Tim Elliott-William Shifflett and Barry Andrews-Craig Whitaker posted the two best gross scores of a cool, rainy day at Woodholme Country Club to top their respective divisions (Men’s Back and Men’s Forward) in the year’s first MSGA One-Day tournament on Tuesday, April 25.
A full field of 40 teams in four different divisions entered the event, but the weather conditions put a minor dent in the group, particularly in the afternoon. The weather was not a factor at the beginning or the end, but in between, gusty winds and a steady rain (there was an early-afternoon, one-hour suspension of play) took their toll. The event format was four-ball stroke play.
Elliott-Shifflett, from the Poor Boys Golf Club, and one of the first two pairings off in the morning, returned a gross score of 35-37–72, 1 under par for the suburban Baltimore course which, as always, was in excellent condition regardless of the weather. Andrews-Whitaker, from the U.S. Naval Academy GC, and starting an hour later, finished even at 73.
Elliott-Shifflett started at No. 10, birdied the 18th, and shot the front nine in par. Andrews birdied the seventh hole to highlight his round. A year ago, at Winter’s Run, Elliott-Shifflett won low net and Andrews-Whitaker, low gross, and at Suburban, each was a gross winner.
The net leaders were Al Aldana-Steve Chaney with 76-9-67 in Men’s Back division, and Christopher Burns-Randall Grooman with 74-11-63 in Men’s Forward division. Aldana, a 7-handicapper from Redgate GC, and Chaney, who carries an 11-handicap from Blue Mash GC, started at No. 10, and marred an otherwise solid nine with a double-bogey at the 17th. However, they more than offset that on the front. Burns, with a 7 handicap from Glenn Dale GC, featured two natural birdies in his tour, while Grooman, who has a 15-handicap from Hampshire Greens GC, contributed on several holes, especially on the front side.
The other net leaders were late finishers Bill Tignanelli-Deb Watkins, from Hunt Valley CC, in the Mixed division with 88-11-77, and Diane Crowley-Carolyn Hudson, from Oak Creek Club, in the Women’s division, 92-17-75.
Men’s Back
Gross–Tim Elliott-William Shifflett, Poor Boys GC, 72; Josh Campbell, Mountain Branch CC-Jeff Wunk, Sparrows Point CC; 74.
Net–Al Adana, Redgate GC-Steve Chaney, Blue Mash, GC, 76-9-67; John Farcosky, MSGA eClub-Matthew Swiger, CC Maryland, 78-9-69, and Chris Brendler, Hayfields CC-Gregg Cooper, Rolling Road GC, 79-8-71.
Men’s Forward
Gross–Barry Andrews-Craig Whitaker, U.S. Naval Academy GC, 73; Tom Clements-Joe Lefavor, U.S. Naval Academy, 77.
Net–Christopher Burns, Glenn Dale GC-Randall Grooman, Hampshire Greens, 74-11-63; Rob Clark, U.S. Naval Academy-Steve Svehla, Eagle’s Nest CC, 79-12-67; Tom Duvall-Nicholas Kraft, Bretton Woods Recreation Center, 79-11-68.
Mixed
Net–Bill Tignanelli-Deb Watkins, Hunt Valley GC, 88-11-77.
Women
Diane Crowley-Carolyn Hudson, Oak Creek Club, 92-17-75.
Reported by John Stewart
