Partners Lee Flemister and Dave Nocar, Jr., both parred the third playoff hole, and the effort was enough to earn them the championship of the 23rd Senior Four-Ball tournament sponsored and conducted by the Maryland State Golf Association at Kenwood Country Club on a rainy day in Bethesda, May 22.
At the conclusion of the regulation round — extended into early evening by a 2-hour-39 minute weather delay — four teams stood tied for the lead at 3-under-par 67: Flemister-Nocar, John Howson-Larry Martone, Bob Morris-Marty West, and Kevin Lee-Mark Schechter.
Using holes No. 1 and No. 18, Flemister-Nocar and Morris-West both went par-par (4-4) on the first two holes; Martone, playing alone, went out at the first hole, and Lee-Schechter were not present for the playoff. Playing the 345-yard opener for the second time, Flemister-Nocar won when neither West nor Morris made par. Lee-Schechter, however, won low net with 62.
Jim Castagna-Joe Records successfully defended their title in the Super Seniors with a second straight 69.
The winners finished regulation with five birdies, two bogeys, and were temporarily in the lead when Flemister birdied the par-5 17th, only to fall back with a bogey at the last. The two had previously paired in this event last year when they shot 68 at Green Spring VHC on another rainy day and finished second one shot off the lead. An earlier start this year saw them win the recent Belle Haven Four-Ball.
Howson missed the last two years because of painful back spasms, but entered this season feeling as though he could play. He felt even better after a 4-iron shot to two feet at the 201-yard second. Martone took over with three birdies in the next six holes and when Howson came back with a birdie at the 11th, the team was 5 under par. Then, on a swing at the 12th, Howson crumpled in pain with a back spasm and the team went on to include a birdie and three bogeys to slip back and Howson was finished for the day.
West ended with three birdies and Morris with one birdie, and the team had one bogey. During a five-year span, beginning in 2010, the combination produced three wins and a tie, the last when rain forced cancellation of a three-team playoff.
Martone, a Kenwood member, was thrilled with the first half of the round, not so much after that.
He finished with four birdies to continue a stretch that has seen him play much better than before. “Lynne Hunter [Kenwood’s head golf professional] is the best short-game teacher and responsible for my improvement. Not only has she helped my short irons and my putting, but she has worked with me over the years and is able to look at what I’m doing and tweak it, if necessary.”
Schechter had three birdies and Lee, one birdie, one bogey, in their round.
There were four 68’s, a group that included defending champions Clay Fitzgerald-Skip Tendall, and five more at 69. There were 38 teams in the Senior division, playing a 6,038-yard course and ten in the Super Senior, playing at 5,553.
Castagna recorded four front-nine birdies, but the pair struggled getting home to complete a 31-38–69 tour. Castagna (with Larry Den) had won the Senior title in 2007.
Reported by John Stewart
