OWINGS MILLS, MD. (Aug 10, 2010) --John Ohly and Bryan Borda combined for a 7-under-par 33-32--65, and won the fourth annual Middle Atlantic Golf Association's Mid-Am and Senior Four-Ball Championship on a hot and steamy day at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, August 9. The Manor Country Club team, in this event for the first time, although experienced teammates from other two-man events, finished one stroke ahead of five teams tied for second. The 44-team field played the par 35-37--72 course in suburban Baltimore at 6,468 yards.
Ohly 39, led his side with seven birdies, including six in the last 10 holes, and had the team's only bogey with a three-putt at the sloping 14th green. Borda, the 2001 Maryland State Mid-Am champion, and at 55, in his first year of senior eligibility, had one long-range birdie putt and several other clutch strokes when he was able to help his partner. Of Ohly's birdie putts, about half were from inside 10-12 feet and none was longer than 20 feet.
Rick Sovero-Andy Pataki, from Rolling Road Golf Club, went off in the day's first group and returned a card of 35-31. Pataki pretty much handled the first six holes before Sovero took over when he dropped a 25-foot putt to salvage a bogey from a situation that could have been a lot worse. From there, he went on to birdie seven of the last 11 holes, a run that included a chip-in, a 15-footer and a curling four-footer at the 18th to cap a 16-17-18 spree. Bogeys at the third and seventh "probably cost us," and they did.
The five-way knot featured highly regarded players who are supberb shotmakers who have excelled over the years. In addition to Sovero-Pataki, the others were 2008 champions Gary-Gary Jr. Carpenter, from Crofton Country Club, who recently won the National Father-Son championship after previous finishes that included a second, a third, and a fourth, 33-33 that also showed birdies at Nos. 16-17-18 Jimmy Nees and George Washburn, from Holly Hills Country Club, 33-33; former Middle Atlantic Amateur champion Chris Baloga, Hillendale Country Club, and Ernie Kosmas, bon vivant from Mountain Branch Golf Club, 30-36, and Tim Meinhardt, Manor Country Club, part of a one-time winning team in the Maryland State Two-Man Team championship, and Columbia Country Club's Marty West, who has a storied list of area and national accomplishments during the last 40 years, 31-35--66. Meinhardt also had the day's only eagle, at the 513-yard sixth, where he set it up with a "rescue" club second shot to 15 feet.
Defending champions Joe Records, from Baltimore Country Club, and Larry Storck, Hayfields Country Club, placed seventh with 33-35-68, followed by three teams at 69.
Despte a summer of heat and humidity that has created problems for some area courses, Green Spring was in great condition, prompting one player to say, I love the greens here." and another to add. "It's always a joy to play here."
View results for Middle Atlantic Mid-Am - Senior Four-Ball
ABOUT THE Middle Atlantic Mid-Am - Senior Four-Ball
18-hole four-ball stroke play championship for teams of
mid-amateurs and seniors. Open to members of MAGA
member clubs.
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