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Nathan Sutherland of LedgeRock Golf Club was only one of two players
to break par in the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship Qualifier
on Tuesday at Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon/Militia Hill (qualifying)). |
Philadelphia Cricket’s Brennan earns top seed in #BMWPhillyAm
FLOURTOWN, Pa.–Timing is everything for John Brennan and the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship. A Spring Ford High School social studies teacher, sometimes the educational calendar precludes Brennan from competing in anything more than the event’s stroke play qualifier.
| Scorecards
| Bracket
| History
| Day One Notebook
| Day 1 Video |
This year, with Brennan’s home of Philadelphia Cricket Club hosting the Association’s most prestigious tournament, the 38-year-old made sure he was available to play all week, if necessary.
And it may just be.
Brennan, on a brutally hot day, scorched the Wissahickon Course (par 70, 6,868 yards) in a career best 4-under in the morning before finishing the 36-hole BMW Philadelphia Amateur Qualifier with an even-par 72 at the Militia Hill Course (par 72, 7,158 yards). His total was three clear of the field. He will be the No. 1 seed heading into match play, which begins Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Wissahickon will be the match play site.
There was a 6-for-3 playoff at 8-over 150. Jack Melville of Lu Lu Country Club earned the No. 32 and final seed with a par on the second playoff hole. Melville outlasted Matt Mattare of Saucon Valley Country Club for the final match play spot.
The #BMWPhillyAm is the oldest Amateur Championship conducted by a state or regional golf association. It started in 1897.
“I think [playing on your home course] was a huge aspect,” said Brennan, a two-time Cricket club champion. “Just the conditions of the golf course. It’s a championship golf course out here at Wissahickon. Is everybody in the field prepared for something like this, ‘I don’t know.’ I knew I was prepared coming in for the day. This is a golf course where you just have to plod along and make a lot of pars and when you get an opportunity to make a birdie you have to capitalize on it.”
Brennan, of Collegeville, Pa., did that with a career-best showing on Wissahickon. He birdied No. 1 (par 4, 395 yards) with a pitching wedge from 125 yards to two feet. He added another on the difficult No. 4 (par 4, 472 yards) after dropping an 8-iron from 155 yards to five feet. He backed that up with a 20-footer on No. 5 (par 3, 193 yards) after landing a 6-iron to the right of the hole. Brennan missed a short par putt on No. 6 (par 4, 472 yards) to give one back but went on a tear, birdieing Nos. 7 thru 9. On No. 7 (par 5, 550 yards), he dropped a lob wedge from 80 yards to 15 feet; drained a 35-footer on No. 8 (par 4, 367 yards) and stopped a GAP wedge at 10 feet on No. 9 (par 4, 376 yards). He made the turn in 5-under 30.
He reached No. 12 (par 5, 538 yards) in two for an easy birdie, then carded five straight pars before getting in some trouble on 18 (par 4, 469 yards), both off the tee and around the green, before carding a double bogey.
“That’s my best round by far at Wissahickon. Maybe I shot 1-under par before. To do it on a day like today I’m proud of myself,” said Brennan, who won the Association’s Middle-Amateur Championship in 2012. “In fact, I had only four scores above par, two bogeys and two double bogeys.”
Brennan carded his other double bogey, ironically, on the first hole of the second round to make it back-to-back doubles.
After opening with that double at Militia Hill, Brennan then birdied No. 11 (par 3, 157 yards) with a three-quarter 7-iron to 10 feet and No. 14 (par 5, 531 yards) after reaching it in two.
“I settled in after that and just made a lot of pars,” said Brennan.
For some reason, this is Nathan Sutherland of LedgeRock Golf Club’s first Amateur appearance. His 1-under-par total was the only other red figure in the field of 139. The timing just never worked out before for the long-hitting 27-year-old.
It did today, however, for Sutherland who was playing Cricket for the first time.
“The course sets up well for me. You can spray the ball a little off the tee, you have to hit high shots into the green and I love putting on fast surfaces,” said Sutherland, 27, of Reading, Pa. “This was the first time all year I kind of put everything together.”
Sutherland isn’t without Championship credentials.
He finished second in the 2007 Patterson Cup at Berkleigh Country Club/Moselem Springs Golf Club to Michael McDermott. That was the same year Sutherland tied for third in the Pennsylvania State Amateur, where he opened with a 63 at Longue Vue Club.
Sutherland faces No. 31 seed Brian Fischer, 21, of Commonwealth National Golf Club.
Defending champion McDermott, 42, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., qualified for match play as well. The three-time Amateur Champion finished qualifying at 4 over and is seeded No. 17. He faces 20-year-old clubmate and No. 16 seed Peter Bradbeer of Rosemont, Pa. at 7:37 a.m. on No. 1.
A total of 13 Philadelphia Cricket Club members qualified for the Championship proper. Three others, in addition to Brennan advanced: Cole Berman, the 2015 BMW Philadelphia Amateur Champion; Conrad Von Borsig, the 2009 BMW Philadelphia Amateur Champion; and Gregor Orlando, a quarterfinalist in 2016.
This is the first time the BMW Philadelphia Amateur returns to the Wissahickon Course as the primary site since 1976. That year O. Gordon Brewer, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley Country Club defeated Duke Delcher of Sandy Run Country Club.
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 153 Full Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. 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.
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Qualifiers
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Name,
club
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R1-R2–Total
|
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John
Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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66W-72MH–138
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Nathan
Sutherland, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
70MH-71W–141
|
|
Aaron
Fricke, Lancaster Country Club
|
68MH-74W–142
|
|
Marty
McGuckin, RiverCrest Golf
Club & Preserve
|
75W-68MH–143
|
|
Scott
McNeil, Bala Golf Club
|
72W-71MH–143
|
|
Michael
Brown, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club
|
73MH-71W–144
|
|
Conrad
Von Borsig, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73W-71MH–144
|
|
John
Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
75MH-70W–145
|
|
Cole
A. Berman, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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72W-73MH–145
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Gregor
Orlando, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
69MH-76W–145
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Jeff
Osberg, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
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71W-74MH–145
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Grant
Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf Club
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73W-72MH–145
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Jarred
Texter, Conestoga Country Club
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71MH-74W–145
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Christopher
Thude, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
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72W-73MH–145
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Jeremy
Wall, Manasquan River Golf Club
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73W-72MH–145
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Peter
Bradbeer, Merion Golf Club
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70MH-76W–146
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Michael
McDermott, Merion Golf Club
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72W-74MH–146
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P.J.
Acierno, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
75W-72MH–147
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Brian
Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club
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74W-73MH–147
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Brock
Kovach, Berkshire Country Club
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79MH-68W–147
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Sam
Soeth, White Manor Country Club
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69W-78MH–147
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Christopher
Ault, Yardley Country Club
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72MH-76W–148
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David
Hicks, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
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72MH-76W–148
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#Steve
Oh, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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73W-75MH–148
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Ethan
Wall, Manasquan River Golf Club
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78MH-70W–148
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Jay
Whitby, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
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73W-75MH–148
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Brandon
Dalinka, The Ridge at Back Brook
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76MH-73W–149
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Roland
Massimino, The Ridge at Back Brook
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76W-73MH–149
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Sean
Seese, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
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72W-77MH–149
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Benjamin
Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
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73W-76MH–149
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*Matthew
Smith, French Creek Golf Club
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70MH-80W–150
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*Brian
Fischer, Commonwealth National Golf Club
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73MH-77W–150
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*Jack
Melville, Lu Lu Country Club
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76W-74MH–150
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Failed
to qualify
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Matthew
Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club
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76MH-74W–150
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Sean
Semenetz, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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75MH-75W–150
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Glenn
Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country
Club
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74W-76MH–150
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Griffin
Smith, Jericho National Golf Club
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70W-80MH–150
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Austin
Barbin, GAP Junior eClub
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75MH-76W–151
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Geoffrey
Cooper, North Hills Country Club
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75MH-76W–151
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Sean
Coyle, Llanerch Country Club
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75MH-76W–151
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Paul
Liebezeit, Aronimink Golf
Club
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75W-76MH–151
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David
Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
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77W-74MH–151
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Ron
Robinson, Talamore Country Club
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78W-73MH–151
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Max
Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club
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71W-80MH–151
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Matthew
Teesdale, Commonwealth National Golf Club
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71MH-80W–151
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Peter
Barron, III, Stone Harbor Golf Club
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75W-77MH–152
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Evan
Brown, Hartefeld National
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79W-73MH–152
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Lukas
Clark, Jericho National Golf Club
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75MH-77W–152
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Andrew
Kotler, Cherry Valley Country Club
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76W-76MH–152
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Andy
Latowski, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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75MH-77W–152
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Liam
McAnally, Applecross Country Club
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78W-74MH–152
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Brad
McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
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78W-74MH–152
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|
Connor
McNicholas, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
74W-78MH–152
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|
Kevin
Scherr, GAP Junior eClub
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79W-73MH–152
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|
Stephen
Seiden, Llanerch Country Club
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77MH-75W–152
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|
R.J.
Wren, Applecross Country Club
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75MH-77W–152
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Dawson
Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
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76W-77MH–153
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Chuck
Briggs, Bala Golf Club
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79W-74MH–153
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Kyle
Deisher, Hartefeld
National
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76W-77MH–153
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Brian
McDermott, Llanerch Country Club
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78W-75MH–153
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Liam
McGrath, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
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79W-74MH–153
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Adam
Warner, Tavistock Country Club
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78W-75MH–153
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Carey
Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club
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74W-80MH–154
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Michael
Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
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78W-76MH–154
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Zachary
Falone, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
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81W-73MH–154
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Kyle
Henofer, Indian Valley Country Club
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80MH-74W–154
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Jack
Irons, Trump National Golf Club - Philadelphia
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80MH-74W–154
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Scott
McKean, Chester Valley Golf Club
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79W-75MH–154
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Rodney
Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
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77MH-78W–155
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Dan
Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club
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77W-78MH–155
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Matt
Cocco, Commonwealth National Golf Club
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79W-76MH–155
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Stephen
Dressel, St. Davids Golf
Club
|
80MH-75W–155
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Michael
Moffat, Lu Lu Country Club
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78W-77MH–155
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John
Samaha, Old York Road Country Club
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79W-76MH–155
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|
Cory
Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club
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76W-79MH–155
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Philip
Bartholomew, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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82W-74MH–156
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|
Ed
Brown, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
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77MH-79W–156
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|
Michael
Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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73MH-83W–156
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Matthew
Finger, DuPont Country Club
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75MH-81W–156
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|
Blaine
Lafferty, Little Mill Country Club
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74MH-82W–156
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Chris
Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
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78W-78MH–156
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|
Conor McGrath,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club
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78W-78MH–156
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|
Zachary
Barbin, GAP Junior eClub
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77W-80MH–157
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Matthew
Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
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79MH-78W–157
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Ryan
Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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81MH-76W–157
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|
Clark
Holle, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
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80W-77MH–157
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Luca
Jezzeny, The Bucks Club
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82W-75MH–157
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|
Tom
Spano, Llanerch Country Club
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80MH-77W–157
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|
Brian
Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
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81W-77MH–158
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Benjamin
Pochet, Spring Ford Country Club
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80MH-78W–158
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Tanner
Robb, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
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82MH-76W–158
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|
John
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
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79W-80MH–159
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Billy
Civitella, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
83MH-76W–159
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Jason
Loehrs, Cobbs Creek Golf Club
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81MH-78W–159
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Robert
Olseski, III, Sandy Run Country Club
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77MH-82W–159
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Frank
Petrash, IV, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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78W-81MH–159
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Dan
Rudershausen, Kennett Square Golf & Country
Club
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78MH-81W–159
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Ryan
Worthy, Merion Golf Club
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80MH-79W–159
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Robert
Firth, Jr., Commonwealth National Golf Club
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77MH-83W–160
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Daniel
Furman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
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85MH-75W–160
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Jacob
Hanzel, Running Deer Golf Club
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84W-76MH–160
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David
Colleran, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
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79W-82MH–161
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Brian
Fisher, Phoenixville Country Club
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83W-78MH–161
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James
Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
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82W-79MH–161
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Edward
Kelly, Jr., Old York Road Country Club
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80MH-81W–161
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Kevin
Kramarski, Riverton Country Club
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78MH-83W–161
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Ryan
Tall, Spring Ford Country Club
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77MH-84W–161
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Kevin
Haag, Glenmaura National Golf Club
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82MH-80W–162
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Thomas
Lindberg, St. Davids Golf Club
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83W-79MH–162
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Drew
Petri, Jericho National Golf Club
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84MH-79W–163
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Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
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81W-82MH–163
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Sean
Ebert, Commonwealth National Golf Club
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84MH-80W–164
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Kevin
Frost, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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78MH-86W–164
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Scott
McLaughlin, Lu Lu Country Club
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83MH-81W–164
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Brian
Zinman, Saucon Valley
Country Club
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81MH-83W–164
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Trey
Croney, Overbrook Golf Club
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83MH-82W–165
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Tyler
Sokolis, Commonwealth National Golf Club
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77W-88MH–165
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Tyler
McGarry, Fox Hill Country Club
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78W-88MH–166
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Adam
Sutovich, Brookside CC of Allentown
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81MH-85W–166
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Adam
Bracy, Rancocas Golf Club
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81MH-86W–167
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Chris
Meares, Running Deer Golf Club
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84MH-83W–167
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Joseph
Dulka, Bellewood Country
Club
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80MH-88W–168
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Daniel
Feeney, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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82MH-86W–168
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Jason
Kowalski, Downingtown Country Club
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82MH-86W–168
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Michael
Winter, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
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83MH-86W–169
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Andrew
Wallace, Green Valley Country Club
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82W-90MH–172
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Christian
Haldeman, Saucon Valley Country Club
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86MH-89W–175
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Matthew
Balcer, Bensalem Township Country Club
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WD
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Chris
Binder, Valleybrook Country Club
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WD
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Nicholas
Biondi, Glenmaura National Golf Club
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WD
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Jim
Engler, Sea Oaks Golf Club
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WD
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Zachary
Herr, Jericho National Golf Club
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WD
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J.D.
Hughes, LedgeRock Golf Club
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WD
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William
Jeremiah, Bidermann Golf Club
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WD
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Shawn
Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club
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WD
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Mariano
Medico, Fox Hill Country Club
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WD
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Richard
Riva, Bent Creek Country Club
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WD
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Michael
Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club
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WD
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Jamie
Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
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WD
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MH-Militia Hill; W-Wissahickon
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#-not
participating in match play
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*-determined in playoff
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WD-withdrawal
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