“ WTVR CBS 6 is thrilled the State Open in returning to Central Virginia this July with Independence Golf Club as host ,” WTVR general manager Stephen Hayes said . “ We are grateful for the corporate support , specifically Truist and Virginia Lottery , which is enabling WTVR to highlight this beautiful venue and the exceptional golf action the Commonwealth has to offer . We appreciate our statewide broadcast partners who are just as committed to increasing the visibility for this unique event .” |
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Independence will provide a new look for the 144 players who tee it up , whether they were exempt for past performance or advanced to the championship through qualifying . As has been the case in the past , the top 60 players and ties after the first two rounds will advance to Sunday ’ s third and final round .
Though Lester George had a hand in designing or renovating both Ballyhack and Independence , the differences between the two courses could not be
Along with Kinloch Golf Club , Independence will be a stroke-play co-host for the 2024 U . S . Mid- Amateur Championship .
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starker . Ballyhack is set in the Blue Ridge mountains just outside downtown Roanoke , a course that features severe elevation changes , gigantic greens and wide swaths of tall heather that punish wayward drives .
Independence , located in Powhatan County about 20 miles west of the State Capitol , certainly features its share of trouble . Unlike Ballyhack , water will prominently come into play on several holes , especially the tee shots on 13 and 18 .
Players who competed in the last State Open at Independence in 2013 will find a different golf course in 2021 .
“ When we did the renovation , we focused on three areas : Pace of play , playability , and sustainability ,” Breed said . “ What I think the players will see is a stern test . I think we ’ ve sort of changed how it will play , where it resembles Augusta National , pre-Tiger . We ’ re trying to create flyer lies , where the ball not spinning coming into Champion Bermuda greens will release through .
“ You won ’ t see the heavy rough that they saw in the past at the State Open here . We ’ ve removed over 6,000 trees , bushes and shrubs , but we ’ ve added some back . We ’ ve removed 43 bunkers . I think they ’ ll notice faster green speeds , because Champion Bermuda in the middle of July doesn ’ t need to be constantly watered in order to stay alive .”
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GIANNA GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY |