Doug McIlvain goes wire-to-wire at the Maryland Mid-Amateur
8/16/2016 | by Maryland State Golf Association
see also: View results for Maryland Mid-Amateur, Rolling Road Golf Club
Doug McIlvain had to hang on down the stretch to win at The Country Club at Woodmore
The only real challenger was Andrew Kolarik. The Eagle's Nest G&CC member was already in with 72-71- -143 over a 6,700-yard course played to a par of 72. Thirty minutes later, with all the scores posted, Kolarik, this year's Stroke Play champion at his club, was the only one of the top eight scorers who improved on a first-day score and it earned him second place.
McIlvain had a tough time getting to the clubhouse. He bogeyed the last three holes, two with 3-putts, and got in with 68-74--142. Earlier, there was a birdie and a bogey on the front and a bogey followed by two birdies through the 15th. "I was just kind of holding it together," he said.
The champion, 47, an Ellicott City resident, is best known for his play in Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation tournaments, where last year he won a stroke-play event and finished runner-up in the Match Play championship.
Kolarik, 27, who works at Union Memorial Hospital, highlighted his round when he holed a 109-yard wedge shot for an eagle-3 at the 514-yard sixth. A bogey left him at 35 for the front and he managed to break even on the back, three birdies, including Nos. 15 and 17, to go with three successive bogeys (Nos. 12-14). At 17, from the right trees, he hit a shot to 10 feet and at 18, his second shot ended in a divot, but he was able to get it on the green, take two putts and glad to settle for a final par.
Thomas Wharton, TPC Potomac (73-72) and David Nocar, Chartwell CC (71-74) tied for third at 145, trailed by Tim Kane, Columbia CC (72-75) and Mark Cusic, Breton Bay G&CC (69-78).
ROUND ONE RECAP
Doug McIlvain, who plays from Waverly Woods Golf Club, fashioned four successive birdies in the middle of his round and went on to card 35-33--68 and take the opening-round lead in the 30th annual Mid-Amateur championship of the Maryland State Golf Association at the Country Club at Woodmore, August 15.
The leader, one of four players to break par (36-36- -72) on the 6,803-yard course, was followed by Mark Cusic, Breton Bay G&CC, 69; David Nocar, Chartwell CC, and Vance Welch, Hobbit's Glen GC, at 71. McIlvain is best known for his play in Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation events, including a victory in a stroke-play tournament at Forest Park GC and a runner-up finish in its match play championship, both last year. Some changes in his priorities have meant a less active season this summer. Welch won the Mid-Am in 2008; Cusic tied for second two years ago, and last week, Nocar was among five qualifiers for the U.S. Mid- Amateur championship, scheduled for next month.
In addition to his birdies at Nos. 8-11, McIlvain's round also included a birdie at the 13th and a bogey at the fifth. He missed three fairways and hit 16 greens -- saving par on the other two. His five birdies were all from inside 10 feet -- "I hit my irons incredibly well, " he said -- and his bogey was a three-putt.
Cusic, 2 over after 10, had five back-nine birdies and would have been even better but for a missed 18- inch birdie-bid at the 16th. Nocar started on No. 10, was even through 17, then double-bogeyed 18, but sailed through the front nine in 3-under-par. Welch shot the front nine in 2-under with three birdies, then dropped back with a birdie and two bogeys.
Although calling it a round where, "It's the best I've hit it in my life," he was also thinking of what might have been, as he missed seven putts inside of six feet. For the tour, he missed three fairways and hit 16 greens --saving par on the two he missed. His five birdies were all from inside 10 feet -- "I hit my irons incredibly well," he said -- and his bogey was a three-putt.
The threat of an early evening storm with rain and lightning forced a suspension of play with a couple of groups still on the course. They will finish prior to the start of the second round and a projected cut (low 40 and ties) is 79, with 47 players.
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 con...
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