Marty West and Bobby Morris
(MAGA Photo)
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 15, 2017) - Marty West and Bobby Morris, those two warhorses of area amateur golf, put up another victory May 15, but it took longer than usual at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Course in the 43rd Middle Atlantic Golf Association Senior 4-Ball championship.
After tying at 3-under-par 68 in regulation, West-Morris and Dave LeClere-Mike Howell matched pars for three consecutive holes — Starting on holes 8 then moving along to 10 — before the end came at the 322-yard 11th. West went first, showing Morris the line from 32 feet, then pointing out a key spot .Morris said “thank you, by rolling in the birdie putt. “In playoffs, you ensure pars and try to pick up the birdie.” Sometimes it takes longer than might be expected.
Weather was mild and sunny, but swirling winds played havoc with shots and scores. It never seemed to be coming from the same direction on successive shots. The tight and demanding Naval Academy course, played at 6,340 yards for the Seniors and 5,969 yards for the Super Seniors.
Until the payoff hole, the most exciting thing in the playoff was a 50-foot par putt at the 10th by LeClerec, who said that it was his third like that in the round– one for par, two for birdies.
For the regular round, West, from Columbia CC, and Morris, from Congressional CC, shot 25-33–68, and LeClerec-Howell, from International Town & CC, posted 34-34–68. West-Morris had six birdies, but it was three in the last three holes that lifted them clear of the field. LeClerec-Howell joined them by connecting on Nos. 14-15-16.
Playing with different partners, Morris now has four wins while West has two. This marked their first win together in this event. In the process, they easily became the oldest team to win the 4-Ball, as Morris is 69 and West, 68.
Defending champions Tim Vigotsky, Robert Trent Jones GC, and Tim Krouse, Westwood CC, finished second at 69, followed by three teams at 70.
Glenn Colevas, Old South CC, had the second hole-in-one of his career when he needed just a 5-ron shot at 172 yards at the fourth hole.
Barry Flaer, Maryland National GC-George Washburn, Holly Hills CC, won the Super-Senior Division with 33-35–68. It was the second victory for these two in the class. They won in 2014, shooting 66 at the CC of Fairfax. Washburn had two birdies on the front and Flaer, two on the back, and there was one bogey. Washburn, who recently turned 70, has been named by Golfweek Magazine as the nation’s No.1 Senior, 70-over.
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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