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By Chris Lang
AMHERST — Joey Jordan hit his short chip on the short, par-4 14th at Poplar Grove Golf Club Saturday afternoon and quickly realized it was a good one. “Go in!” he urged, and when it fell for an eagle 2, he put two fingers in the air and excitedly pointed at his partner Steve Serrao, who simply said, “I love that you’re so good.”
The two Willow Oaks Country Club members made quite the pairing at the 55th Virginia State Golf Association Four-Ball Championship. Jordan and Serrao posted a 10-under-par 62 to grab a two-stroke lead after 18 holes of the 36-hole championship.
The event concludes Sunday with the second and final round.
Five sides are tied for second at 8-under 64: Dustin Groves and Jordan Utley; Brandon Ramsuer and Cory McIntosh; Alston Newsom and Adam Horton; Adam Houck and Blake Carter; and locals Adam Marshall and Chad Lipscomb, who live in nearby Appomattox.
Two sides were tied for seventh at 7-under 65: 2016 event champions Harold Dill and Kyle Bailey; and Jon Hurst and Keith Decker, a 31-time VSGA champion.
Jordan was a late replacement for Serrao’s brother, Jay, who couldn’t compete in this event. The pairing was fruitful, as they finished with eight birdies and Jordan’s eagle.
“I feel so comfortable playing with Steve, just kind of going up there and ripping at it, playing my game,” Jordan said. “I know Steve is back there behind me, super consistent and reliable. So if I hit one to a not so good spot, Steve’s right down the middle or right on the green. That happened a lot today. I think it’s a great pairing that we have.”
Marshall and Lipscomb got their round rolling on the back nine. After making the turn at 2 under and parring the 10th hole, they eagled No. 11 and birdied the next three holes to make their move. They closed their round with a birdie on 18. Members at Falling River Country Club, they’re no strangers to Poplar Grove, having played the course plenty of times.
“The rough is such that if you get out of place off the tee, it’s tough,” Lipscomb said. “Luckily today, one of us was in a good position all the time, and I think that’s key.”
Groves and Utley were consistent, shooting 4 under on each nine, though they came to the scoring area frustrated that they each missed short birdie attempts on No. 18. The two are longtime partners who have qualified for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in the past.
Ramsuer, who was part of the winning side at the 2nd VSGA Multi-Format Team Championship in August, and McIntosh finished their round strong, making birdies on four of the final six holes to join the logjam at second.
Newsom and Horton finished with six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 6th hole.
“We’re both confident in each other’s games, knowing that stepping up to the tee box that one of us is bound to hit a good shot,” Newsom said. “It’s kind of comforting to know you’ve got him hitting behind you.”
Added Horton: “The golf course is gettable. There were some other good looks that we missed. I think it’s going to take at least another 8 under par for us to be holding the trophy at the end.”
Houck, who recently qualified for the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, is pairing with Carter for the first time. Carter recorded an impressive victory at the 44th VSGA Mid-Amateur Championship in September and continued his strong fall on Saturday.
They finished with eight birdies and will play in the final grouping Sunday with the leaders, Serrao and Jordan.
“Blake’s fun to play with,” Houck said. “It was pretty stress free. … He just has no fear. He sees the shot and he hits it. He keeps it so simple. He hits the ball so flush. … He can just go right after it.”
Lang is the VSGA’s manager of media and communications.