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Men’s State Team
Championship winners
1995 Virginia
1997 Minnesota
1999 Texas
2001 Minnesota
2003 Tennessee
2005 Texas
2007 Texas
2009 Pennsylvania
2010 Kansas
2012
New York
2014 Texas
2016 Michigan
Women’s State Team
Championship winners
1995 Pennsylvania
1997 Alabama
1999 Florida
2001 Minnesota
2003 Ohio
2005 Georgia
2007 Arizona
2009 Georgia
2011 Georgia
2013
New Jersey
2015 Georgia
were Scott Shingler and Justin Young. VSGA
member club The Golden Horseshoe hosted the
Men’s State Team Championship in 1999, with
Virginia and Minnesota tying for runner-up
honors, one shot behind champion Texas.
Michigan won the final Men’s State Team
at the Country Club of Birmingham, finishing
three strokes ahead of Arizona and North Car-
olina. Virginia’s best finishes in the Women’s
State Team came in the last two editions of the
event—third in 2013 and fifth in 2015.
“In our reviews and discussions, it became
quite clear that the conditions of competi-
tion had evolved, and there were significant
differences in the respective team selection
processes,” USGA senior managing director of
championships and governance John Boden-
hamer said in a release. “After considering
the matter for more than a year, the review
supported increased focus toward other areas
of USGA competition, both present and future,
including the continued enhancement of the
local and sectional qualifying experience for
players across all USGA championships.”
UPDATES
» Bill Meadows (Farmer’s Fruits
Realized, March/April 2017 Virginia
Golfer), who established Meadows
Farms Nurseries and teamed with
Bill Ward to design VSGA member
Club Meadows Farms in Locust
Grove, died on Feb. 28, three days
short of his 83rd birthday.
» Jane Geddes (Right Leader,
Right Time, March/April 2017
Virginia Golfer) has left her post
as executive director of the
International Association of Golf
Administrators (IAGA) to serve as
CEO of the Executive Women’s Golf
Association. Geddes’ last day with
the IAGA was April 21.
Spotlight on: GROW THE GAME
Will Saunders is a
professional with a family—a
wife and two young boys—but
he also has a passion for golf.
Finding time to play was always a
challenge, though.
“A neighbor would call on
Friday night and say, ‘Hey, I’ve
8
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 7
Golf League boasts a roster of
nearly 440 players. Some are
serious players. Some are not.
No matter. One of Saunders’
goals in helping to grow the
game in his community was to
be inclusive. The league is free to
join, and the social component
of RVA9 far outweighs the
competitive aspects of it.
“I don’t collect scorecards
after,” Saunders said. “We do
longest drive and closest to the
pin, and that’s it. What we’ve
created is that we have a bunch
of golfers that like golf, that don’t
have a lot of time, and they want
to play, and they say, ‘This is
an easy way for me to do it.’ …
There’s no pressure. Hey, let’s
get out and have some fun.”
The 2017 RVA9 season teed
off on April 18 and will run on
Tuesdays at its primary course,
Hunting Hawk, throughout the
spring, summer and early fall. Part
of the allure for RVA9 players,
though, is the opportunity to play
at a number of top venues in the
Richmond area, including Country
Club of Virginia, Hermitage
Country Club, The Foundry Golf
Club, Richmond Country Club
and The Federal Club.
In turn, those clubs are
exposed to potential new
members, who get an up-close
look at the product and an
opportunity to meet the people
behind the scenes at private
clubs. It’s a win-win, and a true
initiative to grow the game at both
a grassroots and a club level.
Saunders also wants to give
back to the community, as RVA9
will hold an event in September
to raise funds for the First Tee
of Greater Richmond. For more
information on how to join
RVA9, contact Saunders at
[email protected].
HAVE AN IDEA?
In upcoming issues of
Virginia Golfer, the VSGA
will spotlight grow-the-
game initiatives around the
Commonwealth. Contact
editor Chris Lang at
[email protected].
vsga.org
Will Saunders, right, with VSGA
president Bruce Matson and Emily
Weinstein, VP of Programming for
The First Tee of Greater Richmond.
got a tee time on
Saturday morning
at 9 o’clock, can
you make it?’ Well,
yeah, I can make
it if I want all of my
stuff on the front
lawn,” Saunders
said with a laugh.
“There’s no way
that works.”
That’s a big
reason why, about
five years ago,
Saunders started
a small golf league
in his suburban
Wyndham
neighborhood. Tuesday evenings
became a time for friends to
gather and play nine holes,
originally at The Federal Club
in Glen Allen. The West End
Golf League was born. As time
progressed, the club grew from
its original roster of 12 members,
and the name changed.
Now affiliated with the VSGA
(league members can join the
association and reap all VSGA
benefits for just $30), the RVA9