It’s tournament time! The VSGA championship season opens on Monday, April 11 and Golf in the Commonwealth has you covered with a full preview of the championship season. Tournament department staffers Josh Coates, Amanda Braun and Kent Holubar join host Chris Lang to discuss the high points of this year’s championship schedule, with insight into some of the venues and new things players will see at championships in 2022.
Apr 07, 2022•44 min•Season 2Ep. 4
We’re releasing this installment on Thursday, March 10, the opening round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. We’ll hear from someone on the ground in Florida, past VSGA intern Daniel Stamper who now works for Trackman as a Tour Operator. Daniel takes us through his long journey from the state of Washington to VCU’s golf team, the value of the connections he made along the way in VCU’s Center For Sports Leadership, and the day-to-day life of running Trackman equipment on the PGA Tour. H...
Mar 10, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 3
For our second episode of 2022, we’re talking with Michael Brennan, the 2019 VSGA Amateur champion who recently had the opportunity to play in the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational after winning the Collegiate Showcase at Riviera Country Club. It was another accomplishment in a career filled with them. Now a sophomore at Wake Forest, Brennan has won four individual collegiate titles, and all indications are that he’s just getting started.
Feb 25, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 2
For our first episode of 2022, we catch up again with VSGA manager of championships and junior golf Kent Holubar to see how his Youth on Course incentive trip to Pebble Beach went. Kent was on the podcast in 2021 prior to the 100-Hole Hike, and thanks to hitting the incredible benchmark of $10,000 raised for Youth on Course in Virginia, he earned a trip to California in December to play several iconic courses and spend time with folks from YOC national. Kent also talks about the upcoming VSGA Ju...
Feb 09, 2022•19 min•Season 2Ep. 1
For our final episode of 2021 we thought it appropriate to provide kind of an all-encompassing look at the VSGA and who better to offer that than our Executive Director, Matt Smiley. Many listeners have asked to hear a conversation with Matt over the course of the year so here you are. That being said, we actually had this conversation back in the fall as we were getting ready for the 100-Hole Hike at The Hollows to raise money for Youth on Course here in Virginia. The hike ended up raising abou...
Dec 30, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 46
This week we’re sharing David Partridge’s Virginia Golf Hall of Fame induction speech. You may know David’s name from our Virginia Golfer magazine where he’s the author of our recurring Great Holes feature, or as a five-time VSGA player of the year winner or, as you’ll hear from Dottie Pepper, David is the player with the third most VSGA wins behind only Keith Decker and Vinny Giles. Thanks to our friends at Hourigan Construction, Lansing Building Products, Markel, MarshMcLennan Agency, TSW and ...
Dec 23, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 45
This week we have audio from this fall’s Virginia Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Kandi Kessler Comer was inducted with the class of 2020 and is currently the Director of Golf at Orchard Creek and has been recognized as a top teacher in Virginia by Golf Digest and as a US Kids Top 50 Junior Instructor. Special thanks to our friends at Hourigan Construction, Lansing Building Products, Markel, Marsh McLennan Agency, TSW and Virginia Green for their sponsorship and support of the Virginia Gol...
Dec 16, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Shopping for clubs at local thrift stores was the most affordable way for a then 22-year-old to get into the game. That quickly became an obsession of searching for bargain clubs that he’d then rebuild and play with himself or sell to others. Five years later, the Goodwill Golfing Instagram account is informing new golfers on clubs from the past and scratching the itch for hipsters looking for niche brands.
Dec 09, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 43
This week we're returning to our conversations with women who qualified for the 2021 US Women’s Mid-Am and we’re talking with Alexandra Austin. Alex was medalist at the Fredericksburg Country Club qualifier making birdie on the 18th hole to shoot a one-under par 71. Alex was also the runner-up in the 2021 VSGA Women’s Amateur and earlier in the season partnered with Lauren Greenlief to win their second VSGA Women’s Four-Ball. In this conversation, Alex shares her journey in golf from growing up,...
Dec 02, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 42
It's Giving Tuesday 2021 and your opportunity to have an impact on golf in Virginia! Visit VSGA.org/engage/donate to make a donation today.
Nov 30, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 41
We’re returning this week to our conversations with women who qualified for the 2021 US Women’s Mid-Am and this week we’re talking with Kristine Rohrbaugh. Kristine is a Richmond native who attended the College of William and Mary and has really been in and around golf most of her life with her father having been a professional and owning a couple golf stores in the Richmond area. Kristine shares the fascinating perspective of a thirty something female golfer who works a full-time job, practices...
Nov 18, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 40
This week we're sharing a conversation focused on our veterans, their service to our country and involvement with golf. That led us to Mark Lynch the PGA professional and Vice President of Golf Operations for the First Tee of Greater Richmond and US Army veteran. Mark shares how he enlisted shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001 and through his deployments in Africa began to find golf as a great way to support his mental health. We also get into how he came to Richmond and hear updates ...
Nov 10, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 39
This week we’re talking with Andrea Miller. Andrea qualified for the US Senior Women’s Open this year and in VSGA play won her second consecutive VSGA Senior Women’s Amateur title. For the next few weeks we’re going to be sharing conversations with the Virginia women who competed in the US Women’s Mid-Am in September. Qualifying for a USGA championship is always a big deal and the diversity of age and work / playing balance the five Virginia women who qualified is fascinating…and they’re all wom...
Nov 04, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 38
This week we’re sharing a conversation Matt had over the summer with Abby Liebenthal. Abby’s full-time job is the Senior Manager of US Open Fan Engagement for the USGA, a position she’s been in for almost the last two years. She’s been in the golf industry her entire career including time at Acushnet and the Tiger Woods Foundation but her side hustle is what we’re really talking about in this conversation and that’s the non-profit she founded almost three years ago, Fore the Ladies. For the Ladi...
Oct 28, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 37
We're now a full month after the 100-Hole Hike and sharing our conversation with Lance Lemon. Lance and Matt Pochily have been friends for a few years leading up to the hike and had the chance to playing the first 36 holes or so with each other during the event. While everyone had a different strategy for carrying their bag and making it through the day, Lance alternated from carrying his bag on his should to carrying like a briefcase. In this conversation we talk with Lance about his growth in ...
Oct 21, 2021•26 min•Ep. 36
Just a couple weeks after US Women’s Mid-Am in which five Virginia women competed at Berkley Hall in South Carolina, it seemed appropriate that we finally catch up with the 2015 champion, Virginia’s own Lauren Greenlief. While many listeners have seen or heard of Lauren in some way, this interview offers a different look at her journey to college golf at UVA and why an amateur at her level chooses to stay that way and not pursue playing professionally.
Oct 14, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 35
This week we’re returning to meet another one of hikers from September’s 100-Hole Hike and will bounce between hiker profiles and other relevant Virginia golf interviews in the coming weeks. This week we’re talking with hiker Rachel Collins who came down from the northern Virginia area to join us at The Hollows. Rachel married into a big golf family and after not too long got into the game herself and during the pandemic dove all in and has ultimately built a business around it with her company ...
Oct 07, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 34
We’re taking a quick break from the meet the hiker series to celebrate the recent Virginia Golf Hall of Fame ceremony where we inducted seven amazing individuals who have left their mark on golf in Virginia over the course of their careers, a few of which are even still shaping the game, Kandi Comer, Wayne Jackson, David Partridge, Richard Smith and Wynsol Spencer are all members of the 2020 class which was delayed induction due to the pandemic and Moss Beecroft and David King are members of the...
Sep 30, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 33
This is the fifth in our meet the hiker series and an opportunity to meet our hiker Brian Wright…Brian was one of our at-large hikers who voluntarily signed up for this challenge. Brian lives in the Richmond area and recently joined Lakeside Park Club…when we first put out the opportunity to sign up as a hiker to the VSGA membership, Brian was the first onboard and has been super gung-ho throughout the process…stay tuned after the break too because the first part of the conversation is before th...
Sep 23, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 32
This is the fourth in our meet the hiker series and an opportunity to meet our hiker Glenn Gray…Glenn is the most veteran of our hikers with this being the fourth time he’s participated in the 100-Hole Hike. Before we get to the conversation though, we want to thank our amazing sponsors and donors who’ve helped us raise over 30 thousand dollars right now to support Youth on Course efforts here in Virginia. Obviously walking 100-holes in a day takes strength and endurance and our friends at Adams...
Sep 16, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 31
This is the third in our meet the hiker series and an opportunity to meet our hiker Don Bostic. To-date Don is leading the way in our fundraising and if he exceeds $10,000 raised will earn a trip to Pebble Beach with other hikers from across the country who reach the same benchmark. Don actually lives in Florida but is coming to Virginia to hike and support the VSGA which is amazing! He’s the executive director of The Friars Golf Club, a club that hosts events at courses across the country with ...
Sep 09, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 30
This is the second in our meet the hiker series and an opportunity to meet our hiker Josh Stueve. Before we get to Josh, we do want to thank our amazing sponsors and donors who’ve helped us raise over $23,000 right now to support Youth on Course efforts here in Virginia. Obviously walking 100-holes in a day takes strength and endurance and our friends at Adams Performance have come on as our official fitness, training and recovery sponsor. You may recall me having Dr. Kyle Adams on the podcast e...
Sep 02, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Part of the fundraising effort for Youth on Course is the annual 100-Hole Hike where staff members, volunteers and friends play 100 holes of golf in a day, walking, and raise money from their friends, family, colleagues, networks, etc to support Youth on Course here in Virginia. Kent Holubar is one of our hikers. Kent has been with the VSGA for more than a dozen years and as manager of junior golf for most of that time, Kent has a unique perceptive on the value and importance of growing the game...
Aug 26, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this bonus episode of Golf in the Commonwealth, we have interviews with Bryce Corbett, a rising sophomore whose final round 62 tied the competitive course record and earned him a third-place finish. We also have a conversation with Independence Golf Club's Director of Golf, Drew Clements. Drew and his staff managed so many of the operations that made the 2021 State Open a success and finally we have a conversation with 2021 State Open of Virginia Champion Evan Beck. Evan is now a two-time win...
Jul 19, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 27
The 2021 State Open of Virginia presented by Virginia Lottery began Friday at Independence Golf Club. The field of 144 had great course conditions and scored well on the fast greens. Post round interviews include 2020 champion Mark Lawrence, Jr., 2010 Champion Evan Beck. Lawrence and Beck are both one shot off the lead held by our third interviewee, Robb Kinder. Our final interview of the episode is with PGA Tour journeyman Dick Mast. Weekend television coverage by WTVR CBS 6 News. The 2021 Stat...
Jul 17, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 26
The VSGA's Matt Pochily and Chris Lang visit with five competitors in this week's State Open of Virginia presented by Virginia Lottery to hear about the state of their games, how the course has changed since the event was last held at Independence and what to expect at the event. In this episode, you'll hear from four-time State Open champion Jay Woodson, former Director of Golf at Independence Golf Club Elliott Wilson, 2010 State Open champion Evan Beck, 2019 State Open champion Jack Montague a...
Jul 15, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Matt Pochily and Chris Lang of the VSGA breakdown the bracket for the opening round of matches in the 108th VSGA Amateur Championship hosted at the Country Club of Petersburg.
Jun 30, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 24
We’re sharing this on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 after the first day of qualifying for the 108th VSGA Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Petersburg. The first round saw 36 players under par, the low 32 players through 36 holes of qualifying will advance to match play. For this episode we’re sharing some of the interviews with did with players after the first round. We’ll start with Mehrbaan Singh, who’s six-under 66 put him in a tie for second. Mehrbaan is tied with Teddy Zinsner at six-und...
Jun 29, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 23
For this week’s episode we have a conversation Matt Pochily had with Bill Keene, the superintendent at Blacksburg Country Club. We first talked with Bill in the spring of 2020 as Covid quarantine was beginning and golf was booming, at the time, Bill was the president of the Virginia Chapter of Golf Course Superintendents Association and we did an Instagram live on some of the precautions superintendents were taking by putting pool noodles in the holes, removing rakes from bunkers and others. Thi...
Jun 24, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 22
This week we had the pleasure of talking with the head women’s golf coach at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Mallory Hetzel. Mallory has a record of playing at the highest levels from her time at the University of Georgia to the Futures Tour after and then got into coaching but has received her amateur status back and continued to compete winning back-to-back Carolina's Golf Association Women's Match Play Championship titles in 2014 and 2015 before coming to Virginia and ODU shortly thereafte...
Jun 17, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 21
