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Rick Schuller has been a familiar name atop leaderboard in Middle Atlantic PGA Tournament of Champions events.
Little did he figure he would sit alone in first place after Tuesday’s final round — especially in the manner he got there.
Schuller trailed Jim Estes and Jamie Gyland by two strokes after a first-round 70 on Monday.
A four-birdie barrage in seven holes helped Schuller surpass the leaders to a one-shot lead before a bogey on No. 18 put him in the clubhouse in a tie with Estes, who was on the 18th tee.
Estes poked his drive wide right but recovered to the left fringe of the green. While Estes’ ball rested in a bare spot, it was covered by a falling leaf. Before requesting a ruling, Estes attempted to remove the leaf, which caused the ball to move, which by rule incurs a one-shot penalty.
“It was the only bare spot around but I shouldn’t have attempted to move without a ruling,” said Estes, who finished his round at even-par 72 for a 140.
Schuller, the director of instruction at Swaders Sports Park in Prince George, Va., finished with a 3-under 69 and a two-day total of 139.
“I played solid Monday but had 34 putts,” said Schuller. “(Tuesday) I was hitting good at the pins but didn’t get anything to fall with the putter.”
After eight pars to open, Schuller birdied the par-5 No. 9 to get the ball rolling.
Following a birdie on the par-5 15th, Schuller thought he had a chance.
“I figured I was close to the lead after 16,” he said. “It’s just an unfortunate thing that happened to Jim.”
Estes, from Olney Park, stayed at the top midway through his round with an eagle-3 on No. 9 and a birdie on the par-5 No. 11.
“I had some momentum there but I made some stupid mistakes after that,” said Estes.
Gylan, after sharing the lead, couldn’t get totally untracked, needing a chip-in birdie on 18 to salvage a 73 that left him alone in third place at 141.
John O’Leary and Billy Hoffman shared fourth at 142.
Beaver Creek pro Dirk Schultz came back with the best round of the tournament firing a bogey-free, 5-under 67, after a 4-over 76 on Monday, to jump into a tie for sixth place at 1-under 143.
“I had an awful practice session, then went down to the range and hit three balls after a break,” said Schultz. “I found my left knee was wild on me and that makes me tilt. It was a smooth round today.”
Bud Lintelman shot a 71-138 for the 50-plus title and Larry Ringer, of Musket Ridge Golf Club from Shepherdstown, W.Va., had a 75-147 for the 60-plus division crown.
MAPGA Tournament of Champions
At Beaver Creek Country Club
Yards: 6,912 Par 72
Rick Schuller 70-69-139
Jim Estes 68-72-140
Jamie Gylan 68-73-141
John O'Leary 74-68-142
Billy Hoffman 71-71-142
Dirk Schultz 76-67-143
Jimmy Flippen 73-70-143
Phil Bowers 71-72-143
Chip Sullivan 74-70-144
Chad Moseley 72-72-144
Jody Rokisky 70-75-145
David Hutsell 76-70-146
Brendon Post 74-72-146
Gary Mankulish 75-72-147
Patrick Hawkins 70-77-147
John Miller 76-72-148
Mark Evenson 73-75-148
Jay Lindell 74-75-149
Geoff Montross 77-73-150
Justin Heimer 75-76-150
Adam Farry 73-77-150
Brendan McGrath 76-75-151
Chris Oelson 74-77-151
David Newsom 75-78-153
Jason Toryk 75-78-153
Randi Miller 79-75-154
Mike Wheeler 75-79-154
Richard Runyon 75-79-154
Rick Serrano 77-78-155
Brett Robertson 77-78-155
Tom Michaels 77-80-157
Justin Keith 82-77-159
Geoff Redgrave 82-77-159
Peter Labourdette 79-80-159
Tim Reeves 77-86-163
Arthur Shih 83-82-165
Steve WenPetren 83-84-167
Nick Zaloga 84-83-167
50+ Division
Bud Lintelman 67-71-138
John Francisco 70-70-140
Bob Dolan 72-71-143
Tim White 71-72-143
Fran Rhoads 72-73-145
Tim Lewis 73-73-146
Dave Eaton 75-76-151
Marty Johnson 76-80-156
Mike Farewell 77-79-156
Marty O'Rear 73-85-158
George Lodge 88-85-173
60+ Division
Larry Ringer 72-75-147
Bob Bilbo 78-78-156
Jimmy Williams 78-79-157
Roger Hatcher 79-78-157
Frank Blind 80-79-159