SEVERNA PARK, MD (Sept. 17, 2010) -- First-day leader Mike Occi, from Cattail Creek Country Club, struggled to a 2-over-par 74, but it was enough to thwart his closest challengers, perennial contenders Marty West and Bobby Morris, in the 82nd Senior Amateur championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at Chartwell Country Club in Severna Park, September 17. West vaulted into second place with the day's low round, a 2-under-par 70, to finish at 143. Morris
was third, 70-75--145.
Occi, a 55-year-old Clarksville resident, said, "I thought the course played harder than the first day. Then, the par-5's were eachable [in two], but this time, because of overnight rain and a breeze, you could not reach any of them." In the first round, he was 4 under par, including an eagle at the 474-yard 18th, but in the second one, he had a birdie and four
pars.
West, from Columbia Country Club, made a late charge with three birdies in the last four holes, including Nos. 17-18, Morris, a two-time winner of the event from Congressional Country Club, had the second-low round the first day, 70, but made his only birdie at the third hole, then went three over par on the next two holes and added a bogey in the middle of the back nine.
Michael Weiner, from Hayfields Country Club, runnerup last year, had the only other sub-par opening round, a 71, but slipped back with a 75 and finished fourth.
With the field cut to the low 24 and ties, 28 players from the original 80-man field played the final round in mild, sunny weather on a par-72 course that mesured 6,336 yards. Only West, defending champion Ben Clements (76-
75), and Ben Brundred (75-73) improved on first-round scores.
View results for Maryland Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE Maryland Senior Amateur
This tournament is open to male amateurs
who
are residents of Maryland or members of
member clubs of the
Maryland State Golf Association. Entrants
must
have reached their 55th birthday by the
start
of the tournament. The
tournament will be 36 holes stroke play.
The
low 24 scores and ties will play a second
18
holes the following day.
View Complete Tournament Information