Chris Reeves, 36, has been a member for life at plush Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. Pat Tallent, 53, grew up in Eastern Kentucky playing on a 9-hole course with sand greens and an annual family membership fee of $30.
So how did this odd couple team up to win one of the Washington area’s most prestigious amateur events, the 58th annual Belle Haven 4 Ball, last weekend?
They did it with a pair of brilliant wedge shots. Reeves hit an L-wedge 85 yards to within six inches for a birdie on No. 18 to get Reeves-Tallent into a playoff. Then on the first sudden-death hole, Tallent pitched to within a foot for another tap-in birdie to defeat Lee Fields of South Riding and Gary Hill of Tallahassee, Fla.
While it was the fifth Belle Haven title for Tallent, it was the first for Reeves, who recently regained his amateur status after playing professional mini-tours for eight years. The last time he played in the event was as a 17-year-old high school student at Gonzaga.
“We’re very compatible players,” said Tallent. “Chris is young and hits it a mile. I’m old and pretty much keep the ball in play. It’s a good combination for match play.”
It also makes for a good story. In winning the title, Reeves became the first Belle Haven player in 40 years to win the tournament. The last was Charlie Holden in 1967.
“It’s great,” said Reeves who played college golf at Seton Hall. “I’m working a regular job now. I’m in insurance. It’s nice to see my game hasn’t gone downhill too much.”
Tallent won his first two Belle Haven titles back-to-back (1990-91) with fellow Congressional Country Club member Ben Brundred III. He also teamed with Jerry Courville to win in 2000 and 2002.
Tallent is the youngest of the famed Tallent brothers who played basketball at George Washington University in the 1970s. By the time Pat arrived at GW, brother Bob was the head coach. After averaging 20.8 points per game in three seasons, the 6-foot-3 Tallent was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets but was the last player cut in 1976.
Tallent got a job with Price-Waterhouse, later working up to a CFO position in another company. With his wife, also a CFO, doing well in her job, Tallent was able to quit his job seven years ago, becoming the “chauffeur,” he said, and AAU basketball coach for his three daughters.
“When I retired, my main job was to get my daughter to Thomas Jefferson [High] at 8 a.m.,” said Tallent. “Traffic was so bad going back to Vienna, I needed something to do. I started working out at Gold’s Gym, two hours every morning. My game improved immediately.”
