MARK LAWRENCE JR . |
Justin Young
The runner-up in 2020 , Young was low amateur twice during the Roanoke run . Ballyhack was his home track , so it will be interesting to see how his game translates at Independence .
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When we did the renovation , we focused on three areas : Pace of play , playability , and sustainability .”
– Giff Breed , Independence president
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JACK MONTAGUE |
Jack Montague
The 2019 champion was unable to defend his title last year due to an injury . He returned to play six rounds during his junior season at Virginia and will be eager to show his game is back in championship shape .
Blake Carter
The reigning VSGA Mid-Amateur champion , Carter advanced to match play at last year ’ s VSGA Amateur as well .
Josh Speight
Now at The Club at Viniterra , Speight was low professional in 2019 and has been a presence on the leaderboard at multiple State Opens .
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CHRIS LANG |
Independence has plenty of experience hosting big events , and that experience should translate into a fantastic State Open week for players and spectators alike . Along with Kinloch Golf Club , Independence was set to be a stroke-play co-host of the U . S . Mid-Amateur in 2020 before the event was canceled due to the pandemic . ( The USGA recently awarded Kinloch the 2024 U . S . Mid-Am , with Independence again serving as stroke-play co-host ).
Preparation was well underway when the cancellation was announced . Independence has also hosted the last two Senior Opens of Virginia .
“ We are so pleased to return to Independence for the State Open of Virginia ,” MAPGA executive director Jon Guhl said . “ Independence GC has a strong history of hosting championship events , and importantly , a deep desire to make the event bigger and better . We look forward to a long relationship with Giff Breed and his team at Independence .”
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JOSH SPEIGHT
EVAN BECK
LARKIN GROSS
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Dick Mast
If Father Time is undefeated , no one told Mast , who recently turned 70 and continues to excel in State Opens . He recently competed in the Senior PGA Championship , and he posted an opening-round 69 last year at Ballyhack before finishing in a tie for 16th .
Jay Woodson
Sure , Woodson isn ’ t playing as much as he used to . But you can never count out a four-time champion , especially one with the track record Woodson has at Independence .
Evan Beck
The former Wake Forest standout is now 30 and has settled nicely back into amateur golf . His winning score of 268 in 2010 at Independence is tied for the lowest 72-hole score in the merged State Open era .
George Duangmanee
The UVA first-year ranked second on the Cavaliers ’ roster in stroke average in 2021 , averaging 72.92 over a team-high 24 rounds . He made an immediate impact for a team that advanced to NCAA regionals .
Larkin Gross
A professional from Springfield Golf & Country Club , Gross finished fourth in the PGA National Professional Championship and competed in the PGA Championship . He ’ ll be a factor at Independence .
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J ULY / A UGUST 2021 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 21 |