Doug McIlvain (R) after Maryland Mid-Amateur win
(Maryland Golf Association Photo)
MITCHELLVILLE, MD (August 16, 2016) -- First-round
leader Doug McIlvain, from Waverly Woods Golf Club,
appeared to be in great shape through 15 holes of the
final round of the 30th Mid-Amateur championship at
the Country Club at Woodmore, August 17. He was 1-
under-par for the round, 5 under for the tournament,
which had a second-day field of 47 players after a cut at
79.
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.
View results for Maryland Mid-Amateur
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
conducted at
36 holes stroke play, with the field being
reduced to the low 60 scores and
ties after the first round.
View Complete Tournament Information