Virginia Golfer Jul / Aug 2020 | Page 7

( ) Virginia Golfer A R O U N D T H E COMMON WEALTH CHARLIE KENNEDY P.14 compiled by CHRIS LANG » Virginia golf & the people who make it great 6 NEWS & NOTES 6 OPENING DRIVE 10 MEMBER CLUBS 14 NEXT UP Back in Business After a three-month hiatus, the VSGA championship season kicked off June 29 | by CHRIS LANG CHRIS LANG The uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic left plenty in doubt this spring when it came to organized sports. Will we be able to play? How different will it look if we do get to play? The answer to the first question is an emphatic yes. The VSGA resumed events on June 29 with a pair of qualifiers for the 107th VSGA Amateur Championship and the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia. The revised championship season officially kicked off July 7 when the first ball was struck at the 38th VSGA Senior Four-Ball Championship at The Golden Horseshoe’s Gold Course in Williamsburg. For the second question, certainly, the way tournaments are conducted has changed, with safety at the forefront. The paper scorecard—passed from competitor to scoring official—is a thing of the past, at least for now. Field sizes were reduced in the hopes that social distancing could be maintained, even at a large event. Congregating near the scoring area after the round was a no-no. But competitive, championship golf resumed this summer, adding a small bit Christopher Zhang, left, and Michael Brennan produced a thrilling 36-hole final at last year's VSGA Amateur at Keswick. Both are in the field for August's renewal at River Bend Club. a normalcy to what has been an uncommonly abnormal year. The VSGA’s three biggest championships will be conducted in 2020, though with modifications in place. A quick preview of the two Amateurs follows. Please see the accompanying story for a look at the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia. vsga.org J ULY/A UGUST 2020 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 5