KESWICK — Dustin Groves, who has spent much of his year as a caddie working the bag for PGA Tour professional Kyle Reifers, showed Tuesday that he still has plenty of game himself.
Groves, a past VSGA Junior Stroke Play champion, fired a 2-under 70 at Glenmore Country Club to earn medalist honors at a qualifier for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which is for amateurs ages 25 and older. Groves, a member at Glenmore, snagged one of the two available qualifying spots.
The other went to James Gallagher (Tidewater Amateur Golf Tour), who made a birdie on his second playoff hole to outlast Ted Dougherty (Jefferson Lakeside CC). Both players shot a 1-under 71 in the 18-hole qualifying round.
Tim Prey, of Maryland, just missed the playoff after returning an even-par 72. Brandon LaCroix (Hunting Hills CC), Matt Paciocco (Richmond CC) and Silas Vansky (Laurel Hill GC) all shot 73 and finished two shots out of the playoff.
Groves’ up-and-down round started with a birdie, but he immediately gave the shot back with a bogey on No. 2. He remained at even par until the par-4 15th hole, where he made the first of back-to-back birdies. He parred the final two holes to finish at 2 under.
Gallagher, who turns 58 later this month and won last year’s VSGA Senior Stroke Play Championship, recovered well from a double bogey on the par-4 10th hole. He played the rest of his round at 3 under and forced his way into the playoff for the second spot by making a birdie on the par-5 18th hole.
Dougherty got hot at the end of his round as well. He was 2 over through 12 holes. He made the first of his three back-nine birdies on No. 13 to finish his round at 1 under.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be held Sept. 10-15 at Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pa., outside of Philadelphia. VSGA member Justin Young (Ballyhack GC) reached the round of 16 at last year’s U.S. Mid-Am in Florida.