The NCCGA Capitol Region hosted its second Spring Regional Tournament on April 6-7 2013 at Swan Point Yacht and Country Club in Issue, MD. The idyllic setting of the course among marshes, creeks and ponds near the mouth of the Potomac River provided a great backdrop for our event. The field teed off at 1:00 on Saturday under blue skies and nice conditions. Despite busy schedules, American, Georgetown, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, James Madison, and Towson club golf teams made it out to the event. At the conclusion of Round 1, Virginia Tech found themselves on top of the leaderboard after posting a (+45) 405, followed by James Madison with a (+54) 414 and Maryland (+55) 415. Regional 1 winner Virginia was in a distant 4th place with a total of (+67) 427. Sycamore Creek Medalist Sean Heintzelman (UMD) fired a very solid 75 (+3) while Richie Steinwand (VT) paced the Hokies with a 77 (+5).
Round 2 began under greatly anticipated summer-like conditions, with an expected high of around 80 degrees and plentiful sunshine. The improved conditions and a round under our belts on the difficult Par 72, 6,400 yard layout made the environment much more relaxed for everyone. Before the start of the round Virginia, sensing their precarious position in 4th place, called up the reserves and enlisted Colin Kent to play in Round 2. This was just the impetus the Cavaliers needed, as Kent fired an 80 (+8) to go along with past medalist Christian Dolan’s 75 (+3) as the boys from Charlottesville climbed the leaderboard.
There was a delay in getting scores back from James Madison and Virginia Tech as each club golf team was grinding away, knowing how much was at stake in terms of getting points toward Nationals. After we got the scores in however, it was clear that UVA would get the automatic spot into Nationals, as neither team was able to stage enough of a charge. First round leader Virginia Tech ended with a two-day total of 826 to take 3rd place and 1 point, bringing their total to 2, while James Madison compiled a two-day total of 824 to take 2nd place and 3 more points, bringing their season total to 6. Once again, Virginia took home the team title, shooting 393 (+33) on Sunday for a two-day total of 820 and a 4-shot victory.
Adding to the hardware that would head back with the Cavaliers is the Medalist trophy, awarded to Christian Dolan who amassed a two day total of 156 (+12). Landon Weis (UVA) and Bryan Carter (UVA) also earned All-Tournament Team honors with 162’s (+18). The rest of the All-Tournament Team was made up of two Terps, Sean Heintzelman (157 +13) and Trey Profili (162 +18), Virginia Tech’s Richie Steinwand (158 +14), Towson’s Jeremy Goodwin (159 +15), and James Madison’s Nick Peterson (161 +17).
Capitol Regional 2 was a great, close tournament and a phenomenal way to end the club golf season. Getting the opportunity to play a course like Swan Point in a new part of our region was a wonderful experience. All of the club golf teams enjoyed the course thoroughly. Thank you’s are due to Brad Burgess with JMU for taking tons of great pictures, Dan Hughes, Ryan Meredith, and the rest of the staff at Swan Point for helping out with the event, and Robert Powell and the rest of the players from VT for sticking around even after their disappointing finish to help with scoring and closing out the event. Good luck to UVA at Nationals, and let’s keep our fingers crossed for JMU to join them as a wild card!
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