Marc Dull continued his successful 2023 campaign with a wire-to-wire victory, concluding Sunday at Bradenton Country Club. Dull would open in 65-69--134, -8 to lead by two strokes over Matt Galloway. With a closing 71, that included bogey's on three of the final five holes, one stroke was the slimmest lead he had all day.
Starting off patiently, Dull's lead became three, as Galloway bogeyed the par 4, 5th. Dull would then extend it to four strokes with his first birdie on the par 3, 6th. After Galloway would bogey 8 & 9, the pack of Blanton Farmer, John Coultas & Chris Kupniewski would all be bunched up at -4, trailing Dull (-9) by five strokes with 9 holes to play. As it is with golf, nothing comes easy. Dull would falter and fail to get up and down on the par 4, 14th after missing the green. He then would three-putt bogey, the par 5, 15th, while both Galloway & Kupniewski (one group ahead), would make birdies, leaving the pair only two strokes behind with two to play. Kupniewski would post par-bogey on 17-18, to post -4, and was no longer a threat.
On the par 5, 17th, playing together, both Dull & Galloway would hit approaches inside 10 feet. Galloway made first, and then Dull answered to hold a two-stroke lead walking up to 18. Hitting first, Galloways hybrid would cut through the wind and finish long left of the green in the greenside bunker. Dull next would stare down his long iron on the 224 yard, closing par 3, playing into a strong left to right breeze, but it would hit the lip of the front right bunker about 5 yards short.
Greenside, Galloway would play first, and blasted the 30 yard bunker shot to within 3 feet and a likely par. Dull's blast would "catch a lot of ball" and roll out some 35 feet past the hole. With the ability to two-putt to win the Championship, Dull would lag it up 6 inches short, allow Galloway & Farmer to complete their rounds, and tap in to the applause of family, Bradenton Country Club members and fellow competitors around the green.
Round 2 Recap
Marc Dull continued his solid play, posting birdies on 17 & 18 to fire a second round 69, 65-69--134 (-8) to lead Matt Galloway (68-68--136, -6) by two. The pair of State Am Champs will be joined in the final pairing by local Blanton Farmer, who sits 3 strokes behind at -5. 66 players posted scores of 151, +9 or better through 36 holes to made the 36 hole cut and play on Sunday.
Round 1 Recap
Marc Dull leads the way by one, after a closing bogey, paired up with 7 birdies; to open in 65 and lead Christopher Kupniewski by one. Bradenton CC member Trent Erb, along with Bill Anderson, Matt Galloway & Blanton Farmer sit 3 back and will try to chase down the leader on moving day!
Bradenton Country Club
The golf course showed off this week. Golf Course superintendent, Jackson Edwards had the greens firm and fast, challenging the players. The club was represented well with three members (Trent Erb, Kevin Lough & Tim Collins) making the cut, and Erb a solo sixth place finish. Director of Golf, Brian Lake and his staff treated all players like members, and nearly every player in the top 20 immediately redeemed their merchandise credit in the golf shop. The FSGA looks forward to continuing it's relationship with Bradenton next summer as the club celebrates it's Centennial for a number of events, highlighted by the Amateur Match Play Championship in early August!
