Centreville’s John Long scored one of the biggest victories of his senior golf career on Thursday, defeating reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Vinny Giles of Richmond in the semifinals of the 63rd Virginia Senior Amateur.
Long, 58, beat the Virginia legend, 2 and 1, at the Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course to advance to the championship match, Friday, against first-time participant Glen Mullian of Richmond, a 55-year-old who is trying to become the first player since 1996 to win both the Virginia Senior Stroke Play and Senior Amateur titles in the same year.
Mullian advanced to the finals with a 19-hole victory over Pat Tallent of Vienna. Mullian led 3 up through 11 holes, before Tallent took the next three to square the match. At the first playoff hole, Mullian hit a pitching wedge to within three feet and made the birdie putt for the victory.
Long never trailed in his semifinal match with Giles, a two-time Virginia Senior Amateur winner. The key hole was No. 15, where he drained a big-breaking 22-foot birdie putt for a 2 up lead.
Long is trying to become the first medalist to win this event since Giles did it in 2000.
Long’s play in the tournament has been a surprise considering his subpar performance overall this summer.
“I have not played well this year,” Long told Andrew Blair of the VSGA. “It’s nice to come and have a tournament like this. I didn’t plan for this.”
