Foliage allows Schuller to foil Estes for Tournament of Champions title

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