2006 University of Maryland Open

Final Results

July 30, 2006 - Local amateur Vance Welch of Cross Creek, MD won the 2nd University of Maryland Open today after shooting back-to-back 69's on the 6734-yard par 71 layout.  Welch was consistent all weekend, making only 3 bogeys in 36 holes and shooting 1-under on each of his four nine's.  Finishing 2 strokes back was 2005 champion John Moheyer, who was 7-over after 7 holes on Saturday before making 2 eagles and 8 birdies over his last 29 holes.  Welch  finished 1 stroke behind Moheyer in last year's inaugural event and was excited to come out on top this year.

Ted Coon (145) and John Scholtz (147), both members of the University Golf Course, finished third and fourth.  Ron Thomas, a former Maryland golf team member and Adam Lenkin of The Members Club at Four Streams, were another stroke behind at 148.

Rounding out the top 10 were: Luis Chaparro (149) - a cart attendant at the University of Maryland, Danny Hathway (149) and Max Byrne (150) - friends and junior members of Bethesda CC, and Steve Martin, a new member at the University of Maryland.  In all, 37 golfers competed in the championship flight, which is for handicaps of 5 and below.

In the 1st flight, for 6-10 handicappers, Zach Howard defeated David Renner with a par on the first playoff hole.  Both players shot 36-hole totals of 156, and the lead changed hands several times on the last nine holes.  Howard, a former employee of the University Golf Course, had a 2-stroke lead over Renner going in to the short par-3 8th hole, which was their 35th hole.  However, his wedge to the tricky Sunday pin carried off the back into the pond on his way to a double-bogey 5.  Meanwhile, Renner carded a birdie 2, and took over the lead.  Renner made a scrappy bogey on #9 after finding the lateral hazard off the tee, setting up a 5-foot par putt for Howard to tie a force a playoff.  Howard, who later admitted to being nervous over the putt, knocked it in the center.

In the first playoff hole, Renner got a bad break when his second shot hit the cart path twice and jumped into the hazard behind the green.  He was only able to manage a 6, while Howard made par and took home the trophy.  The 6'6" Howard, who is known for his long hitting, cited his sometimes shaky putter as the reason for his victory.  A 15-foot par save on the 34th hole and the clutch par putt at the last were only 2 examples of his putter saving him.

The flight was very competitive, with Kevin Lee and Hyattsville's Mike "Flash" Gordon finishing only a stroke behind the leaders at 157.  Lee's 75 on Sunday was the low round of the tournament.

Look for the tournament to back next summer, bigger and better than ever!

Full field scores:

Championship Flight

 

1st Flight Champion Zach Howard

 

1st Flight Runner-Up David Renner