 |
| Overbrook Golf Club’s Sean Fahey sinks his birdie putt on No. 13. |
*Photo Gallery
*Scorecards
Amateurs Fahey, Owens head Open Qualifier at Woodcrest
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Overbrook Golf Club’s Sean Fahey and Wildwood Golf & Country Club’s Steve Owens withstood 100-degree temperatures and carded respective 2-under-par 69s to share medalist honors in an Open Championship Qualifier at Woodcrest Country Club (par 71, 6,488 yards) Wednesday. Fahey and Owens, along with eight others, advanced to the Championship proper, set for July 23 at the pristine Pine Valley Golf Club. At the end of the day, the cut line fell to 72.
“It feels great,” Fahey said. “I’ve had a couple of friends who’ve gotten the invitation to play there. I’ve been really jealous of them. Now I’ll be able to get on that course, which is obviously the best in the country.”
“This is my second time playing in [the Open Championship],” Owens, 45, of Philadelphia, Pa., added. “It feels great.”
Fahey is off to a scorching start in 2012. The Villanova, Pa. resident qualified for match play in the Association’s Amateur Championship last week at Huntingdon Valley Country Club.
“I worked a lot over the winter with Brian Quinn [Temple University’s golf coach], and he helped me a lot,” the soft-spoken 16 year-old said. “I’ve been hitting it really well over the last couple of months. Whenever my putter seems good, I seem to play really well.”
Fahey, a semifinalist in the 2011 Junior Boys’ Championship, assembled a modest outward campaign Wednesday, mixing a bogey and a birdie with seven pars. On the par 5, 521-yard No. 2, Fahey steered his drive into the left tree-line. He pitched out to the fairway, flew a 9-iron 150 yards over the green and failed to get up-and-down for par. After flighting a drive over the trees on No. 8 (par 4, 420 yards), Fahey smacked a sand wedge 100 yards to four feet below the flagstick and cleaned up the birdie putt.
Fahey kept his nerves in check and continued his red figure rhythm on No. 11 (par 5, 503 yards). He hammered a hybrid 220 yards and watched his golf ball “hit something hard,” which halted its momentum and allowed it to rest 15 feet from the jar. Fahey then two-putted for birdie. On the par 3, 180-yard 13th hole, he drew a 6-iron to seven feet above the flagstick and drained the downhill, right-to-left breaker for birdie.
“I just started it on the line and it broke right in,” he said.
Fahey drilled a 6-iron 185 yards and dropped a six-footer over the right edge for a 3 on No. 16 (par 4, 409 yards). He ended with an ultimately meaningless bogey on the par 5, 560-yard 18th hole. Fahey attempted to punch a 4-iron under a tree following a poor drive, but only advanced his golf ball into the first cut. Fahey elected to lay up short of the water hazard with a 9-iron, nuked a gap wedge over the green and nearly holed a downhill putt for par.
Fahey will travel to Peddie Golf Club tomorrow to compete in a U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier.
“It will be 72 holes in three days,” Fahey, who competed in a Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur Championship Qualifier at Concord Country Club yesterday, said. “I’ll be a little tired, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Owens’ round mirrored Fahey’s: four birdies and two bogeys. He registered consecutive red figures on Nos. 3 (par 3, 163 yards) and 4 (par 5, 512 yards). Owens left a 7-iron 15 feet right of the No. 3 hole location and converted the right-to-left-curler for birdie. He stopped a 60-degree wedge at eight feet on No. 4. Owens crushed a hybrid more than 200 yards to 15 feet and two-putted for a 4 on No. 11. A 5-iron to 25 feet above the No. 13 flagstick resulted in birdie No. 4 on the day.
Owens, an inspector for a taxi cab and limousine enforcement, doesn’t play a lot of competitive golf annually, but the Open and its backdrop inspired an appearance Wednesday. He qualified for the 2011 U.S. Mid-Amateur.
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 145 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.
|
Qualifiers
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
(a)
Sean Fahey, Overbrook Golf Club
|
69
|
|
(a)
Steve Owens, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
69
|
|
(a)
Matthew Finger, Woodcrest Country Club
|
70
|
|
(a)
Ryan O'Donnell, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
70
|
|
(a)
Benjamin Smith, Little Mill Country Club
|
71
|
|
(a)
Geoffrey Cooper, Links Golf Club
|
71
|
|
*(a)
James Gillespie, Wedgwood Country Club
|
72
|
|
*(a)
Paul Tighe, Little Mill Country Club
|
72
|
|
*(a)
Cory Siegfried, Philadelphia Country Club
|
72
|
|
*Don
Allan, Woodcrest Country Club
|
72
|
| |
|
Alternates
(in order)
|
|
*(a)
James Braunsberg, Blue Bell Country Club
|
72
|
|
*(a)
Anthony Ventura, Greate Bay Country Club
|
73
|
| |
|
Failed
to qualify
|
|
*George
Frake, II, Little Mill Country Club
|
73
|
|
*(a)
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Ryan McCarty, Little Mill Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
Matthew Gaffney, Little Mill Country Club
|
74
|
|
Robert
Hennefer, Links Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Michael
Little, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Jay Rubenstein, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Elias Chua, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Matt Raudenbush, Tavistock
Country Club
|
75
|
|
John
DiMarco, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Karl Nutt, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
Rick Hughart, Tavistock Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mark Bixler, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
76
|
|
David Taraschi, Merchantville Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Amory Davis, Bidermann Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Matt Brainard, Loch Nairn
Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Daniel Furman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Daniel Rexon, Tavistock
Country Club
|
77
|
|
James
Austin, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Brian Powell, Burlington Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Marty Crounse, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
77
|
|
Jason Panter, White Oaks Country Club
|
77
|
|
Jeff Breiner, Carlisle Country Club
|
77
|
|
Corey Katzen, Tavistock Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock
Country Club
|
77
|
|
Terry
Hertzog, Bent Creek Country Club
|
77
|
|
Mark
Parson, Greate Bay Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Frank Savarese, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
78
|
|
(a)
Eric Spiller, Woodcrest Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Troy Vannucci, Burlington Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Robert Kownacky, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Sam Gallen, Berkshire Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Rob Singer, Little Mill Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Russell Hill, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
|
(a)
Denis Dotson, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Graham
Dendler, Trenton Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Troy Miller, Back Creek Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Jeffrey
Bonicky, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Harry Lore, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
David Atkinson, Llanerch Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Brian Kenny, Greate Bay Country Club
|
79
|
|
Brad
Hare, Medford Lakes Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Zachary Pogust, The ACE Club
|
79
|
|
Tom
Gilbert, Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Kevin Melrath, Linfield National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Garrett Conway, Burlington Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Scott Bergson, Little Mill Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Adam Warner, Rancocas Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Kyle Martin, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Charles Scalzott, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Jack Wallace, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
William Thornton, Jr., LedgeRock Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a) Mark
Agnew, Hartefeld National
|
80
|
|
(a)
Vincent A. Scarpetta, Jr., Glenmaura
National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Vince Scarpetta, Glenmaura
National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Brian Herman, Merchantville Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Chris Meares, Sakima
Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Gene Martin, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Lance Hornung, Wedgwood Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Tom Shin, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Bill Moule, Links Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
David Dorey, Tavistock
Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Steven Passalacqua, Wedgwood Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Evan Thornton, Berkshire Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Christopher Lucarelli, Country Club of Scranton
|
81
|
|
(a)
Jack Gregor, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Kyle Raudenbush, Tavistock
Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Zachary Falone, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Joseph Russo, Running Deer Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Chris Hunger, Wedgwood Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Joseph Roeder, Links Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
L.J. Georgetti, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Vincent Sirianni, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Doug
Delaney, Sand Barrens Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Reid Carnes, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Mark Battista, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
(a)
Rick Lynd, Running Deer Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Archie Struthers, Greate Bay Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Jordan Claffey, Philmont
Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Mario Canal, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Rick Hendrickson, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Brett Cybulski, Merchantville Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Tom DiCinti, Links Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Matthew Scheeper, Running Deer Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Joe April, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Robert Galbreath, Jr., Philmont
Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Joseph Chiusano, Golden Pheasant Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Kyle Ginty, Talamore
Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
David Ripa, Running Deer Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Andrew Dietz, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Dino Stathis, Metedeconk
National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Bruce Apple, Woodcrest Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Justin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Brad McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Alex Dupre, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Ronald
Pine, Trenton Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Dominic Digiacomo, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Jeff Newman, Little Mill Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Connor Eichman, Llanerch
Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Greg Girone, Wedgwood Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Tanner Swanson, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Matt Dieleuterio, Cavaliers Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Glenn Zuck, Galloway National Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
John Aloisio, Running Deer Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Eric
Grossman, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Ivan McBride, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Brian Levengood, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Douglas Rodio, Little Mill Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
Chris Bevelheimer, Sakima
Country Club
|
88
|
|
James Shukdinas, Dick's Sporting Goods
|
88
|
|
(a)
Timothy Marshall, Inniscrone Golf Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
John Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
John Volpe, Inniscrone Golf Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Daniel
Hoban, Middletown Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
James Denon, Jr., The Springhaven
Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Edward Furman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Scott Kalan, White Manor Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Robert Filipe, Jr., Laurel Creek Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Jules Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Andrew Pierson, Merchantville Country Club
|
92
|
|
(a)
Eric Miller, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
92
|
|
(a)
Jack Grasso, Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
92
|
|
(a)
Derek Partin, White Oaks Country Club
|
102
|
|
(a)
John Kappes, Wedgwood Country Club
|
NC
|
|
(a)
John Moran, Middletown Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Gerry Baldachino, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Gil Moniz, Jr., Running Deer Golf Club
|
NC
|
|
Pete Grundtisch, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
NC
|
|
(a)
Bradley Roberts, Wedgwood Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Shenkman, The ACE Club
|
WD
|
|
Frank Hesson, Indian Spring CC
|
WD
|
|
(a)
David Maslanka, Seaview
Resort & Spa
|
WD
|
|
(a)
William Voris, Galloway National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Marty Vybihal, The Club at Morgan Hill
|
WD
|
|
Steven
Cuzzort, Back Creek Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Mike Miklinevich, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Greg Keil, Whitemarsh Valley Country
Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
NC-no
card; WD-withdrawal
|
|
*-determined
in playoff
|
|
(a)-denotes
amateur
|
|
