The Maryland State Golf Association changed the format for its 78th Father-Son championship, but that didn’t keep the Hunt Valley Golf Club entry of Tom and Jimmy Grem from mopping up the opposition with a four-stroke victory.
The team that won the last two alternate-shot events took charge in the new better-ball format with birdies at the first three holes and sailed through the rest, finishing at 10-under-par 32-29–61 at Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, July 19. The course was played at 6,615 yards to a par of 36-35–71.
“We talked about it [the format change] driving down,” Tom said. “We liked the alternate-shot where both players must play, instead of the other, where someone could get hot and shoot a low number.” As it developed, that happened and the “someone” turned out to be Jimmy.
Jimmy, 23, an assistant professional at Eagle’s Nest, birdied four of the first six holes, Tom contributed one and all were inside the 12-15-foot range. The two both missed 5-foot putts for par at the par-4 ninth for what became their only bogey. Out in 4-under 32.
“I kind of relaxed at that point,” Tom explained, “but when Jimmy drove into the trees at 10 (315 yards, par 4), I wound up making a 6-footer for birdie.” From there, Jimmy did the rest: Birdie-birdie-par-eagle-birdie and three pars to finish it. Back in 6-under 29. At the 315-yard 11th, he almost drove the green and came out of a bunker to six feet. At 12, (535 yards), he hit a 212-yard second shot between two trees to the back of the green and two-putted. At 14, playing 291 yards, his drive stopped pin-high and he made it from 24 feet, 15 was the easy one, a kick-in from a foot.
With two sons — Jimmy and Douglas — who are accomplished players, Tom has settled into a routine. After he and Jimmy won this event in 2016-17 and he and Doug won the Middle Atlantic Golf Association’s Father-Son in 2016-17, he just decided to keep that rotation. He and Doug placed third in the MAGA test earlier this month, and now he and Jimmy have won three successive MSGA titles. The only ones to do this previously were Richard and Justin Klein, from Baltimore CC, in 1990-91-92.
Three-time winners (2006-08-10) Tom and Charlie Winegardner, the current Middle Atlantic champions, from Old South CC, and Greg and Davis Lamb, from Congressional CC, tied for second at 65, followed by Mike and Pat McCarthy from Columbia CC, and Doug and Len Gentilcore, Glenn Dale GC, at 66 in the 45-team field.
Geoff Gonella, Jr., from Columbia CC, gave himself and his father, Geoff Sr., the net title when he birdied the 18th hole with a stroke and the resulting two-shot swing lifted them past early leaders Doc and Kevin Keane from TPC Potomac. The Gonellas had 66-6-60, and the Keanes, 67-5-62.
It remained only for Tom Grem to sum up the day. “There is nothing more exciting or challenging than playing [tournament] golf with your son.” he said.
Reported by John Stewart
