won first gross with 41-39—80. Men in the mixed/women division competed from the white tees, and women played from the gold tees measuring 5104 yards.
The tournament format for the 24 registered teams was Chapman, a modified version of alternate shot that is also referred to as Pinehurst. In a Chapman, golfers compete in teams of two. Both partners play from the teeing ground and play the partner’s ball for the second shot. After the second shot, the partners select the ball with which they wish to score and play the ball alternately to complete the hole. Two important things for players to remember in this format are: 1. You will never make a stroke at your ball twice in a row, and 2. It is helpful to think of any penalty strokes applying to the ball rather than to the player who made a stroke at the ball that incurred the penalty.
Men’s Back
1st Net – Tim Coxon-Bill Polinsky
1st Gross – Josh Campbell-Jeff Wunk
2nd Net – Chris Minar-Eric Anderson
Men’s Forward
1st Net – Sunil Ahluwalia-Randy Skold
1st Gross – Matt Margolies-Mike Shaver
2nd Net – Greg Lawson-Tom Hornbeck
Mixed/Women
1st Net – Sandy Loys-Jessica Abel
1st Gross – Karen Crowley-Danny Palumbo
Men’s Back (Blue) – 71.5/131
Men’s Forward – 68.6/124
Mixed – Men (White) – 68.6/124
Mixed – Women (Gold) – 71.1/127
