BRISTOL — Team Carolinas used a dominating Saturday singles session to erase a three-point deficit and retain the Captain’s Putter, defeating Team Virginias 27½- 20½ at The Virginian Golf Club.
The Virginias held a 13½-10½ lead heading into the 24 singles matches, after one foursome (alternate shot) match had to be completed Saturday morning because of darkness on Friday. The Carolinas squad got off to a fast start Saturday, winning seven of the first eight matches, and it retained the Captain’s Putter by winning 17 out of 24 singles points.
SUPER SURGE
One of the big reasons for the Carolinas’ victory was the play of its two super seniors—Steve Fox and Jim Pearson. They each went 3-0 in their matches and took all six possible points in that division.
PERFECTION
Virginias regular Blake Carter—a past VSGA Mid-Amateur and Four-Ball champion—joined the Carolinas’ Super Seniors with a perfect 3-0 mark. He teamed with Marshall Tinsley to win four-ball and foursome matches on Friday, then defeated Weston Bell 3 and 1 on Saturday in his singles match.
FORMAT: Teams representing the Virginia State Golf Association and West Virginia Golf Association (Virginias) and the Carolinas Golf Association (Carolinas). The CGA encompasses both North and South Carolina. Each team consisted of 24 players—14 regulars, eight seniors (50+) and two super seniors (65+). One point available per match. Matches tied after 18 holes end in a tie, resulting in a half point for each side.
FRIDAY FOUR-BALL MATCHES: Virginias 8, Carolinas 4
FRIDAY FOURSOME (ALTERNATE SHOT) MATCHES: Carolinas 6½, Virginias 5½
SATURDAY SINGLES MATCHES: Carolinas 17, Virginias 7
PLAYER RECORDS—VIRGINIAS
Regulars— Blake Carter (3-0), Dustin Groves (1-0-2), Jess Ferrell (2-1), Garland Green (2-1), Noah Mullens (2-1), Marshall Tinsley (2-1), Evan Beck (1-1-1), Sam O’Dell (1-2), Justin Young (1-2), Ben Keefer (1-2), Cam Roam (1-2), Joey Jordan (0-1-2), John Rosenstock (0-1-2), Davey Jude (0-3),.
Seniors— Jon Zampedro (2-0-1), Jeffrey Klatt (2-1), Mike Koreski (2-1), Buck Brittain (2-1), Scott Shingler (2-1), Van Stemple (1-2), David Jordan (0-1-2), Steve Serrao (0-1-2).
Super Seniors—David Prokop (0-3), Scott Bibbee (0-3).
PLAYER RECORDS—CAROLINAS
Regulars—Walt Todd Jr. (2-0-1), Chad Siefert (2-0-1), Jon Weiss (2-1), Crawford Reeves (2-1), Christian Sease (2-1), Zachary Herold (1-1-1), Thomas Owen (1-1-1), Brian Quackenbush (1-1-1), Michael Sims (1-1-1), Garland Ferrell (1-1-1), Robert Lutomski (1-2), Weston Bell (0-3), Jamie Lightsey (0-3), Daniel Neveu (0-3).
Seniors— Paul Simson (1-0-2), Geno Berchatti (2-1), Gary Robinson (1-1-1), Sherrill Britt (1-1-1), Rick Cloninger (1-1-1), Eddie Hargett (1-2), Steve Harwell (1-2), Dale Fuller (0-3).
Super Seniors—Steve Fox (3-0), Jim Pearson (3-0).
FUN FACTS
- Garland Green was a late entrant for Team Virginias after Jimmy Delp had to withdraw due to an injury.
- Team Virginias featured a father-son combo in David and Joey Jordan. The Carolinas have had a father-son combo on their side as recently as 2021, when both Walter Todd and Walt Todd Jr. played.
- The Carolinas leads the all-time series 53-23-1 and has won six of the last eight meetings. The Carolinas has also won three of the last four road meetings. The last win at a Virginia club for the Virginias team was at Creighton Farms in 2014. The Virginias’ last home win came in 2020 at TPC Old White at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
- The Carolinas won the other meeting between the teams at The Virginian back in 1994 as well.
- The last time a team won more than twice in a row was when the Virginias won four straight from 2011-14.
- The Captain’s Putter Matches will return to a to-be-determined CGA host club in 2023.