Maryland’s Potomac Cup team will look remarkably like last year’s squad, as six wily veterans of multiple Potomac Cups triumphed in the Renditions qualifier and earned a spot for Team Red in the finals to be held at Blue Ridge Shadows in Front Royal, VA.
Team lightning rod Vance Welch teamed with former Maryland star Michael Wah to win the Maryland half of the qualifier with a sparkling 68. Welch, who failed to qualify at Westfields when paired with Dr. Don Meyer, picked in Wah a Cup star from years past, and coasted to victory. It will be Welch’s ninth Potomac Cup and third for Maryland since he crossed state lines and had to change team allegiances.
“Welch is one of the beating hearts of the Potomac Cup,” gushed tournament founder Steve Czaban. “He’s a veteran of many U.S.G.A. events and is a fierce competitor. Him moving from VA to MD a few years ago was a bitter loss. That being said, his continued commitment to this tournament thrills me. Not only is he a gentleman and a role model, but his indisputable talent has been a thrill to watch in this event year in and year out.”
Welch led Maryland to its first Cup Win in four years last year with a 2-1-2 record. Look for Welch to battle with Virginia’s Frank Romano or Ross McIntosh in the Sunday singles, possibly with the Cup in the balance.
“I’m just thrilled. I think our team is loaded with talent this year. Our captain this year is our pro at U. Maryland Jeff Maynor (he’s the director of golf at the U.), and I think I’ll be assistant captain. So were are elated right now. We’re looking forward to representing the State of Maryland and our home clubs and trying to win back-to-back Cups. We love this event. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the country.”
Welch is right that Maryland is deep. Four more players qualified yesterday at Renditions that return from last year’s Cup-winning squad: Bill Jenner and Pete DeTemple (72) and Rusty Pies and Dave Ansellum (73). In an example of how deep the Maryland squad is this year, the Cup’s Most Outstanding Player from last year, Brad Hankey failed to qualify as he and Rusty Hall (73) lost in a sudden-death playoff for the team’s last spot. Hankey may still make the squad as an assistant captain or captain’s pick.
Virginia also returns one stalwart veteran, the inimitable and swashbuckling Ross McIntosh, who played his way onto the squad with new partner Mark Fugani. Two other newcomers, Karl Keiffer and Steve Ciliberti finished second in Team Blue’s side of the draw with a 77. Interestingly, they shot an inglorious 85 at Westfields, but rallied to make the team on their second try.
In other news, after a year away from the competition, Dan Derisio and Chris Huemmer will play for Virginia as well.
On paper, Maryland is deeper and has been installed as an early favorite. They return eight veterans from last year’s winning team as opposed to four for Virginia. Welch is unflappable and ferociously talented. Jenner and DeTemple are rock solid, as are Pies and Ansellum. Add in last year’s rookies of the year Jeff Lim-Sharpe and Lee Flemister, who can hang with anyone, and Maryland likes their chances. “They’re good ole boys and government stiffs in Virginia,” laughed one Maryland player, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They start with those two strikes against them.”
The Potomac Cup finals will be held Labor Day weekend at Blue Ridge Shadows in Front Royal, VA. The Potomac Cup is America’s premiere team amateur golf event between two individual states. Virginia leads the series 5-3.
The team rosters as of today:
Virginia
Tom Lantz*
Chris Robb*
Mark Waslo $
Steve “The Thing” Nolin $
Mark Vandegrift $
Frank Romano $
Ross Mcintosh
Mark Fegani*
Steve Ciliberti*
Karl Keiffer*
Chris Huemmer
Dan Derisio
Maryland
Vance Welch $
Mike Wah
Bill Jenner $
Pete DeTemple $
Rusty Pies $
Dave Ansellum $
Greg Roberts*
Brent Martin*
Lee Flemister $
Jeff Lim-Sharpe $
Ken Lampard*
Chad Rowse*
* denotes Potomac Cup rookie.
$ denotes returning player from 2008 Cup.
