| *Match play bracket
Lu Lu’s Danner, Sand Barrens’ Savarese top Amateur Qualifier
LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa.–Mike Danner of Lu Lu Country Club called his medallist-earning total of 5-under-par 138 in the Amateur Championship Qualifier, a progression. Rob Savarese, Jr., of Sand Barrens Golf Club, who finished a shot back, viewed his effort as a means to complete some "unfinished business."
Whatever the plot line or self-motivation, those two, and 30 others, begin the quest for the 108th Amateur Championship tomorrow at 8 a.m. at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club with the first and second rounds.
 |
| Rob Savarese, Jr., of Sand Barrens GC. |
On Tuesday, the 121-player Amateur field faced blazing heat and humidity as they began the quest for the J. Wood Platt Amateur Championship Trophy with Whitemarsh Valley CC and Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon) playing hosts.
The low 31 players (defending Champion Phil Bartholomew automatically is seeded No. 1) advanced to match play. Danner is the No. 2 seed and Savarese the three seed.
A four-man playoff for the final three qualifying spots fell at 151. That playoff will be completed tomorrow at 7:45 a.m. In the playoff so far, James Kania, Jr. of Overbrook Golf Club and Eric Schmehl of Moorestown Field Club parred the first hole to advance. David Liotta of Whitemarsh Valley CC and Kevin Genuardi of Cedarbrook Country Club, the other two participants, will continue the playoff, which was called due to inclement weather.
Both Danner and Savarese entered Tuesday’s qualifier with tempered expectations.
Danner was carding only his seventh and eighth rounds of the year.
He finished the day with a 4-under-par 68 in the morning at Whitemarsh and a 1-under 71 at Cricket.
"It’s been a progressions since I was a kid," said Danner, 34, of Chalfont, Pa. "I keep trying to get better but it keeps getting harder. I have a 2 ½-year-old and a 1-year-old. I’ve been working a lot. I just haven’t had the chance to play. This was totally unexpected coming out and playing this well."
Danner opened his day with a 5-under 31 on his initial front nine at Whitemarsh. He posted four birdies, an eagle and a bogey. His eagle came on No. 5 (par 5, 494 yards) when he rocketed an 8-iron from 171 yards to a couple feet. He finished his initial 18 holes with a birdie, seven pars and a double bogey on No. 18 (par 4, 462 yards). At Cricket, Danner was up-and-down as the heat intensified, carding six birdies and five bogeys.
"It was a battle out there," said Danner of playing in the hot weather on two difficult golf courses. "With each swing I just tried to stay in the moment. And with putts, too. It was so hot on the greens. I would just say to myself strike it solid and hit it on-line."
Danner’s top finish in the Amateur came two years ago at Torresdale-Frankford Country Club. That year he fell in the semifinals to Paul Rogowicz of Yardley Country Club.
Savarese has only played a handful of rounds this year himself. The two-time Amateur finalist (1991, 1997) is 42 years old with three young children, a situation similar to Danner.
""The smartest thing I did a few years ago was I started taking lessons with John Spina [at Philadelphia Cricket Club]," said Savarese. "It’s taken a few years to work but it’s starting to click. I don’t really need to practice or play much. The nice part is when I miss a shot I know why and I can make adjustments on the fly."
Savarese opened with a 3-under-par 69 at Whitemarsh Valley and finished with a 1-under 70 at Cricket. He’s a former member of both.
At Whitemarsh he was 1-under after nine holes but used an eagle on No. 11 (par 5, 516 yards) to springboard to 3 under when he launched a 2-iron from 224 yards to three feet. A later birdie and bogey put Savarese at 69. At Cricket, four birdies and three bogeys put the Lafayette Hill, Pa., resident in good shape.
Cole Willcox of Philadelphia Country Club was the only other player in red figures. He posted a two-round total of 2-under-ar 141 (70 at Whitemarsh, 71 at Cricket).
Bartholomew, the reigning Amateur Champion, finished at 6-over par.
---
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 136 Member Clubs and 56,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.
|
Qualifiers |
|
Name |
Club |
Rd. 1 |
|
Rd. 2 |
|
Total |
|
Mike Danner |
Lu Lu Country Club |
68 |
WV |
70 |
PC |
138 |
|
Robert Savarese |
Sand Barrens Golf Club |
69 |
WV |
70 |
PC |
139 |
|
Cole Willcox |
Philadelphia Country Club |
70 |
WV |
71 |
PC |
141 |
|
James Donnelly |
Merion Golf Club |
74 |
PC |
69 |
WV |
143 |
|
Glenn Smeraglio |
Yardley Country Club |
71 |
PC |
72 |
WV |
143 |
|
Michael McDermott |
Merion Golf Club |
71 |
PC |
72 |
WV |
143 |
|
Sean Leonard |
Tavistock Country Club |
71 |
PC |
73 |
WV |
144 |
|
Zach Smith |
Doylestown Country Club |
75 |
WV |
69 |
PC |
144 |
|
Oscar Mestre, Jr. |
Overbrook Golf Club |
72 |
WV |
73 |
PC |
145 |
|
#Todd Vonderheid |
Huntsville Golf Club |
73 |
WV |
72 |
PC |
145 |
|
Brian Creghan |
Plymouth Country Club |
73 |
WV |
73 |
PC |
146 |
|
Brian Rothaus |
Philmont Country Club |
72 |
WV |
74 |
PC |
146 |
|
Douglas Zelner |
Spring Ford Country Club |
74 |
WV |
73 |
PC |
147 |
|
Christopher Lange |
Overbrook Golf Club |
76 |
PC |
71 |
WV |
147 |
|
Alan Borowsky |
White Manor Country Club |
73 |
WV |
74 |
PC |
147 |
|
#John Brennan |
Spring Ford Country Club |
72 |
PC |
76 |
WV |
148 |
|
David West |
Whitford Country Club |
73 |
PC |
75 |
WV |
148 |
|
Anthony Martire |
Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa |
74 |
PC |
74 |
WV |
148 |
|
Richard Marabella |
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
78 |
PC |
70 |
WV |
148 |
|
Stephen Seiden |
Concord Country Club |
73 |
WV |
75 |
PC |
148 |
|
Michael Brown |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
71 |
WV |
77 |
PC |
148 |
|
Travis Gahman |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
78 |
PC |
71 |
WV |
149 |
|
Thomas Gramigna |
Tavistock Country Club |
72 |
PC |
77 |
WV |
149 |
|
Jeffrey Griest |
Waynesborough Country Club |
76 |
PC |
73 |
WV |
149 |
|
Russell Hartung |
Doylestown Country Club |
77 |
WV |
72 |
PC |
149 |
|
Philip Bartholomew |
Yardley Country Club |
74 |
WV |
75 |
PC |
149 |
|
Thomas Hyland |
Little Mill Country Club |
76 |
PC |
74 |
WV |
150 |
|
Robert Galbreath, Jr. |
Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
76 |
PC |
74 |
WV |
150 |
|
Matthew Finger |
Running Deer Golf Club |
77 |
PC |
73 |
WV |
150 |
|
#Gary Daniels |
Saucon Valley Country Club |
74 |
WV |
76 |
PC |
150 |
|
Christopher Kaspar |
Lu Lu Country Club |
77 |
WV |
73 |
PC |
150 |
|
Christopher Reedman |
Makefield Highlands Golf Club |
74 |
WV |
76 |
PC |
150 |
|
*James Kania, Jr. |
Overbrook Golf Club |
77 |
PC |
74 |
WV |
151 |
|
*Eric Schmehl |
Moorestown Field Club |
71 |
WV |
80 |
PC |
151 |
|
David Liotta |
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
72 |
WV |
79 |
PC |
151 |
|
Kevin Genuardi |
Cedarbrook Country Club |
75 |
PC |
76 |
WV |
151 |
| |
|
Failed to qualify |
|
Steve Lubin |
Five Ponds Golf Club |
77 |
PC |
75 |
WV |
152 |
|
Andy Achenbach |
RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve |
75 |
PC |
77 |
WV |
152 |
|
David Shields |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
78 |
PC |
74 |
WV |
152 |
|
James Bea |
Spring Mill Country Club |
71 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
152 |
|
P. Chet Walsh |
Philadelphia Country Club |
73 |
WV |
79 |
PC |
152 |
|
Stephen Hudacek III |
Glenmaura National Golf Club |
82 |
WV |
70 |
PC |
152 |
|
Dan Pinciotti Jr. |
Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
76 |
WV |
76 |
PC |
152 |
|
Kevin Huntington |
Penn Oaks Golf Club |
73 |
WV |
79 |
PC |
152 |
|
Michael Korcuba |
Running Deer Golf Club |
76 |
WV |
76 |
PC |
152 |
|
Tyler Brewington |
Huntsville Golf Club |
75 |
WV |
77 |
PC |
152 |
|
Paul Rogowicz |
Yardley Country Club |
73 |
PC |
80 |
WV |
153 |
|
Scott Klee |
Indian Valley Country Club |
72 |
WV |
81 |
PC |
153 |
|
Jamie Slonis |
Tavistock Country Club |
75 |
WV |
78 |
PC |
153 |
|
Mark Quigley |
Lu Lu Country Club |
74 |
PC |
80 |
WV |
154 |
|
Doug Marcincin |
Northampton Country Club |
79 |
PC |
75 |
WV |
154 |
|
Mike Owsik |
Plymouth Country Club |
82 |
WV |
72 |
PC |
154 |
|
Kevin Melnick, Jr. |
Plymouth Country Club |
77 |
WV |
77 |
PC |
154 |
|
Louis Giovi |
Mercer Oaks Golf Course |
76 |
WV |
78 |
PC |
154 |
|
James Kieserman |
Talamore Country Club |
79 |
PC |
76 |
WV |
155 |
|
Robert Dziak |
Spring Ford Country Club |
80 |
PC |
75 |
WV |
155 |
|
Jim Simmons |
Stonewall |
73 |
WV |
82 |
PC |
155 |
|
Mark Miller |
Yardley Country Club |
77 |
WV |
78 |
PC |
155 |
|
Eugene Flanagan |
The Springhaven Club |
73 |
WV |
82 |
PC |
155 |
|
Michael Tash |
Tavistock Country Club |
75 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
156 |
|
Andrew Mason |
Five Ponds Golf Club |
76 |
WV |
80 |
PC |
156 |
|
Cory Siegfried |
Philadelphia Country Club |
78 |
WV |
78 |
PC |
156 |
|
Brian Corbett |
Huntsville Golf Club |
79 |
PC |
78 |
WV |
157 |
|
Steven Walczak |
Wilmington Country Club |
78 |
PC |
79 |
WV |
157 |
|
Geoffrey Cooper |
Laurel Creek Country Club |
78 |
PC |
79 |
WV |
157 |
|
Michael Moffat |
Commonwealth National Golf Club |
79 |
WV |
78 |
PC |
157 |
|
Miguel Biamon |
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
79 |
PC |
79 |
WV |
158 |
|
Matt Dolinsky |
Honeybrook Golf Club |
78 |
PC |
80 |
WV |
158 |
|
Michael Evangelista |
Concord Country Club |
77 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
158 |
|
Justin Van Hyning |
Olde York Country Club |
78 |
WV |
80 |
PC |
158 |
|
John Mullins |
Spring Ford Country Club |
75 |
WV |
83 |
PC |
158 |
|
Andrew Zoeller |
Waynesborough Country Club |
81 |
WV |
77 |
PC |
158 |
|
James Macallister |
Manufacturers Golf & Country Club |
78 |
WV |
80 |
PC |
158 |
|
Patrick Devlin |
Five Ponds Golf Club |
79 |
WV |
79 |
PC |
158 |
|
Chris Esbenshade |
Five Ponds Golf Club |
80 |
PC |
79 |
WV |
159 |
|
Zachary Herr |
Jericho National Golf Club |
84 |
PC |
75 |
WV |
159 |
|
Ari Flaisher |
Five Ponds Golf Club |
81 |
PC |
78 |
WV |
159 |
|
John Lupica |
The ACE Club |
77 |
PC |
82 |
WV |
159 |
|
Douglas Cusick |
Tavistock Country Club |
77 |
PC |
82 |
WV |
159 |
|
David Smith |
Doylestown Country Club |
76 |
WV |
83 |
PC |
159 |
|
Ryan Ade |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
79 |
WV |
80 |
PC |
159 |
|
Roc Irey |
Cedarbrook Country Club |
80 |
PC |
80 |
WV |
160 |
|
Drew Panebianco |
Talamore Country Club |
77 |
PC |
83 |
WV |
160 |
|
Greg Verde |
Spring Ford Country Club |
77 |
WV |
83 |
PC |
160 |
|
Charles Bernard |
RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve |
80 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
161 |
|
Stephen McIntyre |
Honeybrook Golf Club |
78 |
WV |
83 |
PC |
161 |
|
Brian Gillespie |
St. Davids Golf Club |
82 |
PC |
80 |
WV |
162 |
|
Robert Loftus |
Overbrook Golf Club |
82 |
PC |
80 |
WV |
162 |
|
R. Blake Slawecki |
Spring Ford Country Club |
78 |
PC |
84 |
WV |
162 |
|
Robert de Rojas |
RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve |
87 |
PC |
75 |
WV |
162 |
|
Brad Sokol |
Green Valley Country Club |
84 |
PC |
79 |
WV |
163 |
|
Peter Moran |
Edgmont Country Club |
82 |
WV |
81 |
PC |
163 |
|
Tom Piersanti |
Applebrook Golf Club |
79 |
PC |
85 |
WV |
164 |
|
Mark Kosko |
Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa |
78 |
PC |
86 |
WV |
164 |
|
David Taraschi |
Merchantville Country Club |
79 |
WV |
85 |
PC |
164 |
|
Duncan Zeiders |
Old York Road Country Club |
83 |
WV |
81 |
PC |
164 |
|
Alexander Penza |
Llanerch Country Club |
84 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
165 |
|
Frank Corrado, Jr. |
Jericho National Golf Club |
84 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
165 |
|
Michael Domenick |
Phoenixville Country Club |
81 |
WV |
84 |
PC |
165 |
|
Lance Oberparleiter |
Wedgwood Country Club |
85 |
PC |
81 |
WV |
166 |
|
Greg Forster |
Radnor Valley Country Club |
84 |
PC |
82 |
WV |
166 |
|
Bill Murray |
Merchantville Country Club |
81 |
WV |
86 |
PC |
167 |
|
Mark O'Neill |
Sandy Run Country Club |
86 |
PC |
82 |
WV |
168 |
|
Raymond Thompson |
Overbrook Golf Club |
81 |
WV |
87 |
PC |
168 |
|
Alex McPherson |
Sandy Run Country Club |
86 |
PC |
83 |
WV |
169 |
|
Bo Maguire |
Brookside Country Club |
86 |
WV |
83 |
PC |
169 |
|
Andrew Dietz |
Laurel Creek Country Club |
86 |
PC |
85 |
WV |
171 |
|
Ted Brennan |
Philadelphia Country Club |
85 |
PC |
86 |
WV |
171 |
|
Matt Dudas |
Indian Valley Country Club |
81 |
WV |
91 |
PC |
172 |
|
John Inman |
Cherry Valley Country Club |
90 |
WV |
86 |
PC |
176 |
|
Douglas Schroer |
Aronimink Golf Club |
73 |
PC |
DQ |
WV |
DQ |
|
Brett Falkoff |
The ACE Club |
72 |
PC |
NS |
WV |
NS |
|
Colin Smith |
Radley Run Country Club |
78 |
PC |
WD |
WV |
WD |
|
Kevin Bair |
Wyncote Golf Club |
83 |
PC |
WD |
WV |
WD |
|
Luke Peters |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
80 |
WV |
WD |
PC |
WD |
|
Johnny Murphy |
Wildwood Golf & Country Club |
79 |
WV |
WD |
PC |
WD |
|
Jake Lebowitz |
Philmont Country Club |
80 |
WV |
WD |
PC |
WD |
| |
|
#-no match play |
|
*-advanced in playoff |
|
WV-Whitemarsh Valley Country Club; PC-Philadelphia Cricket Club |
|
DQ-disqualification; NS-no show; WD-withdrawal |
|
