By Chris Lang
WILLIAMSBURG — Mike McDonald and Bill Flanders Jr. have had a successful partnership before, teaming to win the member-member championship at Two Rivers Country Club, their home club. After the first day of the 4th VSGA Super Senior Four-Ball Championship, they find themselves in prime position to add a VSGA title to their resumes.
McDonald and Flanders posted a 7-under 65 at the Golden Horseshoe’s Green Course on Monday and will take a one-shot advantage into Tuesday’s second and final round. Lurking just behind is the side of Charles Green III (The Virginian GC) and Bob Rotella (Glenmore CC), who returned a 6-under 66.
“The tee shots were the key,” said McDonald, who is in his first year as a competitor in super senior events, which feature players ages 65 and older. “We never were in trouble. We didn’t make any really long putts. But we kept it in play. And [Flanders] stuffed a few close. We made a couple of 10 footers, and yeah, life is good.”
McDonald won the 2009 VSGA Senior Amateur Championship at Princess Anne Country Club, and he’s looking for his first title as a super senior. He turned 65 last November. McDonald and Flanders were 2 under at the turn after a bogey on No. 9. They caught fire on the inward nine, posting five birdies and four pars to finish with the 66.
“We were just playing for the fun of it,” McDonald said. “Just trying to get it close.”
Green and Rotella have teamed up in VSGA senior four-ball and Society of Seniors four-ball events in the past. In both cases, they finished as runner up.
“And here we are again, in second place,” Rotella said with a laugh.
Green won the VSGA Super Senior Stroke Play Championship in June at Fawn Lake Country Club, and he and Rotella were a strong side on Monday. They birdied their last four holes, including an impressive up and down on No. 17 from Green, to surge into second. Initially, though, Rotella thought his side had finished at 5 under, not 6.
“I thought 18 was a par 4, and I was thinking, ‘Man, that’s a hard par 4,’” Rotella said.
Two sides are within two shots of the lead after posting 5-under 67s: Defending champions John Cuomo (Laurel Hill GC) and J.P. Leigh (Elizabeth Manor G&CC); and Tim Rash (Salisbury CC) and Lee Coble (Independence GC).
Cuomo and Leigh shot a bogey-free round that included a run of three straight birdies to open the front nine. Rash and Coble were even through 13 holes but finished their round with five straight birdies to move into striking distance of the leaders.
Jim Hudson and Pat Gregory (Salisbury CC) shot a 4-under 68 and are tied for fifth with Jon Abbett (Trump National GC, Washington D.C.) and Peter Jacobi (Army Navy CC). Rick Bendall (Boonsboro CC) and Steve Isaacs (Independence GC) also broke 70, posting a 3-under 69.
Hudson, Abbett, Cuomo and Jacobi have all won their age groups at the VSGA Super Senior Amateur Championship in recent years. Cuomo and Leigh may be the side to watch on Tuesday. After opening with a 69 last year, they posted a second-round 63 to run away for a four-shot victory.
Chris Lang is the Editor of Virginia Golfer Magazine and Manager, Digital Media for the VSGA.