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Pictured: David Partridge
By Arthur Utley
CHESTERFIELD — Defending champion David Partridge of Manakin-Sabot posted a 2-under-par 70 at Lake Chesdin Golf Club on Monday and holds a one-stroke lead in the 65-69 age division at the 37th Virginia State Golf Association Super Senior Stroke Play Championship.
Partridge, a member of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, is chasing a 15th VSGA championship that would tie him with fellow Hall of Famer Vinny Giles for second most victories behind Hall of Famer Keith Decker.
Robert Friend, eligible for super senior tournaments since turning 65 earlier this year, opened with a 1-under 71. Jeff Flax of Virginia Beach and Jimmy Angel of Midlothian trail by two shots after opening with 72.
In the 70-74 age group, Roanoke’s Van McCarter shot an even-par 72 and is four strokes clear of Mike Ancel of Newport News, Steve Isaacs of Richmond and Ronald Cornelison of Cross Junction. Each returned 4-over 76.
In the 75 plus division, Lake Chesdin is playing to par 71. Mike Brown has a two-shot lead after shooting a 2-over 73. Trailing Brown, who won the 70-74 division last year, are Bill Engel (75) of St. Augustine, Fla. (and a member at Army Navy CC), and Glen Allen’s John Casstevens (76).
THE STORY
Partridge logged three birdies and a bogey but expected scores to be lower.
“I thought somebody might shoot at least four under and maybe even five-under today. The golf course is in good shape, the weather is ideal. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to try to get lower because I thought I was being left,” Partridge said. “I’m very happy to be in the lead and especially happy I’m still in touch with the leaders. I thought Dave Pulk or one of the other great players here would shoot a really low score.”
The self-pressure comes from Partridge’s desire to win at least one more VSGA title this year.
“Obviously, the opportunities for me at my age for tournaments to win are relatively few and this is one of the ones if I play well then I’ve got a chance to win,” he said. “I have some thoughts in mind of what I’d like to accomplish before I hang ‘em all up. I’m trying to push myself even though I’m ancient these days. I’m still enjoying the game and love the competition.”
Friend had two birdies and a bogey. He has gotten back into tournament golf through the Senior Open of Virginia.
“I still enjoy playing. That’s the fun part,” he said.
His normal schedule is to work on the course from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., hit a bucket or two of balls in the afternoon five or six days a week.
“I don’t play a lot. I don’t have that much time,” he said.
Monday’s score was a surprise.
“I was just thinking, OK, let’s not embarrass myself. Pretty much simple golf. I hit a lot of greens and a lot of fairways,” he said.
70-74
McCarter was 2-under through 11 holes with three birdies and a bogey. He bogeyed No. 12 and fell out of red numbers with a bogey at 18.
“For this age group, the greens were nice. They weren’t particularly fast. I thought they had a good pace to them,” he said. “I thought they were really fair.”
75 plus
Brown began his round with a four-putt double bogey and a three-putt bogey then played the next 16 holes 1-under.
“My goal was to shoot my age, and I thought if I don’t get this right soon, I’m not going to shoot my age,” he said. “And I did.”
Brown expected scores to be lower, too.
“But the greens are a little tricky. They are a little slower than what we’re used to. It was hard to get the speed at first, but mid-round I finally got it,” he said.
His expectations for Tuesday?
“I suspect there will be three or four or five people who shoot their age and play well. It will probably be very close tomorrow. “
NOTES
- Friend is the owner and greens superintendent of The Brookwoods Golf Club.
- Brown is the golf team coach at James Robinson High in Fairfax.
- Brown, Engel, Casstevens, George Owens and Rich Fischer shot their age or better in the 75 plus division. Brown has done it 52 times (he has a spreadsheet). Owens says he began shooting his age at 64 and has done it every year since. He is 78.
- Fischer is 80 years old but isn’t the eldest of the Super Senior set. That honor goes to 81-year-old Gary Zimmerman of Hermitage Country Club.
- McCarter, who is from Galax, played on the high school golf team with another Virginia Golf Hall of Fame member, Tom McKnight.
Utley is a retired Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter and frequent contributor to Virginia Golfer magazine and VSGA event coverage.