Baltimore CC win is for the ages

Sunday when BCC toppled 11-time champion Columbia, 9.5-8.5, in the 80th annual team championships, it was a long-awaited victory for the storied 110-year-old club. Since claiming the MSGA title in 1950, BCC had lost in the championship round seven times.

“Fifty-eight years, it’s hard to fathom,” said BCC teaching pro Joe Plecker. “All you have to do is think 1950. That puts a win like this in perspective.”

BCC emerged from a field of 74 Maryland clubs who squared off in an NCAA bracket-style head-to-head elimination over the last month. BCC won six matches, including the semifinals, over Green Hill of Salisbury, 11-7, Saturday.

The club owes much of its success to Plecker and amateur partner Bob Kaestner, the winningest club champion in BCC history. The duo won 17 of 18 match points in the tournament, including 2.5 in the championship round Sunday, in wet, raw conditions, over Columbia pro Bob Dolan and partner Dan DeRisio.

“We were in every hole,” said Plecker. “They key in match play is, you don’t want to give away holes. We kept the ball in play and on a lot of greens, we had two shots at birdie. You do win holes that way, but most importantly, you rarely lose any.”

BCC got a perfect weekend from Andrew Rice and Chris Carroll. Their 3-0 win Sunday over Columbia amateur legend Marty West and partner Mike McCarthy was critical. Rice, a first-year member, was a key addition for BCC this year.

BCC’s Jan Miller also was clutch, teaming with Justin Klein for a 3-0 victory at home Sunday, and pairing with Doug Dollenberg Jr. for 2.5 points on Saturday.

As captain, defending club champion Brandon Luckett’s responsibility was to pair up his teammates, a duty he executed flawlessly, according to Plecker.

“It was a complete team effort,” said Plecker. “I think every player had a moment when they pulled off something that allowed us to win.”