Amateur's first round delayed by weather

June 15, 2000|By AL DITZEL

A mid-afternoon downpour halted play in the 2000 Maryland State Amateur Golf tournament Thursday at Fountain Head Country Club Course.

Only half of the 120 golfers completed play, with University of Maryland's Keith Unikel carding a 5-under-par 66, including a 30 on the back nine, to take the clubhouse lead.

Four golfers have completed their qualifying round at par or better. Miguel Rivera of Maryland Golf had a 68, Nick Angelo of Rolling Road had a 69 and Joe Records of Hillendale had a 71.

Today's two rounds of match play will begin after the other 60 finish their qualifying round, as well as any possible playoffs. That's, of course, weather permitting.

"I don't even want to look at the forecast,'' said Maryland State Golf Association president Roger Finn. The forecast does call for sun today.

"We'll try to get as much in as we can,'' Finn said. "What we can't get in (today), we'll pick up with Saturday.''

The tournament begins with 120 golfers on the first day with 31 golfers, plus last year's champion (Brian Hastings), moving into the second round, which is match play.

"Brian played today, more or less as a practice round,'' Finn said. "He automatically qualifies for match play as the No. 1 seed.''

Today's schedule has two rounds of match play with the field dwindling from 32 to 16 to eight players. Saturday's round is 18 holes of match play setting up Sunday's final - 36 holes of match play.

Scattered thunderstorms are in Saturday's and Sunday's forecast, according to the Weather Channel. All rounds have 8 a.m. tee-off times.

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