Will Shriver, a Green Spring member from Silver Spring, and John Moheyer, a University of Maryland senior, fought off the elements and determined challenges by two foes to gain the final of the 82nd Maryland State Amateur at Old South Country Club in Lothian yesterday.
Working through a daylong rain that was torrential at times, Shriver, 18, a recent Gonzaga graduate headed for Loyola College, put out Mark Cusic, Breton Bay, 5 and 4, and Ted Coon, University of Maryland GC, 1 up.
Moheyer, 22, lost nearly all of a 6-up, six-to-play lead but held on to beat Josh Lester, Hobbit's Glen, 1 up, then thwarted Brendan McKinney, 25, who lives in Timonium and plays from Pine Ridge, 1 up.
Shriver was 1-under par and did not lose a morning hole, then won Nos. 7, 8 and 9 to turn 3 up against Coon. A U.S. Amateur qualifier last year, Coon won the 10th and got even with a 25-foot putt at the 17th. Shriver won the 18th with a superb chip from a bad lie to within 2 feet.
Moheyer birdied the fourth and parred the next three to go 4 up. McKinney scrambled back to cut the deficit in half, won the 16th to stay alive, then finally faltered at the 17th.
Quarterfinals
John Moheyer d. Josh Lester, 1 up; Brendan McKinney d. Terry Burke, 1 up; Ted Coon d. Jim Winner, 4 & 3; Will Shriver d. Mark Cusic, 5 & 4.
Semifinals
Moheyer d. McKinney, 2 & 1; Shriver d. Coon, 1 up.
