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Brewer semifinals set; Howson, Jr. vs. McClaskey in Super-Senior finalORELAND, Pa.–It’s a day later than anticipated, but the Brewer Cup semifinal marquee is finally complete and it’s filled with senior star power attractions.Roc Irey, Chris Lange, Robin McCool and Rich Thon each registered two victories apiece on Wednesday at Sandy Run CC in the Brewer Cup opening rounds to advance to the final day of the Association’s senior (55 and over) match play championship.
Irey, a finalist in last year’s Brewer Cup who qualified as the No. 2 seed on Monday, turned in Wednesday’s most devastating second-round performance with a 7&5 victory over Gary Daniels of Saucon Valley CC (No. 7 seed), the reigning GAP Senior Player of the Year. Irey, who was 3-under par through his 13 holes, carded four birdies, a bogey and eight pars. Daniels and Irey were All Square after three holes before Irey rested control for good with a birdie on No. 4 (par 4, 334 yards) and a par on No. 5 (par 4, 417 yards) to move 2 up. On No. 7 (par 4, 315 yards), Irey of Lookaway GC added another victory when he hit a gap wedge from 100 yards to six feet for a 3 and then on No. 9 (par 4, 321 yards) sealed his fate when he drained a 30-foot birdie putt to move 4 up. “It was just one of those matches where I played well and he didn’t,” said Irey, 58, of Furlong, Pa. Irey’s first-round match was 180-degrees opposite the second one. He needed 19 holes to defeat Michael Quinn of Edgmont CC. On the first extra hole (No. 1, par 4, 348 yards), Irey finished in style when he knocked a 58-degree wedge from 90 yards to a foot for the win. Irey’s opponent tomorrow is Lange of Overbrook GC. Lange, the current Senior Player of the Year leader, continued his steady play in this, his rookie campaign. And he advanced with similar performances, using early advantages in both matches to salt away relatively easy wins.
“You never really relax, even when you have a lead,” said Lange, 55, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., “but it’s always nice to be ahead than behind.” Thon, who was one of four qualifying medalists, along with Irey, King and Tom DiCinti of Links GC, defeated Art Kania, Jr., of Merion GC, 1-up, with a par on No. 18 (par 4, 324 yards). Thon never trailed in his match although Kania did draw All Square on 15 with a par. “It’s great. I’m looking forward to playing Robin,” said Thon, 55, of Swarthmore, Pa. “I’ve been playing pretty well the last couple of weeks. Sandy Run is a short and tricky course and that’s what I do best at.” Thon made an easy two-putt par from 15 feet with Kania already staring at a 15-foot bogey try after hitting his tee ball out of bounds. In the morning, Thon, the top seed, defeated Charles Jones of Blue Bell CC, the 16th seed. Thon made a day’s high five birdies including a pitch in on No. 14 (par 4, 420 yards) from 30 yards that moved him 3-up with only four to play in the Jones match. McCool, of Saucon Valley CC who qualified as the 12th seed, was just as impressive as the aforementioned Irey in a 4&3 win over Ed Chylinski of Chester Valley GC, the 13th seed. McCool, 59, of Bethlehem, Pa., won the first three holes against Chylinski with pars and then won holes Nos. 9-11 with two birdies and a par to move 6-up at the time and cruise home. “I’m controlling my ball flight and feeling good over the putter,” said McCool of his two victories. “And winning the first three holes [in the afternoon] allows you to play a little further away from the holes on approach shots so you don’t have to take many chances.”
Super Senior Howson, the No. 6 seed, defeated Mike Sofranko of Loch Nairn GC, the No. 2 seed, 5&4, in the semifinals after surviving 20 holes with Eric Dollenberg, Sr., the three seed, in the morning. “It feels great. I thought it was doable,” said Howson, 72, of Malvern, Pa., in talking about his title defense. “I’ve been playing fairly well the last couple of weeks. I played well this afternoon. I was 1 over for 14 holes.” Howson was 2-up in his semifinal contest after two holes and held that same lead after nine. On No. 12 (par 3, 158 yards), Howson sealed his fate when he hit a 5-iron to a foot for a birdie and insurmountable 3-up lead. He then won the next two holes for a 5&4 victory. McClaskey, who qualified as the top seed on Monday, defeated Frank Kunze of Spring Ford CC, the No. 5 see, 3&2, in the afternoon and Thomas O’Rourke of Chester Valley GC, 4&3, in the morning. McClaskey, 71, of Elkton, Md., was a Super-Senior finalist in the inaugural Brewer Cup in 2008 at Huntingdon Valley CC. ***** This is the third annual Brewer Cup. The tournament is named in honor of O. Gordon Brewer, Jr., the former president of Pine Valley GC, is a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur Champion and veteran of 42 USGA Championships. He’s captured two Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Championship titles (1967, 1976), a GAP Senior Amateur Championship crown (1997) and a Senior Player of the Year (1997) as well as countless invitational titles. And two years ago he was recognized for his contributions to the game with the USGA’s Bob Jones Award. The Brewer Cup is open to Senior players with a handicap index of 7.0 or less and Super Seniors with an index of 12.0 or less. Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 142 Member Clubs and 56,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.
Senior Division
First round
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A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition – the Team Matches – and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
