As a former player on the Hooters and Nike tours, Tom Winegardner is one of the top golfers at Congressional Country Club. Last month, however, he lost a match to his 15-year-old son. It’s something Winegardner might have to get used to.
Tuesday at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, the son in question, Charlie Winegardner, fired a 68 to come from four strokes back and win the Bob Riley Junior Open. Winegardner (78-68 — 146) bested Clarksburg’s Stephen Bosdosh (76-73 — 149) and Potomac’s Conor Wielgus (74-75 — 149) to claim his second Washington Metropolitan Golf Association event of the summer.
“It’s the best round of my life,” said Winegardner, a junior at Calverton, a private school in Prince Frederick. “I’ve never made that many putts in one day.”
Winegardner’s round was a rollercoaster ride. He had a double bogey, a bogey, and seven birdies, including two following wild drives.
On No. 4, a par-5, Winegardner hit his tee shot into a hazard. After taking a drop he hit a 5-iron to within 15 feet and made the putt. On No. 11, Winegardner punched a low 4-iron from under a tree onto the green, then made a 15-foot putt for another remarkable birdie.
“That punch shot was my best shot of the day. I had to hit a really low cut,” said Winegardner, also a starting midfielder for the Calverton’s Maryland Independent School League champion lacrosse team.
On Monday, Winegardner had a noteworthy opening round as well. After playing the front 9 in 7-over-par and putting himself in danger of missing the cut, Winegardner played the back in 1-under.
The victory came just two days after Winegardner celebrated his 16th birthday. Last month he won the 14-15 Division at the Bobby Gorin Memorial. He also placed 10th in the Optimist International in Florida, a tournament that draws many of the world’s top juniors.
Life of Riley
» Jerrell Parrish (83-77 — 160) of Glenn Dale defeated Sean Bosdosh of Clarksburg (84-76 — 160) on the fifth playoff hole to win the 14-15 Division.
» Sam Spikell (76-83 — 159) of Chevy Chase won the 13-and-under Division over Brandon Luxenburg (83-79 — 162) of Burke.
» Connor Wielgus took second place in the 16-17 Division, winning a one-hole playoff over Stephen Bosdosh.
