The Maryland State Golf Association held its 103rd annual meeting at the Manor Country Club in Rockville on November 17, 2023. Among the features was the installation of new officers and directors, headed by Cliff Patterson, president from Manor Country Club. Patterson becomes the 100th Maryland State Golf Association president and the sixth to represent Manor CC. As has been the custom, the meeting was held at the club of the incoming president.
A Message from Incoming President, Cliff Patterson
“I have been asked to talk about the Outlook for the coming year.
Before doing that I am grateful that the Board has put their faith in me to act as President, and hope I can live up to the history of this organization.
I also want to thank and acknowledge a few people. As many of you may know, the Board of Directors for the MSGA used to be a 10-year commitment. That has changed, but I am the last of the dinosaurs that have initially committed to 10 years. I like to say that because of a resignation my term has been cut to 10 years due to good behavior. Candidly when Tom Whelan approached me, I had my reservations. I was working full time – but there were a number of people here at Manor that reassured and convinced me that it would be a valuable experience. Ned Longson, Past President in 1993, and Ed Lynch, Past President of the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association and Tom Whelan, President in 2015, and my predecessor on the Board all were quite persuasive.
In retrospect it should have seemed more appealing than I thought. I got out of the courtroom or office to go out and spend a day on the golf course. But what made it so good was the people you worked with. While I may be the last of the 10 year Members, we have 3 Past Presidents that continue to serve on the Board. Jack Barse, President in 2017, Jan Miller, President in 2018, and Diane Herndon, President in 2022, still serve on the Board after their 40 years of combined service. In my time on the Board, I had the pleasure of working with Bill Smith, who was President in 1994, and if that was not enough, then worked as Executive Director for another 26 years. In addition, for many years, John Pauliny, President in 2010, worked as Treasurer until last year. The members of the Board are simply said “good folks.” and dedicated to making the MSGA special.
I haven’t mentioned our full time staff of Kelly Newland, Elisa Hermes, James Hewatt, and Kevin Crowley are dedicated and great to work with and are willing to do or try most anything we ask of them.
That is, in large part, why it has been great to work with you, the MSGA, to bring to you the events and opportunities.
What does 2024 look like for the MSGA? I am happy to report that our membership has grown by over 20% over the last 3 years, in stark contrast to the pre-Covid predictions of the failure of golf and the post Covid predictions of failed country clubs. Many of you know, that events fill up quickly, as we have had a number of discussions about trying to get into an event after it was filled. We have, any a number of events, eliminated the net divisions in order to make sure that all of the golfers who qualified for the Championship could get in.
Many of you know about our Youth on Course initiative and know that we have 3,800 kids that play in the program, and last year we subsidized more than $110,000 in greens fees in the program.
So I can happily say that we are in good shape program-wise and financially, but having said that, there is so much more that we need to, and should be able to accomplish. I can hear the murmur -here comes the pitch for a donation. Not the case.
Just over 10% of the male golfers with handicaps have an index of below 5. So that means that there is a large percentage that we do not offer events. You know we have over 40,000 golfers, but in reality, we are pretty small. Virginia has over 80,000 golfers, and the GAP has over 100,000 golfers.
Why is that important? We are a smaller organization with smaller staff and smaller number of volunteers, and that is the keyword. How do we get better, present more events, reach out to more golfers, and grow the game. Last year, we held over 40 tournaments and qualifiers, with more than 2800 golfers participating. That is a lot for a staff of 4 and volunteers.
I think it is safe to say that we need to reach out to the 90% of golfers that cannot play and probably should not play in gross or non-flighted events, but with a staff that is stretched pretty thin, that would be hard to do
I am not asking you for money, but I want to encourage you to step up and offer to help. It is not a 10-year commitment. It may be for one day or one event. I suspect that you will find it a worthwhile way to give back to a game you love and may even find out that the people are great and it is a worthwhile experience.
It is a way to continue to grow the MSGA and make it better. That is our goal, and I invite you to join us.”
Joining Patterson as an officer is Sinclair Eaddy Jr. Country Club of Maryland), becoming Vice President. Jack Barse (Columbia Country Club) will remain Secretary, and Diane Herndon (Argyle Country Club) will remain Treasurer.
The previously elected directors will continue to serve as directors: Jan Miller, Mike Hinkey, Rebecca Krimski, Bob Van Namen, Armando DelToro, Randy Woods, Alan Schroeder, and Bill Tignanelli. Mike Cumberpatch (U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club) and Joan Heiss (Talbot Country Club) are newly elected officers for three years.
Q&A with Robert F. Dolan, Jr., PGA
Awards
Bryan Kim (Argyle Country Club) became the twelfth recipient of the Dawson Stump Award for his win at the 75th U.S. Junior Amateur at Daniel Island Club. Kim is a two-time Maryland Junior Amateur Champion and currently is a freshman at Duke University.
Kevin R. Taylor, PGA, Head Professional at Argyle Country Club, was awarded the sixteenth Distinguished Service Award. Taylor and his membership have been incredibly gracious to the MSGA, allowing us to come to Argyle for USGA qualifying events and MSGA events. In 2022, we had to move our Two-Women event, and on eight days’ notice, Taylor allowed us to come and host the event at Argyle.
William “Billy” F. Peel, IV., from Washington, D.C., and a member of Columbia Country Club, earned the Player of the Year title for 2023. Peel won the Player of the Year with 650 total points. The honor marks Peel’s second Player of the Year award, which he won in 2019. His season was highlighted by his first-ever Maryland Mid-Amateur title and advancement to the semi-finals of the 102nd Maryland Amateur. His Mid-Amateur victory was also at the site of his 2020 Maryland Amateur victory, Green Spring Valley HC. Additionally, Peel and his partner, Colin St. Maxens, advanced to the Round of 32 in the 8th US Amateur Four-Ball Championship at the Kiawah Island Club in Kiawah, South Carolina.
Sarah Spicer, from Silver Spring, and a member of Argyle Country Club, captured the inaugural MSGA Women’s Player of the Year award with 360 points. Her season was highlighted by two victories: the 102nd Maryland Women’s Amateur, where she won 2&1, and the Mixed Two-Ball Championship. In the Mixed Two-Ball, she and partner Cole Baldwin teamed up to fire a 1-under-par 71 and win by one stroke. Spicer and her twin sister, Jessica, advanced to the Round of 32 in the 8th US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at the Home Course in DuPont, Washington.
Vance Welch, from Gambrills, and a member of Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club, finished atop of the Senior Player of the Year standings for the second year in a row with 500 points. This marks Welch’s third Senior Player of the Year award. His season included a Runner-Up finish at the 82nd Maryland Father-Son Championships, a third-place finish at the Maryland Senior Amateur, and a victory at the Middle Atlantic Senior Amateur. Welch was also a member of the victorious 2023 Maryland Senior State Team – Hobbit’s Glen GC.
Carol Davies from Garrett Park, and a member of Argyle Country Club, captured the inaugural MSGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year award with 400 points. Her summer was highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Maryland Women’s Mid-Amateur and a victory in the WDCGA Championship. Davies’ summer also included a trip to the 36th US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Stonewall (North Course) in Elverson, Pennsylvania.
Scholarships
The Maryland State Golf Association Scholarship was organized in 2006 for exclusively charitable and educational purposes, including to award educational scholarships to individuals employed by MSGA member clubs/courses and/or their children, and to students having completed their junior year of high school with a bona fide connection to the game of golf. With additional funding, the MSGA was able to award two additional scholarships in 2023.
Adam Green is a Hereford High School senior committed to playing golf at Towson University. Adam plans to study Business or Health and Physical education. He formerly worked at Hunt Valley Country Club. Adam has participated in numerous sports growing up. Adam was a part of the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Junior Invitational team, helping the MSGA win for the first time in 10 years
Davis Kimminau is a senior at Saints Peter and Paul High School. Davis is a three-sport athlete and captain. He was offered a scholarship to play Lacrosse at Randolph-Macon College and plans to major in Engineering.
The following students had their MSGA scholarships renewed: Nicole Butterworth, Sarah Rose Craft, and Tyler Ebersole.
The David King Scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student in the amount of $5,000. The scholarship is funded by Dave King’s financial gift to the MSGA. Mr. King won the Maryland Amateur (1969 & 1971), Mid-Amateur (1987), Senior Amateur (1999), and three Mixed Two-Balls, and was a member of three Bethesda CC State Championship Teams.
This year’s recipient is Sirui Xue, a sophomore at Columbia University as an Egleston Scholar. She is majoring in Computer Science and is a member of the University’s Girls Who Code, Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization, Google Developer Students, and Math clubs. Sirui attended the LPGA Leadership Academy in New Jersey, which allowed her “to see the parallels between [her] academics and golf, [and] taught [her] the importance of teamwork and using the power pose to show confidence both on the course and off the course.” She plans to continue pursuing her interests in golf and STEM to motivate younger girls like herself to be a leader in these fields.
The MSGA-Women’s Division established the Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation Scholarship In 2017 for $2,000, to be awarded annually to a female student who has completed her junior year of high school and has a bona fide connection to golf. This year the Caves Valley Golf Club Foundation awarded two scholarships.
Marin Moore is a sophomore at Dickinson College studying Data Analytics and Gender and Sexuality Studies. She grew up playing golf and was later the captain of her high school varsity golf team. Marin hopes to work as a data analyst for a non-profit organization and combine her fields of study to use data to solve real-world problems and promote parity and diversity where they are most lacking, such as in the golf community.
Katherine Seal is a sophomore student-athlete on the Women’s Field Hockey team at Roanoke College. Katherine formerly worked at Baltimore Country Club as an Aquatics Manager and has participated in numerous sports growing up. She has used marks to help navigate challenges in her life and learn valuable strengths about herself. Katherine is studying Health Sciences and hopes to be a Child Life Specialist.
The Country Club of Maryland Scholarship is awarded to one student who has completed their junior year of high school and has a bona fide connection to golf. This scholarship is funded by the Country Club of Maryland and is awarded annually for $2,000. This year’s recipient is Nathan Brice, a senior at UCLA, a Psychobiology major who aspires to be involved in the positive application of life sciences. In high school, he attended ride-a-longs with the State Police Aviation Paramedics. He volunteered with the County Rescue Squad, where he experienced the application of life sciences firsthand which sparked his interest in it. Nathan occupies his free time working at a private golf course, where he has developed a love for the sport.
The Hinkey-Benson Scholarship is a Family STEM Scholarship funded by Michael Hinkey and Kathryn Benson’s financial gift to the Maryland State Golf Association. It is designated to provide scholarship assistance to students with a bona fide connection to the golf industry in Maryland and awarded to students who are majoring in or intend to major in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, with a preference towards computer science and engineering students. Vanessa Hall is a Worcester Preparatory School senior with a passion for engineering and physical sciences. She has started building a model V8 engine. To study engineering, Vanessa plans to apply to Duke University, University of Notre Dame, and the University of Virginia.
The Andy Tignanelli Memorial Scholarship was established by Bill Tignanelli, who funds the scholarship with the purpose of providing scholarship assistance to students with a bonafide connection to the golf industry in Maryland. Two $2,000 scholarships are awarded to one male and one female student. The two recipients are Will Kirkpatrick and Julian Lutz.
Will Kirkpatrick is a senior at Temple University, majoring in Journalism. He writes for Temple University’s radio station and newspaper and worked as an intern at WXPN, the University of PA’s NPR-sponsored station. Will aspires to work for a large company in the field of journalism. He is actively looking for freelance work in journalism and photography.
Viktoria Dorn is a sophomore at Salisbury University majoring in Marketing and Information Systems. She has worked at Chartwell Golf & Country Club since she was 15. Viktoria hopes to start her own business that focuses on marketing and real estate.
In addition to its scholarships, The Emmet Gary Scholarship is sponsored by the MSGA for $12,000, in addition to the MSGA Scholarships, which is presented annually to agronomy students at the University of Maryland. Many of the students have become golf course superintendents in Maryland and across the country.
Dr. Mark Carroll, from the University of Maryland, spoke about the scholarships’ positive impact on students in the Turf and Golf Course Management program.
James (Jimmy) Danielczyk is a senior at the University of Maryland pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science. His concentration within this major is Turf and Golf Course Management. Jimmy is a Hereford High School graduate resident of Sparks, Maryland. For the past two summers, he has interned at Rum Pointe Seaside Golf Links in Berlin, MD.
Luke Murnane is a sophomore at the University of Maryland pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science. This past summer, he interned at Caves Valley Golf Club.
Zachary Onderko is a junior at the University of Maryland pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Plant Science. Zachary has an interest in both golf courses and athletic field management. This past summer, he interned with the Baltimore Ravens.
2023 Champions
- Men’s Amateur – Kevin Grady (Rolling Road Golf Club)
- Women’s Amateur– Sarah Spicer (Argyle Country Club)
- Men’s Open– Ryan Siegler (p)
- Women’s Open – Aneka Seumanutafa (p)
- Men’s Senior Open – Brendan McGrath, PGA (p)
- Men’s Mid-Am – William “Billy” Peel, IV. (Columbia Country Club)
- Pro-Amateur – Dirk & Jaxson Schultz (Maryland National GC)
- Women’s Mid-Am – Elisabeth Herzfeld-Rice (Clustered Spires GC)
- Men’s Senior Amateur – Tucker Sampson (Manor Country Club)
- Women’s Senior Amateur – Caroline Barbeau (Bretton Woods RC)
- Junior Amateur – Owen Newberry (Crofton CC)
- Junior Girls Amateur – Abigail Avallone (Congressional Country Club)
- Father Son – Todd & Ryan Pratt (GC at South River)
- Men’s Four-Ball – Benjamin Warnquist and Andrew Mlynarski (Manor Country Club & Links at Perry Cabin)
- Men’s Senior Four-Ball – Charles & Tom Winegardner (The Cannon Club)
- Mixed Two-Ball – Sarah Spicer & Cole Baldwin (Argyle Country Club)
- Women’s Four-Ball – Stephanie Ordakowski & Mary Busker (The Preserve at Eisenhower & MSGA eClub)
- Mid-Handicap Women’s Four-Ball – Soo Chu & Kay Kim (The Club at P.B. Dye)
- Men’s Team Championship – Baltimore Country Club
- Women’s Team Championship – Congressional Country Club
- Men’s Senior Team Championship – Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club
- Mid Atlantic Junior Invitational – Maryland
- Senior Challenge Matches – New Jersey
- Poindexter Cup – Virginia
- Mid-Atlantic Challenge – Maryland/Virginia
