The Virginia team won the Ye Ole Feudin’ Stick
(Virginia Golf Association Photo)
HOT SPRINGS, VA (April 24, 2016) - Jack Allara II was
playing really well on Sunday, sitting at 3-under par 10
holes into his match with Rick Moore. Then, on the par-
3 No. 11 at The Omni Homestead Resort’s Cascades
Course, Allara (Hidden Valley CC) put a tidy bow on a
dominating victory, hitting a 6 iron into the wind and
sticking it within 18 inches of the hole, a birdie that
sealed an 8-and-7 win.
It was that sort of day for the VSGA squad, which
captured eight of the 14 singles matches Sunday to
complete a comfortable 17½-10½ victory over its
counterparts from the WVGA. The VSGA has won the
last seven editions of the Virginia-West Virginia team
matches and extended its lead in the series to 28-4-1.
And on the sun splashed 18th green afterward,
team members gathered for a photo with Ye Ole
Feudin’ Stick, awarded to the competition’s winner.
For Allara, fellowship is the allure to competing in
the yearly team matches.
“You know, I didn’t grow up playing golf,” said
Allara, a senior who went 2-0-1 over the weekend. “I
played team sports, basketball, football. So to enjoy
the camaraderie, giving each other the needle – you’ve
got to be able to take it, too – it’s just fun. It’s fun to
be a part of, especially this late in life. They’ve got
something for us old guys to do, you know.”
Seniors and regulars alike contributed to the
VSGA’s weekend success. Super senior J.P. Leigh
(Elizabeth Manor G&CC) completed the VSGA’s only 3-0
weekend by beating Jim Mason 4 and 3. Dave Pulk
(Two Rivers CC) earned a half point against Steve Fox
in the final senior match.
Five VSGA regulars earned full points with victories
in Sunday singles: Vincent Nadeau (Spring Creek GC),
Buck Brittain (Fincastle on the Mountain), Jon Hurst
(Fredericksburg CC), Justin Young (Ballyhack GC) and
Keith Decker (Chatmoss CC). Jimmy Delp (Laurel Hill
GC) halved his singles match with Trent Roush thanks
to converting a tough up-and-down from the rough on
No. 18.
The top WVGA performer was Jess Ferrell of
Fairmont, W. Va., who topped Jordan Utley
(Independence GC) 5 and 4 in singles to cap a 3-0
weekend.
Young posted a 5-and-4 win over Ben Palmer in his
singles match. The 2015 VSGA men’s golfer of the year
said he hopes the strong showing at the Cascades
Course (he went 2-0-1) will provide a strong starting
point for his 2016 season. Up next for Young is the Fox
Puss Invitational at Boonsboro CC next weekend before
heading to River Bend G&CC for the VSGA Four-Ball
Stroke Play Championship the following weekend.
“For me, it gives you good competition without the
pressure, really,” Young said. “It’s more about the
team camaraderie. It’s not like you’re out there on your
own and have to grind out 54 holes of stroke play. This
kind of gets the competitive juices flowing. It’s still
pressure. But the morning and afternoon four-man
yesterday, if you had a bad hole, your partner could
pick you up. That’s why I like it.
“Plus, you have a chance to represent your
state.”
Decker and Hurst also went 2-0-1 in their first
appearances in the Virginia-West Virginia Matches in
some time. Both players’ schedules worked out to
where they were available to compete this year.
View results for Virginia-West Virginia Team Matches
ABOUT THE
Virginia-West Virginia Team Matches
Team matches between amateur teams representing
the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) and the
West
Virginia Golf Association (WVGA). Ryder Cup style
format with Foursomes, Four-Balls and Singles
matches.
View Complete Tournament Information