Baltimore’s Greg Stamas wasn’t even the best player on his high school golf team this spring. But Wednesday in the 85th Maryland Open at the Members Club at Four Streams, Stamas found himself in the final group, battling former PGA Tour player Chip Sullivan.
It was heady stuff for the recent Gilman graduate. In his first Maryland Open, facing the top professionals in the Mid-Atlantic, the 19-year-old was in contention. But Stamas’ big dream didn’t last long. He bogeyed the first hole while Sullivan made a birdie. After that Stamas, never made a serious run, leaving two-time Maryland Open champions Sullivan and Steve Madsen to battle for the title.
Early on the back nine, Sullivan took control with a pair of birdies and went on the capture his third title in five years. Sullivan shot 7-under-par (70-69-67 — 206) to beat Madsen (71-68-70 — 209) by three strokes.
Playing with the two veteran pros was an education for the Princeton-bound Stamas (70-72-77 — 219), who started the day three strokes back, but finished 13 behind, to tie for ninth.
“It was a great experience,” said Stamas, a member at Baltimore Country Club. “I learned how to act around the golf course. I learned how to keep your composure. Every time [Sullivan] hit a bad shot, he rebounded. I can get a lot better if I learn to do that.”
Stamas, who finished second to Gilman teammate Chris Rockwell in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament this spring, didn’t know that Sullivan played on the Tour in 1997 and as recently as 2004 placed 31st in the PGA Championship, the best finish among club pros.
“I found that out on about the fifth hole,” said Stamas. “He was hitting 3-wood off the tee all day and hitting it past me. Great player, great guy, great putter.”
After making the turn tied for the lead with Madsen, Sullivan seized control with birdies at Nos. 10 and 13. He wavered at No. 16, making a bogey, and missed the green at No. 17, but dropped a 5-footer to save par. At No. 18, Sullivan chipped to within a foot for a birdie and Madsen, formerly the pro at Lakewood Country Club in Rockville and now at Wilmington (N.C.) Country Club, conceded the victory, saying simply, “Golf shot.”
While Stamas receives a gift certificate for merchandise at the Four Streams pro shop, Sullivan will take a check for $7,200 home to Roanoke, Va. where he works as a club pro at Ashley Plantation.
“It was great to see a young guy like that break through and be in the final group,” said Sullivan. “I’m sure he was a little nervous today. But we enjoyed having him.”
85th Maryland Open
Monday-Wednesday at the Members Club at Four Streams in Beallsville.
1. Chip Sullivan 70-69-67 — 206
2. Steve Madsen 71-68-70 — 209
3. Brendon Post 69-73-72 — 214
3. Ricky Touma 69-74-71 — 214
5. Bill Gombert 77-69-71 — 217
5. Moose Brown 71-74-72 — 217
5. Richard Holland 70-73-74 — 217
8. Mark Evenson 72-73-73 — 218
9. Wayne Defrancesco 74-71-74 — 219
9. Michael Kellly 72-72-75 — 219
9. Greg Stamas 72-70-77 — 219
9. Robert Wallace 75-69-75 — 219
