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By Chris Lang
ZION CROSSROADS — Home-course advantage doesn’t seem to mean much anymore in the annual battle for the Captain’s Putter.
Holding a five-point lead after Friday’s four-ball and foursome matches, the Carolinas squad continued its strong play in Saturday’s singles matches to score a decisive 29-19 victory in the 73rd Captain’s Putter Matches, held at Spring Creek Golf Club.
The win was the third straight for the visiting team in the annual series featuring top players from the Virginia State Golf Association and West Virginia Golf Association competing against top players from the Carolinas Golf Association. The Carolinas won in 2016 at Kinloch Golf Club, with the Virginias returning the favor last year at Greenville Country Club in South Carolina.
“They enjoyed beating us at our place, so we wanted to pay them back,” said Carolinas senior Gary Robinson, who went 3-0 on the weekend, including a singles victory Saturday against the Virginias’ Steve Serrao. “I always enjoy playing in this team format. It’s like a Ryder Cup. It’s obviously not as important to most people. But it is to us, the guys that play. We enjoy it. We don’t get to play a lot of match play, so I enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun.”
The Carolinas seniors and super seniors played a huge role in the victory, which was the Carolinas’ largest in the series since a 31-17 win in 2009. The seniors accumulated 10½ out of a possible 16 points, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that the Virginias won three of the four points in Friday morning’s four-ball matches.
The Carolinas super seniors won 3½ out of a possible four points over the weekend, though the half point for the Virginias was an impressive one. Down five on the back nine, Bill Nunnenkamp (Blue Hills GC) stormed back to square his match with Dennis Helms and halve the match.
“Our seniors played really well,” Robinson said. “We won a lot of matches there.”
The Virginias needed 14½ out of a possible 24 points in Saturday’s singles matches, but the hole from Friday’s afternoon foursomes was too deep to climb out. Still, there were some strong performances on the Virginias side.
Jeff Long (Evergreen CC) and Michael Brennan (River Creek Club) each went 3-0 for the second straight year in these matches. Erik Dulik (Reston National GC) also escaped the weekend without a loss, going 2-0-1, the only blemish coming when he and Dustin Groves halved their afternoon foursome match Friday.
Dulik, who recently finished his college career at the University of Louisville, was playing in his first VSGA team event.
“It was a great experience,” Dulik said. “Everybody was really friendly, and this golf course is in great condition. It was a fun weekend overall.”
West Virginia’s Pat Carter won his singles match against Chris Cassetta on Saturday, leaving him 1-0-2 for the weekend after he and Sam O’Dell halved both of their matches on Friday. Virginias senior Buck Brittain (The Virginian GC) also went unbeaten, going 2-0-1 over the weekend.
For the Carolinas, Tim Driver (2-0-1), Dennis Helms (2-0-1) and Russ Perry (3-0) joined Robinson as players who left Spring Creek without a loss.
Chris Lang is the Editor of Virginia Golfer Magazine and Manager, Digital Media for the VSGA.
73rd Captain’s Putter Matches
At Spring Creek GC, Zion Crossroads
Par 72, 7,191 yards
Friday’s four-ball matches
James Lightsey/Thomas Todd III (C) def. Justin Young/Scott Shingler, 1 up
Michael Brennan/Jeff Long (V) def. Sherrill Britt/Daniel Neveu, 6 and 5
Thomas Owen/Joe Kastelic (C) vs. Sam O’Dell/Pat Carter, halved
Trey Smith/Kyle Martin (V) def. Robert Lutomski/Matt O’Quinn, 1 up
Tim Driver/Clayton Holland (C) def. Ben Keefer/Jimmy Delp, 3 and 2
Scott Lincicome/Chris Cassetta (C) def. Jess Ferrell/Philip Reale, 3 and 2
Erik Dulik/Dustin Groves (V) def. Bailey Patrick/Raymond Wooten, 6 and 4
Buck Brittain/Rich Buckner (V) def. Eddie Hargett/Steve Harwell, 4 and 3
Steve Serrao/Cam Young (V) def. Paul Simson/Keith Waters, 5 and 4
Gary Robinson/Walter Todd (C) def. Matt Sughrue/John Lombardozzi, 3 and 2
Dave Pulk/Leon Roday (V) def. Mike Gravely/Stan Sill, 3 and 2
Russ Perry/Dennis Helms (C) def. John Hoffman/Bill Nunnenkamp, 2 and 1
Virginias leads 6½-5½ after four-ball matches
Friday’s foursome matches
Michael Brennan/Jeff Long (V) def. James Lightsey/Thomas Todd III, 1 up
Sherrill Britt/Daniel Neveu (C) def. Justin Young/Scott Shingler, 2 and 1
Thomas Owen/Joe Kastelic (C) def. Trey Smith/Kyle Martin, 2 and 1
Robert Lutomski/Matt O’Quinn (C) vs. Sam O’Dell/Pat Carter, halved
Tim Driver/Clayton Holland (C) vs. Jess Ferrell/Philip Reale, halved
Scott Lincicome/Chris Cassetta (C) vs. Erik Dulik/Dustin Groves, halved
Bailey Patrick/Raymond Wooten (C) def. Ben Keefer/Jimmy Delp, 6 and 5
Eddie Hargett/Steve Harwell (C) def. Steve Serrao/Cam Young, 1 up
Paul Simson/Keith Waters (C) vs. Buck Brittain/Rich Buckner, halved
Gary Robinson/Walter Todd (C) def. Dave Pulk/Leon Roday, 1 up
Mike Gravely/Stan Sill (C) def. Matt Sughrue/John Lombardozzi, 3 and 2
Russ Perry/Dennis Helms (C) def. John Hoffman/Bill Nunnenkamp, 4 and 3
Carolinas leads 14½-9½ after foursomes
Saturday’s singles matches
Carolinas player listed first
Starting hole #1
Pat Carter (V) def. Chris Cassetta, 2 and 1
Matt O’Quinn (C) def. Justin Young, 1 up
Raymond Wooten (C) def. Ben Keefer, 5 and 3
Jimmy Delp (V) def. Robert Lutomski, 2 and 1
Kyle Martin (V) def. Scott Lincicome, 3 and 2
Erik Dulik (V) def. Joe Kastelic, 1 up
Daniel Neveu (C) def. Jess Ferrell, 5 and 4
Philip Reale (V) def. Clayton Holland, 5 and 4
Tim Driver (C) def. Scott Shingler, 1 up
Michael Brennan (V) def. Bailey Patrick, 3 and 2
James Lightsey (C) def. Trey Smith, 3 and 2
Jeff Long (V) def. Thomas Owen, 2 and 1
Starting hole #10
Dennis Helms (C) vs. Bill Nunnenkamp, halved
Russ Perry (C) def. John Hoffman, 4 and 2
Stan Sill (C) def. Rich Buckner, 2 and 1
Gary Robinson (C) def. Steve Serrao, 2 and 1
Steve Harwell (C) def. Leon Roday, 3 and 2
Buck Brittain (V) def. Walter Todd, 2 and 1
Mike Gravley (C) def. Cam Young, 1 up
Keith Waters (C) def. John Lombardozzi, 2 and 1
Eddie Hargett (C) vs. Dave Pulk, halved
Paul Simson (C) vs. Matt Sughrue, halved
Thomas Todd III (C) def. Dustin Groves, 3 and 2
Sherrill Britt (C) def. Sam O’Dell, 4 and 2
Carolinas wins 29-19