- Maryland State G.A. photo
LUTHERVILLE, MD (August 18, 2009)--Terry Burke of Burning Tree Club and Bethesda, MD, fired a precision two-over par 72 in the second round of the 23rd Maryland Mid-Amateur Championship to add to his course-record-tying first round 64 and take his third Mid-Am title at Chestnut Ridge Country Club with a total of 136. Brian Woods of Baltimore Country Club and Lutherville, MD, birdied the 16th and 17th holes to edge John Howson of Towson Golf and Sparks, MD, for second place at 138. Howson followed his first round 69 with a 73 for a 142 total.
Bob Kaestner and Greg Killian registered identical 70-73-143 scores to tie for fourth place, one ahead of Russell Pies (74-70--144), who had the low second round score after dipping to four under at one point during the round. Chris Connolly (73-72--145) and Bill Jenner (70-75--145) tied for seventh, while Joseph Weaver (69-78--147) was solo ninth.
The highlight of the tournament remained Burke's spectacular opening round of 32-32--64, which tied an old scoring performance of Webb Heintzelmann, former professional standout in the area. Burke's lone bogey in the 64 came at his final hole, No. 18, where he hit his 9-iron second shot over the green at the 436-yard hole and failed to get up-and-down for par.
Burke won this event in 2000 at Chartwell, missed three years after turning professional, then got his amateur status back shortly before losing a title-playoff to Kevin Allis in 2006. He returned to the winners' circle in 2007 when he posted a record round of 67 on the second day to equal the 36-hole tournament record of 136 at Mountain Branch.
On Monday, Burke opened with a two-putt birdie at the 494-yard par-5 first, and added birdies at the fifth and ninth, where he made it from 20 feet, his longest putt of the round. His back-nine birdies were at 12, 13, 14,and 16. The superbly-conditioned course, which drew raves from the players -- many of whom considered the greens the best they had played this year -- was played at 6,584 yards to a par of 35-35--70.
With the field of 106, the first round cut to 60 and ties fell at 79, and 60 players started the second round. Howson recently qualified for the US Senior Open at Crooked Stick while Woods has qualified for two recent US Mid-Amateurs at The Honors Course and Bandon Dunes. He made match play at The Honors Course. Weaver's play was noteworthy as his first round 69 was an all-time competitive low for a relative newcomer to high level competitive golf. Kaestner (1997 at Lakewood) and Killian (2005 at Maryland Golf) are past Maryland Mid-Am titleholders. Bill Jenner actually reached five under par in the opening round before settling for a round of par 70. Connolly was recently named captain of the District of Columbia team for the 2009 USGA Men's State Team Championship to be held during September in the St. Louis area. {Editor's Note: The other DC team members are Mychael Cohn and Kevin McDonnell while Maryland will be represented by Chris Baloga, Matt Bassler and Zach Lese with the Virginia team featuring veterans Pat Tallent, Keith Decker and Scott Shingler.}
The 2010 Maryland Mid-Amateur will be conducted at Holly Hills Country Club on August 16 - 17 while the 2011 edition will be contested at Towson Golf on August 15 - 16. The relatively new Blue Mash Golf Course will host the 2012 event on August 13 - 14.
- Reported by John Stewart from Chestnut Ridge Country Club
View results for Maryland Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE Maryland Mid-Amateur
This tournament is open to male amateurs
who
have reached their 30th birthday and are
residents of Maryland or are members of
member clubs of the Maryland State Golf
Association with an up-to-date USGA
Index of
5.4 or less. The tournament will be
conducted at
36 holes stroke play, with the field being
reduced to the low 60 scores and
ties after the first round.
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