The third time was the charm for David and Conner Nocar, of Millersville, as they fashioned a 7-under-par 32-32–64, and won the 74th Father-Son championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at Hunt Valley Golf Club, July 29, by six shots.
The victory followed two straight runner-up finishes, each by a single stroke. Previously, they had tied for eighth in 2010 and tied for third in 2011. Additionally, they have won two Middle Atlantic Golf Association titles, one of them in 2012 with a 61 at Musket Ridge GC in Myersville. Also in the elder Nocar’s resume is a MSGA Amateur title and appearances in the USGA’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Open championships.
This time, they split the birdies, 4-3, with father having the edge, although he was quick to point out that Conner, 20, a junior at Temple University, holed a couple of long putts and helped save them from what would have been a bogey at the 11th. There, Conner drove the team’s second shot across a ditch on the 470-yard, par-5 test, but the ball wound up next to a tree in the right rough, from where David was able to get it to the green and they two-putted. Overall, the Chartwell CC members hit every green with a solid game that featured Conner’s long drives.
Already in command at -4 through 15 holes, they wrapped up the triumph with three successive birds.
John and Matthew Pipitone, Hunt Valley and Maryland Golf, respectively, who won last year with a 65, tied for second (34-36–70) with Tom-Jimmy Grem, Hunt Valley GC (34-36–70), followed by Whitney Hewatt, Little Bennett GC, and Jamey Hewatt, University of Maryland GC (34-37–71).
There were 45 teams playing selected drive-alternate shot on a 6,396-yard course to a par of 35-36–71. Next year, the event is scheduled for July 23 at Maryland National GC in Middletown.
-Reported by John Stewart from Hunt Valley Golf Club
RESULTS
