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Champion posted a eight-shot victory. LYNCHBURG –– Martinsville’s Keith Decker played the first four holes in three under par en route to shooting a final round 4-under-par 68 to deliver an eight-shot runaway victory as the 28th Virginia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship concluded today at Boonsboro Country Club (6,661 yards, par 36-36—72).
The top-ranked amateur in the commonwealth in the VSGA player rankings, Decker took command early. After his drive at the first hole came to rest in the eighth fairway to the right of No. 1, Decker responded by hitting a brilliant slicing 6-iron approach to within 8 feet of the hole location, and he drained the eagle putt. Two holes later at the par-5 fifth hole, Decker encountered tree trouble off the tee, but punched out and drilled his 5-iron approach from 200 yards to 10 feet to set up his birdie. With another 10-foot birdie putt at the par-4 ninth hole, Decker’s lead had ballooned to six shots over Barber and he was eight ahead of overnight co-leader Matt Mankin of Daleville (77––216) at the conclusion of the outward nine. “Once I got ahead, I didn’t want to leave any doubt,” said Decker, who turned in his second straight four under par round. Mission accomplished. Holding a whopping advantage at the turn, Barber closed to within four with a birdie at the par-5 15th hole, but Decker wiped out any competitor’s hopes for a sustained rally, chipping in for birdie at the par-3 17th hole and sinking a four-footer to put an exclamation point on the day at No. 18. Decker managed his game and played well throughout the day in windy conditions on a course that demands precision play.
Indeed. Decker posted another victory on a Boonsboro layout he admittedly feels comfortable on, having won the 1991 VSGA Mid-Amateur Championship as well as three consecutive Fox-Puss Invitationals from 2002-04 on the course. Decker’s three-round 207 total matches a 54-hole competitive course record, set by Bill Calfee of Newport News in 2000 at the Fox-Puss and equaled in 2003 by Decker at the Fox-Puss.
“It never gets old, and never gets any better than this,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger, so every win I have now is precious.” LYNCHBURG –– Results following the final round of the 28th Virginia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship at Boonsboro Country Club (6,661 yards, par 36-36—72). Keith Decker (Martinsville), 71-68-68—207 |
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Already a record five-time winner (1990, 1991, 1995, 2000 and 2003) heading into the event, Decker (Pictured left with VSGA President Grant E. Key III) picked up an unprecedented Mid-Am victory, claimed the M.W. “Dyke” Peebles trophy for a second straight year and became the first player to repeat since he won back-to-back titles in 1990-91. Decker concluded the championship with a 9-under-par 207 aggregate. Yorktown’s Allen Barber fired a final day 2-over 74 and finished second at 1-under-par 215.
“He got off to a great start, and really had us all day long,” Barber (pictured right) noted. “Sixty-eight with the lead and in the wind – that’s wonderful. You do that and you’re going to win a lot of golf tournaments, and that is why he wins a lot.”
In the end, his eight-shot romp was the largest margin of victory since the first year the State Mid-Am was held in 1977 when Hampton’s Wayne Jackson won by 10 shots over second place finisher Moss Beecroft of Newport News at The Homestead. In addition, with his triumph, the 44-year-old furniture sales representative (pictured left) has now racked up 14 VSGA major titles – three State Opens, two State Ams, three State Four-Ball events and six Mid-Ams.