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By Arthur Utley
DANVILLE – Bogeys and more played a prominent role in the first round of the 35th Virginia State Golf Association Super Senior Stroke Championship.
No player in the field shot or broke par Wednesday on sporty Danville Country Club’s par-70 layout, but instead of one leader or co-leaders for the tournament, there are leaders in three age divisions: 65-69, 70-74 and 75 and over.
This is the first time the Stroke Play is following the same setup used by the Super Senior Amateur.
Rick Bendall (Boonsboro CC), Jack Allara (Hidden Valley CC) and Randy Leyson (Meadowcreek GC) each posted 3-over-par 73 to share the lead in the 65-69 age group.
Chips Wooddy (Roanoke CC) and Dick Blackburn (Belle Haven CC) each returned 6-over 76 and co-lead the 70-74 division.
Harry Lea, playing his home course, shot 2-over 72 to pace the 75 and over players.
65 to 69 Division
The trio of leaders have a one-stroke lead over the quartet of Bert Allen (Boonsboro CC), Harry Thomas (Kinloch GC), Tim Vigotsky (Robert Trent Jones GC) and James Wright (Roanoke CC). Allen was last year’s tournament runner-up. Vigotsky finished fourth.
Bendall recorded four bogeys and a birdie on the course he played growing up.
“It’s always been tricky and fun to play and you have to hit all kinds of shots,” Bendall said. “All I heard today when I finished playing…guys were talking about doubles and triples. Everybody was. Fortunately, I didn’t make a double or a triple. Maybe it was some local knowledge. I played pretty steady for me. That is kind of unusual really.
“The greens are very nice. Fast, tight Bermuda and the fairways are tight Bermuda too. The turf is so good to hit off of. I feel like I’m 14 or 15 again down there playing.”
Allara logged two birdies against five bogeys; Leyson carded three birdies but made six bogeys.
Ten players in the age group are within four shots of the lead. Defending champion Leon Roday (Kinloch GC) trails by five strokes after shooting 78.
70 to 74 Division
Wooddy had a roller coaster round that included three birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys.
Blackburn also recorded two double bogeys along with three bogeys and a birdie.
The co-leaders hold a one-stroke lead over Terry Towler (The Manor GC). Danville CC member Doug Kendrick is two back going in today’s final round.
75 and over Division
Lea made the turn at even with a birdie on No. 3 and a bogey on No. 8. A triple bogey 8 on the par-5 15th hole kept him from shooting in red figures. He followed the triple with a birdie on No. 16 and pars at the 17th and 18th holes.
Lea is three shots clear of fellow Danville CC member Wright Garrett and George Owens (Princess Anne CC) who shot 5-over 75s.
Garrett made the turn at 3-over then birdied Nos. 10 and 11. He fell back with four bogeys the rest of the way. Owens had two birdies and seven bogeys.
Utley is a retired Richmond Times-Dispatch writer and longtime contributor to VSGA championship coverage.