BETHESDA, Mary. (May 12, 2011) -- Marty West two-putted for par on the 345-yard first hole of a playoff as he and stalwart partner Malcolm Bund won the 37th annual Senior Four-Ball championship of the Middle Atlantic Golf Association, May 13, at Kenwood Club in Bethesda.
The Columbia Country Club pairing posted 31-34--65, and were later tied by Ira Pealman-Robert Rehman, 35-30--65. It turned out to be a crowded leaderboard as the pace-setters were chased by two teams at 66, and four more at 67. The 6,019-yard course on River Road was played at par 35-35--70.
West and Bund started relatively slowly from the 10th tee, turning in 1-under 34 after a birdie and two bogeys. Three holes later they were still even and playing partners Jack Vardaman and Ben Brundred, III, from Congressional CC were three under. From there, the sides went in different directions. West-Bund combined for four successive birdies, Nos. 4-7, while Vardaman's ninth hole birdie was the only deviation from par for that nine and simply served to get them a tie for second at 66.
West responded from a switch to a long putter --"The way it was going, I had to do something," -- with five birdies and the ensuing title was his first for the event, one of the few that had escaped the Rockville resident during a remarkable competitive career of more than 40 years.
Pearlman, Beaver Creek CC, and Rehman, University of Maryland GC, were even after nine, then teamed for five birdies in the last nine holes to get the tie. Each had three birdies and they bogeyed the fifth hole. Both missed the green at the playoff hole and failed to get up and down.
George Mavrikes, Congressional CC and a very strong newcomer to senior golf, and John Register, Cattail Creek CC shared second with a 66. They were two over after two holes, then birdied Nos. 5-8 to finish with seven birdies, three bogeys. At 67 were Mike Panos-Robert Egge, from Hobbit's Glen GC, and Joe Fenlon-Robert Hicks, Breton Bay G&CC. Panos highlighted his round with an eagle-3 at the 467-yard seventh, and Fenlon-Hicks more than offset one bogey with four birdies by the latter.
Walt Martin, a former champion, and last-minute replacement Bob Murphy, from South Riding GC, won the Super Senior division with a 70, edging the Dave King-Jeff Belfore team from Bethesda CC by one stroke. Martin was originally paired with Don Jeanes, also a past champion with Lynn Wessman, but when Jeanes had to withdraw, Murphy proved a solid replacement. Ironically, this pairing qualified for Super Senior status (65-over), but with the younger Jeanes, that team would not have been eligible for this age group.
The 2012 Senior Four-Ball will be contested at Belle Haven Country Club on Tuesday, May 15.
- Reported by John Stewart
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ABOUT THE Middle Atlantic Four-Ball
18-hole four-ball stroke play championship,
with Open, Senior (ages 55+) and Super Senior (ages
65+) flights. Open to
members
of MAGA member clubs.
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