WEST CHESTER, Pa. — When the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship returns to Merion Golf Club this year for the first time since 1954, Fieldstone Golf Club’s Ryan Rucinski, fresh off a breakout freshman season at Wilmington University, will be there with momentum and qualifying-medalist honors to his name.
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Player and Rookie of the Year translated his massive college success to the GAP circuit flawlessly on Monday at Radley Run Country Club (Par 72, 6,726 yards).
Eighteen players and ties, including Rucinski and his newest playing honor, moved on to the highly-anticipated Championship Proper from the 145-player field competing on Radley Run’s historic, hallowed grounds. The cut line stopped at 77 on the day; the first of four BMW Philadelphia Amateur qualifiers. The 116th playing of the BMW Philadelphia Amateur will take place June 13-15 and 18 at Merion. Philadelphia Country Club, along with Merion’s revered track, will serve as the stroke-play qualifying sites on June 13.
Rucinski’s round picked up steam when a 30-foot birdie bomb dropped from distance on No. 6 (par 3, 150 yards). Rucinski hit the downhill-attempt with plenty of speed – maybe even too much – but rammed the ball in off the back of the cup. Another red number was carded on No. 8 (par 4, 383 yards) with a tap-in birdie after Rucinski placed a pitching wedge next to the flagstick.
On the back nine, it was much of the same solid golf – the type Rucinski has been playing consistently over the past year. On the par-3,163-yard 13th, he found the green with a nice knockdown iron to about 20 feet and jarred the left-to-right look. Another tap-in birdie on No. 16 (par 5, 562 yards) secured medalist honors for the Wilmington, Del. resident.
Rucinski finished in the Top 20 for individuals in five tournaments throughout his freshman campaign, including a playoff victory – his first collegiate win – in the Coach Carpenter Classic. On top of the regular season accolades that Rucinski garnered for himself, the Wildcats are set to compete in the NCAA Division II National Tournament starting May 17 in Denver, Colo.
“I had a great first year overall and so did our team. We’ll look to see how we do it the NCAA Tournament, hopefully we will play well,” he said.
The 19-year-old also took home low Amateur honors in the 2015 Delaware State Open, which took place at Rehoboth Beach Country Club (Rehoboth Beach, Del.).
Despite being local to the region and a big fan of courses nearby, his Philadelphia Amateur debut will be the first time Rucinski will get a chance to lay his eyes on Merion East.
“I’ve played the West course a couple of times, but I’ve never seen the East. I was set to play there in the [BMW GAP] Team Matches once, but it got rained out,” said Rucinski. “It’s a little weird since I’m around the area and it seems like everyone has played it. Now I can’t wait to get there and see what it’s all about.”
When Merion’s famed East Course last welcomed the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship 62 years ago, GAP Hall of Famer John Dyniewski defeated N. Harper Steward of Manufacturers Golf & Country Club, 4&3. The Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine highlighted the event’s history at Merion in its recent Spring 2016 issue.
The BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship is the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s premier event. Participants must first advance through a one day, 36-hole stroke play qualifier to gain one of 32 available match play positions. Those who qualify for match play must advance through four matches in two days to reach the Amateur Final, which is typically held on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. The winner receives the J. Wood Platt Trophy; its namesake holds a record-seven Amateur Championship titles.
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Qualifiers
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Name,
club
|
Score
|
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Ryan
Rucinski, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Alex
Kane, Radley Run Country Club
|
74
|
|
Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf
Club
|
75
|
|
Kevin Conners, Jr., Whitford Country
Club
|
75
|
|
Lenny
Welch, Radley Run Country Club
|
75
|
|
Andrew
Gallagher, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
Austin Barbin,
GAP Junior Players Club
|
76
|
|
Dawson
Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Oscar Mestre,
Overbrook Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Ryan
Carroll, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Tyler
Smith, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
76
|
|
Dan Arison, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
77
|
|
Daniel
Feeney, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
77
|
|
Mike
Bowers, Heidelberg Country Club
|
77
|
|
Paul Kovalcheck, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
77
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|
Rand
Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Stephen Seiden, Llanerch Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Zachary Barbin,
GAP Junior Players Club
|
77
|
|
|
Failed
to qualify
|
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Bobby Kershner, Spring Ford Country Club
|
78
|
|
Bradley
Roberts, Little Mill Country Club
|
78
|
|
Brian
Winters, Spring Ford Country Club
|
78
|
|
Connor
Sharp, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
78
|
|
Eddie
Johnson, Llanerch Country Club
|
78
|
|
Frank Petrash, IV, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
Gregory Dapron, Hartefeld National
|
78
|
|
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
|
78
|
|
Joey
Hoban, Radley Run Country Club
|
78
|
|
Joseph Dulka, Bellewood Country
Club
|
78
|
|
Kevin
Cahill, Merion Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Matt
Ehrlich, Philmont Country Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
|
Tom
Grady, Radley Run Country Club
|
78
|
|
David
Hirschhorn, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
79
|
|
Gary Schoeman, Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Gerard Rosato, Plymouth Country Club
|
79
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|
James
Donnelly, Merion Golf Club
|
79
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|
Marc
Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
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|
Mark
Benevento, Jr., Greate Bay Country Club
|
79
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Matthew
Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
79
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Mitch Vanzandt, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Shawn
Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
79
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William
Howard, V, West Chester Golf & Country Club
|
79
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|
Blake
Cleary, Wilmington Country Club
|
80
|
|
Brendan Bacskai, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
80
|
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Brian
Dorey, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Brian Malley, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
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David Guertler, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
80
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David
Shields, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
80
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|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
80
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Liam McAnally, Applecross Country Club
|
80
|
|
Lodie Van Tonder, Sakima Country
Club
|
80
|
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Matthew
Cleary, Wilmington Country Club
|
80
|
|
Matthew
Gaffney, Running Deer Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Matthew
O'Brien, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
80
|
|
Ashley
Brasfield, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Beau Guarino, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
81
|
|
Blake Vogdes, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
81
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|
Brad
Cornforth, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
81
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|
Brad
Kelly, Concord Country Club
|
81
|
|
Brian
Corcoran, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
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Dino Stathis, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
81
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Eric
Spiller, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
81
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Frank Kohute, Running Deer Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Liam
Murphy, Hartefeld National
|
81
|
|
Matt Keim, Brookside Country Club
|
81
|
|
Michael
Hodges, The Springhaven Club
|
81
|
|
Parker
Wine, Radley Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Rich Pruchnik, Coatesville Country Club
|
81
|
|
Chris Binet, Whitemarsh Valley
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Jay
Vasil, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Jose Rovelli,
Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
82
|
|
Shane Nocito, Philmont Country Club
|
82
|
|
Alexander
Penza, Llanerch Country Club
|
83
|
|
Andrew Ploszay, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
83
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|
Ari Flaisher, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
83
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|
Billy Civitella, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
83
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Brett Cybulski, Merchantville Country Club
|
83
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James
Gillespie, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Kevin
McDermott, Llanerch Country Club
|
83
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Kevin Tscholl, The Springhaven Club
|
83
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Mark Wachter,
DuPont Country Club
|
83
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Nicky Marrollo, Whitford Country
Club
|
83
|
|
Paul Liebezeit, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
83
|
|
Peter
Moran, Whitford Country Club
|
83
|
|
Steve Skurla, White Manor Country Club
|
83
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|
William
Mitchell, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
83
|
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Danny
Dougherty, DuPont Country Club
|
84
|
|
Gary
McCabe, Jr., RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
84
|
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Hunter Mickatavage, Schuylkill Country Club
|
84
|
|
Jake Willcox, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
84
|
|
John
Burke, III, Hartefeld National
|
84
|
|
Ken Croney,
Jr., Applebrook Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Lance Oberparleiter, Little Mill Country Club
|
84
|
|
David
Kim, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Drew Garis, North Hills Country Club
|
85
|
|
Gunnar
Gale, Plymouth Country Club
|
85
|
|
Joe Delfranco, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
Kevin
Haag, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
85
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|
Trey
Swanson, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Clay
Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
J.B. Reibstein, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
86
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|
Jeffrey Juric, Concord Country Club
|
86
|
|
Max
Harrington, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
86
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|
Robert
Good, Merion Golf Club
|
86
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|
Wayne
Lesage, Jr., Chester Valley Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Alex Hargaden, Bala Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Brian
Fisher, Phoenixville Country Club
|
87
|
|
Dan Rudershausen, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
87
|
|
Michael Beran, RiverCrest Golf
Club & Preserve
|
87
|
|
Tim
Westfall, RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
87
|
|
Adam
Puskar, Raven's Claw Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Forrest
Swisher, Jericho National Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Fran Migliocco, DuPont Country Club
|
88
|
|
Jeff Klagholz, Aronimink Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Joseph
Chambers, Jr., Chester Valley Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Justin Pineno, Radley Run Country Club
|
88
|
|
Leland
Weaver, Hartefeld National
|
88
|
|
Luke
Liddell, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
88
|
|
Michael Zieg, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
88
|
|
Mike Krantz, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
88
|
|
Philip
James, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
88
|
|
Quinn
Dolan, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Philip
Damico, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
89
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Rodney
Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
89
|
|
William Gamgort, DuPont Country Club
|
89
|
|
Jim Engler, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Jonathan
Chang, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Tom Corcimiglia, RiverCrest Golf
Club & Preserve
|
90
|
|
Brandon
Jensen, Sandy Run Country Club
|
91
|
|
Jack
Quirk, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
91
|
|
Liam
Fahey, Overbrook Golf Club
|
91
|
|
Steven
Minnick, Jr., Applebrook Golf Club
|
91
|
|
Chris
Naylor, The Springhaven Club
|
93
|
|
Anthony Aulffo, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
94
|
|
Chris Meares, Running Deer Golf Club
|
94
|
|
Eric
Palumbo, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
94
|
|
Justin
Pak, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
96
|
|
Jeff
Hanson, Merchantville Country Club
|
97
|
|
Ryan
Brennan, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Jeffrey Osciak, Hartefeld National
|
99
|
|
Jimmy
Taylor, RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
NS
|
|
Matthew
Brennan, Sr., Rolling Green Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Alexander
Maguire, Jr., Brookside Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Brad Sokol, Green Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Brendan
Young, North Hills Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Daniel Rexon, Tavistock Country
Club
|
WD
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Nicholas
Wert, Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Terry
Tompkins, Merchantville Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
|
NS-no
show; WD-withdrawal
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