105th Maryland Open Champion Billy Peel
Leaderboard | Photos | Preview | Round One Recap | Round Two Recap
Silver Spring, Md. – Consistency proved to be the difference in the championship round of the 105th Maryland Open, as Billy Peel of Columbia Country Club carded his third consecutive four-under-par 67 to capture the title. Peel held off three former Maryland Open champions over the final 18 holes en route to his victory in this year’s Maryland Open.
How We Got Here:
Josh Speight, PGA, of The Club at Viniterra held the lead following Monday’s opening round after firing a seven-under-par 64, one stroke ahead of Argyle Country Club’s Jake Griffin. Speight and Griffin remained steady during Tuesday’s second round, while Billy Peel carded a four-under-par 67 to climb into a share of the lead at eight-under-par 134.
The trio of Speight, Griffin, and Peel entered Wednesday’s championship round tied atop the leaderboard, with three players sitting just one stroke back at seven-under-par 135. Defending champion Benton Weinberg of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm surged into contention with a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 in the second round, joining Gregory Pieczynski of George Mason University and Joseph Murray of Argyle Country Club within one stroke of the lead.
Championship Round of the 105th Maryland Open
Rounding out the top five, Pieczynski closed his Maryland Open with an even-par 71, carding two birdies against two bogeys. He finished the championship at seven-under-par 206, good for fifth place.
Griffin kept pace with Peel for much of the championship round as the two traded birdies throughout the day. The 2021 Maryland Open Champion birdied the 4th, 11th, and 12th before a bogey on the 13th and a costly double bogey on the 17th ended his bid for a second Maryland Open title. Griffin finished with an even-par 71 and an eight-under-par 205 total to tie for third.
Weinberg opened his final round with a bogey but settled in quickly. The defending champion birdied the 11th, 12th, and 16th before another bogey on the 17th ultimately ended his title defense. He closed with a one-under-par 70 to finish at eight-under-par 205, sharing third place with Griffin.
Speight’s final round got off to a difficult start as the 2020 Maryland Open Champion bogeyed his opening hole. He responded with a birdie on the 3rd, but additional bogeys on the 4th and 8th left him at two-over-par heading to the back nine. Speight responded on the back nine, overcoming another bogey on the 10th with birdies on the 12th, 13th, 15th, and 17th. His one-under-par 70 secured a runner-up finish at nine-under-par 204.
Peel’s championship-clinching round reflected the consistency that defined his entire week. After making the turn at one-under-par with a bogey-free front nine, Peel matched Griffin with birdies on the 11th and 12th before Griffin stumbled with a bogey on the 13th. Peel seized control with birdies on the 15th and 16th and never relinquished it, closing with a bogey on the 18th to finish the tournament at 12-under-par 201 and secure the Maryland Open title.
Peel entered the championship round focused on staying “patient,” believing opportunities would come if he trusted his game. Following Tuesday’s second round, he said, “I think the birdies are there. Try to stay patient out there and not push or press anything.” That approach paid off on Wednesday, and after securing his first Maryland Open title, Peel described the moment with a mix of “gratitude,” “pride,” and “disbelief.”
His victory adds his name to several exclusive lists in Maryland golf history. He becomes the 15th player to capture both the Maryland Amateur and Maryland Open titles. Peel is also just the second player to win the Maryland Amateur, Maryland Mid-Amateur, and Maryland Open, joining Billy Wingerd.
Peel is the first amateur to win the Maryland Open since Jake Griffin accomplished the feat in 2021 at Baltimore Country Club. He was also awarded the Harry Pitt Low Amateur trophy, finishing nine strokes clear of the next-lowest amateur.
The MSGA would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and membership of Argyle Country Club for their hospitality this week in hosting this MSGA championship.
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
