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2009 Tournament Scheduled for October 22-24
Richmond, VA, February 28 - The Willow Oaks Fall Invitational Tournament Committee announced today that the 2009 tournament will be contested October 22-24. Primary practice rounds will be played Thursday, October 22, with Player Registration and the Annual Chili bowl event that evening. Practice rounds will be available earlier in the month by prior arrangement (details to follow). The 1st round of competition will be held Friday, October 23, with a cocktail party and dinner that evening. The final round will be contested on Saturday, October 24, with Awards Ceremony immediately upon the conclusion of play. Applications and entry forms along with more detailed information will be sent out this summer. The Committee also announced that based on many player comments and significant interest, a Senior Division will be established for the 2009 event. The Committee intends for the Senior Division to establish itself as a premier fourball event for Seniors commensurate with the quality of field historically seen in the Fall Invitational. Age qualifications for the Senior Division will follow USGA/VSGA age criteria (55) in order to qualify the event for VSGA ranking points in the future. Beginning with the 2009 event, the tournament each year will honor a Virginian - by birth or by choice - who has left an indelible mark on the game of golf by contributing to the spirit and tradition of the game. These contributions can take many forms: playing excellence; passing the game on to others by their teaching skills; inspiring interest in the game through writing about it; and any other of a wide variety of contributions that have helped make the game of golf great in Virginia and beyond. The first such honoree this year will former Willow Oaks Head Professional Peter Hodson. Hodson spent over 20 years as Head Professional at Willow Oaks and over the years passed on his love of the game to many young and young-at-heart golfers. The Committee believes the choice of Hodson as the first honoree is particularly appropriate as it was through the direct influence of Jack Isaacs, for whom the Fall Invitational trophy is named, that Hodson left his home in England to come to Virginia. Loving-Campbell Prevail in Sudden Death Playoff Richmond, VA, October 25, 2008 - Hank Klein rolled in birdie putts on the 17th and 18th holes in the second round of the 2008 Willow Oaks Fall Invitational as he and partner Cam Young overcame a four stroke deficit to force a playoff with first round leaders Larry Loving, Jr. and Scott Campbell. Tied at 11 under 133 after regulation play, the competitors went to a sudden death playoff loop around the 1st, 2nd, and 18th holes. Pars tied the first 5 holes of the playoff and the players arrived again at the 18th hole. Larry Loving reached the green in regulation and rolled in a 45' birdie putt that clinched the win in the 20th Annual Fall Invitational. Click any of the images below for videos from the 2008 Willow Oaks Fall Invitational
Final Standings Peter Hodson Selected as First Willow Oaks Fall Invitational Honoree for 2009 Richmond, VA, October 24 - The Fall Invitational Tournament Committee announced today that beginning in 2009, each year's tournament will honor a Virginian - by birth or by choice - who has left an indelible mark on the game of golf by contributing to the spirit and tradition of the game. These contributions can take many forms: playing excellence; passing the game on to others by their teaching skills; inspiring interest in the game through writing about it; and any other of a wide variety of contributions that have helped make the game of golf great in Virginia and beyond. The Committee also announced that the first individual to be honored in this manner at the 21st Fall Invitational in 2009 will be former Willow Oaks Head Professional Peter Hodson. Hodson spent over 20 years as Head Professional at Willow Oaks and over the years passed on his love of the game to many young and young-at-heart golfers. The Committee believes the choice of Hodson as the first honoree is particularly appropriate as it was through the direct influence of Jack Isaacs, for whom the Fall Invitational trophy is named, that Hodson left his native England and came to Virginia. Hodson left a mark on the game of golf in Virginia not only through his relations with thousands of Willow Oaks members and guests over the years, but in numerous other ways. Among his contributions are his many years of service on the Board of the Middle Atlantic Chapter of the Professional Golfers Association and service as President of the Virginia Chapter of the MAPGA. While serving on the Board, he tirelessly pursued the merger of previously separate Virginia State Golf Association and PGA of Virginia championships. His efforts paid off when a new combined event - the Virginia State Open - was first held in 1985 at Farmington Country Club. The event was an instant success and has become one of the most successful state level Open championships in the country and is a standard against which other such Opens are judged. Larry Loving, Jr.-Scott Campbell Take First Round Lead With 63 Richmond, VA, October 24 - After the first round of play in the Willow Oaks Fall Invitational fourball tournament, Larry Loving, Jr. and Scott Campbell of Willow Oaks hold the lead after an opening round 63. Four strokes back at 67 are Keith Decker (Chatmoss CC)/David Partridge (Hermitage CC); Hank Klein and Cam Young (Willow Oaks CC); and Adam Horton (Elizabeth Manor CC)/Buck Brittain (Tazewell CC). Five strokes back after opening round 68s are Scott Bemberis (Jefferson Lakeside CC)/Chris Serafim (Crossings GC) and Thomas Parker (CC of North Carolina)/Whitten Meares (CC of Charleston). At 3 under 69 and 6 strokes back are Allen Barber (James River CC)/Charlie Green and Bob Abriss (Cannon Ridge GC)/Mark Boedicker(River Creek Club). Three teams are in at 2 under 70: Tim Lyons (Stonehenge CC)/Ben Keefer (Hermitage CC); David Millis and Jim Carmichael (High Point CC); and Bill Beach (Kinloch GC)/Blake Beach (Kingsmill GC). 2008 Tournament Preview
Richmond, VA, October 20 - A strong field is set to kick off the Willow Oaks Fall Invitational at Willow Oaks Country Club on Friday, October 24. This will be the 20th Annual rendering of the tournament, which was not held in 2007 while the Willow Oaks' golf course was closed for extensive renovations. The 36 hole stroke play event will again draw top amateurs from the mid-Atlantic region to Richmond for the two day bestball tournament. Numerous past champions are set to compete for this year's title. Seven-time Virginia State Golf Association Player of the Year Keith Decker, currently ranked #2 in the VSGA's statewide player ranking system, teamed with Allan Strange to win the 2006 event and is returning this year partnered with David Partridge. Decker and Partridge paired up for In addition to the past champions competing, several new teams this year are top contenders to have their names engraved on the tournament's permanent trophy, which is named in honor of Jack Isaacs, Head Golf Professional at Willow Oaks from 1965-1969 and Pro Emeritus until the time of his death at age 73 in March of 1982. Adam Horton of Chesapeake and partner Buck Brittain of Tazewell are among this year's tournament favorites. Horton Recently crowned Virginia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Champion Nick Biesecker (below) of Staunton, Virginia This year's Invitational will be the first event in the year-long Virginia State Golf Association player ranking period. Top finishers from Virginia receive points which determine statewide player rankings. This year's event will be the first VSGA sanctioned tournament to be played over the new Willow Oaks layout. The course will present entirely new challenges to this year's field. Willow Oaks' member Hank Klein, champion in the 1993 Invitational with partner Russ Fricke, predicts the field will need some time to get used to the new course. "We reopened the course in June this year," says Klein "and after six months our members are still finding different ways to play the holes. It's going to be interesting to see if the Fall Invitational players can pick up on the subtleties of the course after a round or two." The Willow Oaks' course renovation was undertaken in connection with the Club's 50th Anniversary which is being celebrated this year. The Club retained prominent Richmond, Virginia golf course architect Lester George for the work. George's designs have won numerous awards and his work at Willow Oaks has already been featured in several national and state golf publications. (Player photos above are copyright Virginia State Golf Association, all rights reserved.) 2006 Fall Invitational Recap The Fall Invitational was not played in 2007 while the Willow Oaks' golf course was closed for renovation. Champions in the 2006 rendering were Keith Decker (Martinsville, VA) and Allan Strange (Richmond, VA) at 11 under par 133. Decker is a seven-time Virginia State Golf Association Golfer of the Year and three-time Fall Invitational Champion. Decker teamed up with David Partridge for wins in the 2002 and 2005 events. His 2006 victory was the second for Allan Strange, a former tour professional reinstated to amateur status and brother of two-time United States Open champion Curtis Strange. Strange's previous win in 1991 came with partner Vinny Giles, former United States and British Amateur Champion and four-time member of the United States Walker Cup team. Five strokes back at 138 and tied for second place in the 2006 event were Allen Barber (Yorktown, VA) and Charlie Green (Tazewell, VA); and Steve Serrao (Richmond, VA) and Jay Serrao (Virginia Beach, VA). Barber and Green are two-time winners of the event with wins in 1995 and 1997. Brothers Steve and Jay Serrao are also past champions with a victory in the 2001 tournament. About the Fall Invitational
The Willow Oaks Fall Invitational is a selected field 36 hole fourball tournament. The goal of the Willow Oaks Fall Invitational is to promote the spirit and tradition of amateur golf by hosting a competitive yet enjoyable fall event that attracts the best amateur players from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Sportsmanship and camarederie are keys to the success the event has enjoyed since it was first played in 1988. Jack Isaacs Trophy
The Fall Invitational trophy is named in honor of Jack Isaacs, Head Golf Professional at Willow Oaks from 1965-1969 and Pro Emeritus until the time of his death at age 73 in March of 1982. Prior to coming to Willow Oaks A Richmond native and a product of the Country Club of Virginia's caddy program, Isaacs had an illustrious career at Willow Oaks and his influence was felt long after his day-to-day work as the Club's professional ended. Isaacs met Peter Hodson, a member of the British PGA, while touring United States air bases in England in the early 60's. Isaacs befriended the young Englishman and encouraged him to emigrate to the United States. Hodson eventually settled in Richmond, succeeded Isaacs as Head Professional, and spent more than 20 years at Willow Oaks. 2007 Golf Course Renovation
The 2007 Willow Oaks golf course renovation was the first comprehensive renovation of the course since it opened for play in 1958. Renovation began in January of 2007 and was completed in December. The course reopened for play in June 2008. The design for the renovation was done by Richmond based course architect Lester George with construction by Lincoln, Nebraska based Landscapes Unlimited. Several magazine articles have highlighted the Willow Oaks renovation, including the July/August and September/October editions of Virginia State Golf Association's Virginia Golfer magazine; the November 2007 edition of the Golf Course Superintendents' Association of America's Golf Course Management magazine; and the January 2008 edition of Golf Course Industry magazine. Information for Out-of-Town Competitors
For out-of-town competitors, our Club staff will be pleased to assist you in arranging suitable accomodations for your stay during the tournament. Willow Oaks Country Club is a quick eight minute drive from the heart of downtown Richmond. A variety of restaurants, nightlife, and attractions are within easy walking distance of numerous hotels in the historic Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom areas near the heart of the financial district. Weather for the tournament has historically been pleasant and it is not unusual to experience late-season Indian summer days during tournament week. Golf courses in the mid-Atlantic region are in peak condition during October due to the mild autumn weather throughout the area.
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wins in the 2002 and 2005 events. Other former champions competing together this year include Allen Barber (#16) and Charlie Green (shown at left and #1 ranked in the VSGA's Senior Division), winners in 1995 and 1997; 2003 winners Larry Storck and Tim Dilli, both of Maryland; and the brother duo of Steve and Jay Serrao, champions in 2001. Former Fall Invitational Champions contending this year with new partners include former State Amateur Champion Hank Klein; former Richmond City Amateur Champion Larry Loving, Jr.; and Dr. Donald Meyer of Washington, D.C.
(below) is currently ranked #4 and Brittain #9 in the VSGA player rankings. Richmond area standouts Tim Kelley (#6) and son Brock (#25) are teaming up together for the first time in the Invitational. Thomas Parker of Charlotte, NC, and former University of North Carolina player Whitten Meares of Charleston, SC, will be competing and could be a factor. Another interesting team to watch is the duo of renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella of Charlottesville and partner Lawrence Lessing, a former University of Richmond standout.
is a late entry to the field. He teams up with highly ranked Richmond amateur Glen Mullian whose original partner is sidelined with an injury. Six members of the winning Virginias team in the recently concluded Virginias–Carolinas team matches are also set to play. For a complete player list, 
, Isaacs served as Head Golf Professional at Langley Air Force Base from 1938-1963 and at Tequesta Country Club in Jupiter, Florida from 1963-1965. Among many championships, he won the Virginia State Open Championship five times (1949, 1950, 1956, 1958, and 1961); the Maryland State Open Championship three times (1949, 1951, and 1952); and the Middle Atlantic PGA Championship in 1941. He played in the 1950 and 1954 Masters and is a member of both the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Middle Atlantic PGA Hall of Fame.
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January 2008 Images of Course After Renovation Click to Enlarge 
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