Kansas Reigns As U.S.
State Team Champions
Bryan Norton carded a 3-under-par 68 in the
final round of the USGA’s State Team Champi-
onship, guiding Kansas to a four-stroke victory
over Rhode Island, Florida and North Carolina at
Mayacama Golf Club in California’s wine country.
Kansas, which started the day tied with Geor-
gia for the 36-hole lead, posted a final-round 143
( 1 over) on the 6,726-yard, Jack Nicklaus design
to finish the 54-hole competition at 2-under 423.
Charlie Stevens of Wichita and Tyler Shelton of
Fairway each posted 74s, with one being dis-
carded in the three-count-two format.
Georgia, meanwhile, struggled in the final
round, posting a 10-over 152 to share ninth
position. The disappointment was shown on the
faces of all three players entering the scoring
area adjacent to the 18th green. David Noll Jr.,
of Dothan, who had a course-record 65 on
Wednesday, carded a 77 and Adam Cooper
added a 75. Doug Hanzel’s 79
was tossed out.
Florida, which
started the day
five strokes back,
made an early run
at Kansas on the
first nine, shooting
4-under par. But
only Don Bell man-
aged to finish with a
sub-par score, carding
an impressive 67. Jon
Veneziano added a 74. It was the
Florida team’s best finish since the
inaugural event in 1995 at Lake Nona, where it
was solo second to champion Virginia.
North Carolina, which also tied for second in
2003, posted a 1-under 140 behind a 70 by Scott
Harvey and Uly Grisette’s 71.
Rhode Island produced its best finish ever
in the State Team after sharing fourth last
year with South Carolina. Left-hander Charlie
Blanchard rallied for a second-nine 33 and a 71
and Bobby Leopold posted a 70. Illinois and Ala-
bama shared fifth at 2-over 428, one stroke be-
hind Virginia, which was 6 under for nine holes
before falling back to shoot 2-under 140, thanks
to a 67 from Scott Shingler. Shingler finished one
stroke behind Norton for medalist honors. With
his 68, Norton posted a 5-under 138.
Defending champion Pennsylvania,
which got a 72 from two-time U.S.
Mid-Amateur champion Nathan
Smith, tied for ninth at 433, while
host California, behind an even-par
71 from Harry Rudolph III, garnered
solo eighth.
With the course baked in
sunshine all day and just a
gentle breeze, conditions
were ideal for scoring.
Eight teams managed
under-par totals,
doubling the total
(four) from the first
two rounds. Eighteen
individuals broke par,
equaling the number a
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