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compiled by CHRIS LANG
Virginia Golfer
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YOUTH IS SERVED
T
HE GAME, IT SEEMS, IS FOR
THE YOUNG. At least that’s
the conclusion one could come to
after watching the VSGA’s three major
championships unfold this summer.
At the Delta Dental State Open of Vir-
ginia, which is jointly conducted by the
VSGA and Middle Atlantic PGA, 20-year-
old Jack Montague—a University of Vir-
ginia sophomore—roared from behind on
the final day with a 6-under-par 66, forc-
ing a playoff, which he won with a par. He
became the second youngest champion
in the combined Open era (1983-pres-
ent). Only 19-year-old Evan Beck in 2010
was younger.
“All these young guys, they’re such
good players,” State Open low profession-
al Josh Speight noted. And that wasn’t
exclusive to that tournament.
The VSGA’s two signature Amateur
championships produced two winners
who still have a year remaining in high
school. At Keswick Golf Club in June,
17-year-old Michael Brennan outlasted
18-year-old Christopher Zhang in an epic
36-hole final. Brennan still has a year left
at Tuscarora High School before heading
to Wake Forest to begin his college career,
and he’ll do so with a prestigious title
under his belt.
At Princess Anne Country Club in
Virginia Beach, another 17-year-old—
Midlothian’s Rory Weinfurther—rallied
to defeat Old Dominion women’s golf
coach Mallory Hetzel to win the VSGA
Women’s Amateur Championship.
Even at the VSGA’s junior champion-
ships, the winners skewed young. Both
vsga.org
From left: Rory
Weinfurther,
Michael Brennan
and Jack
Montague all
won major
VSGA titles this
summer.
David Stanford (Junior Stroke Play)
and Bryan Lee (Junior Match Play) won
as 15-year-olds, beating out fields of
players already committed to playing
college golf.
As was noted at Keswick after Bren-
nan’s victory, junior golf in Virginia is
in a very good place, lending to a bright
future for the competitive game in
the Commonwealth.
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