Billy Peel and Colin St. Maxens, from Columbia Country Club, combined for seven birdies, but it was the last one — on the ninth green after starting at No. 10 — that gave them the sectional qualifying medal and sent them on to next year’s 5th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball championship. The pair finished 34-31–65 over a 7,011-yard, par-72 Worthington Manor Golf Club course, September 24.
With two places available for the 50-team field, Mike Stackus-Vance Welch, from Hobbit’s Glen GC, claimed the other one when they out-lasted Ralph Blasey, IV-Alex Nianouris in a sudden-death playoff that went three extra holes. Stackus-Welch finished 34-32–66, and Blasey, from Columbia CC, and Nianouris, his former Davidson College teammate from Raleigh, N.C., 35-31–66.
The losers became first alternate, followed by the Lakewood CC pairing of Ethan Chelf-Ryan Feldman, 34-34–68, for second alternate. The championship will be held in the May 25-29, 2019 at Bandon Dunes Resort’s Old MacDonald and Pacific Dunes courses.
Peel, 29, who, with brother Brendan, got into the field at Jupiter Hills Club for this year’s 4th U.S. Four-Ball out of a playoff last year at C.C. at Woodmore, said ahead of play that he’d like to go again, but without the playoff. He and St. Maxens, 27, who had played a lot of golf together at Columbia, took care of that in their debut as a team.
While Peel’s birdie at the last, his fourth, sealed the deal, both thought an up-and-down save at the 198-yard sixth by St. Maxens saved the round, as he hit a 75-yard wedge second shot to two feet. He also birdied the seventh from six inches for his third to set the stage for Peel’s climactic finish.
Welch, 53, produced the heroics for his side, as he birdied the 18th, his last hole, from 25 feet to force a playoff, then knocked in a 12-foot birdie putt on the third time playing the 170-yard 15th. “There was a cross-wind and the first two times only one [Stackus] hit the green out of the eight shots,” Welch said. The third time proved to be the charm.
In regulation, Welch made five birdies, Stackus, three, but here, too, a “save” was critical. Both missed the 15th green, but Stackus pitched to 10 feet and made the putt. Earlier in the summer, Stackus, 35, lost a playoff for the Washington Metropolitan Mid-Am championship, but later won the Maryland State Public Links title in a playoff.
Blasey, 26, a consultant, and Nianouris, 24, who got a day off from his sales job to make the trip, each made four birdies, but bogeys on two of their first three holes marred the card. They turned in 35, then birdied five of the last six holes, including Nos. 16-17-18. Among the collection was a 30-foot putt by Nianouris at the 16th and a 6-footer by Blasey at the 18th.
Chelf had three birdies and Feldman, one, in playing in the final group. Their score erased the hopes of four teams at 69 who were poised for a playoff for what they expected would be one place (2nd alternate). Two of the teams started well, as Kevin Dillard-Christopher Ironwood, from Army Navy CC, were 5-under through 11, but doubled 12 to drop back, while Kyle Bailey, Roanoke (Va.) CC and Harold Dill, South Riding (Va.) GC, were 4-under through 11 and also doubled 12 to slip back.
Although intermittent rain showers did not interrupt play, the day was overcast and dreary with temperatures in the mid-60’s, definitely cool for the early days of fall.
Reported by John Stewart
