The Washington area’s most decorated amateur, Scott Shingler, tried to add one of the few titles that has eluded him Monday in the Northern Virginia Four Ball. But playing with Rick Peel (Westwood) in the better ball format, Shingler (Evergreen) was thwarted by Dan Hosek (Ft. Belvoir) and Jimmy Delp (Laurel Hill).
In an exciting sudden-death playoff that last four holes, Hosek ended it with an 8-foot putt for birdie on No. 1 at Creighton Farms. It was the third clutch birdie in the playoff for Hosek. The 2005 Northern Virginia Amateur champion made a downhill 20-foot putt for birdie on the first playoff hole — the par-5 18th – to match Shingler. Then on the same hole, and third of the playoff, Hosek spun a wedge shot to within five feet for another birdie to match the 20-foot birdie putt of Peel.
The teams went to the playoff after tying with 68s. Playing last year with Jim Nirich (Stonewall), Hosek finished second in the Northern Virginia Four Ball to Jason Pool (River Bend) and Craig Groenendaal (Chantilly).
Last year Scott Shingler became the first golfer ever to hold the Virginia and D.C. Amateur and Mid-Am titles simultaneously. He also has won four Northern Virginia Amateur titles.
