Courtesy of Virginia State Golf Association
September 5, 2005
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. –– Virginia Beach resident Jason Copeland, a 2000 graduate of Longwood University, teaches marketing but he gave a putting lesson today. Copeland, a 27-year-old teacher at Floyd E. Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, rode a sizzling putter to score a 6 and 5 victory over Jim Nirich to claim the 2nd Virginia State Golf Association Public Links Championship at the Golden Horseshoe’s Green Course (6,693 yards, par 36-36—72) in Williamsburg.
Copeland used sound ball striking and flatstick magic to seize control at the midpoint of the final match and notch his first VSGA Public Links title. He opened up an all-square match by winning six of seven holes between Nos. 6 and 12, converting four one-putt birdies.
During the decisive stretch, Copeland got things rolling by draining a right-to-left breaking 16-foot birdie putt at the par-4 sixth to go 1 up and grab his first lead of the match. He then holed a 20-footer at the par-3 seventh and made the turn at 3 up after making a fabulous up and down from a blind spot below the green at the par-3 ninth, culminating it by sinking a subtly breaking 5-footer.
After parring No. 10 to go 4 up, Copeland made a downhill 16-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th and continued his amazing run with the putter at No. 12, curling in a 20-footer from left of the hole.
“Do you ever miss?” inquired one spectator after the putt at 12 fell.
“I haven’t made anything in three days. I think I’m making up for it today,” he laughed.
That’s for sure. His birdie putt from 35 feet at No. 13 didn’t quite fall, surprising even his opponent.
“What happened?,” Nirich smirked. “It didn’t go in.”
Copeland ended the match on his next stroke at No. 13, holing a 3-foot par putt. Altogether, taking into account the concessions that are customarily a part of match play, Copeland used 19 putts in 13 holes, and played in four under. Once one putt fell, he gained confidence and it showed.
“The greens were rolling a little faster today and I felt good over putts,” said Copeland, who plays primarily at Ocean View Golf Course in Virginia Beach. “After I made a couple, I felt like they were all going to fall.”
Nirich, who played steady golf the whole way, could only watch as Copeland made putts from everywhere.
“I didn’t lose – he won it,” said Nirich, who was making his first appearance in the championship. “I don’t mind losing to birdies. He was the better player today. It was fun to watch.
“This was a great experience and I am going to play in this event every chance I get.”
As most high schools statewide start their first day of classes on Tuesday, Copeland says he plans on bringing the match play bracket from the scoreboard into class. He also coaches golf at Kellam. They play their first match this week. What will he tell his team, fresh off of capturing his first State individual title?
“I’ll tell them to putt like me. Maybe they’ll listen.” he laughed.
