always been the rock. Before my dad passed
away, she traveled with me more than he did
because working at the New River Junction
campground in the summer kept him busy.
“It was awesome walking off the 18th
green and seeing a few tears in her eyes and
giving her that big hug.”
Mondy credited Utley for taking the
match to the hilt.
“I had a good lead after 18 and all credit
to Jordan (for making a comeback),” Mondy
says. “I don’t think I lost my lead, I think he
took it from me. I mean he played extremely
good golf. We both did.”
Utley, 29, who played collegiately at the
University of Richmond, says the afternoon
rally against a former champion meant
something to him.
“I think Jake really, really wanted to stomp
me on the throat and not give me a chance,”
Utley says of his long-hitting opponent. “So
playing well that afternoon was fantastic.
“I just wish I had given myself a good look
at birdie on the 36th hole to compound his up
and down. Had I hit a good third shot [from
110 yards] and given myself a good look for
birdie, it could have changed the dynamic a
little bit. But because I didn’t hit a very good
shot it allowed him to relax a little bit and he
took advantage and made birdie.”
Utley, the director of finance at Midlothian’s
Independence Golf Club, had to birdie his
final two holes in an 18-hole qualifier
at Richmond’s Stonehenge Golf and
Country Club simply to earn a spot
in the field.
“I had to work my butt off just
to get in the championship,” Utley
says. “I’m just waiting to get that one
victory because it’s hard. Hopefully, I will
get another opportunity.”
ELITE COMPANY, LAST START
The second VSGA Amateur title enabled
Mondy to join a stellar list of players who
have won two crowns since the turn of the
century, a group that includes three-time
champion Paolini and two-time victors Jay
Woodson of Powhatan and current PGA
Tour professional Billy Hurley.
Win or lose at Farmington, Mondy says it’s
almost a certainty it will be his final shot at
a VSGA Amateur crown for the foreseeable
future. He is entertaining strong hope of
pursuing a professional career next summer.
“This might possibly be my last State Am
so it will be a little more special to me,” says
Mondy, whose younger brother Ryan is a
member of Virginia Tech’s golf team.
“I’m working on my golf game a little bit
and focusing on what’s ahead this summer
for me and what’s ahead the summer after
that before hopefully turning pro and seeing
how it goes.”
TOP RIGHT: SEAN PROCTOR/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT; FILE PHOTOS (2)
Host Site Farmington to
Provide Exacting Test
Shot placement is paramount in order to
play well at Farmington Country Club.
Jake Mondy’s pair of VSGA Amateur titles have
come on long bomber-type golf courses.
If he is to claim his third victory in the event,
he will have to get it done on a much shorter,
traditional track at venerable Farmington Country
Club this time.
“I played in the Kenridge [Invitational] about two
or three years ago; that’s the only time I’ve ever
played there,” Mondy says. “I think I finished top
20, whatever that’s worth.
“I do remember the course. It’s a very short golf
course. I don’t remember hitting a lot of drivers
so it’s the very opposite of Spring Creek last year
and Bayville [in 2012], too. Both of those are long
golf courses.
w w w. v s g a . o r g
22_VSGA_050615.indd 23
Dreams coalesced into reality when Mondy made
clutch putts to win the VSGA Amateur in 2012 with
thoughts of his late father on his mind. Inset: After
sealing a tough win last year, Mondy let go of his
putter and looked toward the heavens in relief.
No matter what happens down the road,
Jake Mondy says he won’t ever forget his
VSGA days.
“I can’t tell you how much the VSGA has
meant to me,” he says. “I’ve become really
good friends with a bunch of guys there. It’s
a first-class organization and to be part of the
history now ... I mean, I’m not going there
to defend my title. I’ve already won that title
and they can’t take that away from me now.
I’m going there trying to win another one.
Those trophies mean a lot to me.”
Author Randy King is a sportswriter for The
Roanoke Times and a regular contributor to
Virginia Golfer.
“This is a target golf course. You have to
position yourself in the right spot and be patient.”
Last year’s runner-up, Jordan Utley, says
Farmington, which measures a shade under
6,800 yards from the tips of the South (front) and
North (back) nines, fits his game more suitably
than Spring Creek.
“Don’t get me wrong; there are still holes
where length is a huge benefit but probably not
as much. I like to move the ball right to left, hit
a lot of different types of shots and Farmington
allows that.
“On paper, Farmington is a good fit for the
true mid-amateur out there. It doesn’t rule out a
shorter hitter or somebody who is maybe a little
bit older. It’s a very equalizing golf course. It brings
everybody back into play. All different types of
players can play well at Farmington.”
Rob McNamara, the longtime PGA
professional and director of golf at Farmington,
notes that the layout’s listed yardage is deceptive.
“It’s a lot of golf course, I assure you,”
says McNamara, who is in his 22nd year at
Farmington. “As a par 70, it plays every bit of
7,000 yards. It’s such an illusion because in a lot
of cases you’re hitting into hillsides so the ball
doesn’t roll out much. It plays a lot longer than
the yardage.
“You have to drive it in play and hit it on the
correct side of the hole because the party is just
getting started once you get on the greens. They’re
going to be a slick as we can get them.”
McNamara then chuckled and duly noted:
“When (the putting surfaces) are in top form you
need to be careful walking on them for fear of
sliding off them.”
Farmington will be playing host to the VSGA
Amateur for the first time since 1936, when
Bobby Riegel beat fellow Richmonder Frank
Sutton 4 and 3 in the final.
“We’re glad to have it back,” McNamara says.
“Farmington is such a great club and it’s right in
the center of the commonwealth. Having worked
here for so long, everybody who is an 剽