Blackwell, Young hold off defending champs to win Int'l 4-Ball
by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: International Four-Ball Championship, Ohoopee Match Club
John Blackwell and Danny Young
No other team could catch John Blackwell and Danny Young at the International Four-Ball. After opening with a 5-under 66 at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., the pair had the advantage for the next two days.
Young and Blackwell followed that opening round with another 66 and closed out their week with a final-round 2-under 69. At 12 under for the week, Blackwell and Young never let defending champions Matt Parziale and Herbie Aikens get close. There was a six shot gap between Blackwell and Young in first and Parziale and Aikens in second.
Blackwell is a mid-amateur from Wilmington, N.C., who played the 2004 U.S. Amateur (in fact, he made a 12-foot putt to beat out J.B. Holmes for a spot in that event) and the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Young, meanwhile, is Miami resident who qualified for the past two U.S. Mid-Amateurs as well as the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur.
After Parziale and Aikens, who put together rounds of 68-69-70 for the week, Tim Hanlon and Scott Butler finished third at 5 under.
Shawn Baker and partner James Scorse were the only other players to get under par for 54 holes. They were 3 under and solo fourth.
In the senior division, Skip Runnels and Gordon Rees even outscored Blackwell and Young. The duo went 13 under par with rounds of 68-65-67, and they needed every shot. Two teams – Buzz Fly and Doug Hanzel plus Marty Rifkin and Pete Williams – were right on their heels at 12 under.
In the super senior division, Richard Woulfe and Paul Simson went 11 under with rounds of 68-67-67 to win by 10 shots. Their score also left them solo fourth in the senior division.
ABOUT THE International Four-Ball
Started in 1957, the International Four-Ball is one of the most prestigious amateur events in the country. The Championship includes Mid-Amateur (ages 25-54), Senior (ages 55-64) and Legends (ages 65 and up) Divisions. All divisions compete in a Four- Ball Stroke Play format which is contested over 3 days and 54 holes. This prestigious event has a rich history, with past champions such as Jack Nicklaus, Deane Beman, Dick Siderowf, Vinnie Giles, Jim Holtgrieve and Downing Gray.
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