Top-seeded Tom Grady and three former event champions advanced to Friday morning’s quarterfinals
SUFFOLK, Virg. (Aug. 30, 2012) –– Top-seeded Tom Grady and three former event champions advanced to Friday morning’s quarterfinals as the first and second round of match play were conducted today at the 65th Virginia State Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship. The championship is open to golfers ages 55 and older.
In addition to the co-medalist Grady, reigning champion David Partridge of Manakin as well as past winners Mike McDonald of Williamsburg (2009) as well as Richmond’s John Cuomo (2004) all advanced to the round of eight.
The 63-year-old Grady rolled to a morning victory and then won two of the final three holes in a round of 16 match to outlast northern Virginian John Hoffman (Fairfax), 3 and 2. Next up for Grady, the 2007 Senior Open of Virginia champion, is an encounter against event rookie Steve Williams, 56, of Yorktown, who outlasted central Virginian Leon Roday (Henrico), 3 and 2 after lunch.
In the other encounter in the top half of the bracket, former champions McDonald and Cuomo will meet. Both players notched 19-hole victories in the round of 16. McDonald bested fourth-seeded Alvin Wall in a match in which neither player held more than a 1-up advantage, while Cuomo made birdie on the first extra hole, the par-4 first, to get past Jeff Flax (Virginia Beach).
Helping to highlight the bottom portion of the bracket are Partridge, the third low qualifier for match play, and Ashland’s Tim Kelley, who have won or been a part of claiming the last four senior championships conducted by the VSGA dating back to 2011. In addition to his Senior Amateur triumph a year ago, Partridge won the Senior Open of Virginia last September. Kelley and Partridge teamed to win this spring’s VSGA Senior Four-Ball Championship before Kelley went on to claim the VSGA Senior Stroke Play in mid-June.
As for Thursday afternoon’s action, Partridge opened up an all-square match against Joe Johnson (Falls Church), winning four consecutive holes from Nos. 11-14 before going on to notch a 4-and-3 victory. Kelley, the top-ranked senior amateur in the VSGA player rankings entering the event, held as much as a three holes up lead on the second nine against George Kapetanakis (McLean) before registering a 2-and-1 win.
In the round of eight, Partridge will meet John Price (Fairfax), while Kelley takes on Bill Nunnenkamp (Blue Ridge). Price scored a wire-to-wire 4-and-2 triumph over Jack Allara II (Salem) in the round of 16, while Nunnekamp won three of four holes between Nos. 12 and 15 en route to posting a 2-and-1 victory over John Long (Centreville).
Both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31, prior to the scheduled 18-hole championship final on Saturday, Sept. 1.
About the VSGA Senior Amateur
36 holes of stroke play qualifying (18 holes per day); the low 32 players advance to match play. Open to VSGA members who are at least 50 years of age holding an active GHIN number issued by a licensed VSGA Member Club in good standing.
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