Fincastle in Bluefield, Virginia, played host to All-Star players from the Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour and the Sneds Junior Golf Tour for the annual “2 Tour Challenge” on Saturday Aug. 20.
Players were treated to generous hospitality and excellent course conditions at the Dick Wilson design. This unique event has been played since 2018 and is contested in match play style. Nine points were at stake in the competition that featured a “4 ball” or “better ball” format of play on the opening nine holes and singles matches on the closing nine holes. In “4 ball” or “better ball”, each player is paired with a partner. The two play their own ball throughout the hole but count the score that is lowest. During the singles matches, each player competes competes one other player from the opposing side. Each team had six players. The teams vied for three points during the “4 ball” matches, and six points during the singles matches. Because the Blue Ridge team had won the previous year, the Sneds side would need to secure five points to win the contest.
The Blue Ridge side prevailed 6 ½ to 2 ½. Though it seems that it was a comfortable four-point victory, match play results are seldom comfortable. Four of the matches ended with a 1 up score, the slimmest of margins to gain a point. The Blue Ridge Tour was fortunate to be on the winning side in three of those. Another match finished tied. The competition was very even and the players demonstrated sportsmanship throughout the day.
Here is a breakdown of the nine matches:
On the opening nine holes, the Blue Ridge side won all three of the “better ball” matches. In match 1No. David Goode of Wytheville teamed with Rocky Frye of Bramwell, West Virginia, and defeated Tucker McLain of Church Hill, Tennessee, and Tanner McPeek of Rogersville, Tennessee, one up. The Blue Ridge Tour was able to win match No. 2 as well. Hunter Crist of Radford and Ryan Highfield of Blacksburg defeated Carter Wolfe of Gate City and Wyatt Cochran of Blountville, Tennessee, 3 and 2. In match No. 3 Major Ewing of Blacksburg teamed with McKenzie Weddle of Floyd to defeat Abby Bradley of Castlewood and Kolben Gregg of Greenville, Tennessee, onemup.
Playing in the singles matches on the second nine holes, the Sneds Tour got on the board first as Tanner McPeek defeated David Goode 2 and 1 in match No. 4. However, the Blue Ridge Tour won the next three matches to secure the team victory. Rocky Frye made a clutch three-foot putt on the final hole to maintain his 1 up advantage and defeat Tucker McLain in match No. 5 . Hunter Crist defeated Carter Wolfe 2 and 1 in match No. 6. Ryan Highfield defeated Wyatt Cochran 3 and 2 in match No. 7.
The Sneds Tour registered another point as Abby Bradley defeated McKenzie Weddle 1 up in match No. 8. In the final match, Kolben Gregg and Major Ewing tied. After tallying all of the matches, the Blue Ridge side earned 6 ½ to 2 ½ victory.
Plans are underway for the two junior tours to renew their friendly competition next August.
