FLOURTOWN, Pa. — When it comes to the Golf Association of Philadelphia circuit, Steve Lubin of Five Ponds GC is “just one of the guys.” He stood out in the crowd Thursday, carding a 5-under-par 67, a competitive career-best, to capture The Marston Cup at Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Militia Hill Course (par 72, 6,792 yards). Lubin stirred a spoonful of course experience into a pot of putter proficiency to prevail.
Lubin worked as an assistant golf professional at Philadelphia Cricket Club for five years before returning to the amateur ranks in 2001. That sense of familiarity served the Doylestown, Pa. resident well Thursday. Lubin birdied three of his first four holes to move into red figures early. He knocked a pitching wedge 120 yards to 17 feet on No. 2 (par 4, 379 yards) and converted the straightaway putt. On the receptive par 5, 498-yard No. 3, Lubin arrived at the putting surface in two strokes with a 5-wood and two-putted from 20 feet. He sent a smooth 7-iron to 16 feet below the No. 5 (par 3, 175 yards) flagstick and rammed in a right-to-left breaker for birdie.
“I had the right club working, and that was the putter,” Lubin, 40, said.
Lubin’s sole slip-up occurred on the following hole (par 5, 572 yards). He left a sand wedge from 90 yards short and failed to get up-and-down for par. The moment didn’t ruffle Lubin’s championship feathers, though. He finished in a flurry, firing three back-nine birdies to climb up the leaderboard. Lubin drilled a 9-iron 125 yards to 10 feet on No. 10 (par 4, 400 yards). He then watched a right-to-left curler enter the jar through the side gate. On the downhill par 3, 137 yard 11th hole, Lubin stopped a pitching wedge at 25 feet and executed the ensuing birdie putt.
“It had a lot of speed, but it went right in the center of the hole,” he said.
The red pen made its final appearance on No. 15 (par 3, 194 yards). Lubin launched a 5-iron downwind to 13 feet below the flagstick. A disastrous moment on No. 17 (par 5, 540 yards) couldn’t even tamper with Lubin’s effectiveness. Standing 60 yards from the flagstick, Lubin equipped a lob wedge and addressed a friendly lie in the rough.
“I took a swing at it, the club went right under it and the ball moved two feet,” he said. “It was spooky. I had no idea I could possibly go under the ball, and that’s exactly what happened. I turned around and started laughing. I knocked it on the green with my next shot and made a 15-footer [for par].”
Prior to Thursday’s victory, Lubin classified his competitive credentials as “nothing to brag about.” Last year’s Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley CC represented the only semblance of a standout performance. He stood at 1 under thru nine holes in the qualifying round before “it all went away.”
With the Marston Cup trophy on his mantle, Lubin now has something brag-worthy.
David Liotta of Whitemarsh Valley CC carded a 4-under-par 68 to finish a shot back. Liotta, 41, of West Chester, Pa., carried a 5 under on the scorecard entering his last hole (No. 9, par 3, 218 yards). He missed the green with a 3-iron, guided a chip to 12 feet and watched the ensuing putt trickle past the jar.
The Marston Cup honors Max Marston. For four months in the summer of 1923, Marston was America’s best amateur golfer. Between mid-May and mid-September, Marston was virtually unstoppable through a series of club, state, national and international events.
It began with the Walker Cup Matches where Marston won two matches as the Americans successfully retained the Cup. Marston returned home to capture the Patterson Cup and Amateur Championship in successive weeks and, in doing so, earned the Silver Cross Award. In July, he took the Pennsylvania Amateur title and finished as the low amateur in the Philadelphia Open.
In September, Marston traveled to Floosmoor Country Club outside Chicago, Ill. for the U.S. Amateur. He rallied in the second round to defeat tournament favorite Bob Jones, 2&1, before knocking off Francis Ouimet in the semifinals. He stopped defending champion Jess Sweetser in the final on the 38th hole. In that four month span, he also captured the Merion Cricket Club championship and Pine Valley GC’s Crump Cup.
The tournament is limited to players 40 to 54 years of age with a 10.0 handicap index or lower.
Overall
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
Steve Lubin, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
67
|
David Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
68
|
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
|
70
|
Rodney James, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
71
|
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
71
|
Michael Walker, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
71
|
Brian Fisher, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
71
|
Mark Coassolo, Brookside C.C. of Allentown
|
72
|
Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
73
|
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
73
|
Ken Sim, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
74
|
G. Patrick Dougherty, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
Robert Savarese, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
Mark Fuessinger, Llanerch Country Club
|
74
|
Doug Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club
|
75
|
Scott Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
75
|
David West, Whitford Country Club
|
76
|
Stephen McIntyre, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
76
|
Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
76
|
Ric Sucro, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
76
|
Johan vanSchalkwyk, Burlington Country Club
|
76
|
Kevin Kelly, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
James Bell, III, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
76
|
Michael Korcuba, Running Deer Golf Club
|
76
|
Owen Brown, Coatesville Country Club
|
76
|
Patrick O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
77
|
Chris Hunger, Wedgwood Country Club
|
77
|
John Willadsen, Sakima Country Club
|
77
|
Jeffrey Zalis, Little Mill Country Club
|
77
|
Peter Moran, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
Jason Barkley, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
77
|
Robert Rinier, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
77
|
Byron Whitman, Golden Oaks Golf Club
|
77
|
David Heaney, Wilmington Country Club
|
77
|
John Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
77
|
Joseph Muldowney, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77
|
John Donnelly, Concord Country Club
|
78
|
John Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
Gerry Baldachino, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
Jon Thomas, Back Creek Golf Club
|
78
|
Thomas Finn, Cavaliers Country Club
|
78
|
Matt Hancock, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
78
|
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club
|
78
|
Freddy Henriquez, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
78
|
Kevin Dunleavy, The ACE Club
|
78
|
Sean Remington, Green Valley Country Club
|
78
|
Joe Granahan, Concord Country Club
|
78
|
Bob Ursomarso, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
Robert Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
79
|
Francis Hamm, Country Club of Scranton
|
79
|
Joseph Kinsman, Downingtown Country Club
|
79
|
Kevin Bair, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
79
|
Chris Smedley, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
79
|
Santo Lafoca, Huntsville Golf Club
|
79
|
Eric Meyer, Whitford Country Club
|
79
|
Joe Dellicarpini, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
George Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
79
|
Barry Westington, Country Club of Scranton
|
79
|
Jules Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club
|
79
|
Jim Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
Ed Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
80
|
Matt Kothe, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
80
|
Robert Parsons, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
80
|
Andrew Abrams, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
81
|
Robert Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club
|
81
|
Joseph Roeder, Links Golf Club
|
81
|
Miguel Biamon, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
|
Paul Rogowicz, Yardley Country Club
|
81
|
Bill Murray, Merchantville Country Club
|
81
|
Walt Neumann, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
Michael Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
81
|
Dominck Cappetti, Burlington Country Club
|
81
|
Tom Watchko, Phoenixville Country Club
|
81
|
Mike Walter, JC Melrose Country Club
|
81
|
Kenneth Zimmer, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81Bottom of
Form
|
Dan Mahoney, Yardley Country Club
|
82
|
Joseph Costanzo, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
82
|
Todd Vonderheid, Huntsville Golf Club
|
82
|
Mike McTyre, Sakima Country Club
|
82
|
Joe Frey, Edgmont Country Club
|
82
|
Michael Anderson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
82
|
Michael Stabile, Medford Lakes Country Club
|
82
|
Richard Reed, Downingtown Country Club
|
83
|
Matt Jasudowich, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
83
|
Andrew Dietz, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
83
|
Thomas Michalek, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
83
|
Brian Dobisch, Talamore Country Club
|
83
|
Jim Muehlbronner, Sandy Run Country Club
|
83
|
Jeffrey Prickitt, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
James Denon, Jr., The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
Gerald Bowes, Jr. , Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
83
|
Bryan McClaskey, Merchantville Country Club
|
84
|
William Rolli, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
John Nottage, Lu Lu Country Club
|
84
|
Ned Berry, Overbrook Golf Club
|
84
|
Timothy Dolan, Galloway National Golf Club
|
84
|
Michael Brown, Old York Road Country Club
|
84
|
John Macy, Links Golf Club
|
84
|
Patrick Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
84
|
John Marshalek, Whitford Country Club
|
84
|
Nathan Herring, Limekiln Golf Club
|
84
|
William Voris, Galloway National Golf Club
|
84
|
Michael Costonis, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
85
|
Timothy Burns, Country Club of Scranton
|
85
|
Andrew Sterge, Stonewall
|
85
|
Peter Zukowski, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
85
|
Rick Wright, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
Edward Attarian, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
David Dorey, Tavistock Country Club
|
86
|
Dan Smith, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
86
|
Randy Kruse, Sandy Run Country Club
|
86
|
Timothy Whartenby, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
86
|
Edward Kelly, Jr., Applecross Country Club
|
87
|
Mark Diorio, Running Deer Golf Club
|
87
|
Mark Occhipinti, Country Club of Scranton
|
87
|
Peter Witonsky, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
88
|
Paul Altieri, Hopewell Valley Golf Club
|
88
|
Frank Giordano, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
88
|
Patrick McCauley, Applebrook Golf Club
|
89
|
Joseph Greenwald, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
89
|
Stanley Cheiken, Philmont Country Club
|
89
|
Michael Santerian, Wedgwood Country Club
|
89
|
Robert Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
90
|
Schuyler Wickes, Phoenixville Country Club
|
90
|
Gregory Marks, Green Valley Country Club
|
90
|
David Pierce, Talamore Country Club
|
90
|
Chuck Kraatz, Talamore Country Club
|
90
|
Mark Wachter, DuPont Country Club
|
91
|
Kevin Melnick, Plymouth Country Club
|
91
|
John VanDame, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
91
|
Chris Rumsey, The Springhaven Club
|
91
|
Dave Dillon, Huntsville Golf Club
|
91
|
Peter Mark, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
91
|
Joseph Templin, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
91
|
Gerald Reed, Running Deer Golf Club
|
91
|
Robert Fischer, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
92
|
Robert Fernandez, Jericho National Golf Club
|
92
|
George Foley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
94
|
David Maslanka, Seaview Resort & Spa
|
94
|
Jim Lanzalotto, Llanerch Country Club
|
96
|
Mark Smedley, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
DQ
|
Bill Civitella, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
Duane Walker, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
WDBottom of
Form
|
Scott Vasbinder, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
WDBottom of
Form
|
|
Handicap 4 or lessBottom of Form
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
Steve Lubin, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
67
|
David Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
68
|
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
|
70
|
Rodney James, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
71
|
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
71
|
Michael Walker, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
71
|
Mark Coassolo, Brookside C.C. of Allentown
|
72
|
Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
73
|
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
73
|
Ken Sim, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
74
|
G. Patrick Dougherty, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
Robert Savarese, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
Mark Fuessinger, Llanerch Country Club
|
74
|
Doug Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club
|
75
|
Scott Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
75
|
David West, Whitford Country Club
|
76
|
Stephen McIntyre, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
76
|
Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
76
|
Ric Sucro, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
76
|
Johan vanSchalkwyk, Burlington Country Club
|
76
|
Kevin Kelly, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
James Bell, III, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
76
|
Michael Korcuba, Running Deer Golf Club
|
76
|
Patrick O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
77
|
Chris Hunger, Wedgwood Country Club
|
77
|
John Willadsen, Sakima Country Club
|
77
|
Jeffrey Zalis, Little Mill Country Club
|
77
|
Peter Moran, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
Jason Barkley, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
77
|
Robert Rinier, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
77
|
Byron Whitman, Golden Oaks Golf Club
|
77
|
John Donnelly, Concord Country Club
|
78
|
John Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
Gerry Baldachino, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
Jon Thomas, Back Creek Golf Club
|
78
|
Thomas Finn, Cavaliers Country Club
|
78
|
Matt Hancock, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
78
|
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club
|
78
|
Freddy Henriquez, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
78
|
Robert Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
79
|
Francis Hamm, Country Club of Scranton
|
79
|
Joseph Kinsman, Downingtown Country Club
|
79
|
Kevin Bair, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
79
|
Chris Smedley, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
79
|
Santo Lafoca, Huntsville Golf Club
|
79
|
Eric Meyer, Whitford Country Club
|
79
|
Joe Dellicarpini, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
Jim Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
Andrew Abrams, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
81
|
Robert Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club
|
81
|
Joseph Roeder, Links Golf Club
|
81
|
Miguel Biamon, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
|
Paul Rogowicz, Yardley Country Club
|
81
|
Dan Mahoney, Yardley Country Club
|
82
|
Joseph Costanzo, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
82
|
Todd Vonderheid, Huntsville Golf Club
|
82
|
Richard Reed, Downingtown Country Club
|
83
|
Matt Jasudowich, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
83
|
Andrew Dietz, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
83
|
Thomas Michalek, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
83
|
Bryan McClaskey, Merchantville Country Club
|
84
|
William Rolli, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
John Nottage, Lu Lu Country Club
|
84
|
Ned Berry, Overbrook Golf Club
|
84
|
Timothy Dolan, Galloway National Golf Club
|
84
|
Michael Brown, Old York Road Country Club
|
84
|
Michael Costonis, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
85
|
Timothy Burns, Country Club of Scranton
|
85
|
Andrew Sterge, Stonewall
|
85
|
David Dorey, Tavistock Country Club
|
86
|
Edward Kelly, Jr., Applecross Country Club
|
87
|
Patrick McCauley, Applebrook Golf Club
|
89
|
Mark Wachter, DuPont Country Club
|
91
|
Kevin Melnick, Plymouth Country Club
|
91
|
Bill Civitella, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
Duane Walker, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
WDBottom of
Form
|
|
Handicap 5 or higher
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
Brian Fisher, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
71
|
Owen Brown, Coatesville Country Club
|
76
|
David Heaney, Wilmington Country Club
|
77
|
John Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
77
|
Joseph Muldowney, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77
|
Kevin Dunleavy, The ACE Club
|
78
|
Sean Remington, Green Valley Country Club
|
78
|
Joe Granahan, Concord Country Club
|
78
|
Bob Ursomarso, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
George Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
79
|
Barry Westington, Country Club of Scranton
|
79
|
Jules Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club
|
79
|
Ed Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
80
|
Matt Kothe, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
80
|
Robert Parsons, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
80
|
Bill Murray, Merchantville Country Club
|
81
|
Walt Neumann, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
Michael Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
81
|
Dominck Cappetti, Burlington Country Club
|
81
|
Tom Watchko, Phoenixville Country Club
|
81
|
Mike Walter, JC Melrose Country Club
|
81
|
Kenneth Zimmer, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81
|
Mike McTyre, Sakima Country Club
|
82
|
Joe Frey, Edgmont Country Club
|
82
|
Michael Anderson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
82
|
Michael Stabile, Medford Lakes Country Club
|
82
|
Brian Dobisch, Talamore Country Club
|
83
|
Jim Muehlbronner, Sandy Run Country Club
|
83
|
Jeffrey Prickitt, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
James Denon, Jr., The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
Gerald Bowes, Jr. , Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
83
|
John Macy, Links Golf Club
|
84
|
Patrick Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
84
|
John Marshalek, Whitford Country Club
|
84
|
Nathan Herring, Limekiln Golf Club
|
84
|
William Voris, Galloway National Golf Club
|
84
|
Peter Zukowski, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
85
|
Rick Wright, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
Edward Attarian, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
Dan Smith, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
86
|
Randy Kruse, Sandy Run Country Club
|
86
|
Timothy Whartenby, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
86
|
Mark Diorio, Running Deer Golf Club
|
87
|
Mark Occhipinti, Country Club of Scranton
|
87
|
Peter Witonsky, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
88
|
Paul Altieri, Hopewell Valley Golf Club
|
88
|
Frank Giordano, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
88
|
Joseph Greenwald, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
89
|
Stanley Cheiken, Philmont Country Club
|
89
|
Michael Santerian, Wedgwood Country Club
|
89
|
Robert Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
90
|
Schuyler Wickes, Phoenixville Country Club
|
90
|
Gregory Marks, Green Valley Country Club
|
90
|
David Pierce, Talamore Country Club
|
90
|
Chuck Kraatz, Talamore Country Club
|
90
|
John VanDame, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
91
|
Chris Rumsey, The Springhaven Club
|
91
|
Dave Dillon, Huntsville Golf Club
|
91
|
Peter Mark, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
91
|
Joseph Templin, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
91
|
Gerald Reed, Running Deer Golf Club
|
91
|
Robert Fischer, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
92
|
Robert Fernandez, Jericho National Golf Club
|
92
|
George Foley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
94
|
David Maslanka, Seaview Resort & Spa
|
94
|
Jim Lanzalotto, Llanerch Country Club
|
96
|
Mark Smedley, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
DQ
|
Scott Vasbinder, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
WDBottom of
Form
|
|
DQ-disqualification; WD-withdrawal
|