Dolan & McCormick Win 60th MSGA Pro-Am Championship
Bob Dolan, head professional at Columbia Country Club, finally had good fortune on his side in the 60th annual Pro-Am Championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at Cattail Creek CC in western Howard County. Dolan and partner Brian McCormick combined for eight birdies, including one at No. 18 that turned out to provide the winning edge.
The pair finished at 64, followed by Brian Berman-Michael Meyer, Lakewood CC, at 65, and Steve Delmar-Mike McGrain, University of Maryland GC, 66. The event drew a field of 44 teams to a 6,628-yard, par-72 course on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, with heat and humidity pushing into the high 90’s.
This marked a 20th anniversary present for Dolan, who posted the first of three quality (but non-winning) finishes in 1996 when he and Dan DeRisio finished in a three-way tie for first at 66. They were joined by Charlie Briggs-Paul Adkins, Burning Tree Club, and John Lyberger-Bobby Morris, Congressional CC, and Briggs-Adkins won the playoff.
Dolan also finished second with Richard Holland in 1998 at Old South CC and third with Mike Mitchell in 2004 at Hampshire Greens.
“The key was that Brian birdied 8-9-10 and we were really solid on the back,” Dolan said. McCormick had five birdies and Dolan, three, and the former pointed out that his partner came through on several occasions when help was needed. “Bob made a good par at 11 to keep the round going when I was in a hazard and out of the hole.”
Meyer had six of his side’s seven birdies — three on each nine — including one at 18 that enabled them to break away from a tie with Delmar-McGrain. McGrain had four of the team’s five front-nine birdies (for 31), but they managed only 35 on the back.
Among the teams at 67 was the Columbia CC pairing of Brian Anderson-Marty West. This was also an anniversary for West, as it was 45 years ago (1971) that he and Joe Vincent won at Suburban. It is hard to believe that given his amazing record with success at the local, regional, and national level over the years, that’s he’s never won another in this tournament.
Reported by: John Stewart
