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| Gillespie won his first GAP title since his 2001 BMW Philadelphia Amateur victory. |
Gillespie returns to GAP glory with Marston Cup title
MOHNTON, Pa.- St. Davids Golf Club’s Brian Gillespie has made his rightful return to the GAP winner’s circle.
| Scorecards |
History |
Thanks to an even-par round of 72 on LedgeRock Golf Club’s (par 72, 6,667 yards) stifling track, Gillespie won the 11th Marston Cup on Thursday. The victory was Gillespie’s first since winning the 2001 BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship at Jericho National Golf Club.
“Champ. I like the sound of that,” said Gillespie while reading his newest and long-awaited piece of championship hardware. “It feels great to walk away with a win and to see my name on another GAP trophy. I must have played over a hundred GAP events since my last win. You beat your brains in because it’s just hard to win and to be first in a field with so many great players.”
Gillespie, having never stepped foot on LedgeRock’s aesthetically-pleasing grounds, outlasted a field of 86 players aged 40 to 54 for the title. After a rough start out of the gate with a bogey on No. 1 (par 4, 370 yards), he bounced back with a red number on No. 3 (par 4, 330 yards). Gillespie rolled a 42-yard wedge shot just past the cup, then drained the birdie putt after a helpful read from Philadelphia Publinks’ Dave Fardon, one of his playing partners.
Another Gillespie birdie came on No. 8 (par 5, 532 yards) after his pitch shot came to rest two feet from the hole and was easily finished. Gillespie, playing his final nine in 1-under-par, propelled himself towards the trophy with a birdie on No. 13 (par 5, 530 yards), where he snuck in a 12 footer on the right side of the cup. He avoided mistakes down the finishing stretch, including a crucial par on the par 4, 408-yard 17th, which the field played to a 5.07 stroke average on Thursday.
“It feels good having not seen this golf course before and having played pretty well. That means I’m playing well and thinking well,” said Gillespie. “It’s the kind of golf course, just driving in, I knew I would keep driver in the bag. It was kind of my plan to keep it in play. I wanted to get to even par and see what would happen from there.”
The St. Davids member of 16 years is no stranger to the top of leaderboards. In recent years, he has had more than a few chances to end his winless streak, including at the 2009 Patterson Cup, where he finished as runner-up to Overbrook Golf Club’s James Kania, Jr., and again at the 2013 GAP Middle-Amateur Championship where he finished tied for fourth.
Gillespie’s Marston title is his first stroke-play victory in a GAP event.
The Marston’s title-holder receives exemptions for the 2015 Amateur and Middle-Amateur Championships, as well as the Joseph H. Patterson Cup. Gillespie, however, is already exempt from those three GAP Majors.
“There’s been years when I haven’t had exemptions and I had to come out and qualify, which is always tough,” said Gillespie. “It’s nice to be exempt. It’s huge from a work schedule standpoint, too.”
With minimal golf left to be played in 2015, Gillespie will enter next year’s GAP season with favorable momentum. Ultimately, his goal remains the same: to have his name once again etched on a Major trophy.
“I really want to get my name on another one. Any guy that is out here will tell you the same thing,” said Gillespie, 40, of Newton Square, Pa. “At this point, I thought I would have my name on a Mid.-Am. trophy by now. I've been really close a few times to winning that thing. At some point, I want to get my name on that one. That’s my goal.”
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 low amateur in the Golf Association of 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 Golf Club’s Crump Cup.
Two-time champion P. Chet Walsh, who won last year’s Marston at Trenton Country Club and also in 2012 at White Manor Country Club, carded a 12-over round of 84 at LedgeRock.
The tournament is limited to players 40 to 54 years of age with a 10.0 handicap index or lower.
Golf Association of Philadelphia
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 151 Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
|
Overall
|
|
Name,
Club
|
Score
|
|
Brian
Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Brian
Dorey, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Ryan
Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73
|
|
Kevin
Kelly, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
Paul
Liebezeit, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
74
|
|
Timothy
Burns, Country Club of Scranton
|
74
|
|
Mark
Coassolo, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
75
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mark
Lafond, Blue Bell Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mark
Wachter, DuPont Country Club
|
76
|
|
Todd
Vonderheid, Huntsville Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Tom
Coyne, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
76
|
|
James
Gillespie, Wedgwood Country Club
|
77
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Kevin
Haag, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Thomas
Michalek, LedgeRock Golf
Club
|
77
|
|
Jim
Nau, Back Creek Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Kevin
Koch, Spring Ford Country Club
|
78
|
|
Kevin
Turner, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
78
|
|
Mark
Santerian, Wedgwood Country Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
78
|
|
Phil
Over, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Andrew
Dietz, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
79
|
|
Brett
Vivian, Philmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
Howard
Richardson, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Matt
Mingione, Plymouth Country Club
|
79
|
|
Peter
Moran, Edgmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
John
Gosselin, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
Michael
Dafnis, Plymouth Country Club
|
80
|
|
Edward
Kelly, Jr., Old York Road Country Club
|
81
|
|
Ken
Sim, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Scott
Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
81
|
|
William
Bello, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Jeff
Fialko, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
82
|
|
Jon
King, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Mark
Hodgson, Medford Village Country Club
|
82
|
|
Robert
Dziak, The Springhaven
Club
|
82
|
|
Adam
Shea, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Andy
Vitella, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
|
Chris
Jackson, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jeff
Moffat, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Jules
Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bill
Holsten, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
84
|
|
David
Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Eugene
Haag, Tavistock Country Club
|
84
|
|
George
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
84
|
|
Joe
Granahan, Concord Country Club
|
84
|
|
Joseph
Owsik, Philmont Country Club
|
84
|
|
Kenneth
Matt, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Mark
Czerniakowski, Meadowlands Country Club
|
84
|
|
Matthew
Hilbush, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
P.
Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club
|
84
|
|
Andy
Green, DuPont Country Club
|
85
|
|
Daniel
Brooks, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
David
Sirolly, Country Club of York
|
85
|
|
Jason
Kowalski, Yardley Country Club
|
85
|
|
Jim
Muehlbronner, Sandy Run Country Club
|
85
|
|
Robert
Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Dave
Fardon, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
86
|
|
David
Maddock, Glen Oak Country Club
|
86
|
|
Derek
Vogt, French Creek Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Joseph
Costanzo, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Matthew
J. Shevlin, North Hills Country Club
|
86
|
|
Michael
Diemer, Riverton Country Club
|
86
|
|
Patrick
Conroy, Llanerch Country Club
|
86
|
|
Paul
Altieri, Hopewell Valley Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Charlie
Wahl, Riverton Country Club
|
88
|
|
David
Justi, RiverCrest Golf
Club & Preserve
|
88
|
|
Shawn
Burns, The ACE Club
|
88
|
|
Tim
McNerney, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
88
|
|
David
Dorey, Tavistock Country Club
|
89
|
|
John
Mullins, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Patrick
Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
90
|
|
Robert
Frankil, Bellewood
Country Club
|
90
|
|
Roger
Smith, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
90
|
|
Steve
Weaver, Lu Lu Country Club
|
90
|
|
Michael
Walsh, III, Aronimink Golf Club
|
92
|
|
Scot
Withers, West Chester Golf & Country Club
|
92
|
|
Joseph
Greenwald, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
93
|
|
Michael
Schoedler, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Kevin
Wall, Old York Road Country Club
|
95
|
|
Ronald
Romanik, Coatesville Country Club
|
95
|
|
Bob
Dick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
100
|
|
John
VanDame, Jr., Talamore
Country Club
|
103
|
|
Johan
van Schalkwyk, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
DQ
|
|
John
Grove, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Ken
Croney, Jr., Applebrook
Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Lance
Oberparleiter, Little Mill Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Handicap
4 and under
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Brian
Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Brian
Dorey, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Ryan
Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73
|
|
Kevin
Kelly, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
Paul
Liebezeit, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
74
|
|
Timothy
Burns, Country Club of Scranton
|
74
|
|
Mark
Coassolo, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
75
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mark
Lafond, Blue Bell Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mark
Wachter, DuPont Country Club
|
76
|
|
Todd
Vonderheid, Huntsville Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Tom
Coyne, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
76
|
|
James
Gillespie, Wedgwood Country Club
|
77
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Kevin
Haag, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Thomas
Michalek, LedgeRock Golf
Club
|
77
|
|
Kevin
Koch, Spring Ford Country Club
|
78
|
|
Kevin
Turner, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
78
|
|
Mark
Santerian, Wedgwood Country Club
|
78
|
|
Brett
Vivian, Philmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
Matt
Mingione, Plymouth Country Club
|
79
|
|
Peter
Moran, Edgmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
John
Gosselin, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
Edward
Kelly, Jr., Old York Road Country Club
|
81
|
|
Ken
Sim, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Scott
Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
81
|
|
William
Bello, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Jeff
Fialko, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
82
|
|
Robert
Dziak, The Springhaven
Club
|
82
|
|
Adam
Shea, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Jeff
Moffat, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Jules
Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club
|
83
|
|
David
Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Kenneth
Matt, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Mark
Czerniakowski, Meadowlands Country Club
|
84
|
|
Matthew
Hilbush, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
P.
Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club
|
84
|
|
Dave
Fardon, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
86
|
|
David
Maddock, Glen Oak Country Club
|
86
|
|
Joseph
Costanzo, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Johan
van Schalkwyk, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
DQ
|
|
Ken
Croney, Jr., Applebrook
Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Lance
Oberparleiter, Little Mill Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Handicap
5 and higher
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Jim
Nau, Back Creek Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
78
|
|
Phil
Over, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Andrew
Dietz, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
79
|
|
Howard
Richardson, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Michael
Dafnis, Plymouth Country Club
|
80
|
|
Jon
King, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Mark
Hodgson, Medford Village Country Club
|
82
|
|
Andy
Vitella, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
|
Chris
Jackson, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bill
Holsten, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
84
|
|
Eugene
Haag, Tavistock Country Club
|
84
|
|
George
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
84
|
|
Joe
Granahan, Concord Country Club
|
84
|
|
Joseph
Owsik, Philmont Country Club
|
84
|
|
Andy
Green, DuPont Country Club
|
85
|
|
Daniel
Brooks, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
David
Sirolly, Country Club of York
|
85
|
|
Jason
Kowalski, Yardley Country Club
|
85
|
|
Jim
Muehlbronner, Sandy Run Country Club
|
85
|
|
Robert
Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Derek
Vogt, French Creek Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Matthew
J. Shevlin, North Hills Country Club
|
86
|
|
Michael
Diemer, Riverton Country Club
|
86
|
|
Patrick
Conroy, Llanerch Country Club
|
86
|
|
Paul
Altieri, Hopewell Valley Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Charlie
Wahl, Riverton Country Club
|
88
|
|
David
Justi, RiverCrest Golf
Club & Preserve
|
88
|
|
Shawn
Burns, The ACE Club
|
88
|
|
Tim
McNerney, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
88
|
|
David
Dorey, Tavistock Country Club
|
89
|
|
John
Mullins, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Patrick
Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
90
|
|
Robert
Frankil, Bellewood
Country Club
|
90
|
|
Roger
Smith, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
90
|
|
Steve
Weaver, Lu Lu Country Club
|
90
|
|
Michael
Walsh, III, Aronimink Golf Club
|
92
|
|
Scot
Withers, West Chester Golf & Country Club
|
92
|
|
Joseph
Greenwald, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
93
|
|
Michael
Schoedler, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Kevin
Wall, Old York Road Country Club
|
95
|
|
Ronald
Romanik, Coatesville Country Club
|
95
|
|
Bob
Dick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
100
|
|
John
VanDame, Jr., Talamore
Country Club
|
103
|
|
John
Grove, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
DQ-disqualification;
WD-withdrawal
|
|
