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By Chris Lang
WILLIAMSBURG — As the rain slowed from a deluge to a drizzle Tuesday, Jon Hurst sat on the back deck of the clubhouse at Two Rivers Country Club and said simply, “I hope we get to play nine.”
“It was our only hope,” Hurst said of the chasing pack at the 35th Virginia State Golf Association Senior Stroke Play Championship.
Finally, after 4 p.m., the final groups hit the golf course, which was remarkably firm and free of temporary water after several hours of punishing rain that forced the shortening of the tournament to 27 holes. Hurst trailed the three 18-hole leaders by a shot but navigated the nine-hole sprint to the finish perfectly, posting a bogey-free 4-under par 32 to finish with a two-day aggregate 102 and a one-shot victory over Buck Brittain.
Hurst (Fredericksburg CC) posted his first individual VSGA victory since claiming consecutive Mid-Amateur titles in 2013 and 2014. Hurst joined the senior ranks in summer 2019 and has claimed a pair of team titles, but holding an individual senior trophy was a special feeling, he said.
“I enjoy the competition, and I look forward to it,” Hurst said. “We play to get into the mix, and I love every minute of it. It makes it fun again. I feel like there’s a no-man’s land there at age 45. These kids are so good and they hit it so far. So it’s good to get back in the mix and have a chance to win.”
Brittain (The Virginian GC), Bowen Sargent (Birdwood Golf at Boar’s Head Resort) and Roger Newsom (Elizabeth Manor G&CC) entered Tuesday with a one-shot lead over Hurst and 2019 Senior Stroke Play champion David Jordan (Willow Oaks CC). With no real room to spare, Hurst went into Tuesday’s round with an aggressive mindset.
“With nine holes, I was trying to fire at the pins,” Hurst said. “There were a couple of holes at the end where I played it safe, because with this Golf Genius, we know where we stand. And I’m a scoreboard watcher. I knew exactly where I was.”
It resulted in birdies on Nos. 2, 5, 6 and 9. The last birdie came after Hurst made an admirable run at an eagle putt that would have essentially put the tournament away.
“The big shot was that 3 wood that I hit it on in two on No. 9,” Hurst said. “I knew if I made birdie there, Buck would have to make eagle. … (The putt) was quick, and I just wanted to make sure I didn’t leave it four feet short. I happened to hit it at the exact right speed.”
Both Brittain and Jordan came to the 9th with an opportunity to tie Hurst, albeit with an eagle rather than a birdie. Jordan’s second shot tailed left of the green and barely stayed out of the lake to the left of the hole. He tried to lob the ball into the hole for a tying eagle but came up short. Brittain, who had a birdie putt lip out on 8, reached the green in two and had a long eagle putt to tie. But as soon as he hit it, he shook his head, knowing it was offline. He made the birdie to finish at 5-under 103.
“I assumed Jon was on in two and made birdie, I could see it through the scope (from the fairway),” Brittain said. “I just mis-read it. I didn’t think it was going to miss by that much. I hit the putt where I wanted to hit it, I just mis-read it.”
Brittain and Hurst partnered in May to win the VSGA Senior Four-Ball Championship at Boonsboro Country Club, so Brittain knew what he was up against down the stretch.
“When he gets on and starts making some putts, he’s hard to beat,” Brittain said.
Jordan, Two Rivers member Dave Pulk, and Keith Decker (Ballyhack GC) tied for third at 3-under 105. Pete DeTemple (Old Hickory GC) and Newsom tied for sixth at 2-under 106. Sargent was among four tied for eighth at 1-under 107.
Lang is the VSGA’s manager of media and communications.