2018-03-18_Sycamore Creek

A new year, a new season, a new opportunity for glory, but a return to an old course. The long winter has given a brief reprieve for Rick, Steve, Todd, and Patrick on the venerable Sycamore.

Knocking off the rust after a cool and wet winter will be the task of these golfers as they begin the chase for the 4th RVA Cup. After a difficult and injury plagued 2017 campaign, Todd jumped out with a statement par on the opening hole, while his competitors started off stiff. Steve was able to loosen up, drawing even with Todd after 4, where Rick found himself 2 back and Patrick, 1 behind him. A pair of snowmen put Patrick behind the snowball and was unable to climb around for the rest of the round. Steve tightened up and fell back to 5 shots behind Todd. Rick found a birdie on the par-3 8th pulling him within 1 of Todd’s lead which became 2 after 9.

Todd showed no signs of rigor mortis at the turn as he continued his consistent play. Beginning on 11, Steve began to remind the tour who was the reigning Cup champion, finding par. Todd counted with a par of his his own, a statement that he wouldn’t back down and that maybe he could take the crown this year. However, bogeys on 12 and 13 by Todd could not compare with Steve’s back-to-back birdies, only the second time a golfer has done that on the RAGA Tour, pulling Steve to within 1 of the lead. Rick found himself 5 back after 13 heading into the difficult, uphill par-5. A snowman for Rick essentially put him in the icebox while Todd re-established his cold-weather dominance with a par, putting him up 3 with Steve’s double-bogey. Steve was able to pull back within 1 going into the last, and decisive 18th hole. Todd’s consistent 43-43 was enough to hold off Steve and take the opening round of the 2018 season by 2.