2023 VSGA Senior and Super Senior Multi-Format Team Championships
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Dates: Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5
Format: Wednesday: Two-person scramble. Both players play from the teeing area and both players play their second shots from that spot. One of the second shots is then selected, and both players play their third shots from that spot, and so on, until the ball is holed. Thursday: Modified foursomes (alternate shot). Both players play from the teeing area, one of the tee shots is selected and players alternate shots from there until the ball is holed. If Player A’s tee shot is selected, Player B plays next, or vice versa.
Host site: Lakeside Park Club
Day 2: Serrao brothers and Lakeside members Kelley and Breeden emerge victorious
(Pictured: Super Senior winners Rusty Breeden and Tim Kelley. Credit: Chris Lang/VSGA)
RICHMOND -- Brothers Steve Serrao and Jay Serrao surged to a three-shot victory in the 5th Virginia State Golf Association Senior Multi-Format Team Championship, while Lakeside Park Club members Tim Kelley and Rusty Breeden secured a one-stroke win in the 1st VSGA Super Senior Multi-Format Team Championship. Both events were held concurrently at Lakeside Park Club and concluded on Thursday afternoon.
The Serraos entered Thursday's modified foursomes (alternate shot) round one stroke behind Keith Decker and David Jordan. But they put together an impressive round of 7-under 64 to finish with a two-day total of 15-under 127. Decker and Jordan posted a 3-under 68 and finished second at 12-under 130.
In the Super Senior championship, Kelley and Breeden rode a streak of four birdies in five holes late in their round into the lead, then held on for the victory when Harry Thomas and David Partridge made par on the par-5 18th and Dave Pulk and Skip Zobel made bogey on No. 1, their final hole. The round featured a shotgun start. Kelley and Breeden finished with a two-day total of 7-under 135.
The Thomas/Partridge and Pulk/Zobel sides each shot two-day totals of 6-under 136. Partridge and Thomas entered the day with a one-shot lead after a 9-under round in Wednesday's two-person scramble round, but they struggled to a 2-over 74 in the alternate shot round.
Notable:
- Jay Serrao won his first VSGA title. Steve Serrao added another senior title to a resume that includes wins in the Senior Amateur, Senior Stroke Play, and Senior Four-Ball.
- Kelley earned his sixth VSGA championship. His previous five all came between 2010-12: Four-Ball (2010), Senior Stroke Play (2011-12), Senior Four-Ball (2012), and Senior Amateur (2012). Breeden has won a Richmond Golf Association championship but this was his first VSGA title.
- The Serraos eagled the par-5 14th for the second straight day, with Jay draining a 30-foot eagle putt on Thursday after making a 48-foot eagle putt on Wednesday. They played the entire tournament bogey-free.
- Decker and Jordan bogeyed the first hole but played the rest of their round at 4-under.
- Kevin Dillard and Kevin South posted a two-day total of 8-under 134 to finish third in the senior division.
- Three sides tied for fourth in the super senior division: Paul Gural and Mike Howell; Kevin MacMillan and David Pleasants, and John Steele and David Prokop.
- Secondary flight winners were Greg Henderson and Hunter Russell (senior) and Rick Lareau and Mel Burns (super senior). Each finished with two-day score of 3-under 139.
Quotable:
- "Yesterday, it was captain's choice, so he was able to see my putt, and then he hit an amazing putt. Today, there was some dew on the green and we were able to see how the ball was rolling." -- Steve Serrao on the eagles on 14
- "I just let him read them for me. I just tried to hit it where he said." -- Jay Serrao
- "That's kind of where we were yesterday. I could read them, but I just couldn't make them. I just pointed him in the right direction and he started making a bunch of putts." -- Steve Serrao
- "This is my first VSGA title, and we've come close in the (Senior) Four-Ball so many times. It's just awesome. I'm excited." -- Jay Serrao
- "You can't beat winning something with your brother. It was so much fun. Makes me a little bit emotional. We were grinding hard today. We saw Decker and them chasing us, but all of a sudden, we had a lead, and it just freed us up." -- Steve Serrao
- "We had a feeling that we were probably in the hunt, but we didn't want to know," -- Tim Kelley on scoreboard watching during the round.
- "We play together all the time, and we're used to certain green speeds. We get out here, and the greens were a little quicker and a little different than normal. But overall, we hit the ball so good, together. It was really good." -- Rusty Breeden
- "Donald Ross, he's good, he's knows what he's doing," -- Kelley, on Lakeside Park's tricky greens
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Day 1: Decker/Jordan, Partridge/Thomas hold leads in respective divisions
(Pictured: Jay Serrao celebrates a long eagle putt on 14 on Wednesday. Jay and brother Steve are in second place in the Senior Division, one stroke off the lead. Credit: Chris Lang/VSGA)
RICHMOND -- The side of Keith Decker and David Jordan posted a 9-under-par 62 on Wednesday at Lakeside Park Club to claim the 18-hole lead at the 5th VSGA Senior Multi-Format Team Championship. David Partridge and Harry Thomas carded the same score in the 1st VSGA Super Senior Multi-Format Team Championship to take a one-stroke lead in that championship.
The event transitions from two-person scramble to modified foursomes (alternate shot) for Thursday's second and final round, which will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
Decker and Jordan hold a one-stroke edge over two sides in the Senior division. Brothers Jay and Steve Serrao and the side of Dave Williams Jr. and Philip Mahone each returned 8-under rounds of 63 on Wednesday.
In the Super Senior Division, Partridge and Thomas hold a one-stroke lead over Kevin MacMillan and David Pleasants, who shot an 8-under 63. Two other sides returned cards of 7-under 64: John Steele and David Prokop, and Steve Williams and George Riefler.
Notable:
- Decker and Jordan were a late pairing, due to some odd circumstances. Decker was supposed to play with Robert Bradshaw, but a back injury flared up on Monday, leaving his status in question. Bradshaw found another partner for the event, and on Tuesday, Decker said that his back felt 100 percent better. Jordan was paired with Jon Hurst, with whom he won the championship last year. But Hurst suffered a severe cut on his finger that required five stitches, forcing him to withdraw. Thus Decker and Jordan paired up at the last minute.
- Ironically, Jordan played with Hurst last year because Decker had to withdraw from the event, leaving Hurst without a partner.
- Decker and Jordan finished with birdies on five of their final six holes.
- Bradshaw played with Mike Ramsey and the side posted a 6-under 65, putting them in a tie for fourth with two-time event winners Jon Zampedro and Jeffrey Klatt.
- The Serrao side got a boost on the 14th hole when Jay drained a 48-foot eagle putt. They also eagled the par-5 18th.
- Partridge and Thomas have finished as runner-up in three of the last four VSGA Super Senior Four-Ball Championships. They made nine birdies and never got close to making a bogey, Partridge said.
- Expect higher scores in Thursday's modified alternate shot round. The lowest score in the format last year at The Dominion Club was a 4-under 68.
Quotable:
- "I think it will make a difference. We play to each others' strengths. We know how to play and leave the best shot for our partner's particular skill set." -- Partridge on the experience of playing with Thomas multiple times.
- "It's on me tomorrow to put an iron in his hands. I've got to get off the tee well. I hit really good tee balls all day today. I've got to do the same thing tomorrow, and we'll be fine." -- Thomas
- "Harry played really well today and made some key putts, those medium-length putts where if you make them, it turns a good round into a very good round." -- Partridge
- "I think we have really good chemistry. David is patient. I'm not the player he is. I can hit is a little sideways every now and again. When I get hold of a drive, it's really really good. We play well together." -- Thomas
- "You saddle me up with horses like that, and I'll do OK," Jordan on playing with Hurst last year and Decker this year.
- "We had a good time, great fun. Playing with Jon (Zampedro) and Jeff (Klatt), we were as comfortable as we can be. They're good guys." -- Decker