VIRGINIAS WINS THE 59th VIRGINIAS-CAROLINAS TEAM MATCHES AT THE LOWES ISLAND CLUB

POTOMAC FALLS –– Stoked by its 11-5 victory in final day singles matches in the regular division, Virginias scored a 10-point win (29-19) as the 59th Virginias-Carolinas Team Matches concluded today at The Lowes Island Club’s Island Course (6,902 yards, par 36-36—72).

Holding a four-point advantage (14-10) entering the final day, Virginias outscored their Carolinas counterparts, 15-9. In addition to the strong performance by the regulars, Virginias seniors scored four points. With the victory, Virginias notched a third straight triumph for the first time in the annual event. A win in each match scores one point and if a match goes 18 holes without a victor, one-half point is awarded to each side.

Altogether, Virginias regulars claimed eight of the first 12 matches that came in on the last day. Reigning State Amateur champion Billy Hurley (Leesburg, Va.) got things going, scoring a 2-up win versus Paul Simson (Raleigh, N.C.). Meanwhile, in match three Pat Carter (Huntington, W.Va.) beat Brad Burris (High Point, N.C.), 3 and 2, while Mechanicsville’s Scott Campbell bested Graham Banister (Raleigh, N.C.), 2 and 1 in match five. For Carolinas, Brian Westveer (Concord, N.C.) and Mike Goodes (Reidsville, N.C.) each accounted for early triumphs.

However, Virginias regulars took control in the middle of its powerful lineup, winning five of the next seven matches, and accounting for a halve. Glen Allen’s Spence Andrews, the 2004 SunTrust State Open of Virginia champion, bested Neil Harrell (Huntersville, N.C.), 2 up, and Lorton’s Craig Mason notched a 4 and 3 victory over Mitch Adams (Cary, N.C.), 4 and 3. Also for Virginias, West Point’s Paul C. Erdman (5 and 4 over Greg Powell of Whiteville, N.C.), Franklin’s J.T. Belcher (3 and 2 against Dean Channell of Cary, N.C.) and the commonwealth’s top-ranked men’s amateur Keith Decker of Martinsville (2 and 1 versus Danny Gurley of Chapel Hill, N.C.) scored

victories. In that decisive stretch, Richmond’s Allan Strange halved David Dargan (Columbia, S.C.). Matt Bryant (Columbia, S.C.) scored a point in Virginias’ mid-match surge, getting past Scottsville’s David Passerell, 1 up. In the late stages, Virginias’ David Brogan (Lexington, Va.) and Allen Barber (Yorktown, Va.) accounted for triumphs. Brogan posted a 2 and 1 win versus John Kelley (Winston-Salem, N.C.), while Barber bested Steve Liebler (Irmo, S.C.), 4 and 3. In addition, Glen Allen’s Hank Klein scored one-half point, while John Finster (Wake Forest, N.C.) scored a point for the Carolinas team in the next-to-last match of the day.

On the seniors side, Virginias’ Jack Forbes (Morgantown, W.Va.), Jamie Gough (Fairfax, Va.) and Steve Isaacs (Richmond, Va.) each delivered victories in the final three contests of the division. Meanwhile, Richmond residents John Cuomo and Vinny Giles each accounted for one-half point halves. For Carolinas, Ernie Newton (High Point, N.C.), Bill Boles (Wilson, N.C.) and Tom Hadley (Hendersonville, N.C.) each registered wins.              

Virginias is now 3-0 since the scoring format changed to one point being available per match in 2002. The 2005 matches are scheduled for The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

POTOMAC FALLS –– Results following final day singles matches at the 59th Virginias-Carolinas Team Matches at The Lowes Island Club’s Island Course (6,902 yards, par 36-36—72) on Sunday, Oct. 24.

REGULARS

Billy Hurley (Leesburg, Va.) def. Paul Simson (Raleigh, N.C.), 2 up;

Brian Westveer (Concord, N.C.) def. David Partridge (Manakin-Sabot, Va.), 6 and 4;

Pat Carter (Huntington, W.Va.) def. Brad Burris (High Point, N.C.), 3 and 2;

Mike Goodes (Reidsville, N.C.) def. Pat Tallent (Vienna, Va.), 2 and 1;

Scott Campbell (Mechanicsville, Va.) def. Graham Banister (Raleigh, N.C.), 2 and 1;

Spence Andrews (Glen Allen, Va.) def. Neil Harrell (Huntersville, N.C.), 2 up;

Matt Bryant (Columbia, S.C.) def. David Passerell (Scottsville, Va.), 1 up;

Craig Mason (Lorton, Va.) def. Mitch Adams (Cary, N.C.), 4 and 3;

Paul C. Erdman (West Point, Va.) def. Greg Powell (Whiteville, N.C.), 5 and 4;

J.T. Belcher (Franklin, Va.) def. Dean Channell (Cary, N.C.), 3 and 2;

Allan Strange (Richmond, Va.) halved David Dargan (Columbia, S.C.);

Keith Decker (Martinsville, Va.) def. Danny Gurley (Chapel Hill, N.C.), 2 and 1;

Hank Klein (Glen Allen, Va.) halved Preston Edmondson (Morrisville, N.C.);

David Brogan (Lexington, Va.) def. John Kelley (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 2 and 1;

John Finster (Wake Forest, N.C.) def. Burke Spensky (Huntington, W.Va.), 2 and 1;

Allen Barber (Yorktown, Va.) def. Steve Liebler (Irmo, S.C.), 4 and 3

Virginias regulars won final day singles matches, 11-5

Virginias won the singles matches, 15-9

Virginias wins the 59th Virginias-Carolinas Team Matches, 29-19

SENIORS

Vinny Giles (Richmond, Va.) halved Jim Patti (Bluffton, S.C.);

Ernie Newton (High Point, N.C.) def. Dick Blackburn (Alexandria, Va.), 3 and 2;

Bill Boles (Wilson, N.C.) def. Charles Persinger (Scott Depot, W.Va.), 2 and 1;

Tom Hadley (Hendersonville, N.C.) def. J.P. Leigh (Suffolk, Va.), 2 up;

John Cuomo (Richmond, Va.) halved Don Slater (Durham, N.C.);

Jack Forbes (Morgantown, W.Va.) def. John Dennis (Greenville, S.C.), 5 and 4;

Jamie Gough (Fairfax, Va.) def. Vic Hannon (Camden, S.C.), 4 and 3;

Steve Isaacs (Richmond, Va.) def. Lea Couch Jr. (Bahama, N.C.), 4 and 3

Virginias and Carolinas seniors tied final day singles matches, 4-4

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