The University of Maryland Golf Club and Rolling Road Golf Club each used solid play from their second and third pairings — at home and away — to wrap up close victories and advance to the championship of the 84th Team Championship of the Maryland State Golf Association. Maryland stopped a surprising run by unheralded Waverly Woods Golf Club, 11-7, and Rolling Road squeezed out a 10-8 decision over Crofton Country Club, April 26.

The results set up a rematch of the 2011 final, won by Maryland, set for April 27. Rolling Road will be the home team with a 12:30 p.m. starting time at both sites.

Maryland got all but a half-point from its 2-3 spots, highlighted by 3-0 triumphs from Ron Thomas-Dan Walker and Blair Kennedy-Mike Stackus at Waverly Woods, and a clinching 3-0 win from Dave Dustin-James Hewatt at Maryland. At Waverly Woods, the No.1 home team of Nick DeSimone and first-year entry Dan Hurley got 3 points and at College Park, the No. 1 team for the visitors, pro George Bradford and Song Jung got 2 1/2 points.

This marked its fourth year of competition and it was by far the best for the Woodstock club. It was a first-round loser in 2011 and 2012, and won one match before bowing out in 2013.

In earlier rounds, and backed by a similar historical track record, Rolling Road had been dominating at home. This time, it got a big boost from its away group, as all three teams got at least 1 1/2 points and each won the front nine to set the tone. Pro Billy Bassler-Scott Falatch finished with 1 1/2 points; Rick Sovero-Kevin Allis, 2 1/2, and Matt Bassler-Andrew Lawton, 2. Falatch and Sovero each included an eagle-3 at the 500-yard second hole in their rounds.

At Rolling Road, the No. team of Bart DeLuca and Kevin Barth lost the front but rallied with four birdies (two apiece) for two points. Justin Jarvis-George Blythe IV each won a hole on front, but Crofton got one back with a birdie at the ninth, and Jason Smith won the 15th for what turned out to be a winning point for the side and a half for the match. Matt Peterson and Scott Cruff, a Rolling Road member last year, won the front and the match, but Moose Brown salvaged a back-nine half with a 15-foot birdie putt at the 18th. Peterson almost topped it, but his 10-footer rimmed the cup and stayed out.

-Reported by John Stewart