RICHMOND, Ind. – Family is an important part of golf as parents pass the love of the game down to their children.
Such was the case during the 89th annual Richmond City Amateur Championship that was completed on Sunday at Forest Hills Country Club and Elks Country Club.
Ryan Chalfant won his second title sharing the victory with his 13-year old son and caddie Hayden.
“This was really cool to have him on the bag today and we end up getting it done,” said Chalfant, who grabbed his first win back in 2016.
“I hope that he takes a step in his game that he can compete next year,” Chalfant continued. “I’d really like to caddie for him instead of playing. I enjoy watching him play so much.”
Chalfant’s son was proud to help the winner, who carded a 76 for a two-day total of 144.
“Yes, I am,” said Hayden, who is in the eighth grade at Northeastern. “I need to get my game up before I’m ready to join in this.”
The championship flight at Forest Hills came down to the final hole as Jake Miller finished one shot behind Chalfant at 77 with a two-day total of 145.
“Hats off to Jake,” Chalfant said. “He’s got such a future ahead of him. I will anxiously be following his career as he moves along. He’s a darn good player.”
There were some early rain drops and a lot of wind in the mix for the entire field.
“It was the most difficult time that I’ve ever had playing this golf course with the conditions,” he said. “It was hard to get it close.”
As dark clouds began to cover the area early in the day, trouble was on the horizon for Chalfant as his fourth tee shot landed in the trees.
“I hit my second shot over into (hole) six,” Chalfant said. “I hit a 240-yard rescue club onto the green and that changed the day. It just flipped it immediately. It kind of settled me down a little bit.”
However, there was still No. 15 with a lead.
“I didn’t hit a bad shot on that hole and I made a double bogey,” Chalfant said. “It’s just golf sometimes. The greens are terrifying at times.”
Defending champ Matt Herig was third with a 147, while Garrett Schuler came in fourth at 152. Kyle Ingram and Carl Runnels tied for fifth at 154.
The A Flight took place at the Elks with Eric Davis edging Ryan Seal 149-150. Davis was two shots back of Seal and Eric Evans and Rick Killion as the day began.
Evans finished third at 154, while Killion was fourth with a 155. John Green rounded out the top five at 158.
Andy Craig held on to win the B Flight at Forest Hills as he outlasted Scott Sims 178-180. Chuck Singleton was third at 183.
The biggest comeback of the event came in the C Flight at Elks as Corey Jurgens had an 84 to erase a 10-shot deficit for an overall total of 178.
First round leader Darin McFarland finished second at 181. Travis Turner and Brad Barrett tied for third at 183.
Mark Killion won the D Flight at the Elks at a 189 after being second on the first day.
Also at Forest Hills, Skip Runnels won the Senior Flight for the second year in a row with 143.
Richmond City Amateur Tournament Final Scores
Championship Flight
Ryan Chalfant 68-76 (144)
Jake Miller 68-77 (145)
Matt Herig 71-76 (147)
Garrett Schuler 73-79 (152)
Kyle Ingram 77-77 (154)
Carl Runnels 75-79 (154)
Andrew Coleman 75-80 (155)
Andrew McCashland 78-77 (155)
Ryder Cate 80-76 (156)
Caleb Cochran 76-81 (157)
Geno Pieroni 77-83 (160)
Stu Roll 78-85 (163)
Steve Bishop 81-82 (163)
Shane Bradley 82-83 (165)
Jeremy Delucio 73-92 (165)
A.J. Walton 76-89 (165)
Billy Mullin 84-82 (166)
Sam Roberts 77-89 (166)
Hunter Morgan 79-88 (167)
Bailey Moistner 89-82 (171)
Kyle Woolums 97-87 (184)
John Glenn 83-WD (WD)
Noah Reisner 83-WD (WD)
David Owens 85-WD (WD)
Kiante Fahie 90-WD (WD)
Jeff Mullin WD
Senior Flight
Skip Runnels 66-77 (143)
Mac Klein 81-91 (172)
Larry Swihart, Sr. 87-89 (176)
Ken Arnold 92-100 (192)
Pat Burroughs 93-109 (202)
A Flight
Eric Davis 77-72 (149)
Ryan Seal 75-75 (150)
Eric Evans 75-79 (154)
Rick Killion 75-80 (155)
John Green 78-80 (158)
Rocky Grieswell 78-84 (162)
Brady Moore 82-82 (164)
Butch Schlotterbeck 86-87 (173)
Sean Shelton 87-92 (179)
Scott Bell 89-91 (180)
Seth Biava 84-WD (WD)
Adam Culbertson WD
B Flight
Andy Craig 83-95 (178)
Scott Sims 85-95 (180)
Chuck Singleton 86-97 (183)
Justin Carter 93-90 (183)
Joey Stiller 90-94 (184)
Glenn Gibson 98-88 (186)
Mike Dixon 87-100 (187)
David White 86-105 (191)
Adams Mills 94-98 (192)
Terry Bunch 89-105 (194)
C Flight
Corey Jurgens 94-84 (178)
Darin McFarland 84-97 (181)
Travis Turner 86-97 (183)
Brad Barrett 88-95 (183)
Damon Huntington 88-98 (186)
Wade Slifer 96-91 (187)
Luther Northington 92-96 (188)
Glen Slifer 93-97 (190)
D Flight
Mark Killion 96-93 (189)
Jackson Cook 89-105 (194)
Ryan Fox 103-101 (204)