Tyler Balderson and Brandon Neiswender, of Crofton Country Club, tied Barry Andrews and Craig Whitaker, of US Naval Academy GC, for 1st net in the Men’s – Forward division at the Maryland State Golf Association’s One-Day Four-Ball event at Crofton Country Club, Wednesday, June 20.
It’s rare for two teams tie for a prize in a MSGA One-Day event, as ties are broken using the USGA recommended method of matching cards when a playoff is not feasible. But both teams tied on the back-9, the final three holes, the final six holes, and the eighteenth hole.
The Andrews-Whitaker pairing finished tied for low gross in their division as well with a 1-under par 71. Whitaker’s highlights came at hole nos. 2, 3, 11, and 13, all of which were natural birdies. 3 of those 4 birdies were net eagles, with the par-4 thirteenth being the only of his four birdies where he did not receive a stroke. Andrews added two clutch par-saves at nos. 8 and 9 to keep the team moving in the right direction.
Balderson and Neiswender shot 73-12-61, combining for seven net birdies and two net eagles on their way to a net total of 30-31–61. Balderson made both net eagles for their team with natural birdies on holes where he received a stroke – holes 3 and 11 – and he added two other natural birdies at the par-4 fourth and fourteenth holes. The pair used Neiswender’s ball to score on seven of the first nine holes, while the back nine was a mirror image, with Balderson’s ball counting for seven of the final nine.
Donald Meyer and Dale Williams, members of Montgomery CC, birdied the first and combined for 17 consecutive pars to finish at 1-under 71 and earn the Men’s – Forward low gross prize. Kevin Lee and Kevin Smith, of University of MD GC, earned the second place prize in Men’s – Forward Gross with a 72 in similar fashion. Lee birdied the first 2 holes, and the pair combined for all pars and two bogeys at holes 8 and 10 to finish at even-par.
Michael Lortie and Dean Mariaca, both from the MSGA eClub, triumphed in the Men’s – Back division with a net score of 9-under 63. They turned at 4-under 32, and kept it going when Mariaca made natural birdie/net eagle at the par-5 eleventh. The pairing finished strong with Mariaca adding another birdie at the par-3 seventeenth and his partner making the decisive net birdie at the last hole. Second place net in the back division went to Charles Griffin-Matt LaChance, of Lamda Links GC, who played the front nine in 33 and the back in 31 for a net 64.
The low gross round between both divisions came from David Lughermo and Scott Kremer from University of MD GC. Lughermo shot 2-under on his own ball, including four birdies and two bogeys. Kremer was quite steady on his own ball with an even-par 72. Kremer contributed to the team’s score with an important par at the third hole when his partner made bogey and added a birdie at the 162-yard fifth. David Reynolds from University of MD GC and Ron Thomas, Old South CC, combined to earn second place gross in the back division with an even-par 72. After a slow start, Thomas birdied both par-5s on the back nine, and Reynolds added an important par at the fourteenth to keep them from giving up at shots after their bogey at the tenth.
The Men’s – Back division played the blue tees at 6394 yards, while the Men’s – Forward division played the white tees at 6002 yards.
Men’s – Back
1st Net – Michael Lortie-Dean Mariaca
1st Gross – David Lughermo-Scott Kremer
2nd Net – Charles Griffin-Matt LaChance
2nd Gross – David Reynolds-Ron Thomas
Men’s – Forward
1st Net – Tyler Balderson-Brandon Neiswender, Barry Andrews-Craig Whitaker
1st Gross – Donald Meyer-Dale Williams
2nd Gross – Kevin Lee-Kevin Smith
