The fairways of Tega Cay Golf Club were the stage for high-stakes teamwork this Saturday as the Men’s Golf Association kicked off its 2-Day Member-Member Tournament. With a challenging two-format split for the opening round, teams had to navigate the strategic Best Ball Net (BBN) on Carolina Pines and the high-pressure Alternate Shot on Grand View.
By the end of Day 1, a dominant father-son duo has established a target on their back in Flight 1, while Flight 2 remains a total dogfight heading into Sunday.
Day 1 Overall Leaderboard
The following teams lead the pack across all formats played on Saturday:
| Flight | Pos | Team | Total (Net) | To Par |
| Flight 1 | 1 | Larry Elia + Benjamin Elia | 65 | -7 |
| 2 | Steve Clark + Charles Martin | 68 | -4 | |
| 3 | Tyler Birchfield + Chris Lounsbury | 69 | -3 | |
| T4 | Tom McGrath + Doug McGowan | 72 | E | |
| T4 | Dale Fandel + Gary Martin | 72 | E | |
| T4 | Steve Menchinger + Todd Moore | 72 | E | |
| Flight 2 | T1 | Bob Auman + Larry Harley | 69 | -3 |
| T1 | Jeff Roesler + Doug Presley | 69 | -3 | |
| T3 | Jeff Dailey + Jim Dixon | 70 | -2 | |
| T3 | David Kimpel + Jared Vestal | 70 | -2 | |
| T5 | John Daly + Vincent Louther | 71 | -1 | |
| T5 | Jim Mowery + Ryan Turchin | 71 | -1 |
Format Breakdown: Best Ball Net (BBN)
Played on Carolina Pines
In the BBN format, each player played their own ball, and the team recorded the single lowest net score per hole.
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Flight 1 Leaders: Larry Elia & Benjamin Elia (31 / -5). The Elias were in a league of their own here, carding the lowest score of the entire tournament in this format.
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Flight 2 Leaders: John Daly & Vincent Louther (32 / -4). Daly and Louther leveraged their handicaps perfectly to post a field-leading 32. Close behind were Roesler/Presley and McGrath/McGowan with steady 33s.
Format Breakdown: Alternate Shot
Played on Grand View
Often called the ultimate test of a partnership, players alternated shots from tee to green, meaning every mistake (and every great save) belonged to the team.
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Flight 1 Leaders: Larry Elia & Benjamin Elia (34 / -2) and Kenneth Hall & Raymond Taylor (34 / -2). While the Elias stayed consistent, Hall and Taylor surged in this format to climb the ranks.
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Flight 2 Leader: Jeff Roesler & Doug Presley (33 / -3). This sharp performance on Grand View was the highlight of the afternoon, vaulting them into a share of the overall Flight 2 lead.
The Sunday Outlook: The “Both Balls” Factor
The tournament shifts gears tomorrow with a format that tests both individual grit and team depth. While players will return to Best Ball Net on Carolina Pines, the tournament may well be decided on Grand View during the “Both Balls Net” round.
In “Both Balls,” every stroke from both partners counts toward the team total. With a maximum score of Net Triple Bogey, the pressure to avoid a “big number” will be at an all-time high. A single blow-up hole can derail a championship run, while a pair of steady net pars can leapfrog a team over the competition.
Can the Elias maintain their torrid pace, or will the “Both Balls” format allow the field to close the gap? We’ll find out tomorrow at the “Peninsula.”
