Amateur Matt Sughrue, from Bethesda Country Club, conquered the Elkridge Club golf course and an afternoon of damp and foggy weather — after a morning-long rain — with a 4-under-par 33-33–66 to take a two-stroke lead in the opening round of the 15th Maryland Senior Open, October 13.
Professional Terry Burke, playing from the Burning Tree Club and making his first competitive start in 2 1/2 years, checked in with 34-34–68, followed by Burning Tree head professional Ricky Touma, 35-34–69; and three-time champion John Howson, Pine Ridge Golf Course, and morning-wave leader Rick Schuller, Swaders Sports Park in Prince George, Va., at 70.
There was no cut and a field of 114 players will play the concluding round, October 14.
Sughrue, 55, finished with three birdies and one bogey on each nine, highlighting the effort with birdie putts from 35 and 40 feet. He hit 17 greens in regulation, missing only the first. His other misstep was a three-putt at the 12th. The surfaces were wet enough that the players could take aim with their approach shots without fear of the ball bounding over the back.
Burke, 61, a 2007 MSGA Player of the Year, marked his return with four birdies, two bogeys: three birds from inside six feet and an 18-footer, while a three-putt and failing to get up-and-down from an 18th green bunker contributed to his hiccups. A 20-foot putt at the 11th green was the longest of four birdies for Touma, 50, who offset most of them with two three-putts and a missed green, one of just three in the round.
In addition to Howson, other former champions in the field are pros Larry Ringer, Musket Ridge GC, who won four of the first five, 76; Roger Hatcher, 1757 GC, 75; Bob Affelder, The Bay Club, 76, and defending champion John Francisco, a teaching pro at Piney Branch GC, 73. Amateur Jim Castagna, Manor CC, who shared the 2006 title with Greg Killian after the second round was rained out, had 76.