ALLENTOWN, Pa.-It took two days and hours of waiting, but when the 47th Senior Amateur Championship concluded Wednesday at Lehigh Country Club (par 70, 6,548 yards), it was Glenn Smeraglio who found the high ground.
Smeraglio, 57, of Newtown, Pa., who started at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, posted a sparkling 5-under 65 and the tournament benchmark. He finished hours ahead of the storms that soaked the region, postponed Round 1 and reduced the scheduled 36-hole event to 18 holes. Play was suspended at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday. It resumed at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Lu Lu Country Club mate Chris Clauson, playing in the same group as Smeraglio, placed second at 3 under. They were the only two players to break par.
The victory was Smeraglio’s first Senior Amateur title. It capped a sensational summer in which he also hoisted the Pennsylvania State Senior Amateur Championship.
He’s the first player to turn that feat since Ray Thompson of Overbrook Golf Club in 2007. And fourth one ever.
“It means everything to me,” said Smeraglio of winning the state’s two most prestigious Senior titles. “It’s justification for a lot of hard work. I knew I could do it but you can’t just say it, you have to do it. I’m proud to get the job done. I got two fortunate weather breaks. They had rain in the morning of the State [Senior Amateur] and I had an afternoon time. I was lucky to get the good side of the weather.”
Smeraglio may add a third title to his cabinet later. He and the aforementioned Thompson tied at 6-over-par for the Senior Silver Cross. An 18-hole playoff at a to be determined date and site is the required tiebreaker.
Smeraglio is the defending Senior Silver Cross Award winner. He also took three amateur Silver Crosses prior (2000-01, 2008). Thompson is a three-time Senior Silver Cross champion (2007, 2011, 2013).
It is the first playoff in the Senior Silver Cross history. The event started in 2004.
In serene conditions prior to the storm front, Smeraglio, and for that matter Clauson, were dazzling.
Starting on the back nine, Smeraglio opened with three straight birdies. On No. 10 (par 4, 421 yards), he knocked a pitching wedge from 129 yards to 10 feet; on No. 11 (par 5, 500 yards) got up-and-down after just missing the green left in two shots; and on No. 12 (par 4, 375 yards) lofted a gap wedge from 108 yards to eight feet for a third straight red number.
He bogeyed No. 15 (par 4, 393 yards) after pulling his second shot into the greenside bunker. However, he alleviated any angst immediately on the next hole, No. 16 (par 3, 175 yards), when he hit a 7-iron to five feet.
He turned in 3 under, trailing Clauson by a stroke.
Clauson made five birdies in his first six holes to state his intentions. He had a 12-footer on No. 17 (par 4, 414 yards) for another birdie but three putted and turned in 4-under par.
Smeraglio then slowly took charge. On No. 1 (par 4, 424 yards), his 10th hole, he canned a 25-footer from the left side of the green after pulling his pitching wedge from 130 yards. Pars followed until No. 6 (par 5, 532 yards) when he placed his 4-rescue into the left bunker, splashed out to six feet and made another birdie. He concluded his round with three more pars.
“Obviously 5 under is a good score,” said Smeraglio. “I got off to a tremendous start. We were kind of feeding off each other in the group. Chris and I were matching birdie for birdie. It was a couple of Lu Lu guys going at it all day. It was fun.”
Clauson tried to keep pace with Smeraglio. He registered another birdie on No. 2 (par 4, 354 yards) to get back to 5 under, but bogeys on Nos. 5 (par 4, 396 yards) and 9 (par 4, 435 yards) dropped him to a 3-under finish.
“Obviously it’s a great win,” said Smeraglio. “I’ve been close the two times prior.”
Smeraglio was in the Senior final grouping the last two years. In 2016, he closed with an even-par 71 to fall a stroke short of Mitchell. In 2015, Smeraglio carded a second-round 82 citing possible heat exhaustion to finish in a tie for 15th.
“I was very fortunate to be on the right side of the draw this time,” said Smeraglio. “Honestly, it was in the back of my mind but we were just playing. I was thinking about shooting a good score. I had a good little rivalry with Chris and [other groupmate] Randy [Mitchell]. It was like a day on the weekend.”
|
Overall
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club
|
65
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
67
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
70
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Craig
Kliewer, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Michael
Tash, Tavistock Country Club
|
73
|
|
David
West, Whitford Country Club
|
73
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Timothy
Burns, Country Club of Scranton
|
73
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Applebrook Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Greg
Guyer, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
Scott
Mayne, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
74
|
|
George
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
74
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
75
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
75
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Jeffrey
Allen, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
75
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Randy
Mitchell, Wilmington Country Club
|
75
|
|
Gary
Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
75
|
|
John
Ryan, Silver Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
Bill
Charpek, Merion Golf Club
|
76
|
|
David
Lees, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
76
|
|
Charles
Dowds, III, Applebrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
|
77
|
|
Joseph
Weiscarger, Wyoming Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Gregory
Day, Old York Road Country Club
|
77
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
77
|
|
Doug
Jones, Little Mill Country Club
|
77
|
|
Rand
Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Tom
Krug, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Jeff
Poet, Country Club of York
|
78
|
|
Bob
Taylor, Middletown Country Club
|
78
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Scott
Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Robinson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
78
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld National
|
78
|
|
Bob
Walsh, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
78
|
|
Patrick
Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Elliot
Sheftel, Lehigh Country Club
|
79
|
|
Damian
Anzaldo, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
Gerald
Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph
Lewis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Steve
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Andy
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Larry
Camilli, Lehigh Country Club
|
80
|
|
Grant
Liu, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
80
|
|
Andy
Lykon, Talamore Country Club
|
81
|
|
Patrick
O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
81
|
|
Cameron
Campbell, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
81
|
|
George
Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Alan
Lazzarino, DuPont Country Club
|
82
|
|
Phil
Remig, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Michael
Lewers, Aronimink Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Kelly
Patton, Heidelberg Country Club
|
83
|
|
Kevin
Gertz, Silver Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Brian
Trymbiski, Doylestown Country Club
|
84
|
|
Bill
Boyle, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Harold
Schweitzer, Jr., Broad Run Golfer's Club
|
85
|
|
Andrew
Sterge, Applebrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Robert
Wojczak, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
87
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Country Club of Scranton
|
WD
|
|
Marlin
Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Matthew
Manfred, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Stanley, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Umani, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Fagan, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Lownes, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Chip
Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
William
McGuinness, Tavistock Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Scott
McIntosh, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Stephen
McIntyre, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Brian
Powell, Burlington Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Mike
Schuster, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Thomas
Soares, Lehigh Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Timbrell, The Bucks Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
John
Vergari, Tavistock Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Scott
Orr, Bellewood Country Club
|
NS
|
| |
|
Ages
55-59
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club
|
65
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
70
|
|
Craig
Kliewer, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Michael
Tash, Tavistock Country Club
|
73
|
|
David
West, Whitford Country Club
|
73
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Timothy
Burns, Country Club of Scranton
|
73
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Applebrook Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Greg
Guyer, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
Scott
Mayne, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
74
|
|
George
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
74
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
75
|
|
Randy
Mitchell, Wilmington Country Club
|
75
|
|
Gary
Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
75
|
|
John
Ryan, Silver Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
David
Lees, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
|
77
|
|
Joseph
Weiscarger, Wyoming Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Gregory
Day, Old York Road Country Club
|
77
|
|
Doug
Jones, Little Mill Country Club
|
77
|
|
Rand
Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Tom
Krug, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Bob
Taylor, Middletown Country Club
|
78
|
|
John
Robinson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
78
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld National
|
78
|
|
Bob
Walsh, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
78
|
|
Patrick
Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Damian
Anzaldo, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph
Lewis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Grant
Liu, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Andy
Lykon, Talamore Country Club
|
81
|
|
Patrick
O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
81
|
|
Cameron
Campbell, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
George
Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Alan
Lazzarino, DuPont Country Club
|
82
|
|
Phil
Remig, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Michael
Lewers, Aronimink Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Kelly
Patton, Heidelberg Country Club
|
83
|
|
Kevin
Gertz, Silver Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Brian
Trymbiski, Doylestown Country Club
|
84
|
|
Bill
Boyle, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Andrew
Sterge, Applebrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Robert
Wojczak, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
87
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Country Club of Scranton
|
WD
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Matthew
Manfred, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Stanley, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Fagan, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
William
McGuinness, Tavistock Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Scott
McIntosh, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Stephen
McIntyre, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Brian
Powell, Burlington Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Thomas
Soares, Lehigh Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Scott
Orr, Bellewood Country Club
|
NS
|
|
|
|
Ages
60 and over
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
67
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
75
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Jeffrey
Allen, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
75
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Bill
Charpek, Merion Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
76
|
|
Charles
Dowds, III, Applebrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
77
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Jeff
Poet, Country Club of York
|
78
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Scott
Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Elliot
Sheftel, Lehigh Country Club
|
79
|
|
Gerald
Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
80
|
|
Steve
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Andy
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Larry
Camilli, Lehigh Country Club
|
80
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
80
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Harold
Schweitzer, Jr., Broad Run Golfer's Club
|
85
|
|
Marlin
Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Umani, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Lownes, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Chip
Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Mike
Schuster, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Richard
Timbrell, The Bucks Club
|
WD
|
|
John
Vergari, Tavistock Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
NS-no
show; WD-withdrawal
|
