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Match play follows Wednesday's second day of stroke play qualifying. CLICK HERE FOR SECOND ROUND SCORES AND CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
ALEXANDRIA –– Two-time defending VSGA State Amateur champion Brinson Paolini of Virginia Beach sat down for lunch after the opening day at the VSGA State Amateur and saw a familiar face across the table: his opponent in last year’s finals, Lanto Griffin of Blacksburg.
It only seems fitting that the two competitors each shot 4-under-par 68 to lead the first round of stroke play qualifying as the 97th renewal of the VSGA State Amateur got underway today at Belle Haven Country Club (6,940 yards, par 36-36—72).
The two are inextricably linked by last year’s championship final at Cedar Point Country Club in Suffolk, in which Paolini rallied to win seven of nine holes against Griffin to close the match to become the eighth player ever to win consecutive titles in the championship.
This year, Paolini is trying to become the first player ever to win three straight State Amateurs. Paolini, who is starting to play a nationally competitive amateur schedule, which included starts at the Sunnehanna Amateur and the Northeast Amateur, never doubted that he would return to defend.
“I was coming here the second I walked off the green last year,” says Paolini, who just completed his first year at Duke University, where he earned Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year accolades. “My mindset isn’t any different than it’s been the past couple of years. Obviously, I’m going to try my best to win this tournament.
“The VSGA is the greatest organization there is as far as I’m concerned. They’ve been so nice to me. I’m very happy to be here and hopefully I’ll keep playing well.”
If Paolini’s second nine surge during first round play is any indication of what’s to come, he’s off to a good start. All told, he registered seven birdies against three bogeys in the first day of qualifying. He birdied three of the first four holes of his inward nine and added another birdie at the par-4 seventh hole. Paolini used his length to easily birdie the first par 5 of his back nine, No. 1 and wielded a hot putter to drain putts of 15 and 20 feet, respectively, at Nos. 4 and 5 before making a tap-in birdie at No. 7. He shot three under on his inward half after a closing bogey at No. 9.
Paolini, 19, seems equipped to hit any shot and face any challenge the course calls for; the only question is whether a spot alone in VSGA State Amateur lore is calling. Paolini says he’s comfortable on the all-bentgrass Belle Haven layout, but isn’t thinking about the record books.
“I’m just focused on trying to play every hole I can and play every shot that I want to; the rest will take care of itself,” he says. “Right now, I’m trying to get as good a seed as I can going into match play and go from there.”
That said, Paolini says last year’s comeback victory in the late stages aren’t a bygone memory. The play of the two finalists at last year’s championship separated them only by a fraction.
“Me and [caddie] Mac [Thayer] were remembering some of the shots. We try and remember the last nine holes of the final, not the first 27,” Paolini smiles. “Both of us hit a lot of great shots. These past two years, I’ve been very blessed to hit a lot of good shots and get a lot of good breaks. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Griffin finished up his degree requirements last week to graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. This week, he’s bidding farewell to his amateur career at the VSGA State Amateur, before planning to head off to Q-school in the fall.
“This is my last amateur tournament,” says the 22-year-old Griffin. “As soon as this is over, I’ll be done with amateur golf.”
For the time being, Griffin opened stroke play with six birdies to offset two bogeys. He shot three under on the outward half, including a terrific escape from under the face of the fairway bunker at the par-4 eighth, where he played his 7-iron from 163 yards to 8 inches that he would later call a “career shot.” Griffin shot one under on the back nine and is pointing to the start of match play on Thursday.
“I love match play and I don’t think anybody can beat me if I’m playing well,” Griffin says. “That’s my goal: I don’t want to peak [Tuesday]. I want to peak starting Thursday.”
Griffin hopes the twists and turns of match play result in another meeting with Paolini, this time away from the lunch table.
“Yeah, that would be awesome,” Griffin says. “He’s definitely the person you want to beat. Hopefully, I’ll get to play him sometime this week. You have to go through him – he’s won it twice in a row.”
Nearly 40 percent of this year’s field – 48 golfers in all – is comprised of junior golfers (ages 18-and-younger) and collegians, signaling a shifting dynamic over the past four years at the State Amateur. Two-time event champion Keith Decker isn’t surprised to see the rising crop of golfers continuing to perform well.
“These guys are so much stronger – and better – than I was at their age. It’s not even close,” said Decker, who opened with 75. “They’re good and they’re getting better – and younger – all the time.”
Northern Virginians Scott Shingler of Haymarket and Alexandria’s Brett Williams led the mid-amateurs (ages 25-and-over), shooting 3-under 69 in the morning wave.
Shingler played the layout’s four par 5s in four under par and managed his way around an uneven stretch from Nos. 14-18 that he played in birdie, bogey, eagle, birdie, double bogey in one under par. His 3-wood approach to the par-5 16th hole set up an important eagle in that span. Starting to settle into his round, Shingler, 38, added birdies at the two par 5s on his inward nine, Nos. 1 and 4.
A member at Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket, Shingler hasn’t played Belle Haven much since the layout underwent a renovation in 2003, aside from finishing in the top-10 at the Middle Atlantic Amateur two years ago at the site and playing a Monday practice round. Shingler, 38, says he’s still developing a strategy for the course, but knows he will be aiming to be the low stroke play qualifier headed into Thursday’s first round of match play.
“It’s like there’s two tournaments. Once you get into match play, you’re going to be paired with someone who is playing well,” says Shingler, the 2009 VSGA golfer of the year. “On [Wednesday], you try to be medalist and start the second part of the event, where’s it a whole new ballgame. I don’t want to think, ‘Oh, just make the cut.’ If you beat everybody, you make the cut.”
Williams route to the VSGA State Amateur has come via a more circuitous route. After graduating from Ohio State, he played the mini-tours from 2004-06 and regained his amateur status in 2009. Admittedly on a “whirlwind tour” the 29-year-old works as a sales representative for a steel company. He has an office in Baltimore, lives in Alexandria and practices out of Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton.
“Work is a little easier,” he says. “At least you can count on a constant paycheck.”
Apparently, his game has held together, too; in his first VSGA State Amateur start, Williams posted four birdies against a bogey. A sound ball-striker, he hit 15 of 18 greens, about a dozen fairways and the putter cooperated at the most opportune times.
“I knew I was striking it well,” says Williams, an all-Big Ten selection as a senior, where he helped the Buckeyes to a conference title that same year. “I usually keep it in front of me. If I could get my putter going, and make 4- and 5-footers, I knew that I’d be all right.”
Competitors teeing off in the morning session had the better of it on day one; the top five scores of 2-under 70 and 11 of the top 14 scores of 1-under 71 all came from golfers who had a starting time before 12 p.m. Richmond’s Larry Loving Jr. had 2-under 70 in the morning. Three competitors, Vincent Nadeau, 24, of Penhook, local Erik Ruce, 17, of Arlington and Jeremy Wells, 19, of Hopewell had afternoon-best scores of 1-under 71.
The first round was also highlighted by Vienna’s Rick Peel, 39, scoring a hole-in-one at the 180-yard par-3 sixth hole using an 8-iron.
Following Wednesday’s second day of stroke play qualifying, the field will be reduced to the low 32 players for match play. The first and second rounds of match play follow on Thursday, July 1, the quarterfinals and semifinals are Friday, July 2 before the scheduled 36-hole on Saturday, July 3.
ALEXANDRIA –– Scores following the first round of stroke play qualifying at the 97th VSGA Amateur Championship at Belle Haven Country Club (6,940 yards, par 36-36—72) on Tuesday, June 29.
Lanto Griffin (Blacksburg), 33-35—68
Brinson Paolini (Virginia Beach), 33-35—68
Brett Williams (Alexandria), 35-34—69
Scott Shingler (Haymarket), 34-35—69
Larry Loving Jr. (Richmond), 36-34—70
Jake Mondy (Blacksburg), 35-36—71
Lee Fisher (Altavista), 35-36—71
Seth Norman (Norfolk), 34-37—71
Scott Marino (Fairfax), 36-35—71
Adam Webb (Ridgeway), 38-33—71
Ji Soo Park (Centreville), 35-36—71
Erik Ruce (Arlington), 36-35—71
Jeremy Wells (Hopewell), 35-36—71
Vincent Nadeau (Richmond), 34-37—71
Weston Eklund (Charlottesville), 32-40—72
Jim Nirich (Catlett), 36-36—72
Marshall Bailey (Fincastle), 36-36—72
Nick Austin (Midlothian), 38-35—73
Gary Barton Jr. (Alexandria), 36-37—73
Matt Watson (Portsmouth), 35-38—73
Michael Taylor (Ashland), 36-37—73
Buck Brittain (Tazewell), 35-38—73
Ben Keefer (Glen Allen), 36-37—73
Ben Lasso (Falls Church), 36-37—73
Evan Beck (Virginia Beach), 37-36—73
Adam Ball (Richmond), 36-37—73
Austin Gray (Midlothian), 38-35—73
Dylan Jensen (Ridgeway), 38-35—73
Victor Monte (Chantilly), 35-39—74
Brian Post (Stephens City), 35-39—74
Paul Woodson (Powhatan), 37-37—74
Korey Watts (Buchanan), 38-36—74
John Cegielski (Leesburg), 38-36—74
Adam Horton (Chesapeake), 36-38—74
Starell Cox (Chesterfield), 37-37—74
Maclain Huge (Lovettsville), 39-35—74
Pat Tallent (Vienna), 38-36—74
Allen Barber (Yorktown), 38-37—75
Chad Mozingo (Culpeper), 37-38—75
Mikey Moyers (Stanardsville), 38-37—75
Jimmy Delp (Arlington), 38-37—75
Keith Decker (Martinsville), 38-37—75
Jason Pool (Dunn Loring), 37-38—75
Aaron Eckstein (Salem), 37-38—75
Tanner Foutz (Mechanicsville), 38-37—75
Josh Apple (Lansdowne), 39-36—75
Darrell Craft (Roanoke), 38-37—75
D.J. Dougherty (Glen Allen), 37-38—75
Tim Kelley (Ashland), 39-37—76
Matthew Neely (Monterey), 40-36—76
Glenn Mullian (Richmond), 36-40—76
B.J. Maben (Hampton), 40-36—76
Mike Kirby (Falls Church), 40-36—76
Roger Newsom (Virginia Beach), 38-38—76
Garland Green (Tazewell), 36-40—76
Wade Wawner (Virginia Beach), 37-39—76
Jack Adkins (Martinsville), 36-40—76
Tom Grady (Marshall), 38-38—76
Matt Brantingham (Richmond), 36-40—76
Brian Jaeger (McLean), 40-36—76
Scott Davidson (Round Hill), 36-40—76
Michael Wade (Floyd), 39-37—76
Kyle Bailey (Fincastle), 39-37—76
Chris Tuttle (Virginia Beach), 39-38—77
Chris Olson (Midlothian), 40-37—77
David Partridge (Manakin-Sabot), 38-39—77
Wayne Hall (Fredericksburg), 36-41—77
Daniel Walker (Earlysville), 38-39—77
Lane Hite (Clarksville), 37-40—77
Brad Chambers (Galax), 36-41—77
Phil Mahone (Charlottesville), 40-37—77
Trey Smith (Virginia Beach), 38-40—78
Stanley Williams (Arlington), 42-36—78
Ryan Patrick (Sterling), 39-39—78
Jason Copeland (Virginia Beach), 37-41—78
Ken Zecchini (Virginia Beach), 40-38—78
Tyler Wingo (Fairfax), 40-38—78
Andrew Tilley (Ringgold), 37-41—78
Francesco Romano (Reston), 39-39—78
Mike Redwood (Virginia Beach), 39-39—78
Michael Keating (Fairfax), 39-39—78
Joe Curley (Vienna), 39-39—78
Jeff Long (Centreville), 40-38—78
Ryan Rettberg (Front Royal), 40-38—78
Tim Johnson (Jonesville), 38-41—79
Brian Hill (Warrenton), 42-37—79
Adam Frank (Midlothian), 39-40—79
Tom Adrounie (Fairfax Station), 36-43—79
Dan Lesando (Ashburn), 43-36—79
John David Hunter (Bluefield), 39-40—79
Rick Peel (Vienna), 35-44—79
Jeff Newman (Midlothian), 41-38—79
Zach Hall (Burgess), 39-40—79
Greg Brouse (Leesburg), 39-40—79
Dan Hosek (Alexandria), 41-38—79
Jordan Carpenter (Suffolk), 39-40—79
Mike Little Jr. (Newport News), 39-41—80
Ted Dougherty (Mechanicsville), 38-42—80
Matthew Ball Jr. (Richmond), 41-39—80
Casey Thompson (Stephens City), 38-42—80
Conlin Giles (Portsmouth), 40-40—80
Greg Graham (Keswick), 39-42—81
Nick Shedd (Williamsburg), 41-40—81
Garrett Whitmore (Midlothian), 40-41—81
Cameron Warner III (Richmond), 40-41—81
Eric Neidermeyer (Glen Allen), 40-41—81
Dan Hurley (Falls Church), 38-43—81
Jay Zapko (Glen Allen), 38-43—81
Ben Beach (Glen Allen), 37-44—81
Tony Deluca (Purcellville), 41-41—82
Rich Buckner (Aldie), 40-43—83
Dan DeRisio (Springfield), 40-43—83
Wes Smith (Virginia Beach), 42-41—83
Greg Pappas (Warrenton), 41-42—83
Bob Jones (Williamsburg), 43-40—83
Paras Pandya (Midlothian), 39-45—84
Jordan Pastor (Haymarket), 44-41—85
Andrew Mehler (Lynchburg), 42-45—87
Zack Henry (Front Royal), 45-42—87
Steve Castro (Chantilly), 46-43—89
ALEXANDRIA –– Groupings and starting times for the second round of stroke play qualifying at the 97th VSGA Amateur Championship at Belle Haven Country Club (6,940 yards, par 36-36—72) on Wednesday, June 30.
All Times EDT
Wednesday (June 30), hole No. 1
8 a.m. – Paras Pandya (Midlothian); Cameron Warner III (Richmond); Brian Jaeger (McLean)
8:11 a.m. – Keith Decker (Martinsville); Daniel Walker (Earlysville); Jason Pool (Dunn Loring)
8:22 a.m. – Dan Hurley (Falls Church); Jay Zapko (Glen Allen); Starell Cox (Chesterfield)
8:33 a.m. – Aaron Eckstein (Salem); Ted Dougherty (Mechanicsville); Tanner Foutz (Mechanicsville)
8:44 a.m. – Brad Chambers (Galax); Zach Hall (Burgess); Steve Castro (Chantilly)
8:55 a.m. – Scott Davidson (Round Hill); Casey Thompson (Stephens City); Vincent Nadeau (Richmond)
9:06 a.m. – Evan Beck (Virginia Beach); Adam Ball (Richmond); Michael Wade (Floyd)
9:17 a.m. – Joe Curley (Vienna); Kyle Bailey (Fincastle); D.J. Dougherty (Glen Allen)
9:28 a.m. – Greg Brouse (Leesburg); Ryan Rettberg (Front Royal); Jordan Carpenter (Suffolk)
9:39 p.m. – Marshall Bailey (Fincastle); Jordan Pastor (Haymarket); Dan Hosek (Alexandria)
12:30 p.m. – Brett Williams (Alexandria); Matthew Neely (Monterey); Glenn Mullian (Richmond)
12:41 p.m. – Mike Kirby (Falls Church); Roger Newsom (Virginia Beach); Scott Shingler (Haymarket)
12:52 p.m. – Weston Eklund (Charlottesville); Jake Mondy (Blacksburg); Garland Green (Tazewell)
1:03 p.m. – Lee Fisher (Altavista); Seth Norman (Norfolk); Stanley Williams (Arlington)
1:14 p.m. – Scott Marino (Fairfax); Adam Frank (Midlothian); Nick Shedd (Williamsburg)
1:25 p.m. – Tom Adrounie (Fairfax Station); Dan Lesando (Ashburn); Chris Olson (Midlothian)
1:36 p.m. – Brinson Paolini (Virginia Beach); Adam Webb (Ridgeway); David Partridge (Manakin-Sabot)
1:47 p.m. – Larry Loving Jr. (Richmond); Rich Buckner (Aldie); Buck Brittain (Tazewell)
1:58 p.m. – Dan DeRisio (Springfield); John David Hunter (Bluefield); Ji Soo Park (Centreville)
2:09 p.m. – Adam Horton (Chesapeake); Mikey Moyers (Stanardsville); Garrett Whitmore (Midlothian)
Wednesday (June 30), hole No. 10
8 a.m. – Jimmy Delp (Arlington); Wayne Hall (Fredericksburg); Matt Brantingham (Richmond)
8:11 a.m. – Wes Smith (Virginia Beach); Ben Keefer (Glen Allen); Eric Neidermeyer (Glen Allen)
8:22 a.m. – Rick Peel (Vienna); Jeff Newman (Midlothian); Lane Hite (Clarksville)
8:33 a.m. – Maclain Huge (Lovettsville); Ben Beach (Glen Allen); Francesco Romano (Reston)
8:44 a.m. – Josh Apple (Lansdowne); Erik Ruce (Arlington); Matthew Ball Jr. (Richmond)
8:55 a.m. – Greg Pappas (Warrenton); Jeremy Wells (Hopewell); Darrell Craft (Roanoke)
9:06 a.m. – Conlin Giles (Portsmouth); Ben Lasso (Falls Church); Pat Tallent (Vienna)
9:17 a.m. – Zack Henry (Front Royal); Mike Redwood (Virginia Beach); Michael Keating (Fairfax)
9:28 a.m. – Jeff Long (Centreville); Austin Gray (Midlothian); Phil Mahone (Charlottesville)
9:39 a.m. – Tony Deluca (Purcellville); Bob Jones (Williamsburg); Dylan Jensen (Ridgeway)
12:30 p.m. – Chris Tuttle (Virginia Beach); Tim Johnson (Jonesville); Tim Kelley (Ashland)
12:41 p.m. – B.J. Maben (Hampton); Allen Barber (Yorktown); Trey Smith (Virginia Beach)
12:52 p.m. – Nick Austin (Midlothian); Gary Barton Jr. (Alexandria); Victor Monte (Chantilly)
1:03 p.m. – Matt Watson (Portsmouth); Brian Hill (Warrenton); Greg Graham (Keswick)
1:14 p.m. – Jim Nirich (Catlett); Wade Wawner (Virginia Beach); Ryan Patrick (Sterling)
1:25 p.m. – Jason Copeland (Virginia Beach); Jack Adkins (Martinsville); Tom Grady (Marshall)
1:36 p.m. – Michael Taylor (Ashland); Mike Little Jr. (Newport News); Lanto Griffin (Blacksburg)
1:47 p.m. – Ken Zecchini (Virginia Beach); Tyler Wingo (Fairfax); Andrew Mehler (Lynchburg)
1:58 p.m. – Andrew Tilley (Ringgold); Brian Post (Stephens City); Paul Woodson (Powhatan)
2:09 p.m. – Korey Watts (Buchanan); John Cegielski (Leesburg); Chad Mozingo (Culpeper)
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