For the eighth consecutive year, the best amateur golfers in Maryland will face the best amateur golfers in Virginia at the Potomac Cup, a Ryder Cup-style challenge for Interstate golf supremacy in the D.C. region. The brain child of Fox Sports Broadcaster Steve Czaban, the Potomac Cup has risen in stature over the years to become the pre-eminent Interstate team golfing competition for amateur players. “It’s the biggest team event for amateurs from this region” said veteran Potomac Cup player Vance Welch. “It’s the closest thing any amateur player from this area may get to playing in the Ryder Cup. It’s a unique event and wonderful gift to D.C. area players.” Two grueling qualifiers were contested with three best-ball teams making the respective squads for either Maryland or Virginia.
This year each team features a mix of returning veterans and Potomac Cup rookies. Virginia welcomes back two of its best players from last year, Don Phattiyakul and Dae Chung. Both players were staples of Virginia’s 25-15 rout last year, with Chung sinking the Cup-clinching putt, touching off a wild celebration where teammates gleefully sang, “Everybody Dae Chung Tonight” to the tune of Wang Chung’s classic rock hit.
“They are my silent assassins” said a somewhat relieved Team Virginia captain Steve Czaban, obviously thrilled that the tandem that won a combined 7 out of 8 points was returning to the squad. “Together they have serious mojo, and as singles players, they are tough as nails.”
Nevertheless, Chung and Phattiyakul may be the fourth best option for Czaban. They qualified at the second tournament – at Renditions Golf Club in Maryland – after missing qualifying at the first event at Westfields Golf Club by finishing fourth. The medalists for Virginia at the Westfields event were Jason Dunn and Lee Fields, who fired a best ball 67. Fields, with his bushy moustache and burly frame is a dead ringer for Ron Jeremy and will likely hear as many colorful jokes as PGA Tour star John Holmes did before he changed his name to “J.B.” I guess it’s fitting he plays for Team Blue – as Virginia is called for her flag’s colors.
Cup rookies Mark Waslo and Steve Nolin finished second at Westfields with 68. Long time Team Virginia member Rob LaPointe, an affable, wise cracking Australian ex-pat, teamed with newcomer Gary Gallagher to finish third with a 69. “Chasing roos gives me strong calf muscles so I can drive through the ball” LaPointe joked last year as Virginia pulled away to victory at the 2007 finals at Nemacolin Woodlands.
Chung and Phattiyakul rebounded to win the Renditions Qualifier for Team Blue with a 69. Rookies Adam Engley and Matt Murphy finished second. Long time Cup veterans Frank Romano and Mark Vandegrift finished third with a 72.
Happily for Maryland captain Jeff Sheehan, Team Red is also returns savvy veterans. Maryland will be led by long time Cup veteran Vance Welch, one of the region’s greatest amateur players. He and partner Don Meyer fired a scintillating 67 at Renditions to win that qualifier.
“Vance Welch and the Good doctor are a staple not only of our team, but of the Potomac Cup in general” said Sheehan, elated that Welch and Meyer would return to anchor Team Red. “Not only are they wily veterans, but Vance is a natural leader. I know he only plays four matches, but his leadership is going to play a much larger role and resonate throughout the line-up.”
Welch has been part of the fabric of the cup for many years and is the only player to play for both teams. He moved from Virginia to Maryland last year and, as such, switched squads accordingly. Virginia survived his ex-patriotism, winning last year’s cup in a runaway. Welch earned the nickname “The Freak” in the 2006 edition of the cup, going 5-0 for Virginia and winning his singles match 7&6 while being six under par in twelve holes on the same layout and tees the PGA Tour players faced in the 84 Lumber Classic. “He didn’t miss a shot that day” said his opponent in that now legendary match, Brad Hankey. “It was unreal.”
Hankey must obviously be thrilled to have Welch now play for Team Red. Hankey and partner Rusty Hall qualified for the Maryland side with a 71 at the Westfields qualifier. They were joined by Peter DeTemple, Bill Jenner, Rusty Pies – who makes the “All Name team” – and Dave Amsellem
Cup rookies Lee Flemister and long-haired partner Jeff Lim-Sharpe were second at the Renditions qualifier with 69. Steve Martin and John Scholtz finished third with 70, defeating cup Veteran John Rhodes and partner Ron Rhodes on the 3rd sudden death hole.
“We’re striving this year for better focus and better depth” said Sheehan, referring to having more leadership from his veterans and better help in the pairings. He’ll need both. Virginia leads the series 5-2 and has won the last four consecutive cups. They enter this year’s event as the favorites, with an early line predicting a 4-5 point margin of victory. If it’s true that Chung and Phattiyakul is the fourth best tandem, Virginia may once again be deeper than Maryland and, accordingly, start with a significant advantage.
Moreover, Maryland’s gaffes in pairing the alternate shot and singles formats last year would actually put them further behind the eight-ball if they aren’t remedied. Many believe Team Maryland lost the Cup the last two years by getting slaughtered in the alternate shot format. Over the last two years, they scored a dismal 1-1/2 points out of 12, including a 5-1/2 – ½ drubbing last year that turned a close match into a laugher. Then, behind the eight ball heading into singles, the failed to front load and lost further ground. The first eight singles players to tee off in the Sunday singles for Maryland were a combined 3-17-4 in two days of doubles play. They went 1-6-1 in singles. “We will not make that mistake again,” assured Sheehan pointedly.
This year the tournament moves from a “neutral site” and begins alternating venues between Virginia and Maryland. Blue Ridge Shadows Resort in Front Royal, Virginia will host this year’s finals.
