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Virginia Golfer
A R O U N D T H E
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JESSICA SPICER P . 7
compiled by CHRIS LANG
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State Open Returns to Independence Golf Club in 2022
by CHRIS LANG
THE 2021 STATE OPEN OF VIRGINIA WAS GENERALLY REGARDED AS A SUCCESS . Independence Golf Club ’ s championship course played to sterling reviews from players and spectators alike . The Sunday television broadcast featured a stirring backnine battle between eventual champion Evan Beck and low professional Mark Lawrence . The event ended with Beck posing for trophy photos with his father , outgoing VSGA president Gary Beck .
Top : Evan and Gary Beck Middle : Mark Lawrence Bottom : Ryan Zylstra
The event is back at Independence in 2022 , again opposite the final three rounds of the Open Championship ( July 15-17 ). Can this year ’ s drama match last year ’ s ?
CHRIS LANG ( 3 )
THREE FAVORITES Evan Beck : What ’ s not to like about the defending champion ? Beck came agonizingly close to sweeping Virginia ’ s three major championships last year , winning the State Open and VSGA Mid-Amateur while falling to eventual champion Jimmy Taylor in the VSGA Amateur semifinals . In May , Beck and partner Dan Walters reached the semifinals of the U . S . Amateur Four-Ball Championship . Beck is seeking to become the first back-to-back champion since Jay Woodson won three straight from 2012-14 . Mark Lawrence : Lawrence had a solid first half-year as a professional in 2021 , coming within a shot of winning the State Open and later reaching the Korn Ferry Tour Q School finals . A wrist injury has led to a slow start in 2022 , but Lawrence plays most of his golf at Independence and has a chip on his shoulder after last year ’ s close call . Ryan Zylstra : After a brief siesta in New York , Zylstra returned to the Middle Atlantic PGA Section and currently teaches at Lakeside Park Club in Richmond . The former VCU standout from Canada is five years removed from a three-stroke victory at the State Open at Ballyhack . Count him out at your own peril .
. org J ULY / A UGUST 2022 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 5