By Arthur Utley
WILLIAMSBURG – Mount Vernon Country Club began its chase
for a third consecutive title in the Virginia State Golf Association Women’s
State Team Matches in typical fashion.
The six-golfer Northern Virginia club posted an even par
score of 216 at Williamsburg Golf Club in Sunday’s qualifying round of the 73rd
renewal of the tournament and claimed medalist honors and the No. 1 seed in the
four-team championship flight.
Mount Vernon was the top seed in last year’s tournament and
went on to win its 14th title. Mount Vernon’s first three titles in
the event were consecutive from 1991-93. The club duplicated the trifecta from
2008 to 2010. It has won eight of the last 11 championships.
The Country Club of Virginia, which has won the tournament 13
times, is the second seed after returning 1-over 217. The third seed belongs to
Sleepy Hole Golf Course of Suffolk which shot 4-over 220.
Brandermill Country Club (Midlothian) and last year’s
runner-up, Belle Haven CC (Alexandria), tied for fourth at 9-over 225.
Brandermill gained the fourth seed in the top flight after the best two scores
from each team were used to break the tie.
Twenty-four teams, four more than in past years, are
participating in this year’s tournament. Each club consists of three two-person
teams with the combined total comprising the club’s overall score.
Qualifying scores determined the four teams in the
championship flight. The remaining
flights were predetermined by collective handicap index then seeded by
qualifying scores.
Sleepy Hole and Brandermill are newcomers to the
championship flight. Mount Vernon plays Brandermill on Monday. CCV meets Sleepy
Hole. The final is Tuesday.
Each of the three Mount Vernon sides played steady golf in
the sweltering heat that also seems to be a usual occurrence for this
tournament.
Linda DiVall and Kim Franks teamed to shoot 1-under 71.
Joan Gardner and Katie Cox shot 72, and Shawn McCullough and Debbie Simpson
combined for 1-over 73.
CCV owes its second seed to the Boodie McGurn-Cheryl Grigg
duo. They played bogey-free and turned in the low score of the day, a 4-under
68. Lindsay Wortham and Eliza Lewis also were in red figures with 71. Natalie
Easterly and Brenda Baril added a 6-over 78.
Casey Burley and Micki Campbell led Sleepy Hole with
2-under 70.
Brandermill’s Kristine Rohrbaugh-Paula Moody side carded
72, and Cindy Wray and Joy Naworal had 74. Their 146 total was three strokes
better than Belle Haven’s Maria Kirby-Shelley Gaffin (74) and Mimi
Hoffman-Nancy Duncan (75) in determining the championship flight’s fourth seed.
These are the pairings for the semifinal matches in each
flight.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
No.
1 Mount Vernon CC vs. No. 4 Brandermill CC; No. 2 CCV vs. No. 3 Sleepy Hole GC.
FIRST FLIGHT
No.
1 Belle Haven CC vs. No. 4 Hermitage CC; No. 2 Fawn Lake CC vs. No. 3 Golf Club
at the Highlands.
SECOND FLIGHT
No.
1 Washington G&CC vs. No. 4 Cavalier G&YC; No. 2 Bayville GC vs. No. 3 Ivy Hill GC.
THIRD FLIGHT
No.
1 Williamsburg GC vs. No. 4 Greenbrier CC; No. 2 The Piedmont Club vs. No. 3 Belmont
CC.
FOURTH FLIGHT
No.
1 Ford’s Colony CC vs. No. 4 Army Navy CC; No. 2 Willow Oaks CC vs. No. 3 Evergreen
CC.
FIFTH FLIGHT
No.
1 Fort Belvoir GC vs. No. 4 The Dominion Club; No. 2 Golden Horseshoe GC vs. No.
3 Broad Bay CC.