The difference between Congressional Country Club in Bethesda and Breton Bay in Southern Maryland starts with the price tag. To join stately Congressional, it costs $90,000. At bare bones Breton Bay, that sum would initiate 60 players.
The difference wasn’t lost on Leonardtown’s Pete DeTemple last spring when Breton Bay hosted Congressional.
“Their clothes cost more than our bags and clubs,” said DeTemple.
Think Happy Gilmore vs. Shooter McGavin.
Welcome to the Maryland StateGolf Association Team Championship, where small clubs compete with, and sometimes surprise, the blue bloods. This year’s 77th annual competition resumes this weekend, weather permitting, with an NCAA-style, round of 64.
When Congressional and Breton Bay met last April in the semifinals, Breton emerged with an 11-7 victory. The following weekend Breton Bay slayed another giant, Baltimore Country Club, 9.5-8.5, to claim its first Maryland title.
“We don’t have the talent of Congressional or the other big clubs,” said Breton Bay captain Mark Cusic, 28. “But once we got going, we knew we could beat anybody.”
The key shot of the finals was struck by DeTemple, a 4-iron from 208 yards out that grazed the cup on the par-five 18th hole, leading to a birdie that clinched two key points and the trophy.
“The score was tied and we were the final match,” said DeTemple, a 44-year-old scratch player. “There were 70, 80 people around the green. When I hit the shot, it went right at the stick. The crowd roars. I thought it went in the hole.”
DeTemple was using his trusted Taylor Made 4-iron, which doesn’t match his set of Ben Hogans. He borrowed the club from his son after misplacing his at a driving range.
“And he’s never getting it back,” said DeTemple.
About the tournament
» Teams consist of 11 amateurs and the club pro. The 12 singles matches, half played at home and half away, employ a Nassau format. A player receives one point for winning the front nine, a point for winning the back nine, and a point for winning the 18-hole match (each player may receive a half point for any match legs that are tied). The winner can earn three points at maximum; players earn 1.5 points each for a tie.
In Virginia
» A similar competition is underway in Northern Virginia. Last month, 28 clubs were whittled to eight in round-robin competition. This weekend’s quarterfinal round was postponed due to the weather.
» Another highly-anticipated tournament is the Virginia Golf Association Sectional Team Championship. This year’s 36th annual event will be held April 14-15 at Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg. Each of Virginia’s 18 sections select eight top players, among them two seniors. The Northeast Section, which features players from clubs in Fairfax County, has won the crown 19 times, including last year.
