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Dates: Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19
Format: 24 players from the Virginias (Virginia State Golf Association and West Virginia Golf Association) vs. 24 players from the Carolinas Golf Association (North and South Carolina). Friday features morning four-ball and afternoon foursome (alternate shot) play. Saturday features singles play. Each team features 14 regulars, eight seniors and two super seniors.
Host site: Bayville Golf Club
Day 2: Massive day in singles propels Virginias to first victory since 2020
(The winning Virginias team. Credit: Chris Lang/VSGA)
Story by Chris Lang
Video/social by Erin Strickler
VIRGINIA BEACH -- The Virginias team knew the math was stacked against it after the first day of the 79th Captain's Putter Matches at Bayville Golf Club. Facing a five-point deficit after Friday's partner play, the home team needed at least 15 points in Saturday singles to bring the trophy back north for the first time since 2020. At dinner Friday night, members of Team Virginias chose to look at the deficit in simpler terms.
"All I can do is go out there and get my point," Virginias senior Jon Hurst said.
That mentality permeated through the team, and it manifested itself into an epic comeback on a brilliant fall Saturday at Bayville. The Virginias team blew past that 15-point goal, nabbing 17.5 of a potential 24 points to earn a 27-21 victory. It marked the Virginias' first win since a one-point victory at The Greenbrier's Old White Course in 2020. It was also the Virginias' first win on Virginia soil since 2014 at The Club at Creighton Farms and the Virginias' largest margin of victory since a 27-21 win at The Resort at Glade Springs in West Virginia in 2012.
"It was 24 chances to get points, and we needed every single one of them," said Jordan Utley, one of three Virginias playing captains, of Saturday's singles points. "I didn't feel like anyone was out-matched or anything. You just had to go out and take care of your opponent. Today was something pretty spectacular, especially as it all came together in the last 60-90 minutes, when you felt the wave of that scoreboard, and it was a lot of blue."
Sixteen Virginias' players won matches -- Drew Brockwell, Logan Reilly, Utley, Jason Spaar, Sam Beach, Sam O'Dell, Davey Jude, Cam Roam, Christian Brand, Tim Kelley, Allen Barber, Pete Barbera, Ian Patrick, Jon Hurst, Scott Shingler, and Pat Carter. Three others secured a half point by tying their respective matches -- Joey Jordan, Noah Mullens, and Bryce Corbett.
After going winless on Saturday, the Virginias' super seniors (Kelley and Barber) won their respective matches. The West Virginia contingent showed out particularly well on Saturday, gaining 6.5 out of a possible seven points, including Roam's 7-and-6 victory.
Roam clinched the winning point for the Virginias at The Greenbrier in 2020 and played a huge role in the victory at Bayville as well.
"This might be the most West Virginia guys we've had on the team," Roam said. "For us, it's a lot of pride to come out here and show that we're worth it."
Five Carolinas players earned singles points on Saturday: Sam Jackson, Brandon Grzywacz, Lee Porter, Paul Simson, and Eddie Hargett. Connor Doyal, Zachary Herold, and Jon Weiss earned a half point each for tying their matches.
For the weekend, the Virginias' Carter and Patrick went a perfect 3-0-0, as did the Carolinas' Simson and Porter.
Day 1: Carolinas build lead in partner play
(Jay and Steve Serrao secured a late point for the Virginias team in foursomes play Friday afternoon. Credit: Chris Lang/VSGA)
Story by Chris Lang
Social/videos by Erin Strickler and Matt Pochily
VIRGINIA BEACH -- The Carolinas side emerged victorious in both partner sessions on Friday and hold a 14.5-9.5 lead after the opening day of the 79th Captain's Putter Matches, held at Bayville Golf Club.
The Carolinas team, which has won two of the last three Captain's Putter Matches, needs 9.5 points out of 24 in Saturday's singles to forge at least a tie and retain the trophy for a fourth straight year. (The teams tied in 2023). The Virginias team will need a Saturday surge to win the Captain's Putter for the first time since 2020, as it needs to claim 15 points to get to the 24.5 points needed to win.
The Carolinas won the morning four-ball session 7-5 and capped the day with a 7.5-4.5 victory in afternoon foursomes (alternate shot). The Carolinas got a huge boost from their seniors and super seniors on Friday. Super seniors Steve Fox and Keith Waters swept their two matches to earn two points. Seniors Lee Porter and Paul Simson, and Rick Cloninger and Yancey Johnson also earned two points apiece.
Team Virginias seniors Pat Carter and Ian Patrick won both of their matches to capture two points. The Virginias got 1.5 points each from the sides of Noah Mullens/Sam O'Dell (regular), Davey Jude/Cam Roam (regular), and Jay Serrao/Steve Serrao (senior). Other Virginias side to earn victories were Christian Brand/Sam Beach (regular, four-ball), Bryce Corbett/Nikita Gubenko (regular, four-ball), and Jason Spaar/Justin Young (regular, foursomes).
Singles matches begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with play starting off both No. 1 and No. 10.