Even though it was two against one, it took David Freiss and Chuck Thatcher six playoff holes before Thatcher drained a 15-foot putt to outlast Jeff Rosenberg for the championship of the 61st Pro-Am championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at Montgomery Country Club, July 18.
It had all started reasonably the day before when Freiss, Musket Ridge Golf Club, and Thatcher, from Beaver Creek CC, and Rosenberg-Pete DeTemple, from Breton Bay G&CC, playing in the same foursome, had tied for the lead with 9-under-par 63’s. An afternoon storm complete with rain, lightning, and thunder, forced a suspension of play and 90 minutes later a postponement until the next morning.
Although 26 teams remained on the course, only 12 returned the next morning to complete the round, and none could touch the leaders. Rosenberg was left without a partner when DeTemple failed to appear for the playoff. Five matching pars later brought the teams to the 422-yard 15th. (They had started on No. 10). Rosenberg missed the green on his second shot, chipped down to about 16 feet, just outside of Thatcher, and missed his par bid. Thatcher then ran in his winning birdie.
In the regulation round, Freiss-Thatcher were three shots behind after the 11th, but Thatcher birdied 12-13 and Freiss the 15th to get the two teams even. They halved 16 when Freiss saved par from eight feet, and halved 17. Freiss was over the 18th green with Thatcher out of the hole, but he chipped to eight feet and made it for birdie to preserve the tie after DeTemple was already in with a birdie.
Freiss had five birdies and Thatcher, four, as they shot 32-31, while DeTemple had eight of his side’s nine birdies in a round of 30-33.
Daniel Bengtson eagled the 486-yard par-5 13th and added six birdies as he and Aubrey Rothrock, from Burning Tree Club posted 33-31–64 for second place. Three teams tied at 65 — Scott Shapin-Charlie Winegardner, from Old South CC; Christopher Convey-Chris Laydon, from Bretton Woods Recreation Center on the first day and Jimmy Grem-Jeff Castle, from Eagle’s Nest. Castle was present for 11 holes the first day, but did not return the next morning. Grem, a new assistant professional at the club, didn’t let playing alone faze him, as he put up five birdies to complete a 34-31.
The six playoff holes is believed to be a record, as the previously known best was a four-hole playoff won by the U.S. Naval Academy’s Larry Ringer-Mike Cumberpatch in 1988 at Lakewood CC.
Reported By John Stewart
David Freiss (Left) and Chuck Thatcher (Middle) with MSGA Vice-President Paul Dillon.
