Thomas Wharton sank a 25-foot putt on the fourth extra hole to give himself and partner Travis Russell the championship for the 56th Four-Ball Championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at the Country Club of Maryland in Towson, May 4. The other remaining team — Billy Wingerd-Rusty McCready — had a chance, but Wingerd’s bid to extend play missed from 15 feet.
With four of the 65 teams tied at 6-under 64, the playoff used holes 16-17-18. Wharton promptly made a 16-foot par putt at 16 to stay in contention. Ben Shields-Mike Filler went out at 16, and the remaining teams parred the next two before Wharton won it.
Alex Taylor-Ben Warnquist recorded the fourth 64, but were disqualified for failure to return a properly completed scorecard in which a score for each hole must be marked opposite the name of the player who made it.
Curiously, Wingerd-McCready were in the first group off in the morning; Russell-Wharton were in the first afternoon group, and Taylor-Warnquist were in the day’s final pairing. Wingerd had four birdies, McCready, three — none from outside 15 feet — and both missed from eight feet at No.11 for the only bogey. Filler birdied the first from 25 feet, and eagled the 318-yard, par-4 third with a 10-yard chip-in to set the tone for that round. Three birdies on the back did the rest. Taylor-Warnquist had two birdies on the front and four on the back.
Three teams from the first three groups off No. 1 in the morning accounted for the day’s 65’s — Drew Outten-Mike Stokes, Michael O’Neil-Sam Pancoast (helped by an eagle-3 by O’Neil at the 18th), and Michael Mulieri, a former MSGA Amateur champion, and Brett Williams, a past MSGA Amateur finalist.
The last two teams and Taylor-Warnquist had the only back-9 31’s, while Bart Mease-Rob Menefee had the only front-9 31. The tight 6,254-yard course played to a par of 35-35–70. Although there was some sun in the morning, most of the day was overcast with strong winds making it seem much cooler than the 60 degrees registered.
Reported by John Stewart