Scott Shingler (left) and Buck Brittain (Virginia State Golf Association Photo)
In a fitting end to an immaculate display of iron and wedge play Friday morning at The Country Club of Virginia's Tuckahoe Creek course, Buck Brittain stuffed a 90-yard approach shot to four feet on the 17th hole, leading to a conceded birdie that clinched Brittain's 3-and-1 victory over defending champion Scott Shingler in the championship match of the 77th Virginia State Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship.
Brittain became the fourth player in history to record three VSGA Senior Amateur titles, joining Keith Decker, Richard B. Payne, and E.D. Mustard. All of Brittain's titles have come in the last five years.
Those spectators who joined the players for the final match at CCV were treated to at times a breathtaking display of golf. Only one hole was won with a par. Brittain made six birdies in his first seven holes and had a legitimate chance of posting a 29 on the front nine before he made his only real mistake of the day, leaving his iron approach short on the bottom shelf of a two-tier green on No. 9. Still, he only made bogey when his par comebacker lipped out.
Shingler shot a bogey-free 4-under over 17 holes yet didn't make it to the final hole. Two champions at the top of their games produced an epic final match.
After Thursday's semifinal win over Chad Seibert, Brittain spoke of strategy heading into the match against Shingler, who had steamrolled through the previous four rounds of match play without having to play past the 15th hole. Brittain was the one player who wouldn't be bothered by Shingler's significant distance advantage off the tee, mostly because Brittain rarely has a distance advantage over his opponents.
In match play, that can be a blessing, as the shorter player off the tee gets the first crack at an approach shot. Brittain used that edge brilliantly on Friday, putting pressure on Shingler by hitting just about every approach shot to within 10 feet.
On the par-5 first, Brittain was first to hit his approach and stuck it to about eight feet. Shingler made a rare mistake with a short pitch shot, running it 20 feet past the hole. Brittain made his birdie after Shingler missed his attempt, and Brittain took the lead -- as it turns out -- for good.
Shingler had another misstep on No. 4, hitting into a fairway bunker. Brittain hit the fairway and again stuck his approach to about six feet. Shingler wasn't able to make birdie from the fringe. Brittain made his birdie putt to go 2-up. Brittain pushed the lead to 3-up on No. 7 with another close approach and birdie putt. Shingler's only hole win was No. 9. The finalists then halved the next six holes with par and halved 16 with birdies after both stuck it close.
Shingler was second to hit from the fairway on 17, and having seen Brittain again tuck his approach close to the flagstick, he had to go for it. His 9-iron shot was a little offline to the left, and once he missed his birdie putt, he removed his hat and conceded Brittain's birdie putt, ending the match.
View results for VSGA Senior Amateur
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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