#USFourBall Qualifying: Radley Run

Lafayette, Towson tandems thrive in #USFourBall Qualifying

| Scorecards |

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Leopards and Tigers ruled a rainy Radley Run Country Club.

Towson University Hall of Famers Jeff Castle and Billy Wingerd, and Lafayette College seniors Ryan Tall and Kazuki Osawa each combined to fire 8-under 64s Tuesday. The two duos earned a share of medalist honors in a U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier administered by GAP at Radley Run Country Club (par 72, 6,799 yards).

The day’s two alternate positions were decided in a 4-for-2 playoff while fighting darkness after four teams finished at 6-under 66. The first alternate went to Parker Wine (West Chester, Pa.) and Matthew Werner (West Linn, Ore.), while the second was secured by Joe April and Scott Ehrlich of Berwyn, Pa.

A quick-yet-impactful storm arrived at 9:50 a.m. and wiped play off the course for an hour-and-10 minute delay. Play eventually resumed at 11 a.m. Conditions were softened due to the rain, meaning players turned the aggression levels up a notch.

The former Towson standouts began the round in the afternoon. Overall, their card would go on to be marked with identical nines of 4-under 32 including eight birdies. Things began on Radley’s second side with a Castle birdie on No. 12 (par 5, 581 yards) after he hit the green in 2 and two-putted for birdie. Three in a row would drop on Nos. 14-16. On the par-4, 393-yard 14th, Castle walked in a 10 footer for 3. Next, on No. 15 (par 4, 357 yards), Castle drove it next to the green and chipped up to a foot, tapping that in for birdie. The last of the three came on No. 16 (par 5, 560 yards) where Wingerd dropped a six footer for birdie 4.

“We actually never even looked at the board until 18 tee. We felt if we could shoot the same on the back, we’d be good,” said Wingerd.

8 under? More than good.

A 12 footer from Wingerd on No. 1 (par 4, 434 yards) got things started on the back. A beauty of a bird arrived on No. 5 (par 3, 220 yards) after Wingerd’s 5-iron landed on the front of the green and he bombed a 40 footer. Another highlight surfaced immediately after on the par-4, 441-yard 5th where Wingerd got a favorable lie in the greenside rough and stunned with a chip-in 3. The pair’s final red number came on No. 7 (par 5, 518 yards) where Castle got up-and-down with a four footer for the birdie 4 — and the #USFourBall berth.

The Tiger tandem led Towson to consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2004 and 2005. They also both earned Towson’s Male Athlete of the Year honor and were named a Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. On the amateur circuit, both Castle and Wingerd hold two Maryland State Golf Association Mid-Am titles with Wingerd’s coming in 2017 and 2020, while Castle won back-to-back in 2013-14.

“We obviously have some great times at Towson playing together. And then, we both got married, had kids and kind of separated there for a bit,” said Castle, 37, of Baltimore, Md. “When we signed up for today’s Qualifier, we just kind of had been waiting around for it because it was so late. But glad we did.”

A reunion after 15 years turned out to be a terrific idea for Castle and Wingerd. They now belong at the same Hillendale Country Club and have resumed playing as teammates once again. Their recent July win in the 76th W.B. Sullivan Invitational Fourball at Lebanon Country Club proved it was a good choice. Today further emphasized that.

“It feels like a lifetime ago, Towson, and playing in any USGA events. So it’s really cool to be going back and doing that,” said Wingerd, 38, of Nottingham, Md.

A few groups after the Marylanders made noise in the clubhouse with their scorecard, the Lafayette squad rolled in late with an 8 under round of their own. Eight birdies donned the card overall, including six by Osawa.

After making the switch to Radley’s front side — their second — Tall checked his phone to see where things stood.

“I checked my phone right around then, just to kind of reset and see what we needed to do. And then we went on a streak,” said Tall, 21, of Collegeville, Pa.

Tall, the 2018 GAP Junior Boys’ Champion and BMW Philadelphia Amateur Semifinalist, got a birdie to drop on the short No. 3 (par 4, 326 yards) to kickstart the run. He then made way for his teammate and good friend to go scorched earth. Birdies were drained by Osawa on Nos. 6-9 to propel his team to the top. On the par-3 6th, Osawa converted a 20-foot putt from the right fringe. A wedge shot landed to two feet on No. 7. On No. 8 (par 4, 362 yards), he trickled one in from 20 feet above the hole to make birdie 3. And finally, on No. 9 (par 4, 361 yards), Osawa’s 50-degree wedge from 140 yards landed 15 feet from the hole and he made it.

“I think both of us were playing solid, but this ended up being kind of a breakthrough round for Kaz at 6-under par. I’m glad I helped out a little bit there,” said Tall.

The best part about Osawa’s performance today? He did it without his own driver. It was another one of his teammates Titleist boom sticks that was the MVP today.

“I’ve really been struggling off the tee. I have a TaylorMade SIM 2 MAX that I just cannot hit well right now. And today, the [Titleist] was awesome. Maybe I need to buy a new club,” said Osawa, 21, of Belgium. “This was my first USGA event, so it was a pretty good day for us.”

Both Pards’ players are hoping the Titleist is in the bag for the championship proper. The 2022 U.S. Four-Ball will take place May 14-18 at the Country Club of Birmingham (Birmingham, Ala.).

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 300 Member Clubs and 80,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.