Congressional member beats friend Brundred
HAGERSTOWN – Playing with fellow Congressional Country Club member, Ben Brundred III, gave Pat Tallent a level of comfort in the Middle Atlantic Senior Amateur Wednesday.
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As the tournament co-leaders, sharing the same cart, rolled down the fairways of Fountain Head Country Club, they chatted throughout. But on the first hole, Tallent took the friendship a bit too far, hitting his ball out-of-bounds on his way to a triple-bogey, gift-wrapping a 3-stroke lead for his buddy.
But Tallent, 55, got it back together quickly, playing the next 15 holes in 5-under-par on his way to a final-round 70 and the title in his first year of eligibility. Firing an even-par 213 in the 54-hole event, the Vienna resident defeated Brundred by four strokes.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Tallent. “Ben’s a good friend. Sometimes I’d rather not beat my buddy. If Ben had won, it wouldn’t have been so bad.”
Tallent and Brundred matched birdies on two par 5 holes on the front nine, but when Tallent made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 175-yard 12th hole, he tied for the lead. When he followed with a curling 20-footer for another birdie at No. 13, Brundred answered with a 10-footer to save par and stay close.
But on No. 14, Brundred hit his 3-wood drive out-of-bounds, sealing his fate. Brundred, son of former Kemper Open tournament director Ben Brundred, Jr., struggled off the tee throughout the back nine. Considering he hit just one fairway, Brundred did well to play the nine holes in just 3-over-par.
When Tallent made an 8-footer for birdie at No. 16, a 165-yard par 3, he had a 4-shot lead and the tournament was his. It was the third title for Tallent in just five senior events. The former George Washington University basketball standout, has already embraced the long putter, but he has yet to fully accept his senior status.
“I don’t consider myself a senior. I still think of myself a mid-amateur,” said Tallent. “I can play with the guys 25 and over. Some of the college kids, they hit it so long, I can’t keep up with them.”
