Father, son to vie for RGA title

As soon as Brock Kelley's birdie putt nestled into the cup on the first extra hole, Kelley's father, Tim, turned to a bystander and said:

"This is a Father's Day dream. My present is anything inside 20 feet is good."

By the time all the carts made it back to the scoreboard at Richmond Country Club, the good distance was up to 25 feet, then "If I hit a green, it's good."

A Richmond Golf Association first takes place today when father and son -- Tim is 53; Brock 29 -- play for the men's amateur title. They tee off at 8 a.m.

Brock is a past city amateur champion (2006). This is the first championship match for Tim, but he's won the RGA Senior twice (he's reigning champ) and the RGA Mid-Amateur (twice).

They have teamed to win the RGA Two-Man Championship (this spring in a playoff), the RGA's Nelson Broach Memorial (last fall) and three Galloway Father-Son titles at Hermitage Country Club.

Tim Kelley's father and mother "will be stoked," Tim said. "When I talked to them [Texas, Friday night] and told them there was a chance [we] could meet in the final, the order was, 'Well, get'er done.'"

Each got it done a different way in yesterday's sweltering heat that was helped some by a gusting breeze. Both had to win two matches.

Tim defeated Steve Serrao 3 and 2 in the morning quarterfinals and eliminated 20-year-old Timmy Osterbind, a former RGA Junior champion from Manchester High, 5 and 4 in the semifinals.

Osterbind, who is in the professional golf management program at Arizona State University, defeated Corbin Smith to reach the semifinals for the first time. He sank a difficult chip shot to win the first hole with Kelley and apologized for doing so, but he missed a couple of short putts, and Kelley took control.

"I could tell he was a little nervous over some putts. He hadn't been there before. I've been in his shoes," T. Kelley said.

Father didn't let his mind wander to his son's semifinal match with tournament medalist Jeff Bostic.

"I was interested, but I got into the mindset not to give stuff away and get more aggressive. At my age, I needed to finish as quickly as I could."

B. Kelley ousted three-time champion Glenn Mullian 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals. Kelley is 4-0 in head-to-head matches with Mullian.

Bostic, 51, advanced with a victory over 18-year-old reigning RGA Junior champion John Phillips, and built a 2-up lead over B. Kelley through six holes. Errant tee shots cost Bostic on Nos. 7-9, and Kelley won all three, two of them with birdies, to turn 1-up.

Bostic just missed a hole in one on the par-3 11th and regained the lead at No. 13 when he scrambled for par and Kelley three-putted. A three-putt by Bostic at No. 15 brought the match back to all square. Bostic birdied the 16th and bogeyed the 17th, and the pair came to 18 tied.

Bostic made a par at 18. Kelley miss-hit his second shot but saved par with a spectacular pitch and 4-foot putt.

On the playoff hole, Kelley rolled in a hard breaking 10-foot birdie try to win.

"I'm very glad he made it and put me out of misery," said Bostic, whose lengthy downhill birdie putt had stopped 6 or 7 feet short of the cup.

Neither father nor son will let the other win.

"If we both play well, it won't matter who wins," B. Kelley said. "I wanted to win to face him, but I knew I would either be playing for him or caddying for him. I will try to beat him."

Quarterfinals : Timmy Osterbind d. Corbin Smith 4 and 2; Tim Kelley d. Steve Serrao 3 and 2; Brock Kelley d. Glenn Mullian 3 and 2; Jeff Bostic d. John Phillips 3 and 2.

Semifinals : T. Kelley d. Osterbind 5 and 4; B. Kelley d. Bostic 19 holes.

Today's final (8 a.m.): T. Kelley vs. B. Kelley.
FIRST FLIGHT

Quarterfinals : Tony Good d. Bill Smiley 7 and 6; Jason Andrews d. Matthew Teachey 4 and 3; Robert Nussey d. Greg Gerczak 5 and 3; Larry Loving d. Van Williams 6 and 4.

Semifinals : Good d. Andrews 6 and 4; Loving d. Nussey 3 and 1.

Today's final (8:10): Good vs. Loving.
SECOND FLIGHT

Quarterfinals : Jeff Fiebelkorn d. Bert Wilson 20 holes; Dustin Kelley d. Cameron Warner 20 holes; Matt Paciocco d. Ryan Pratt 6 and 5; Mitch Bagley d. Ed Schumacher 4 and 3.

Semifinals : Kelley d. Fiebelkorn 3 and 2; Paciocco d. Bagley 5 and 4.

Today's final (8:20): Kelley (no relation to tournament finalists) vs. Paciocco.
THIRD FLIGHT

Quarterfinals : Chris Corrada d. Nathan Barbuto 5 and 4; Britt Parnell d. Chris Lieberman 3 and 2; Paul Peterson d. Rusty Breeden 2 and 1; Jeff Smiley d. Jay Pickus 3 and 2.

Semifinals : Parnell d. Corrada 3 and 2; Peterson (seven birdies in 13 holes) d. Smiley 7 and 5.

Today's final (8:30): Parnell vs. Peterson.