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 |
Steve Walczak of Wilmington Country Club clinched victory
with this par putt on No. 18 (par 4, 375 yards). |
Wilmington's Walczak wins 45th Senior Amateur Championship
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Steven Walczak of Wilmington Country Club doubled up on Senior Amateur glory.
|
Scorecards |
History |
Senior POY standings |
Senior Silver Cross Award standings |
|
Whitemarsh Valley's Polizzi takes Super-Senior title |
Video recap |
VIDEO: Steve Walczak interview |
VIDEO: David West interview |
Walczak, the reigning Delaware State Golf Association Senior Champion, added the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s top 55-and-older prize to his cache of treasures. Walczak converted a testing downhill right-to-left par save on the final hole (No. 18, par 4, 375 yards) to edge David West of Whitford Country Club by a stroke for the 45th Senior Amateur Championship crown on Wednesday at a demanding Union League Golf Club at Torresdale (par 70, 6,273 yards).
Walczak finished at 1-over for the 36 holes, carding a closing 1-over-par 71. West, in the group ahead, finished at 2-over 72. Roc Irey of Lookaway Golf Club made a late surge to get into contention finishing in a tie for third with defending champion Chip Lutz of LedgeRock Golf Club. Both players were 3 over. Irey carded a Round 2 low 2-under 68.
Walczak joins Sandy Knapp of DuPont Country Club as the only player to win both area titles in same year. Knapp did so in 1996.
“I had never won a Golf Association of Philadelphia event. I have won a couple Delaware events (Mid Open championships) in the past. To win the two [Senior Amateurs] in the same year is phenomenal,” said Walczak, 58, of Greenville, Del. “There are so many good players in Philly, to come out on top is difficult and challenging. It’s a year I’ll remember forever.”
Walczak opened the second round two strokes behind leader Bert Kosup of The Ridge at Back Brook but took the lead by the third hole and never relinquished it.
Walczak, playing with Kosup, opened with a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 339 yards) when he knocked a 94-yard gap wedge to six inches.
“I had a stress free birdie to get me started and that feels good,” Walczak said.
Kosup, in the meantime, carded two bogeys in his first three holes. Even his par on No. 1 was a bit of a disappointment after hitting his approach next to the cup and spinning it off the green.
Walczak, a very deliberate player, turned in a round representative of his style of play. He followed the birdie with six straight pars. Walczak made bogey on No. 8 (par 4, 448 yards) after a poor second shot but immediately answered with another gimme birdie on No. 9 (par 3, 158 yards). He dropped an 8-iron to a couple feet.
“When I made the turn I saw Chip [Lutz] was 1 over and I was 1 under,” said Walczak. “He’s liable to go 2 or 3 under on the back nine. Wherever I was [on the leaderboard] I knew I needed to keep playing. I didn’t think about a score, I just needed to keep making golf shots.”
Two squirrely 4-irons, one on No. 11 (par 3, 208 yards) and another on No. 14 (par 3, 186 yards), resulted in a bogey and double-bogey, respectively, and cut a three-shot lead to one. Irey, Lutz and West were the closest pursuers. However, Walczak answered in true championship style on the short par 4, 15th (300 yards). He found the fairway and followed that up with a 90-yard gap wedge to three feet.
“The swing on the 15th tee was tough after you fan one right [on the hole before],” said Walczak. “I hit a really good shot and was fortunate enough to make birdie.”
On No. 18 (par 4, 375 yards), Walczak found the right treeline off the tee and chipped out to 67 yards. His lob wedge then tracked five feet past the hole, and after consulting with an official about his standing on the leaderboard, Walczak calmly drained the putt.
“It was a little left to right downhill putt. I’ve been working on those putts and all the work paid off,” said an elated Walczak who thrust his fist in the air after making it. “To go through your routine and hit a good solid shot when it’s very meaningful is something I’m proud of.”
West, who finished second to Irey in the Senior Silver Cross standings, had it to 2 over for the tournament with three holes to go, but just couldn’t find another birdie despite good looks at Nos. 16 (par 5, 546 yards) and 17 (par 3, 198 yards).
“I’m happy. I certainly had my chances but I couldn’t get too many putts to drop,” said West, 55, of Exton, Pa. “All in all, I can’t complain with second place in my first Senior Am.”
NOTES-Irey, who birdied the final hole, earned his first Senior Silver Cross Award. Irey's four-round total was 295. The Senior Silver Cross Award is presented to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the Chapman Cup (Gross),
Warner Cup
(Gross) and two rounds of the Senior Amateur Championship.
|
Overall
|
|
Name,
club
|
R1-R2–Total
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
70-71–141
|
|
David
West, Whitford Country Club
|
70-72–142
|
|
Chip
Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
71-72–143
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75-68–143
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
75-70–145
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
72-75–147
|
|
Andy
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
75-72–147
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77-72–149
|
|
Thomas
Soares, Lehigh Country Club
|
76-73–149
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
68-81–149
|
|
Buck
Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
72-78–150
|
|
Pete
Widdoes, White Clay Creek Country Club
|
75-75–150
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
75-75–150
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
76-74–150
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
69-82–151
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
74-77–151
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
76-75–151
|
|
John
Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club
|
76-75–151
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78-73–151
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
78-74–152
|
|
John
Psillas, Moselem Springs
Golf Club
|
77-75–152
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
76-76–152
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
75-77–152
|
|
Michael
Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
75-77–152
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
79-73–152
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
77-76–153
|
|
John
Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
79-74–153
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
77-76–153
|
|
Norman
Charlesworth, Running Deer Golf Club
|
80-74–154
|
|
Tim
Sindorf, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81-73–154
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
80-75–155
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
74-81–155
|
|
Dennis
Konczyk, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
73-82–155
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club
|
75-80–155
|
|
Francis
McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
76-79–155
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
81-75–156
|
|
Bryan
Marvin, Old York Road Country Club
|
78-79–157
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
79-78–157
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
78-79–157
|
|
James
Prendergast, Bellewood Country Club
|
76-81–157
|
|
Wayne
Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club
|
76-81–157
|
|
Francis
Hamm, Country Club of Scranton
|
75-83–158
|
|
Jon
Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
79-79–158
|
|
John
Duke, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77-81–158
|
|
Peter
Mimmo, Greate Bay Country
Club
|
80-78–158
|
|
Roy
Gagne, Yardley Country Club
|
80-78–158
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
77-82–159
|
|
Richard
Young, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
76-83–159
|
|
Scott
Orr, Bellewood Country Club
|
74-85–159
|
|
Bob
Majczan, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
80-79–159
|
|
Bob
Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
81-79–160
|
|
Brian
Sexton, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
|
76-84–160
|
|
Paul
Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
82-78–160
|
|
Steve
Dionisio, Jericho National Golf Club
|
82-78–160
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
85-76–161
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
82-79–161
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81-81–162
|
|
Len
Fox, Jr., Tavistock Country Club
|
82-80–162
|
|
Gary
Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
83-80–163
|
|
Mark
Dennish, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
80-84–164
|
|
Tom
Faro, Middletown Country Club
|
85-79–164
|
|
John
Willadsen, Sakima Country
Club
|
83-83–166
|
|
Michael
Brady, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80-86–166
|
|
Barry
Westington, Country Club of Scranton
|
83-84–167
|
|
Joe
Culley, The Springhaven
Club
|
85-82–167
|
|
John
Vergari, Tavistock
Country Club
|
86-81–167
|
|
Matt
Brady, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
84-84–168
|
|
Bob
Enders, Running Deer Golf Club
|
82-87–169
|
|
John
Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
87-82–169
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
81-88–169
|
|
Bennett
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
88-82–170
|
|
Art
Caldwell, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
90-81–171
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Tavistock Country Club
|
86-86–172
|
|
Scott
McIntosh, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
87-85–172
|
|
Gerald
Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
87-86–173
|
|
Gary
Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
92-83–175
|
|
Michael
Caulfield, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
86-89–175
|
|
Dan
Farragut, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
87-89–176
|
|
Jozef Swatowski, Stockton Seaview
Hotel & Golf Club
|
90-88–178
|
|
Kenneth
Dazen, Medford Village Country Club
|
92-89–181
|
|
Matthew
Manfred, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
91-90–181
|
|
Tom
Conboy, Jr., Sandy Run Country Club
|
88-95–183
|
|
Patrick
O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
80-NS–NS
|
|
Phil
Remig, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
89-NS–NS
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Back Creek Golf Club
|
77-WD–WD
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld
National
|
79-WD–WD
|
|
Jack
O'Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
90-WD–WD
|
|
John
Manfredi, Woodcrest Country Club
|
76-WD–WD
|
|
Brian
Nelson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
87-WD–WD
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
78-WD–WD
|
|
Mike
Miklinevich, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
85-WD–WD
|
|
Thomas
Humphrey, Wilmington Country Club
|
79-WD–WD
|
| |
|
Ages
55-59
|
|
Name,
club
|
R1-R2–Total
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
70-71–141
|
|
David
West, Whitford Country Club
|
70-72–142
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
75-70–145
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
72-75–147
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77-72–149
|
|
Thomas
Soares, Lehigh Country Club
|
76-73–149
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
69-82–151
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
74-77–151
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
76-75–151
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
78-74–152
|
|
John
Psillas, Moselem Springs
Golf Club
|
77-75–152
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
77-76–153
|
|
John
Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
79-74–153
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
77-76–153
|
|
Norman
Charlesworth, Running Deer Golf Club
|
80-74–154
|
|
Tim
Sindorf, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81-73–154
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
80-75–155
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
74-81–155
|
|
Dennis
Konczyk, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
73-82–155
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club
|
75-80–155
|
|
Bryan
Marvin, Old York Road Country Club
|
78-79–157
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
79-78–157
|
|
Francis
Hamm, Country Club of Scranton
|
75-83–158
|
|
Jon
Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
79-79–158
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
77-82–159
|
|
Richard
Young, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
76-83–159
|
|
Scott
Orr, Bellewood Country Club
|
74-85–159
|
|
Bob
Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
81-79–160
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81-81–162
|
|
Len
Fox, Jr., Tavistock Country Club
|
82-80–162
|
|
Gary
Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
83-80–163
|
|
Mark
Dennish, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
80-84–164
|
|
Tom
Faro, Middletown Country Club
|
85-79–164
|
|
John
Willadsen, Sakima Country
Club
|
83-83–166
|
|
Barry
Westington, Country Club of Scranton
|
83-84–167
|
|
Matt
Brady, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
84-84–168
|
|
Bob
Enders, Running Deer Golf Club
|
82-87–169
|
|
John
Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
87-82–169
|
|
Art
Caldwell, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
90-81–171
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Tavistock Country Club
|
86-86–172
|
|
Scott
McIntosh, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
87-85–172
|
|
Gerald
Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
87-86–173
|
|
Kenneth
Dazen, Medford Village Country Club
|
92-89–181
|
|
Matthew
Manfred, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
91-90–181
|
|
Tom
Conboy, Jr., Sandy Run Country Club
|
88-95–183
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Back Creek Golf Club
|
77-WD–WD
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld
National
|
79-WD–WD
|
|
Jack
O'Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
90-WD–WD
|
|
John
Manfredi, Woodcrest Country Club
|
76-WD–WD
|
|
Patrick
O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
80-NS–NS
|
|
Phil
Remig, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
89-NS–NS
|
| |
|
Ages
60 and over
|
|
Name,
club
|
R1-R2–Total
|
|
Chip
Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
71-72–143
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75-68–143
|
|
Andy
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
75-72–147
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
68-81–149
|
|
Buck
Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
72-78–150
|
|
Pete
Widdoes, White Clay Creek Country Club
|
75-75–150
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
75-75–150
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
76-74–150
|
|
John
Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club
|
76-75–151
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78-73–151
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
76-76–152
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
75-77–152
|
|
Michael
Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
75-77–152
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
79-73–152
|
|
Francis
McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
76-79–155
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
81-75–156
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
78-79–157
|
|
James
Prendergast, Bellewood Country Club
|
76-81–157
|
|
Wayne
Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club
|
76-81–157
|
|
John
Duke, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77-81–158
|
|
Peter
Mimmo, Greate Bay Country
Club
|
80-78–158
|
|
Roy
Gagne, Yardley Country Club
|
80-78–158
|
|
Bob
Majczan, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
80-79–159
|
|
Brian
Sexton, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
|
76-84–160
|
|
Paul
Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
82-78–160
|
|
Steve
Dionisio, Jericho National Golf Club
|
82-78–160
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
85-76–161
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
82-79–161
|
|
Michael
Brady, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80-86–166
|
|
Joe
Culley, The Springhaven
Club
|
85-82–167
|
|
John
Vergari, Tavistock
Country Club
|
86-81–167
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
81-88–169
|
|
Bennett
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
88-82–170
|
|
Gary
Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
92-83–175
|
|
Michael
Caulfield, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
86-89–175
|
|
Dan
Farragut, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
87-89–176
|
|
Jozef Swatowski, Stockton Seaview
Hotel & Golf Club
|
90-88–178
|
|
Brian
Nelson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
87-WD–WD
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
78-WD–WD
|
|
Mike
Miklinevich, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
85-WD–WD
|
|
Thomas
Humphrey, Wilmington Country Club
|
79-WD–WD
|
| |
|
NS-no
show; WD-withdrawal
|
|
