Pete DeTemple, from Breton Bay Golf and Country Club in southern Maryland, fired a 3-under-par 69 and earned the medal in U.S. Seniors sectional qualifying at Talbot Country Club in Easton, July 29, conquering the opposition and the oppressive high-90’s heat.
John Howson, from Hayfields CC in Hunt Valley, was the only other player in the 64-man field to break par, as he shot 70. Robert Bailey, from James River CC, followed with two birdies, two bogeys for 72.
With four qualifying spots available, David Price, from Stoneleigh CC in Virginia, claimed the last berth when he defeated Tim Dilli, Baltimore CC, with a par on the first hole of sudden-death. They had tied with 73’s in the regulation round (Price had four birdies, five bogeys, and Dilli, three and four, respectively), with Dilli becoming the first alternate.
DeTemple bogeyed the first hole, then put up two birdies on each nine to set the pace. He had reached the final of the recent Maryland State Amateur, only to be sidetracked by a sore back and badly blistered feet, which forced him to concede during the second 18-hole round. In the past, among his other accomplishments were a tie for third in the Middle Atlantic Golf Association’s Seniors championship in 2017, and a tie for third in the MSGA’s Senior Open in 2015.
Howson bogeyed the fourth hole and turned in 1-over 37, then ran off four birdies and a bogey on the back for 3-under 33. The Eastern Shore course was played at 6,810 yards to a par of 72. In his past are a U.S. Seniors qualifying effort in 2015, a playoff loss in this event the following year, and a MSGA Seniors title in 2015 after beating Lee Flemister in a playoff.
As it has developed, Flemister is no stranger to playoffs. Last year, he was involved in a 3-for-2 U.S. Seniors playoff to go to the championship in Eugene, Ore., gaining one of the spots. This time, Flemister, from the University of Maryland GC, was one of two of the four 74’s to appear for a chance at second alternate and he won the first playoff hole with a birdie. In each instance the 386-yard 17th was used as the overtime hole.
Adding coincidence to this situation was the fact Joe Lefavor, from the U.S. Naval Academy, was the player victimized last year when he became first alternate and he was back again this year, this time getting nothing, as he made par against the winning birdie.
The championship will be held August 24-29, at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C.
