The classic Abbott and Costello skit asks “Who’s on First?”
Sunday afternoon in the final round of 43rd Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame men’s championship at Blue Hills Golf Club there was little doubt of who was in first.
Firing a workmanlike 3-under par 68, Matt Chandler ran away from the field to post a 3-under par 68, good for a 9 shot victory over runner-up Brandon LaCroix. It was Chandler’s third straight 68 in the 54 hole event, following similar scores at Ashley Plantation and Hunting Hills in rounds one and two.
LaCroix, who led by one shot after an opening round 67 at Ashley, and trailed Chandler by three shots after the second round, settled for a 74 at Blue Hills Sunday to finish with a 3-round total of 213.
Daryl Byrd took third at 216, followed by 218 totals by George Perkovich and Hunter Duncan. Lefty Scott Wise finished sixth at 220.
It was Chandler’s second straight HOF title and third in four years.
In the men’s team championship, anchored by Chandler’s three red scorecards, Hunting Hills fought its way to a 3-shot victory over Blacksburg Country Club.
In the 38th Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame women’s championship, former Lord Botetourt and current University of Virginia golfer Lyndsey Hunnell stormed back from a three shot deficit entering Sunday’s final round to overtake first round leader Katie Muscatello for the title. Hunnell fired a final round 71 on the Blue Hills links, good for a 6-shot swing over Muscatello, a Blacksburg High School grad. Hunnell finished with a two round total of 147. It was Hunnell’s second straight HOF title.
Valeta Pittman fired her second straight 77 on Sunday to finish third at 154. Katie Turk took fourth at 156 with back-to-back rounds of 78. Alisa Marie Caraballo rounded off the top-5 with a 158 total.
In the 55-and-over women’s senior championship, eight-time HOF champion Dot Bolling took home the hardware with a 16 shot win (155) over Sue Smith (171). This year’s Hall of Fame inductee, Sara Cole, finished third at 174, followed by Jean Summerbell (179) and Leila Wilson (180).
In the women’s team championship Blacksburg Country Club won its second straight title.
Bill Turner
