Lee Flemister Captures WMGA Senior Title

When is a 2 footer really a 4 1/2 footer? When it’s a putt to win by a shot.

The WMGA Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship wrapped up at the Trump National GC – Washington, DC yesterday with a series of thunderstorms rolling through Northern Virginia late in the afternoon. With play all but finished in three of the four age divisions, the horns blew to stop play for a dangerous situation – lightning was visible just to the north up the Potomac River. There was a catch however as all play was not yet completed in the third of the four divisions – the Senior Division. There was a player still standing.

The WMGA Senior Amateur is comprised of four age divisions: Mid-Masters (40-54), Seniors (55-64), Super Seniors (65-69), and Legends (71 and over). Groups in each division play in order in their grouping and the groupings are flipped the next day. For round two on Tuesday the order of play was Legends, Super Seniors, Seniors, and Mid-Masters. In anticipation of bad weather and resulting weather delays and/or cancellations, the committee in charge institutes a local rule designating each day of play as two stipulated rounds of 9 holes each. This determination is made in advance with players informed by a note on the Notice to Players and an announcement on the starting tee. This local rule allows the committee to use as many holes possible in determining the outcome if faced with a day ending delay as long as all the players involved have played the same number of holes. In this case the first three age divisions had played 36 (well, almost) and the third grouping, the Mid-Masters, had completed 27 holes.

The horns were blown and the players were evacuated from the golf course. The club’s lightning alert system had not yet blown. Lee Flemister (Worthington Manor GC), playing in the last group of the Senior Division, was the last to play on the eighteenth green at +3 through 35 holes when the horn blew. He knew the rule – when the horn blows in one long continuous blast it means that play must stop because there is danger – lightning in the area. To continue to play would mean a DQ! He sure did not like it but went ahead and marked his ball, a two footer for par, perhaps grumbling a little to himself. That putt was to WIN the Senior Division! Blair Semple (Trump National GC) playing in the group ahead was already in at 73-75–148 (+4). Terrence Reilly (Loudoun G & CC) and Rand Mendez (Greystone GC – 2020 WMGA Sen Am Champ) were in at 149 (+5).

After about 35 minutes the weather radar showed a brief break in the frontal system and the skies lightened slightly. There were no more indications of lightning in the area and the rain had abated. The committee and club officials huddled. The decision was made to resume play shortly and conclude in the rain if need be. But first, the last man standing, Lee Flemister, was given the nod and escorted to the eighteenth green to tap in his four footer. Michael Cumberpatch, the official in charge, saw Lee’s mark on the putting green just right of the hole and wondered if it had been moved. Lee said he had a two footer, a tap in! It was all of 4 – 4 1/2 feet for that par and the win, with a touch of break from right to left. Lee confirmed that the mark was where he left it, downplaying the additional two feet. He lined it up quickly, took a practice stroke, paused, and rolled it in, dead center cut for his par and the one stroke win. Just as he was putting the club siren went off, effectively stopping the planned restart. His totals were 73-74–147 (+3)

The bad weather and lightning intensified and the wait for a restart was on. The best forecast showed a possible restart at 6:00 PM, or maybe even later, but with more bad weather coming in from the west, the decision was made to end the day and for the Mid-Masters to end at the 27 holes per the stipulated round local rule. No one complained.

The outcome of the Mid-Masters Division was a tie between Pete Barbera (Belle Haven CC) 71-37–108 (Even) and Casey Peet (Breton Bay G & CC) 70-38–108 (Even) after 27. Kevin Dillard (Army Navy CC was next at 72-37–109 (+1). The top four on the leaderboard after Monday were still the top four on the leaderboard Tuesday after play was called. The only change was that Peet, who opened with 70, ended up tied with Barbera, who had shot 71 to open. As the terms of the competition called for a play-off to determine the age division winners, and there was not time left to conduct a play-off, the committee announced that Peet and Barbera would share the title of 2022 Mid-Masters Champions. Champions are not decided by a match of cards.

The Super Seniors Division was won by Bill Apple (GC at Lansdowne) at 72-74–146 (+2) and a five shot margin over Tom Grem (Hunt Valley CC) 76-75–151 (+7). Bill made four birdies each day and never sniffed serious trouble.

Skip Tendall (Congressional CC) won the Legends Division with 75-76–151 (+7). Barry Flaer (Maryland National GC) jumped into second with a 75 on day two for a two day total of 155, again adding to his portfolio of WMGA/MAGA high finishes and a possible 1099-Misc at the end of the year.

On Monday play was conducted on the Riverview Course with a par of 72 for each division and the following yardages: Mid-Masters and Seniors – 6,345 yards, Super Seniors – 6,075 yards, Legends – 5,891 yards. On Tuesday play switched to the Championship Course, also with a par of 72 and the following yardages: Mid-Masters and Seniors – 6,533 yards, Super Seniors – 6,241 yards, Legends – 5,916 yards. Both courses were in superb condition and very challenging with abundant opportunities to lose golf balls in penalty areas. Quite a few made the most of those opportunities.

Full field results ⇒ HERE

Past Champions ⇒ HERE