Strickland's 66 Helps Georgia To Three-Shot Lead Midway Through First Round

By David Shefter, USGA

St. Albans, Mo. – Mark Strickland recovered from a bogey-bogey start on Wednesday to shoot a 5-under-par 66 and help Georgia to an early three-stroke lead over four other teams midway through the first round of the 2009 USGA Men’s State Team Championship being conducted on the 7,150-yard, par-71 Lewis and Clark Course at the Country Club of St. Albans.

It was the second consecutive 66 for the 40-year-old from Woodstock in the Men’s State Team Championship. Strickland posted that number in the final round of the 2007 MST to help Georgia finish one stroke behind champion Texas at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.

Georgia, seeking its first MST title, also received a 1-over 72 from 37-year-old David Noll Jr. for a 4-under-par 138 team score in the 3-count-2 format. Jeff Knox had a non-scoring 74.

Defending champion Texas, 2003 winner Tennessee and two-time champion Minnesota (1997 and 2001) were among several teams with afternoon starting times.

Illinois, led by a 3-under 68 by 23-year-old Carlos Sainz of Elgin, posted 141 along with Pennsylvania, which received a 2-under 69 from 2009 USA Walker Cup team member Nathan Smith, 31, of Pittsburgh. Nevada and Rhode Island also finished at 141.

Dick Wenzel paced Nevada with a 1-under 70, while 53-year-old Brady Exber and 35-year-old Joe Sanders each carded 71s. Rhode Island got a 1-under 70 from 24-year-old Bobby Leopold and a 71 from 22-year-old Brad Valois, a recent University of Rhode Island graduate.

Strickland regrouped after his two early bogeys by recording an up-and-down par from a greenside bunker at three and then recording four consecutive birdies from No. 5. He added another birdie at the par-4 10th with a 30-foot chip-in from the fringe.

“That was good, especially after making the four birdies in a row,” said Strickland, who regained his amateur status in 1998 after spending five years playing professional golf in South America, Asia and on the NGA Hooters Tour. “It was just one of those days. I hit it well and I made a bunch of putts.”

Although the Georgia men have never won this championship, their female counterparts have registered two USGA Women’s State Team Championship titles, including earlier this month at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind. For the first time since the biennial events’ inception in 1995, the Men’s and Women’s State Team Championships were not held at the same time or in the same city.

But Strickland did say the men’s squad received a call from the Georgia State Golf Association right after the women took the title on Sept. 3.

“They were saying, ‘OK boys, it’s your time,’ ” said Strickland. “At breakfast, we said anything under par today and we’ll take it.”

Conditions certainly were conducive for scoring. The 1.3 inches of rain the course received Monday night softened the greens and without any wind, good scores could be posted.

Sainz, a recent Mississippi State University graduate, said the morning starting time gave him a great opportunity to shoot a low number and he took full advantage. His 68, along with a 73 from 34-year-old John Ehrgott of Peoria got Illinois off to a strong start. Sainz played his final eight holes in three under par.

“I hit a couple of good iron shots today and I didn’t capitalize, but for the most part, I was pretty steady,” said Sainz, who tied for 10th at a PGA Tour pre-qualifying tournament last week in Beaumont, Calif., which advanced him to next month’s first stage of Q-School. “There’s a lot of golf left. Today you just had to put yourself in position.”

Smith, coming off the euphoria of the USA’s Walker Cup win 10 days ago at Merion Golf Club, continued his strong play with a three-birdie, one-bogey effort. Both of his teammates – 22-year-old Mike Van Sickle of Wexford and 47-year-old Sean Knapp of Oakmont – each carded 1-over 72s.

Smith was three under through 15, but watched his wedge approach to 16 skip past the flag and into the rough where he failed to get up and down for par. It was the only blemish on his scorecard.

“There are so many good teams here, so we are just hoping to hang in with them,” said Smith of his Pennsylvania squad, which has never finished better than sixth (2005) in this event. “We’ve got a really good team and we’ll just try to keep it going [on Thursday]. Fifty-four holes is a sprint.”

The Men’s State Team Championship continues Thursday and concludes Friday.

David Shefter is a USGA Digital Media staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.