Professional Pleasant Hughes, from the Chevy Chase Club, and amateur Zeric Hulvey, from the University of Maryland Golf Club, each shot 1-under-par 71 to share the medal in the third session of Maryland State Amateur/Open qualifying at wind-swept P.B. Dye Golf Club in Ijamsville, May 13.
The weather was overcast with the temperature seemingly cooler than an announced 70 degrees. This, coupled with a wind that gusted to 25 mph early, then strengthened and steadied later, was reflected in the fact there was only one other score below 75 — a 72 by pro Ryan Eibner, playing in the morning’s first group — in a field of 117 players. At the other end of the spectrum, there were 15 players in the 90’s.
The overall outcome saw higher qualifying numbers than the two earlier sessions, as 31 amateurs at 81 and better, plus 20 in the Open division at 78 and better, moved on to the championships, June 11-14 for the Amateur at Manor Country Club, and July 13-15 for the Open at Columbia Country Club.
Hughes, a teaching pro at his club, ended with five birdies, four bogeys for 35-36–71 against a par of 36-36–72, with the Frederick County course playing at 6,674 yards. He started at hole 10, and had three birdies on the back, including a two-putt effort at the par 5 17th, followed on the front by a couple of tap-ins and another two-putt on hole 7.
Hulvey, a chemist at the University of Maryland, has been in the area about three years, but only returned to golf about 18 months ago after an extended absence from the game. Earlier, he had played a lot of amateur golf in Southern California. Here, he started at No. 1, slipped back with bogeys on holes 5-6-7, then, just as quickly, relaxed, settled down, and birdied holes 8-9-10 with putts of 20 feet, 15 feet, and 8 feet, respectively. He finished 37-34–71. Asked if he had had a chance to play the course, the Florida native responded, “Yes. Once — in worse wind.”
Eibner’s birdies included both par-5’s on the back, and one at hole 18 for 38-34–72.
There were three 75’s — by amateur David Tacchetti, Manor Country Club; by amateur Josh Williamowsky, Manor Country Club, entered in only the Open, and pro Stephen Bosdosh.
This marks the first time the MSGA will hold four qualifiers, and the final one will be played May 20 at The Courses at Andrews, Andrews Air Force Base.
-Reported by John Stewart from P.B. Dye Golf Club