It was wet. It was cold. And it was windy.
But Saturday was beautiful for Breton Bay Country Club as it won its second straight Maryland A-Team championship, defeating Mountain Branch of Joppa, 10.5 to 7.5.
The small Leonardtown club has approximately 300 members. But for the second straight year, Breton Bay demonstrated that it can compete with big-name clubs such as 11-time champion Columbia and 10-time winner Congressional in this 79th annual event.
“We?ve always had good players,” said Breton Bay pro Roger Welch. “I think the difference is that now we have a lot of experience.”
It was the final of six NCAA-style elimination rounds played over the last six weekends to determine which club in Maryland has the best team. The 84th annual event began with 72 teams and a play-in round March 31.
Last year and on its way to the finals this year, the key for Breton Bay was its dominant play on its home course. But Saturday it was the work of a pair of two-man teams that played on the road that paved the way for the win. Joe Fenlon and club champion Tracy Vallandingham won their match, 2.5 to 0.5, the same margin enjoyed by the Breton Bay team of Rusty Hall and Jim Hicks.
Breton Bay mainstays, Pete DeTempleand Mark Cusic, always dominant at home, were again Saturday with a 3-0 victory. The biggest shot of the tournament, however, might have been hit by Breton Bay pro Phillip Garbroux.
After 12 holes, he and Tom Jameson were 3-down in their match with Mountain Branch?s top team, Serge Hogg and Damon Klepczynski. On No. 13, Hogg hit a shot from a fairway bunker to within 10 feet. But Garbroux trumped it, draining a 30-foot birdie putt. The Breton Bay duo went on to win the back nine and the 18, earning two key points.
“That was a huge swing,” said Welch. “Without those two points, Mountain Branch is the winner.”
Breton Bay def. Mountain Branch, 10.5-7.5
At Mountain Branch
» Rusty Hall-Jim Hick (BB) d. Jim Winner-Rod Wilson (MB), 2.5-0.5
» Stefan Buitron-Mike Wettig (MB) d. Greg Winkler-Bobby Stark (BB), 3-0
» Tracy Vallandingham-Joe Fenlon (BB) d. Chris Baloga-Rusty McCready (MB), 2.5-0.5
At Breton Bay
» Phillip Garbroux-Tom Jameson (BB) d. Damon Klepczynski-Serge Hogg (MB), 2-1
» Drew Forrester-Ernie Kosmas (MB) d. Greg Roberts-Billy Jenny (BB), 2.5-0.5
» Pete DeTemple-Mark Cusic (BB) d. Kevin Carmen-Steve Xintas (MB), 3-0
