Oberlin, Ohio – On the first Saturday of May, members of the Oberlin College golf team played against select members of the Oberlin College faculty and staff in the annual “Prof-AM” Tournament.
The format was a challenging one that required the competitors to play six holes as a scramble, six holes of alternate shot and six holes of best ball. The constant change made it difficult for the players to maintain a rhythm. Regardless, some solid golf was on display by both teams. The day saw the best matches since the inception of the Prof-Am with two matches being decided on the 18th hole, but ultimately the Professors came away with a 3-0 win.
Jordan Sutter & Jeff Witmer partnered to compete against Charlie Landsman & Assistant Golf Coach Joe Miller
The A team of Sutter & Witmer did not disappoint Captain Robert Thompson as they were able to earn a full point with a 2-up win versus the team of Landsman and Miller representing the college team. Landsman wraps up his college golf career having played several solid shots throughout the match including a solo birdie on No. 3. The match was extended on hole 17 when Miller parred the hole heading to 18 1 down. Witmer sealed the deal on 18 when he drained a 10-foot downhill putt to earn the point. Throughout the day, the iron play of Sutter and great putting from Wittmer were solid allowing the tandem to shoot in the 70's, an impressive score considering the format.
Robert Thompson & Roland Baumann vs. Nathan Gonzales & Zachary Boozer
This match seemed to be a seesaw battle throughout as the momentum of the match turned on a dime several times. Gonzales and Boozer battled and had opportunities despite the Profs having posted two birdies in the round. The match may have turned on No. 15 when a good shot from the college paring came up just short beforeThompson turned the knife by draining a slippery left-to-right breaker. The Thompson-Baumann team took the 1-up lead into 18 where they held on for the win and earned a full point for the professors.
Bill Barlow & Mitch Gillam vs Cristopher Stott & Zachary Mathes
Some solid scramble play by the Barlow-Gillam team and a hot-putting Bill Barlow was turned back time and time again by the great short game play and putting of Stott and Mathes. Despite an incredible second shot by Stott on No. 6 Barlow-Gillam tapped in for par and a 1up lead heading to he alternate shot portion of the round. Some erratic alternate shot play by both teams had the match all-square through 9 holes. A win on No. 11 matched by a great drive by Barlow and solid approach shot by Gillam allowed the twosome to go 2-up after 12. The next three holes were halved and when a tap in par was conceded on 16 the Barlow-Gillam team had a 3 & 2 win.
This event concluded the season for the Oberlin golf team.
