Top photo (L-R): Billy Peel, Ralph Blasey, Colin St. Maxens, Owen Fry, Doug Hurson; Not pictured: Mike Mitchell
Bottom photo (L-R): Brad Whitaker, Mike McCarthy, Brendan Peel, Tim Golden, Alex McGonagle, PGA, Pat McCarthy
Lutherville, Md. – In the first-ever Maryland Men’s State Team Final between these two clubs, Columbia Country Club defeated Argyle Country Club, 12.5 to 5.5, to capture the 2026 Maryland Men’s State Team Championship. The victory marks Columbia’s 13th title overall, the most in championship history.
Columbia, with a first-round bye, advanced to the final with wins over Cattail Creek CC (16.5–1.5), TPC Potomac (13–5), Piney Branch GC (15.5–2.5), and Baltimore CC (12–6). Argyle reached the championship match by defeating Norbeck CC (15.5–2.5), Congressional CC (10.5–7.5), Manor CC (10–8), Beaver Creek CC (14–4), and Pine Ridge GC (10–8).
Argyle Country Club | Columbia Country Club | ||
| DeFrancesco, PGA/Lester | 1.0 | 2.0 | McGonagle, PGA/Whitaker |
| McCormick/Hicks | 0.0 | 3.0 | P McCarthy/Golden |
| Harrington/Vanlenten | 1.5 | 1.5 | M McCarthy/Br Peel |
| McCarthy/Malits | 3.0 | 0.0 | Fry/Mitchell |
| Murray/Neel | 0.0 | 3.0 | St. Maxens/Blasey |
| Barillo/Siman | 0.0 | 3.0 | B Peel/Hurson |
Final Scores & Match Highlights:
Match #1: Argyle Country Club
Argyle CC: Wayne DeFrancesco, PGA / Grant Lester (1.0)
Columbia CC: Alex McGonagle, PGA / Brad Whitaker (2.0)
Alex McGonagle, PGA, and Brad Whitaker surged early, winning four of the first five holes to seize control. After halving the sixth, the Columbia pair secured the front-nine point with a 4 and 3 victory. Argyle’s Wayne DeFrancesco, PGA, and Grant Lester responded late on the front nine, taking holes 8 and 9 to build momentum heading to the back nine.
McGonagle, PGA, and Whitaker struck first on the back nine, but DeFrancesco, PGA, and Lester answered by winning holes 11 and 12 to cut the match to 1 up. The middle stretch proved volatile, with the teams trading holes from 14 through 16, ultimately bringing the overall match back to all square after Argyle claimed the 16th hole. With Argyle having already secured the back-nine point 2 and 1, the overall match came down to the 18th hole. There, the Columbia duo delivered, scoring a par to secure the overall match and another point.
McGonagle, PGA, filled in as the playing professional for Columbia, as both Steven Delmar, PGA, and Alex Hoffman, PGA, qualified to play in the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, which takes place April 26-29.
Match #1: Columbia Country Club
Argyle CC: Ryan McCarthy / Matthew Malits (3.0)
Columbia CC: Owen Fry / Mike Mitchell (0.0)
Argyle’s Ryan McCarthy and Matthew Malits controlled the match from the outset. After winning the opening hole, they steadily extended their lead, securing the front nine 2 and 1. They added hole 9 for good measure to carry momentum into the back nine.
It was all square through the first three holes of the back nine, but McCarthy and Malits won hole 13 to extend their lead to 4 up. Columbia’s Owen Fry and Mike Mitchell were unable to put together a comeback, allowing Argyle to close out the overall match by a score of 4 and 3. By also claiming the back nine by a score of 2 and 1, McCarthy and Malits swept all three available points for Argyle.
Match #2: Argyle Country Club
Argyle CC: Patrick McCormick / Brian Hicks (0.0)
Columbia CC: Pat McCarthy / Tim Golden (3.0)
Columbia’s Pat McCarthy and Tim Golden jumped out to an early advantage, winning the first two holes. Argyle’s Patrick McCormick and Brian Hicks got one back on hole 5, but that was quickly countered by McCarthy and Golden, who took holes 6 and 7. As a result, the Columbia duo secured a 3 and 2 victory on the front nine.
McCormick and Hicks showed resilience, winning holes 8 and 10 to cut the deficit to one. However, McCarthy and Golden answered once again, taking holes 11 and 12 to restore a 3 up lead. The teams halved the next five holes before Columbia capped the match with a win on hole 18. McCarthy and Golden claimed the back nine 2 up and secured a 3 and 2 overall victory, earning all three points.
Match #2: Columbia Country Club
Argyle CC: Joe Murray / Walter Neel (0.0)
Columbia CC: Colin St. Maxens / Ralph Blasey (3.0)
Colin St. Maxens and Ralph Blasey of Columbia tallied victories on holes 2, 5, and 6 to take an early 3 up lead in the match. After halving hole 7, the Columbia duo clinched the front nine and the point by a score of 3 and 2. Argyle’s Joe Murray and Walter Neel won hole 9 to trim Columbia’s lead to 2 up heading into the back nine.
However, it was all Columbia on the back nine. St. Maxens and Blasey won holes 14 and 16 en route to securing victories on the back nine and in the match overall. The Columbia pair took the back nine 2 and 1 and claimed a 4 and 2 victory overall, earning all three points for the match.
Match #3: Argyle Country Club
Argyle CC: Nick Harrington / Michael Vanlenten (1.5)
Columbia CC: Mike McCarthy / Brendan Peel (1.5)
In what was the most evenly contested matchup of the finals, Columbia’s Mike McCarthy and Brendan Peel struck first with a win on hole 1, then added another on hole 6 to go 2 up. Argyle’s Nick Harrington and Michael Vanlenten responded with wins on holes 7 and 9, leveling the front nine and splitting the point.
McCarthy and Peel started the back nine by winning holes 10 and 11, but Harrington and Vanlenten responded by taking hole 12. The Columbia duo extended their lead to 2 up with a win on 15, only for Argyle to respond again by taking holes 16 and 17. After halving hole 18, the match finished all square, with the pairs splitting the points for both the back nine and the overall match.
Match #3: Columbia Country Club
Argyle CC: Mike Barillo / Noah Siman (0.0)
Columbia CC: Billy Peel / Doug Hurson (3.0)
The match began with the teams halving each of the first two holes. Columbia’s Billy Peel and Douglas Hurson seized control, winning four consecutive holes to take command of the match, leading to a 4 and 3 victory on the front nine. They further extended their lead by taking hole 9, going 5 up as the match entered the back nine.
Peel and Hurson continued to apply pressure on the back nine, winning hole 10 to go 6 up. Although Argyle’s Mike Barillo and Noah Siman were able to cut into Columbia’s lead by winning holes 11 and 14, it ultimately wasn’t enough to turn the match around. Peel and Hurson went on to win holes 12, 15, 16, and 17, securing a convincing 6 and 5 victory overall. The Columbia duo also claimed the back nine, 3 and 1, securing all three possible points for Columbia.
Thank you to all of the teams that participated in this year’s Maryland Men’s State Team Championship!
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
