Saturday is the time for area golfers to return to action in the 2020 Richmond City Amateur Tournament.
Highland Lake Golf Course is the site of the opening day of the 89th annual event.
The first participants are slated to tee off at 7:30 a.m.
Day two of the affair will be contested at Forest Hills Country Club and Elks County Club on Sunday.
Matt Herig won the event in 2019 and he is joined by Andrew Coleman, Ryan Chalfant, Jeff Mullin and Skip Runnels as returning champions.
“Last year was finally my year,” Herig said. “I’ve been trying to win one for several years. I think my first city tournament was in 1993.”
“There are so many good players around this area and its not easy tournament to win,” Herig added. “Anytime I can put my name with a man that has won it so many times (Skip Runnels), I know I’ve done something great.”
A winner of 18 championships in the city amateur, Runnels was able to watch Herig edge two-time winner Tyler Pearson in last year’s finish, after he won the Senior Flight.
“Our competition was over, so we had time to watch the final hole of the championship flight,” Runnels said.
“Matt Herig had a two shot lead coming into the final hole,” Runnels continued. “He got into a little bit of trouble off the tee and made a nice recovery shot, but he was stilled faced a difficult shot. Tyler Pearson had hot two good shots and he was up very close to the green, but with a difficult chip for eagle.”
“Matt hit his approach shot to about five feet. he hit a wonderful shot and then Tyler proceeded to chip his in for eagle. There was a nice crowd and it was just electrifying. It went right in the hole. You could see the air deflate out of Matt.”
However, Herig would recover quickly.
“I’m standing on the par five 18th hole with a two-shot lead,” Herig said. “I told myself just make par and you win. Man was I wrong.”
“I missed my tee shot left, so had to lay up on my second shot,” Herig went on to say. “Tyler’s drive was perfect and he had a green light to go for the green. His second shot ended up by the green on the left side. I had a 100-yard shot for my third and put it to eight feet away. Tyler gets up and chips in for eagle.”
“Probably one of the best chip shots I’ve seen under the circumstances. I couldn’t believe it, but didn’t let it get to me. I knew if I make my putt I win. I was totally zoned in and got up and drained it for the win.”
What about a repeat for Herig?
“I think a lot of the pressure I’ve put on myself has hurt me in the past, but since I have one under my belt I can go out and just play golf and have fun,” he said. “I’m not expecting much this year because I haven’t been playing a lot of golf, but I have to defend my title. Forest Hills can be a tough challenge sometimes. I am going to go out and have fun and see what happens. Sometimes that’s when I play my best golf.”
Mullin is a two-time winner, who will be returning to the event.
“I haven’t played in the city the last four years because I was coaching my daughter in basketball,” said Mullin, who won in 2006 and 2009. “I’ve been playing a lot more golf this year and hopefully the competitive juices kind of flow for me. It’s about just getting out there and having a chance.”
Chalfant picked up his victory in 2016.
“I am happy to see Jeff Mullin competing again,” Chalfant said. “I have had the opportunity to play Highland often this year and it is in very good condition. I’m looking forward to the competition.”
See the entire entry list with tee times here.