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Dates: Wednesday, May 7-Thursday, May 8
Format: Two-round of four-ball stroke play. If there is a tie after 36 holes, a sudden-death playoff will be utilized to determine a champion.
Host site: Orchard Creek
Day 1: Final-hole eagle secures lead for Young/Jordan
(David Jordan and Cam Young read a putt on the 11th green at Orchard Creek on Wednesday. Credit: Chris Lang/VSGA)
BY CHRIS LANG
WAYNESBORO -- The par-5 18th at Orchard Creek isn't a two-shot hole for most. But for a long hitter like Cam Young, if you hit your drive in the right spot and leave yourself the perfect angle for an approach, it's doable. That's exactly what happened on Wednesday during the first round of the 43rd Virginia State Golf Association Senior Four-Ball Championship.
Young nuked a 3-wood to the front of the green on his second shot, then bombed home a 35-foot eagle putt to clinch a round of 8-under-par 64 for he and partner David Jordan, giving the side a two-stroke lead over three sides heading into Thursday's second and final round.
Three sides shot rounds of 6-under 66 on Wednesday: Philip Mahone (Farmington CC) and David Williams Jr. (Sleepy Hole GC); Steve Serrao (Willow Oaks CC) and Jay Serrao (Cavalier G&YC); and Pete DeTemple (VSGA eClub) and Dean Griffith (Blue Ridge Shadows GC).
Richmond-area golfers Young (Independence GC) and Jordan (Willow Oaks CC) are no stranger to success in partner events. Young teamed with Steve Serrao in 2018 to win the VSGA Senior Four-Ball at The Virginian in Bristol, and Jordan paired with Jon Hurst in 2022 to win the VSGA Senior Multi-Format Team Championship at The Dominion Club.
They shot 8 under even with a bogey on the par-4 6th hole. They did most of their damage on the inward nine, with Jordan making birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 and Young contributing a birdie on 17 to go along with his eagle on the last.
Mahone and Williams' round could have been even better, considering they posted bogeys on Nos. 11 and 15. Williams made an eagle on No. 5 and added four birdies, while Mahone contributed two birdies. The Serraos posted a pair of 3-under nines for their 66. Steve got hot early, carding four birdies in the first 11 holes. Jay picked the side up late, making birdie on both Nos. 15 and 16. For the Griffith/DeTemple pairing, Griffith finished strong, making birdie on the final two holes.
NOTABLE
- Jordan/Young and Williams/Mahone will tee off in the final group at 12:02 p.m. The Serraos will play with DeTemple and Griffith at 11:51 a.m.
- Three sides finished Wednesday tied for fifth at 5-under 67, three strokes back of the lead: Paras Pandya (Kinloch GC) and Scott Bemberis (Independence GC); Neil Davis (Keswick Club) and Jon Zampedro (Pleasant Valley GC); and Steve Firkins and Kevin South of Magnolia Green GC.
- Defending champions Scott Shingler (Dominion Valley CC) and Keith Decker (Chatmoss CC) posted a 3-under round of 69 and sits in a tie for 15th, five shots off the pace.
- Three-time winners Jon Hurst (Fredericksburg CC) and Buck Brittain (The Virginian GC) are among the seven sides tied for eighth at 4-under 68.
- Orchard Creek is a Fred Findlay designed golf course that features mountain views, plenty of elevation changes, and a lot of blind tee and approach shots, an adjustment for players who tend to play flatter courses. It's generally regarded as a second-shot golf course.
QUOTABLE
- "I hit a perfect drive down the right-hand side, almost to the edge of the rough. I just guessed the yardage (on the second shot) and hit a good 3-wood. I can't hit it high any more, so I knew I had to hit it at the edge of the tree with a little draw, and I absolutely smoked it. I had about 35 feet, David told me exactly where to hit it, and luckily it went in." -- Young on his eagle on 18.
- "We made a few mistakes, but we kind of covered them up." -- Young
- "It's always good to play with a buddy you love and to play well. We've been waiting for this. It was a good day." -- Jordan
- "You've got to commit to your shot. Luckily, I came out to play a practice round while my partner was qualifying to go to the next stage of the (U.S.) Senior Open. I came out and got a feel for the lines, and David listened. We just played well. I don't even know what else to say." -- Young on Orchard Creek
- "Jay's a big hitter. I was hitting it pretty good too. This course is fun to play. You have to be aggressive." -- Steve Serrao
- "This happened to us up at Washington Golf (in the 2022 Senior Four-Ball). We didn't get our practice round in there and then went out and shot 60 on the second day." -- Steve Serrao
- "I'm supposed to be the insurance guy. I hit it short and straight and keep us in the hole, and I let him get the birdies." -- Mahone on partner David Williams Jr.
- "There were a couple of par 3s on the front where (Mahone) had to make a 6- and an 8-footer (for par), and I think that was the key to keeping our round going." -- Williams
- "It got me twice today, just not being used to it. ... The sight lines are tough in a couple of places, but I like it. It's a fun golf course. It's playing fantastic." -- Williams on Orchard Creek
- "When we started out, it just felt so easy. We were cruising right along, making easy pars, having looks at birdie on just about every hole. We got to the back side, we got to No. 11 and I hit mine in the water and he hit his left. We made 6 there. We were lucky enough to birdie the next hole, but then we just sort of treaded water. Some of those 4s that we made down the stretch could have been easy 3s." -- Paras Pandaya on he and partner Scott Bemberis' round.