Overbrook Gold Club’s Thompson claims
Tournament of Champions title

  HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa.-Ray Thompson of Overbrook GC isn’t a stranger in Golf Association of Philadelphia circles. He’s a former Amateur Champion (1972) and tournament regular from the 1970s. However, Thompson turned professional for a stint back then, and, most recently, business obligations have kept him in the office and out of Association events.

  Thompson has renewed his focus lately, though, tuning up his game with an eye on qualifying for an U.S. Senior Open in the near future (He has failed to qualify in his initial three tries).

JIM SHERRATT
  By the looks of it, Thompson’s game appears to be ready.

  The 52-year-old resident of Springfield (Delaware County), Pa., carded a 1-over-par 71 on the North Course of Philmont Country Club on Friday to capture his first Tournament of Champions title. Thompson finished a stroke clear of home course favorite Brian Rothaus (72). Michael Domenick of Phoenixville CC placed third at 4-over-par 74.

  "This is big for me," said Thompson. "I’ve been working on my game for the last 1½ years and am starting to get competitive again."

  The Tournament of Champions is open to all current club champions and past event champions. Thompson became eligible for the TOC after he captured his seventh Overbrook GC club title earlier this year.

  Today, Thompson posted a solid 2-under-par 33 on the front nine. He registered birdies on No. 3 (par 3, 155 yards), No. 6 (par 4, 372 yards) and No. 8 (par 3, 130 yards) to start in a flurry. On the sixth, he dropped a 9-iron to two feet. On the eighth hole, Thompson sank a smooth 15 footer.

  Thompson did post three bogeys on the back nine – recording over par scores on No. 12 (par 5, 491 yards), No. 13 (par 4, 350 yards) and No. 16 (par 4, 451 yards) – to finish 3-over-par on the back nine and 1-over-par 71 overall.

  Just advancing to the Tournament of Champions is an accomplishment for any golfer from Overbrook GC. The club features top tournament players Chris Lange, Brad McFadden, Frank McFadden, Oscar Mestre, Jr. and Andy Thompson (Ray’s brother), to name a few.

  "That battle is as hard as any to win," said Thompson.

Senior Amateur
  James Sherratt of Old York Road CC carded a 3-over-par 73 to take the Senior Amateur Division championship (North Course, par 70, 6,221 yards).

  Sherratt posted two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the front side for a 2-over-par 37. He finished the back nine with two bogeys and a birdie and a 1-over 36.

  This was Sherratt’s first Tournament of Champions Senior Amateur crown.

  "I never thought it was possible," said Sherratt, 65, of nMontgomeryville, Pa. "This is the biggest tournament I’ve ever won. I’m just thrilled and happy I played well."

  Sherratt said he putted as well as he has all year. "I missed only one putt inside of eight feet."

  Sherratt qualified for the event by capturing his third senior club championship at the end of August.

Amateur Division

Pos.

Name, club

Front 9

Back 9

Total

1

Raymond Thompson, Overbrook GC

33

38

71

2

Brian Rothaus, Philmont CC

36

36

72

3

Michael Domenick, Phoenixville CC

38

36

74

T4

Gary Daniels, Applebrook GC

41

34

75

T4

Michael Rose, Ashbourne CC

39

36

75

T6

Brian Myers, Old York Road CC

38

38

76

T6

Robert Bechtold, Deerfield G&TC

38

38

76

T8

Douglas Zelner, Coatesville CC

38

39

77

T8

James Meyers, Tavistock CC

39

38

77

T8

James Ward, Reading CC

39

38

77

T8

Jim Gavaghan, Torresdale-Frankford CC

37

40

77

T8

John Brennan, Spring Ford CC

36

41

77

T8

Thomas Finn, Penn Oaks GC

39

38

77

14

Brian Owens, Gulph Mills GC

40

38

78

T15

Shane Gunning, Silver Creek CC

37

42

79

T15

Tony Lepre, Galloway National GC

41

38

79

T17

David West, Whitford CC

42

38

80

T17

John Robinson, Commonwealth National GC

41

39

80

T19

Billy McCrossan, The Springhaven Club

40

41

81

T19

Patrick O'Brien, North Hills CC

42

39

81

T19

Robert Gill, Fox Hill CC

42

39

81

T19

Santo Lafoca, Huntsville GC

38

43

81

T23

Brandon Detweiler, Lancaster CC

45

37

82

T23

Leonard Barber, Greenacres CC

43

39

82

T23

Ralph Cetrulo, III, Brandywine CC

41

41

82

T26

Peter Mimmo, Melrose CC

40

43

83

T26

Tom Piersanti, Radley Run CC

39

44

83

28

Bill Murray, Merchantville CC

39

45

84

T29

Chris Wallin, Indian Valley CC

44

41

85

T29

Thomas Oxenfeld, Coatesville CC

46

39

85

31

Richard Bunn, Sr., McCall G&CC

43

44

87

32

Tom Mastroni, Sandy Run CC

45

43

88

T33

Jody Campbell, Links GC

44

45

89

T33

Scott Shore, Aronimink GC

43

46

89

35

Mike Carney, Ashbourne CC

46

44

90

T36

Brian Dix, Deerwood CC

48

43

91

T36

Kenneth Goodman, Bucks County CC

43

48

91

38

Richard Mennies, French Creek GC

45

47

92

T39

Jack Glacken, Bala GC

47

47

94

T39

Robert McFalls, Hersheys Mill GC

44

50

94

T41

Jesse Soslow, Radnor Valley CC

WD

WD

WD

T41

Mark Rubincam, GC at Glen Mills

WD

WD

WD

T41

William Fasy, Inniscrone GC

WD

WD

WD

 

Senior Division

1

James Sherratt, Old York Road CC

37

36

73

2

Neil McDermott, Llanerch CC

37

38

75

3

John Rowe, Whitemarsh Valley CC

40

37

77

T4

Chuck Willkins, Little Mill CC

38

40

78

T4

William Lawler, Fox Hill CC

42

36

78

6

Edward Pappas, Rolling Green GC

41

38

79

T7

Clifford Kenneck, Radley Run CC

44

36

80

T7

David Scott, Silver Creek CC

41

39

80

T7

Don Neill, Talamore at Oak Terrace CC

41

39

80

T7

Jack Holland, Whitford CC

43

37

80

T11

John Foore, Brookside CC

40

41

81

T11

Robert Harris, Blue Bell CC

40

41

81

T13

Ken Gaskill, Philadelphia Publinks

42

40

82

T13

Richard Smith, Philadelphia CC

43

39

82

T13

Tim Moore, Brandywine CC

43

39

82

T16

Larry Paster, Philmont CC

42

41

83

T16

Robert Freudenheim, Radnor Valley CC

40

43

83

T18

Jack Modzelewski, Hopewell Valley GC

43

42

85

T18

Richard Bourassa, McCall G&CC

42

43

85

T18

Steve Smith, Links GC

45

40

85

T21

Ben Sack, Edgmont CC

43

43

86

T21

Philip Dodd, Hersheys Mill GC

41

45

86

T23

J. Thomas Rush, Riverton CC

43

44

87

T23

J. Wendell Outhous, St. Davids GC

43

44

87

T23

John Sperone, Downingtown CC

46

41

87

T26

Dominic Marziani, Torresdale-Frankford CC

45

44

89

T26

Murray Felzer, White Manor CC

46

43

89

T28

George Becker, Jr., Doylestown CC

47

44

91

T28

Hal Ruff, Moorestown Field Club

48

43

91

T28

John Owens, Hidden Creek GC

44

47

91

T28

Terrence Beck, Berkleigh CC

45

46

91

32

Herbert Gordon, Doylestown CC

47

45

92

33

Vernon Kelly, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club

44

49

93

34

Albert Andreola, Merchantville CC

43

51

94

35

John Minchin, McCall G&CC

WD

WD

WD

 

WD-withdrawal

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