Two, four, six, eight

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Even as Chip Sullivan bogeyed three of five holes on the front nine Wednesday at Fountain Head Country Club, there was a sense of inevitability in the final round of the 87th Maryland Open.

With titles in this event in 2002, 2004, and 2006, Sullivan had history on his side. And just to make sure, he played the final 10 holes in 3-under-par to close with a 68 and claim his fourth Maryland Open. All have come in even numbered years.

Sullivan, a pro at Ashley Plantation in Richmond, finished with a 6-under 207 to win the three-round tournament by three strokes over Jeff Castle (Towson), Eric Egloff (Sandy Spring) and Jim Estes (Olney Golf Park), capturing a check for $8,100. Only one man in history has won more than four Maryland Opens — Charles Bassler who won seven between 1948-65.

“I don’t feel like I did anything special,” said Sullivan, 43. “I kept my wheels from falling off after the front nine and then I put the rally cap on.”

Playing cautiously on the short (6,326 yards), tight course, Sullivan turned it around by teeing off with driver on No. 9 and No. 10. He hit wedges to within 15 and 10 feet respectively on the two holes and made the birdie putts.

“My back was to the wall then, I needed to make something happen,” said Sullivan. “After that I put the driver back in the bag.”

No. 14 also was the key hole. While Sullivan made a 10-footer for birdie, his closest pursuers, former champion Dennis Winters (Nassawango) and three-time runner-up Dirk Schultz (Beaver Creek) made double bogies.

“I really expected someone to come out of that pack with a low round of the tournament,” said Sullivan. “But I said to myself, ‘There are people here who have never won this, there’s going to be pressure coming down on them like there was on me when I got my first win.’”

After injuring his wrist three weeks earlier in the PGA Professional National Championship, a tournament he won in 2007, Sullivan didn’t know if he could finish 54 holes this week. But he had his family along for good luck, wife Kari, and children Kalley, 10, and Camryn, 6.

“Every time they’ve been with me, I’ve made the cut,” said Sullivan. “Every time they haven’t been there, I’ve missed it.”

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