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Allied Association of the MGA

Johnson, Vignola win 92nd British Victory Cup

LINCOLNDALE, N.Y. (August 8, 2017) – Rob Johnson and John Vignola of Trump National Hudson Valley won the 92nd British Victory Cup Tuesday at Anglebrook Golf Club, firing a best-ball score of 6-under 66 to win by three shots.

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After four-consecutive pars to open, the duo notched birdies on Nos. 5 and 7 to turn in 2-under 34. The early pace had been set in the morning, as Ben Kirschenbaum and Todd Richter of Old Oaks and Chris Kelly and Matthew Sweet of Centennial both fired 3-under 69s after teeing off as two of the earlier groups.

But, Johnson—who has won the championship twice prior with two different partners—and Vignola continued the strong play on the inward nine, posting birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 14 and 15. Three consecutive pars to close clinched the three-shot win. Johnson’s previous victories came in 2006 and 2009. “Most holes we both kept it in play, and didn’t make any team bogeys,” said Johnson.

Kirschenbaum and Richter also had a bogey-free card, with birdies coming on No. 4, 8, and 16. They took second place gross after a match of cards with Kelly and Sweet. Meanwhile, Kelly and Sweet’s round was highlighted by a hole-in-one by Sweet, as he found the bottom of the hole from 168 yards on the par-3 eighth using an eight iron.

The championship, named British Victory Cup in honor of Richard Chapman, Dick Siderowf, Jess Sweetser, and Willie Turnesa, who have won the British Amateur and this event, made its first appearance at Anglebrook Golf Club following 15 years of competition at The Saint Andrew’s Golf Club. Players enjoyed the challenge of the club’s undulating fairways, elevation changes, and variety of hazards, while playing upon outstanding conditions.