Skip and Connor Tendall, from Congressional Country Club, combined for five birdies, one bogey in posting a 4-under-par 66 to capture the 75th Father-Son Championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at Maryland National Golf Club in Middletown, July 23. This was father Skip’s fifth title since 2001, winning three times with son Ryan and now two with Connor after having partnered him in 2012.
Where the Tendalls were in the first group off the first tee, Garrett and Teagan Stephenson, from Clustered Spires Golf Club, were in the first foursome off the 10th tee and returned a score of 67, which eventually was worth a share of second place with Fred (University of Maryland GC) and Steve Comings (Crofton CC). Len and Doug Gentilcore, from Glenn Dale GC, second in the Middle Atlantic Father-Son two weeks ago, placed third with 70. The par 36-34 course was played at 6,210 yards for the selected drive/alternate shot format.
One over par for the first nine, the Tendalls took charge of the tournament with five back-nine birdies, three for Skip, two for Conner, 22, who will graduate from the University of Maryland later this year and was coming off a tie for fourth in last week’s Maryland Open, where he put up 67-69 the last two rounds. Curiously the two big hitters did not birdie any of the three par-5’s in their round.
The Stephensons, from Frederick, turned even, put up four birdies in a five-hole stretch, then dropped back with a bogey at the last hole.
Tony and Tyler Bare, from Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, picked up low net with a 65. Tony pointed out that Tyler, 27, saved their round when he avoided a lateral water hazard by driving the green at the 268-yard 16th to set up a birdie, then made clutch putts at 17-18 to finish the job.
Jerry-Josh Blickenstaff, from Beaver Creek CC in Hagerstown, and Tom-Douglas Grem, from Hunt Valley CC, tied for second with 69’s.
-Reported by John Stewart
