Pictured: Bowen Sargent
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By Chris Lang
WILLIAMSBURG — Buck Brittain admits that he has a little extra confidence playing at Two Rivers Country Club, understandable since he won two Senior Opens of Virginia at the venue.
Brittain, who won last year’s VSGA Senior Amateur, is one of three players tied for the lead at 3-under-par 69 at Two Rivers after Monday’s first round of the 35th Virginia State Golf Association Senior Stroke Play Championship. The names with him at the top of the leaderboard are familiar ones as well.
University of Virginia men’s golf coach Bowen Sargent—Brittain’s opponent in last year’s Senior Am final—also posted 69, as did 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur finalist Roger Newsom (Elizabeth Manor G&CC). Newsom finished as runner up to Brittain in the 2018 Senior Open of Virginia at Two Rivers.
Just behind the lead group are 2019 Senior Stroke Play champion David Jordan (Willow Oaks CC) and Fredericksburg CC’s Jon Hurst—who teamed with Brittain to win the VSGA Senior Four-Ball at Boonsboro CC last month. Each posted 2-under rounds of 70.
Five additional players will enter Tuesday’s second and final round within two shots of the lead after opening rounds of 1-under 71: 2018 VSGA Senior Amateur champion Cam Young (Independence GC), two-time Senior Stroke Play champion Keith Decker (Ballyhack GC), Two Rivers member Kent Erdahl, 2018 Senior Stroke Play champion Pete DeTemple (Old Hickory GC) and David Price (Stoneleigh G&CC).
Brittain needed a birdie-birdie finish to record his fifth consecutive round at this course in a VSGA championship in the 60s. Brittain started with four birdies in his first seven holes before leaking and sliding back to even par with four bogeys. He rallied with birdies on 14, 17 and 18 to finish tied for the lead.
“I expected to have a good round,” Brittain said. “Not that 69 isn’t good, but with the way I played, I’m a little disappointed in it. I didn’t feel like I was hitting it bad. I missed a few short little putts I shouldn’t have missed.”
Brittain nearly made a hole-in-one on 17, using a 7 iron to get within six inches for a tap-in birdie.
Sargent was pleased with his round, considering his playing schedule has lightened now that the normal business of recruiting players to the Cavaliers’ golf team has resumed. Sargent made four birdies and one bogey on his front nine before finishing with all pars on the back.
“Last round of golf I played was at The Homestead, two weeks ago today,” Sargent said. “It’s a lot different. Last year, like a lot of these guys, I really didn’t have anything to think about. So I was practicing four, five, six hours every day. Now I’m back into working. My first duty is with the team, so (playing) is obviously second or third.
“I didn’t really know what to expect today, because I hadn’t played. But the course kind of suits me. A lot of short irons, which I feel like I’m pretty good at hitting. And the greens are great, so there’s no excuses there.”
Newsom got to 6 under at one point on Monday before a wayward tee shot on 16 led to a double-bogey 7. He also made bogey on No. 18. Still, the middle of his round showed just how hot he can get. He opened with five straight pars before making birdie on six of his next nine holes to surge into contention.
Erdahl, a finalist at last year’s VSGA Mid-Senior Amateur, was in fine shape until 16 as well, where he struggled with the bunkers and made double bogey. He also bogeyed 18 to fall to 1 under.
Four players recorded eagles in Monday’s first round. Jordan made one on the par-5 3rd, which was playing as the easiest hole on the course. Fred Eames (Trump National GC, Washington DC) made one on the par-5 9th. Stephen Whitfield (Bayville GC) made one on the par-4 5th. And Scott Bemberis (Independence GC) made his on the par-5 16th.
Lang is the VSGA’s manager of media and communications.