Montgomery County’s top two public high school golfers — Bethesda’s Devin Kay and Gaithersburg’s Steve Delmar — met in a playoff for the 55th Bubby Worsham Memorial title Thursday. How they got there, you don’t want to know.
There was blood all over Glenn Dale Golf Club in Glenn Dale, Md. The ultimate survivor was Kay, a recent Churchill High graduate, who won on the second playoff hole, making a routine two-putt par.
The victory came as a surprise to Kay, who will continue his career this fall at Division II power Lynn (Fla.). After he made four straight bogeys on the back nine and fell behind by five strokes, Kay believed he had surrendered his chance to win the second Washington Metropolitan Golf Association title of his career.
“I thought I needed a birdie and an eagle on the last two holes, just to have a chance,” said Kay, who made the birdie at No. 17, but parred No. 18, a short, par-5.
Meanwhile, Delmar was rolling. His 15-foot birdie putt at No. 15 put him in command in pursuit of his first WMGA title. But after playing the tournament’s first 51 holes in 1-over-par, Delmar made double bogeys on two of the final three holes. With Kay watching on No. 18, Delmar twice had to punch out from trees after hitting errant shots.
“I had it,” said Delmar, a recent graduate of Gaithersburg High, “It was my tournament to win and I just lost it for three holes. I was a little nervous on the 18th tee. But I don’t think that’s why.”
Delmar recovered nicely on the first playoff hole, chipping to within a foot after short-siding his approach. But on the second playoff hole, No. 2, Delmar hit a wedge into a bunker and missed a 25-footer for par to hand the trophy to Kay.
Delmar wasn’t the only player who had a chance. Second-round leader Patrick Sherry (Georgetown University), made three bogeys on the last four holes, and finished a stroke back. Defending champion Mike Perlmutter (Landon) had to take a penalty stroke when he hit his ball with a practice putt and went on to play the front 9 in 7-over. Four other players could have won or tied for first by shooting an even-par 70 Thursday.
Of the top eight players going into Thursday’s final round, seven matched or exceeded his worst round of the tournament. The lone exception was the winner.
“I thought I needed a 66 today to win,” said Kay, who fell six strokes short of his goal. “I didn’t even come close to that. But I’ll take it.”
LEADERBOARD
1. Devin Kay (Bethesda) 74-69-72 – 215
2. Steven Delmar (Gaithersburg) 69-72-74 – 215
3. Patrick Sherry (Brookeville) 72-68-76 – 216
4. Joe Alvarez (Laytonsville) 72-70-74 – 216
5. Chris Hass (Bethesda) 77-70-70 – 217
6. Federico Lopez (Bethesda) 73-72-73 – 218
7. Mike Perlmutter (Rockville) 74-68-77 – 219
7. Joseph Kim (Bethesda) 73-72-74 – 219
9. Thomas Shapiro (Chevy Chase) 69-72-81 – 222
10. Quinn Hunsinger (Potomac) 77-71-75 – 223
