39th Virginia-West Virginia Team Matches Event Hub
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Format: Saturday: Morning foursome (alternate shot) matches followed by afternoon four-ball matches; Sunday: Singles matches.
Host site: Spring Creek Golf Club, Zion Crossroads
Day 2: Virginia retains Ye Ole Feudin' Stick
(pictured: Team Virginia)
ZION CROSSROADS -- Virginia's seniors and super seniors put to rest any hope of a West Virginia rally on Sunday at Spring Creek Golf Club, nabbing all six possible points and leading a dominating display in singles as Virginia won the 39th Virginia-West Virginia Team Matches 17.5-10.5 and retained control of Ye Ole' Feudin Stick.
Led by playing captain Steve Serrao of Midlothian and Tazewell's Buck Brittain--both of whom went 3-0 on the weekend--Virginia won its fourth straight in the series and remained undefeated since 2009 against its neighbors. The only blip during that span was a 14-all tie in 2018 when the matches were held at Olde Mill in Laurel Fork.
Virginia entered Sunday needing seven points to claim another victory. Super seniors David Prokop of Haymarket and Jim Woodson of Powhatan each recorded 4-and-3 victories, and seniors Jon Zampedro of Ashburn and Serrao followed suit with 4-and-3 wins of their own. Jon Hurst of Fredericksburg flipped his match rallied after the turn to defeat Bryan Myers 3 and 2. Brittain jumped out to a 6-up lead through seven holes in his match against Todd Westfall and cruised to a 7-and-6 win.
Virginia held a scant one-point lead going into singles play but needed little from its lineup of eight regulars to retain the Stick. Forest's Marshall Tinsley clinched the victory with his 5-and-4 win over Cam Roam, giving Virginia its seventh point of the day.
Notable
- Phil Reale was the lone West Virginia player to win all three of his matches.
- Players who also went undefeated included Virginia's Evan Beck (2-0-1), Young (1-0-2), Woodson (1-0-2) and Prokop (1-0-2); and West Virginia's Cory Hoshor (1-0-2) and Noah Mullens (2-0-1).
- Virginia now leads the all-time series 33-4-2.
- The 40th playing of the Virginia-West Virginia Matches will be in West Virginia next spring.
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Day 1: Virginia holds slight edge after marathon day
(Pictured: Virginia's Steve Serrao)
ZION CROSSROADS -- Virginia's Evan Beck and Jordan Utley won the final four-ball match of the day Saturday in the last moments of daylight, giving Virginia a 7.5-6.5 lead heading into singles play at the 39th Virginia-West Virginia Team Matches at Spring Creek Golf Club.
A lengthy delay for severe weather pushed the start of four-ball action until late in the afternoon, and players raced to complete play in dwindling light. Beck hit his tee shot on the par-3 17th to six feet, leading to a clinching birdie and a 3-and-1 win over West Virginia's Christian Brand and Sam O'Dell. That allowed Virginia to claim a 4.5-2.5 win in the four-ball matches.
Singles matches begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday. One point is available in each match. The two super senior matches will go off first, followed by four senior matches and eight regular matches. Virginia has never lost to West Virginia on home turf.
Notable:
- West Virginia won the morning foursome session 4-3, but Virginia rallied in two matches to claim critical points. West Virginia picked up full points from the senior side of Bryan Myers and Todd Westfall; and regular sides Jess Ferrell and Phil Reale, and Cory Hoshor and Noah Mullens. Virginia seniors Buck Brittain and Steve Serrao earned a victory, as did regulars Beck and Utley. Beck and Utley's point was huge for Virginia, as they were 1 down to Cam Roam and Davey Jude after 16 holes. After winning No. 17 with a par, Utley rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to secure a 1-up win. Virginia's super seniors Jim Woodson and David Prokop won the final two holes against Harold Payne and Jim Duty to tie the match and earn a key half point.
- For the first time, the Virginia team featured a playing captain. Virginia was led by Serrao, and Serrao and Brittain went out first in both sessions and won both of their matches. Reale and Ferrell won both of their matches as well. Beck and Utley were the only other side to sweep their matches.
- Matches were very close on Saturday, with every match reaching at least the 16th green.
- Due to weather concerns, foursome (alternate shot) matches were played in the morning. Most matches were still on course when severe weather delayed play for two hours and 10 minutes. Foursome play finally concluded around 3:20 p.m.
Quotable:
- "He's the captain, and that's what the captain is supposed to do -- pile up wins." -- Brittain on Serrao.
- "It's going to come down to the singles, it always does, but you don't want to be four down going into singles, so that's big," -- Brittain on Virginia's late comeback in the foursome session.
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