The Courier-Record

FOUR STRAIGHT FOR HOUCHINS

Club Champ defends title with birdie in Sudden Death

Pushed Him To The Limit Danny Houchins (left) was congratulated Sunday after making birdie on first play-off hole by runner-up David Pleasants and third place finisher Michael Alder.

Pushed Him To The Limit Danny Houchins (left) was congratulated Sunday after making birdie on first play-off hole by runner-up David Pleasants and third place finisher Michael Alder.

Danny Houchins birdied the first hole of sudden death Sunday to win the Men’s Club Championship for the fourth straight year at Nottoway River Country Club.

Houchins shot weekend rounds of 72-70–142 (-2), deadlocked with ageless, 64-year-old sensation David Pleasants, who shot 71-71– 142 (-2).

Pleasants, who had won the club’s last three senior men’s golf titles, decided to move back to the longer teeboxes this year and compete against the younger guys. He more than held his own.

Trailing by one, Pleasants birdied the par-4 18th hole to force Sunday’s play-off. Houchins hit a 300-yard blast into the greenside bunker and failed to get up and down for birdie.

Pleasants missed the #1 green in sudden death and had a knee-knocker left for par. That’s when Houchins drained a 10-footer to make it all moot.

First round leader and 2016 champion Michael Alder finished third, shooting 69-75– 144 (Even Par). “Urkel” was the only golfer in the 32-man field to break 70.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS Senior champ Tom Cromer (left) and Super Senior champ Bill Reid.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS Senior champ Tom Cromer (left) and Super Senior champ Bill Reid.

Houchins’ two-under-total was a far cry from his tournament record -12 in 2020 or even last year’s -7 finish. But a win’s a win. He won his first NRCC Club Championship in 2019 after shooting +2 and prevailing over Cal Jackson and Patrick Obradovic on the first hole of sudden death.

Also Sunday, Ryan Meadows shot 80-78–158 to win the First Flight, two strokes better than W&M-bound Kenston Forest Valedictorian Jacob Stallard and Aaron Dorin.

Laid back former club champ Tom “Bones” Cromer shot 79-77–156, three shots clear of the Club Champ’s father, Charlie Houchins (79- 80–159), to win the Senior Division (age 60 and older). Woodson Irby (83-78–161) finished third.

The club’s “Golden Bear” — seven-time men’s champ Bill Reid — won the Super Senior Division (70-and-older) by shooting 71-76–147. David Earl Matthews rallied at 84- 73–157 and finished second. Billy Armes settled for third at 73-85–160.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *