Van Williams and Jay Livingston - representing The Dominion Club - took home the 2009 Nelson Broach Memorial Championship at The Federal Club after turning in a two round total of 5 under par 139 to defeat defending champions Tim & Brock Kelley by one shot - who finished solo 2nd at 140 (69-71). Close behind at 141 were four teams. Places 3-5 were determined by a match of cards using USGA standards. Robert Nussey, Jr & Adam Frank finished 3rd, Steve Isaacs & Matt Brantingham were 4th, and Alan Strange & Bert Wilson took the 5th spot. First round leaders Marco Poccia and Greg Marbold slipped to a 2nd round 73 for a 141 total as well but finished 6th on the card match.
Pictured above (left to right) are Federal Club head professional Spence Andrews, Jay Livingston, Van Williams, and RGA president Bert Wilson. Once again the venue of The Federal Club was spectacular. The course was in excellent condition with the greens rolling just under 12 on the stimpmeter. Thanks to Ray Tate and the other owners for hosting the Broach Memorial for the�2nd consecutive year. Kudos to Spence and the rest of the Federal Club team - including course superintendent Trevor Hedgepeth - for a job very well done.
During Saturday's final round Williams birdied 3 holes on the front (5,6, and 9) during the best ball portion of the round offset by only 1 team bogey on #3 from short range to make the turn 2 under. They started off the back side in the modified alternate shot format with a birdie on the par 5 #10. They didn't fare so well on the next par 5 on the back (#13) as they carded a tough double bogey after the team's second shot went far right of the green. Livingston came back on the long downhill par 3 14th hole by knocking his tee ball to 5 feet - and Williams drained the birdie putt to get back to even on the back. After routine pars on 15 and 16 Livingston drained clutch 5 foot par putts on both 17 and 18 to preserve the victory and turn in a final round score of 70.
Playing in the next to last group Tim and Brock Kelley came to the18th hole just needing a par to match Williams / Livingston and take the tournament into a playoff. The hole on 18 was cut hard against the left side of the green - which brought the bunker left of the green into play. Perhaps firing at the pin for a birdie and the outright win the Kelley's 2nd shot ended up in that left trap - short sided with a tough up and down facing them. They were unable to convert the par putt after blasting out and dropped to 2nd. Strange / Wilson -playing in the same group with the Kelley's - needed a birdie 3 on 18 to get into the playoff but their 2nd shot ended up in the water that guards the right front of the green which ended their championship hopes.
The best round of the tournament was turned in by 1st Flight winners Scott Campbell and Rick Lareau. After turning in a disappointing 79 on day one they came back with a blazing 7 under par 65 on day 2 to win the flight going away at 144. 2nd place in the flight went to the team of Eric Bliley and Paul Hamerman at 146.
|
