OVGA Amateur Golf Tour

The first major of the 2009 season is in the books and so is the 4th hole-in-one in tour history.  If you read the preview, it predicted not one but two of the winners correctly.  While I seem to have lost the ability to play golf, I still retain the ability to predict it apparently.

In the Eagle Flight…

The OVGA Masters Preview Pick, Sam Melton, had it going early as he and Karsten Klint battled thru their first nine holes.  Melton finally wrestled the lead away at the turn by a shot at even par 36 (net).  It looked like Melton would pull away, building a three shot lead after 14 holes, but Klint and Mark Murphy closed to within a shot after 15 holes.  After a birdie by Murphy at #16, he grabbed a one shot lead over Melton as Klint fell 2 shots back.  It remained that way thru 17 holes with Murphy sitting at -2, Melton at -1 and Klint at even par.  Klint finishing on the front nine would record a net birdie, Melton would par the 18th hole, meaning a par by Murphy on the #18 handicapped hole would mean the tailor would be getting his Green Shirt ready.  But fate has a funny way of ruining things as Murphy limped home with a double bogey meaning a tie between Melton and Klint with Murphy finishing a shot back.  Going to the scorecard playoff, Melton would defeat Klint 36-37 to win the Green Shirt and record his third victory of the season.

Medalist - Sam Melton, 77

Avg Score - 88.4

In the Birdie Flight…

Gary Vogeler took the top spot on the leaderboard three holes into the round and never looked back.  At the turn he held a two shot lead over Aaron Stephenson at -3.  His lead grew to three shots after 12 holes but Stephenson battled back to within a stroke after 13 holes.  A net birdie on Gary’s 15th hole (#6) gave him a four shot advantage and he would hold on to win by three shots over Aaron Stephenson.  Brett Maynard’s eagle (net double eagle) on his final hole (#9) grabbed him third place and an additional 104 points.  Rick Lingo was also under par net, finishing the day in 4th place at -1, 71. 

Medalist - Gary Vogeler, 80

Avg Score - 93.9

In the Par Flight…

Terry Bailey started out playing the best golf he’s played in some time.  Bailey came to the turn at -5, but not to be outdone, Bill Gabriel was right there with him.  Gabriel would take the lead briefly after 10 holes but that’s when Bill Shannon took over.  Shannon grabbed a one shot lead thru 11 holes and held it until, a hard charging, Doug Hart tied him after 16 holes.  Hart, who at one point was eight shots off the lead, screamed back to take a one shot lead thru 17 holes.  But as we saw with Mark Murphy, it’s not who tees off on the final hole with the lead but the person who putts out the final hole with the lead.  Hart would net bogey his final hole, while Bill Shannon would record net par and we would have our second scorecard playoff to determine a Green Shirt.  In the end, Shannon would prevail 34-37 in the scorecard playoff to become just the second player in OVGA history to win two majors, joining Thomas Rohn in that category.  Shannon won his first major on July 15, 2006 at the Tri-State Open which was held at Twin Oaks that year.

Medalist - Bill Shannon, 90

Avg Score - 106.7