William Fritz rang up seven birdies and closed with a 5-under-par 33-34–67 to earn the medal in qualifying for the Amateur and Open championships of the Maryland State Golf Association at Andrews Air Force Base, May 21.
Fritz, head professional at Renditions Golf Club in Davidsonville, had four birdies and a bogey on the front nine and three and one, respectively, on the back. With 25 places at stake, 30 players at 76 and better will move on to the championship, July 14-16, at Lakewood CC.
Justin Jarvis, from Rolling Road GC, and a member of it’s championship squad in last month’s MSGA Team Matches, topped the Amateur list with 69, followed by Walter Jew, Norbeck CC, at 70 and Ryan Cole, Waverly Woods CC, 71. With 34 spots open, 44 players at 77 and better will advance to the championship, June 7-10, at Baltimore CC.
Fritz was trailed by Jarvis and Nick Mafale, Maryland Golf & CC, an amateur who will only play in the Open, at 69, and pros Michael Rymer, Four Streams; Kyle Carranza, CC Woodmore, and John Scott Rattan, Bethesda CC, 70.
The weather was overcast and mild, marred only by a brief afternoon rain shower. Play for the par-72 East Course was over 6,728 yards. This marked the fourth time in the last five years the facility was used as a qualifying site and Fritz’s 67 broke the best mark of the other three, as Keegan Boone, Bethesda CC, had posted a 68 in 2011.
-Reported by John Stewart from Andrews Air Force Base