Santa Rosa, Calif. – Georgia and Kansas, two teams which have been past bridesmaids but never brides in the USGA Men’s State Team Championship, share the 36-hole lead at 3-under-par 281 going into Thursday’s final round at Mayacama Golf Club.
Georgia, the runner-up in 2007 to host Texas, received a course-record 65 from 38-year-old David Noll Jr. of Dothan and a 74 from Adam Cooper, 26, of Columbus on the 6,726-yard, par-71 Jack Nicklaus design on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Kansas played steady golf for a second consecutive day, getting a 1-under 70 from Charlie Stevens, 41, of Wichita and an even-par 71 from 51-year-old Bryan Norton of Mission Hills in the three-count-two format. Tyler Shelton had a non-scoring 76.
Georgia and Kansas are five strokes clear of Rhode Island, North Carolina and Florida.
Washington, which shared the first-round lead with Kansas, fell off with a 6-over 150 on Wednesday for a 36-hole total of 8-over 290.
Defending champion Pennsylvania sits six strokes back at 3-over 287, while host California is eight behind at 289.
In the race for individual medalist honors, Noll (74-65–139), has a one-shot lead over Norton. First-round co-leader Mike Ballo is two shots back after a 74, sharing third position with Stevens and Illinois’ Todd Mitchell (70).
For the second consecutive day, fog suspended play, this time for 45 minutes early in the morning. Because of that delay, six golfers representing three states had failed to complete their second round when darkness stopped play for the day at 7:37 p.m. PDT.
The continuation of round two and the start of the final round will commence at 6:50 a.m. PDT.
Noll, competing in his fifth consecutive Men’s State Team and a member of that 2007 runner-up squad, has steadied his game since posting a 6-over 42 over the outward nine on Tuesday. Since then, he is nine under par.
An early bogey at the 11th hole – his second of the round – didn’t affect Noll. He quickly rebounded with a birdie at No. 12, then knocked his 7-iron approach from 195 yards at the par-5 15th to 35 feet. He rolled in the long eagle putt from the fringe and quickly apologized to his fellow competitors for his sudden surge of good fortune.
That was a little ridiculous, Noll said of the eagle. But it went in and it goes down as a 3.
Birdies on Nos. 2, 6 and 7 on the outward nine gave Noll the competitive course record, one shot off the 18-hole championship mark held by three golfers. Even the potential of being given a pace-of-play warning didn’t seem to affect Noll’s focus.
We were told … that we needed to hurry, said Noll of the information the group received from USGA officials. We sprinted the last four holes. Golf almost becomes secondary at that point, but … if [the USGA] tells you to move, they make the Rules and we’re going to have to do what they say.
Georgia, bidding to join Minnesota and Pennsylvania with State Team titles in both the men’s and women’s competitions, would have held the outright lead going into the final round, but a three-putt bogey at the par-5 ninth by Cooper cost Georgia a precious stroke. Doug Hanzel of Savannah, who had a first-round 68, struggled to a non-scoring 77.
It’s a long way between now and this time tomorrow, said Noll, who watched his team lip out two putts at No. 18 in 2007 at The Club at Carlton Woods in suburban Houston to lose by one stroke to Texas. We’ve got to play our best golf [on Thursday]. That’s all we can do.
Kansas knows all about close calls. A year ago at the Country Club of St. Albans in suburban St. Louis, the team bolted out to a nice lead, thanks to a 64 by Jon Troutman. A poor second round in inclement conditions cost Kansas dearly, despite a strong final round that left the team three strokes behind Pennsylvania.
Despite having only Norton returning, Kansas came to Mayacama with some confidence. A good practice round on Monday left Norton, the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up, feeling good about the team’s chances.
When you see your friends do well [last year], you start thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I never thought we could win.’ But now I think we can. We have good players in Kansas. And even with a different team this year, I knew if we came and played well, we had a chance to be there in the end.
Norton, who shot a first-round 69, scrambled his way to a 71. He knocked his second shot into the pond at the par-5 18th and still managed to make a par. A birdie at the par-4 eighth, his 17th hole of the day, kept him from going into the black.
I had one of those days where it could have been a poor score, said Norton, grateful that Stevens rallied from a two-over start to shoot in red figures. I had to focus because I was making a lot of tough par saves. I was really proud of myself that I got something out of it because it really could have gotten away from me in the middle of the round.
David Shefter is a USGA communications staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.
Santa Rosa, Calif. – Results from the second round of the Ninth USGA Men’s State Team Championship being conducted at the 6,726-yard, par-71 Mayacama Golf Club. (Note: Six players and three teams completed round two on Thursday morning):
T1—Kansas (281): Bryan Norton, Mission Hills 69-71--140; Charlie Stevens, Wichita 71-70--141; Tyler Shelton, Fairway 80-76--156
T1—Georgia (281): David Noll Jr, Dalton 74-65--139; Doug Hanzel, Savannah 68-77--145; Adam Cooper, Columbus 75-74--149
T3—Rhode Island (286): Garrett Medeiros, Rumford 72-71--143; Bobby Leopold, Cranston 72-71--143; Charlie Blanchard, North Providence 76-76--152
T3—North Carolina (286): Uly Grisette, Clemmons 74-70--144; Paul Simson, Raleigh 71-73--144; Scott Harvey, Greensboro 72-76--148
T3—Florida (286): Jon Veneziano, Eustis 67-75--142; Doug Snoap, Apopka 74-70--144; Don Bell, Port Orange 74-80--154
T6—Pennsylvania (287): Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh 71-72--143; Sean Knapp, Oakmont 73-71--144; Artie Fink Jr, Altoona 79-84--163
T6—Alabama (287): Glenn Northcutt, Dothan 73-72--145; Steve Hudson, Birmingham 74-74--148; Robert Nelson, Mobile 68-83--151
T8—Illinois (288): Todd Mitchell, Bloomington 71-70--141; Brad Benjamin, Rockford 73-76--149; John Ehrgott, Peoria 79-74--153
T8—Virginia (288): Scott Shingler, Haymarket 71-71--142; Roger Newsom, Virginia Beach 76-76--152; Keith Decker, Martinsville 75-71--146
T10—West Virginia (289): Jonathan Bartlett, Lewisburg 72-72--144; Pat Carter, Huntington 72-73--145; Steve Fox, Huntington 85-74--159
T10—California (289): Harry Rudolph III, La Jolla 75-70--145; Randy Haag, Burlingame 71-76--147; Jeff Wilson, Fairfield 73-75--148
T12—Washington (290): Erik Hanson, Kirkland 69-76--145; Mike Haack, Bellevue 73-74--147; Derek Berg, Kenmore 71-77--148
T12—South Carolina (290): Todd White, Moore 70-72--142; Steve Liebler, Irmo 74-74--148; Brent Roof, Columbia 79-77--156
14—Massachusetts (291): Frank Vana, North Andover 73-74--147; John Hadges, North Easton 75-73--148; Brian Higgins, Bellingham 71-78--149
T15—Texas (292): Rob Couture, Dallas 76-70--146; Aaron Hickman, Dallas 71-75--146; John Bearrie, Arlington 78-76--154
T15—Missouri (292): Scott Hovis, Jefferson City 71-72--143; Brad Nurski, St Joseph 75-74--149; Tyler Stalker, Springfield 82-85--167
T17—New Jersey (293): Thomas Gramigna, Haddonfield 74-72--146; Brian Komline, Bridgewater 72-75--147; David Pierce, Branchburg 79-80--159
T17—Tennessee (293): Todd Burgan, Knoxville 72-73--145; Jeff Golliher, Knoxville 72-76--148; Tim Jackson, Germantown 73-76--149
T17—Ohio (293): Jeff Scohy, Bellbrook 76-73--149; Bill Williamson, Cincinnati 72-72--144; Robert Gerwin II, Cincinnati 79-74--153
T20—Mississippi (294): Fletcher Johnson, Belden 73-71--144; Lane Pippin, Ocean Springs 75-76--151; Scott Rhodes, Ridgeland 74-83--157
T20—Nebraska (294): Ryan Nietfeldt, Omaha 75-71--146; Travis Minzel, Lincoln 75-73--148; John Sajevic, Fremont 77-80--157
T20—New York (294): Tim Spitz, Pittsford 72-71--143; Hans Albertsson, Sleepy Hollow 75-81--156; Ken Riter, Buffalo 81-76--157
T20—Kentucky (294): Andy Roberts, Owensboro 73-71--144; Robert Crockett, Louisville 77-73--150; Mark Knecht, Paducah 77-76--153
24—Vermont (296): Brian Albertazzi, Killington 71-74--145; Garren Poirier, Killington 77-74--151; Eric Lajeunesse, Barre 85-78--163
25—Louisiana (297): Grady Brame, Hammond 72-80--152; Patrick Christovich, New Orleans 80-72--152; Daniel Berger, New Orleans 81-73--154
T26—Oklahoma (298): Heath Myers, Kingfisher 71-77--148; Jay Smith, Edmond 74-78--152; Brad Kropp, Edmond 80-76--156
T26—Michigan (298): Joseph Juszczyk, Dearborn Heights 80-69--149; Jeff Champine, Rochester Hills 78-74--152; Eric Lilleboe, Okemos 77-80--157
T28—New Mexico (299): Patrick Hanlon, Las Cruces 75-75--150; Matthew Williams, Albuquerque 73-77--150; Antone Salome, Socorro 80-76--156
T28—Maryland (299): Brent Martin, La Plata 75-69--144; Jeff Lim-Sharpe, Silver Spring 78-78--156; Michael Meyer, Rockville 84-77--161
T28—Utah (299): Darrin Overson, Provo 70-80--150; Kirk Siddens, Salt Lake City 72-78--150; Dan Horner, Sandy 75-79--154
T31—Connecticut (300): Mike Ballo, Stamford 67-74--141; Ryan Leahey, Orange 79-80--159; Bill Hermanson, East Lyme 83-83--166
T31—Oregon (300): Chad Sawyer, West Linn 73-82--155; Paul Peterson, Corvallis 79-70--149; Jim Dunlap, Beaverton 75-82--157
T33—Iowa (302): Michael McCoy, West Des Moines 72-79--151; Jon Brown, Urbandale 78-74--152; J. D. Anderson, West Des Moines 77-79--156
T33—Minnesota (302): Erik Christopherson, Stillwater 71-78--149; Johnny Larson, New Ulm 76-78--154; Greg Melhus, Rogers 77-77--154
T33—Maine (302): Ricky Jones, Thomaston 77-75--152; Seth Sweet, Madison 79-75--154; Matt Greenleaf, Portland 75-83--158
36—Arizona (303): Kyle Kallan, Peoria 71-77--148; Patrick Geare, Tucson 81-75--156; Kenneth Kellaney, Phoenix 81-76--157
37—Montana (305): Mark Mance, Whitefish 75-72--147; Brandon Davison, Billings 80-80--160; Bill Dunn, Missoula 78-88--166
T38—New Hampshire (307): Nicholas Macdonald, Lebanon 74-75--149; Jim Cilley, Penacook 75-83--158; Ken Nilson, Center Harbor 82-88--170
T38—Colorado (307): Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 75-77--152; Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs 77-78--155; James Kurtenbach, Highlands Ranch 77-79--156
T40—Wisconsin (308): Todd Schaap, Kenosha 80-72--152; Pat Boyle, South Milwaukee 81-75--156; Kevin Cahill, Waukesha 81-79--160
T40—Arkansas (308): Neal Westbrook, Russellville 79-76--155; Wes McNulty, Pine Bluff 77-78--155; Chris Jenkins, Little Rock 85-76--161
T42—Delaware (309): Greg Wolfe, Newark 78-73--151; Chase Brockstedt, Rehoboth Beach 82-77--159; Darrell Clayton, Wilmington 81-89--170
T42—South Dakota (309): Ryan Jansa, Sioux Falls 76-74--150; Tim Kalil, Brookings 80-79--159; Paul Schock, Sioux Falls 89-90--179
T44—Puerto Rico (310): Erick J Morales, San Juan 79-73--152; Roberto Fabelo, San Juan 84-74--158; Elvin Gonzalez, San Juan 90-85--175
T44—Indiana (310): Randy Nichols, Brookville 75-77--152; Sam Till, Fort Wayne 80-78--158; Skip Runnels, Richmond 80-78--158
46—Nevada (312): Brady Exber, Las Vegas 81-76--157; Joe Sanders, Incline Village 81-80--161; Steve Fink, Las Vegas 88-74--162
47—North Dakota (313): Rick Kuhn, Bismarck 82-76--158; Tim Skarperud, Grand Forks 84-75--159; Todd Baumgartner, Bismarck 80-84--164
48—Wyoming (315): Todd Griffin, Casper 79-77--156; John Hornbeck, Saratoga 80-79--159; Morgan Splichal, Gillette 81-87--168
49—Alaska (318): Greg Sanders, Anchorage 79-82--161; Adam Baxter, Fairbanks 76-89--165; Casey Cusack, Anchorage NC-81--NC
50—Hawaii (322): Hunter Larson, Naalehu 77-76--153; Reo Saito, Honolulu 85-84--169; Jared Kato, Pearl City 90-98--188
51—Idaho (328): Everett Grimes, Nampa 79-84--163; Matt McPhie, Star 77-88--165; Matt Meador, Hailey 85-90--175
52—District of Columbia (344): Mychael Cohn, Washington 81-85--166; Richard Ledwidge, Washington 98-87--185; Kevin McDonnell, Washington 91-95--186
Santa Rosa, Calif. – Pairings and starting times for the final round of the Ninth USGA Men’s State Team Championship being conducted at the 6,726-yard, par-71 Mayacama Golf Club (All times PDT):
Tee 1
6:50 a.m. - James Kurtenbach, Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Bill Dunn, Missoula, Mont.; Kenneth Kellaney, Phoenix, Ariz.
6:59 a.m. - Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Brandon Davison, Billings, Mont.; Patrick Geare, Tucson, Ariz.
7:08 a.m. - Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo.; Mark Mance, Whitefish, Mont.; Kyle Kallan, Peoria, Ariz.
7:17 a.m. - Greg Melhus, Rogers, Minn.; J. D. Anderson, West Des Moines, Iowa; Matt Greenleaf, Portland, Maine
7:26 a.m. - Johnny Larson, New Ulm, Minn.; Jon Brown, Urbandale, Iowa; Seth Sweet, Madison, Maine
7:35 a.m. - Erik Christopherson, Stillwater, Minn.; Michael McCoy, West Des Moines, Iowa; Ricky Jones, Thomaston, Maine
7:44 a.m. - Dan Horner, Sandy, Utah; Bill Hermanson, East Lyme, Conn.; Antone Salome, Socorro, N.M.
7:53 a.m. - Kirk Siddens, Salt Lake City, Utah; Ryan Leahey, Orange, Conn.; Matthew Williams, Albuquerque, N.M.
8:02 a.m. - Darrin Overson, Provo, Utah; Mike Ballo, Stamford, Conn.; Patrick Hanlon, Las Cruces, N.M.
8:11 a.m. - Jim Dunlap, Beaverton, Ore.; Michael Meyer, Rockville, Md.; Eric Lilleboe, Okemos, Mich.
8:20 a.m. - Chad Sawyer, West Linn, Ore.; Jeff Lim-Sharpe, Silver Spring, Md.; Jeff Champine, Rochester Hills, Mich.
8:29 a.m. - Paul Peterson, Corvallis, Ore.; Brent Martin, La Plata, Md.; Joseph Juszczyk, Dearborn Heights, Mich.
Tee 10
6:50 a.m. - Ken Nilson, Center Harbor, N.H.; Kevin Cahill, Waukesha, Wis.
6:59 a.m. - Jim Cilley, Penacook, N.H.; Pat Boyle, South Milwaukee, Wis.
7:08 a.m. - Nicholas Macdonald, Lebanon, N.H.; Todd Schaap, Kenosha, Wis.
7:17 a.m. - Chris Jenkins, Little Rock, Ark.; Paul Schock, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Greg Wolfe, Newark, Del.
7:26 a.m. - Wes McNulty, Pine Bluff, Ark.; Tim Kalil, Brookings, S.D.; Chase Brockstedt, Rehoboth Beach, Del.
7:35 a.m. - Neal Westbrook, Russellville, Ark.; Ryan Jansa, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Darrell Clayton, Wilmington, Del.
7:44 a.m. - Elvin Gonzalez, San Juan, PR; Skip Runnels, Richmond, Ind.; Steve Fink, Las Vegas, Nev.
7:53 a.m. - Roberto Fabelo, San Juan, PR; Sam Till, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Joe Sanders, Incline Village, Nev.
8:02 a.m. - Erick J Morales, San Juan, PR; Randy Nichols, Brookville, Ind.; Brady Exber, Las Vegas, Nev.
8:11 a.m. - Todd Baumgartner, Bismarck, N.D.; Morgan Splichal, Gillette, Wyo.; Casey Cusack, Anchorage, Alaska
8:20 a.m. - Tim Skarperud, Grand Forks, N.D.; John Hornbeck, Saratoga, Wyo.; Adam Baxter, Fairbanks, Alaska
8:29 a.m. - Rick Kuhn, Bismarck, N.D.; Todd Griffin, Casper, Wyo.; Greg Sanders, Anchorage, Alaska
8:38 a.m. - Jared Kato, Pearl City, Hawaii; Matt Meador, Hailey, Idaho; Kevin McDonnell, Washington, D.C.
8:47 a.m. - Reo Saito, Honolulu, Hawaii; Matt McPhie, Star, Idaho; Richard Ledwidge, Washington, D.C.
8:56 a.m. - Hunter Larson, Naalehu, Hawaii; Everett Grimes, Nampa, Idaho; Mychael Cohn, Washington, D.C.
Tee 1
11:45 a.m. - Derek Berg, Kenmore, Wash.; Brent Roof, Columbia, S.C.; Steve Fox, Huntington, W.Va.
11:54 a.m. - Mike Haack, Bellevue, Wash.; Steve Liebler, Irmo, S.C.; Pat Carter, Huntington, W.Va.
12:03 p.m. - Erik Hanson, Kirkland, Wash.; Todd White, Moore, S.C.; Jonathan Bartlett, Lewisburg, W.Va.
12:12 p.m. - Jeff Wilson, Fairfield, Calif.; John Ehrgott, Peoria, Ill.; Robert Nelson, Mobile, Ala.
12:21 p.m. - Randy Haag, Burlingame, Calif.; Brad Benjamin, Rockford, Ill.; Steve Hudson, Birmingham, Ala.
12:30 p.m. - Harry Rudolph III, La Jolla, Calif.; Todd Mitchell, Bloomington, Ill.; Glenn Northcutt, Dothan, Ala.
12:39 p.m. - Artie Fink Jr, Altoona, Pa.; Scott Harvey, Greensboro, N.C.; Charlie Blanchard, North Providence, R.I.
12:48 p.m. - Sean Knapp, Oakmont, Pa.; Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C.; Bobby Leopold, Cranston, R.I.
12:57 p.m. - Nathan Smith, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Uly Grisette, Clemmons, N.C.; Garrett Medeiros, Rumford, R.I.
1:06 p.m. - Don Bell, Port Orange, Fla.; Adam Cooper, Columbus, Ga.; Tyler Shelton, Fairway, Kan.
1:15 p.m. - Doug Snoap, Apopka, Fla.; Doug Hanzel, Savannah, Ga.; Charlie Stevens, Wichita, Kan.
1:24 p.m. - Jon Veneziano, Eustis, Fla.; David Noll Jr, Dalton, Ga.; Bryan Norton, Mission Hills, Kan.
Tee 10
11:45 a.m. - Roger Newsom, Virginia Beach, Va.; Brian Higgins, Bellingham, Mass.
11:54 a.m. - Keith Decker, Martinsville, Va.; John Hadges, North Easton, Mass.
12:03 p.m. - Scott Shingler, Haymarket, Va.; Frank Vana, North Andover, Mass.
12:12 p.m. - John Bearrie, Arlington, Texas; Tyler Stalker, Springfield, Mo.; David Pierce, Branchburg, N.J.
12:21 p.m. - Aaron Hickman, Dallas, Texas; Brad Nurski, St Joseph, Mo.; Brian Komline, Bridgewater, N.J.
12:30 p.m. - Rob Couture, Dallas, Texas; Scott Hovis, Jefferson City, Mo.; Thomas Gramigna, Haddonfield, N.J.
12:39 p.m. - Tim Jackson, Germantown, Tenn.; Robert Gerwin II, Cincinnati, Ohio; John Sajevic, Fremont, Neb.
12:48 p.m. - Jeff Golliher, Knoxville, Tenn.; Jeff Scohy, Bellbrook, Ohio; Travis Minzel, Lincoln, Neb.
12:57 p.m. - Todd Burgan, Knoxville, Tenn.; Bill Williamson, Cincinnati, Ohio; Ryan Nietfeldt, Omaha, Neb.
1:06 p.m. - Mark Knecht, Paducah, Ky.; Ken Riter, Buffalo, N.Y.; Scott Rhodes, Ridgeland, Miss.
1:15 p.m. - Robert Crockett, Louisville, Ky.; Hans Albertsson, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.; Lane Pippin, Ocean Springs, Miss.
1:24 p.m. - Andy Roberts, Owensboro, Ky.; Tim Spitz, Pittsford, N.Y.; Fletcher Johnson, Belden, Miss.
1:33 p.m. - Eric Lajeunesse, Barre, Vt.; Daniel Berger, New Orleans, La.; Brad Kropp, Edmond, Okla.
1:42 p.m. - Garren Poirier, Killington, Vt.; Patrick Christovich, New Orleans, La.; Jay Smith, Edmond, Okla.
1:51 p.m. - Brian Albertazzi, Killington, Vt.; Grady Brame, Hammond, La.; Heath Myers, Kingfisher, Okla.