How dominant was Ross Funderburke in winning the 109th Virginia State Golf Association Amateur Championship on Friday at Cedar Point Club? Consider his shot on the par-3 12th hole in the afternoon session of the scheduled 36-hole title match.
Holding a commanding lead, Funderburke stepped to the tee on the 150-yard hole, grabbed 9-iron from his bag and hit a high, lofting shot that kissed the back fringe of the green behind the front-left hole location. It slowly trickled back, coming within inches of a walk-off ace against fellow finalist Grayson Wood.
When the two players walked to the green, Wood—whose ball was in the back right bunker—cracked a wry smile and simply asked Funderburke, “Do you want to putt that?”
“Not particularly,” Funderburke laughed. Wood conceded, scooped the ball from its landing spot about a foot from the hole and tossed it back to Funderburke. When Wood failed to hole his bunker shot, the two players shook hands, Funderburke’s 7-and-6 victory in the final complete.
“That would have been crazy,” Funderburke said. “My first hole in one was actually in the Junior Match Play and it got me back to 2 down. It would have been a little different to hit one to win. That would have been absolutely insane. I would have had no idea what to do. I definitely would have felt bad for Grayson, since he would have had to make it to extend the match.”
