|
 |
| Dan Ayars (left) and Andy Kerestesy emerged from a five-team playoff for the win. |
Running Deer duo Ayars, Kerestesy battles to Four-Ball title
SKILLMAN, N.J. — Five teams fighting in a sudden-death playoff, featuring furnacing playing temperatures, for the Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship title.
| Scorecards |
History |
That’s how it all played out Monday at a searing Cherry Valley Country Club (par 72, 6,287 yards). For a single team out of a packed field of 61, the enduring day was all worth it.
Running Deer Golf Club’s Dan Ayars jarred a seven-foot birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 330 yards), the fifth playoff hole, to emerge victorious alongside clubmate Andy Kerestesy in the 47th Four-Ball rendition, a better-ball of partners event.
“Boy, that was fun,” said Ayars walking off the winning green. “But now we need to go home.”
The challenging day hosted a multitude of fantastic rounds posted in both the morning and afternoon waves.
The first Four-Ball group out, Little Mill Country Club’s Vince Kwon and Bradley Roberts, posted an impressive 10-under 62 to grab the morning clubhouse lead. That mark wouldn’t, by any means, go unmatched in the second wave. First came Concord Country Club’s Jim Allen and Larry Benedetto, followed by the team of Yardley Country Club’s John Buliga and Coatesville Country Club’s David Kimbley, and eventually Lebanon Country Club’s John Digiacomo and Alan Kliewer.
Ayars and Kerestesy were the final of five 10 unders to make their way in to the huddled scoring table. The champion's 18 was a bit of a roller coaster ride, including peak moments (three eagles, six birdies) and lows (two bogeys).
“[Andy] played incredible out there today. I played well, too. The course and flagsticks really seemed to just fit our eye and games,” said Ayars. “Those eagles were the key, though.”
“Those really got us going. They kickstarted us,” said Kerestesy, 36, of Vineland, N.J. “We knew after the two back-to-back eagles on Nos. 9 (par 5, 515 yards) and 10 (par 5, 485 yards) that we had a legit chance of winning this.”
The up-and-down round ended on Cherry Valley’s finisher (par 4, 380 yards), where the duo had a chance to win in regulation. Kerestesy rolled a tremendous birdie putt from 25 feet out, but the ball snuck around the back lip instead of dropping.
“I really thought that one was in the bottom of the cup,” he said.
Soon after, a five-team playoff began on No. 1 amidst the setting sun. Five approach shots landed within 12 feet there. Only two of those birdies looks went down: a three-footer by Ayars and five-footer by Roberts. The playoff was cut to just two dueling duos.
On the par-3, 185-yard 2nd, Kerestesy found tree trouble right but played a beautiful chip that rolled to three feet. Kwon, finding the green right, rolled a 40-foot birdie putt to the same distance. Both players missed the short looks, shaking their heads in disbelief.
Next came No. 3 (par 5, 488 yards), where Kerestesy’s two-putt 4 was matched by a 30-foot birdie bomb by Ayars. More missed opportunities arrived on No. 4 (par 4, 375 yards), with two-putt pars being recorded for both teams. The playoff headed back to where it all began.
All four players enlisted their drivers off the tee, leaving minimal, wedge approach shots in. Ayars found himself with a tough lie on the right downslope, but tossed a wedge onto the front of the putting surface, letting it roll out to seven feet. After both Little Mill looks failed to drop, the stage was set. Ayars stepped up and drained his third birdie on No. 1, this time for the win.
“I had two tap-in birdies there, and then that seven footer to clinch it. I loved that hole, obviously,” said Ayars, 41, of Millville, N.J. “I was really nervous on the first tee at the beginning, teeing off in front of all those guys, but I played it so well.”
The former PGA apprentice was playing in his first competitive amateur tournament since regaining his status a month ago. It was a big return to the amateur game, and one that will keep him coming back for more.
“I was in the PGA program when I was younger, but then stepped away from the game. I still played casually, but when I joined Running Deer three years ago, I started to want to play again,” said Ayars. “There’s so much talent at the club now, plus it's close to my house. We’ve got some good players there. I’m just happy to have my status back so I can play in these events.”
Kerestesy says bringing home a title to Running Deer is what he is most excited about.
“We’re thrilled to have gotten a trophy, especially after how tough of a day it was. It was a battle,” said Kerestesy. “It’s going to be really fun to bring home a trophy to the club and the guys.”
“Seriously, my phones already buzzing in my pocket,” said Ayars.
NOTE: Buliga holed out with an 8-iron on No. 10 (par 5, 485 yards) for an albatross. His ball landed fiercely in the cup on the fly, leaving a damaged lip. GAP officials came to the cup’s rescue soon after.
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 260 Member Clubs and 75,000 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.
|
Gross
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
*Dan Ayars/Andy Kerestesy, Running Deer Golf Club
|
62
|
|
*Alan Kliewer/John Digiacomo, Lebanon Country Club
|
62
|
|
*Bradley Roberts/Vincent Kwon, Little Mill Country Club
|
62
|
|
*Larry Benedetto/Jim Allen, Concord Country Club
|
62
|
|
*John Buliga/David Kimbley, Yardley Country Club/Coatesville Country Club
|
62
|
|
Edward Erickson/Paul Rogowicz, Makefield Highlands Golf Club/Yardley Country Club
|
64
|
|
Will Young/James Kyle, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club
|
64
|
|
Mark Czerniakowski/Scott
Forrester, Lu Lu Country Club
|
66
|
|
Bob Dumont/Jerry Haftmann, Llanerch Country Club/Rolling Green Golf Club
|
66
|
|
Michael Decker/Jim Schulz, Jr., Mercer Oaks Golf Course/Old York
CC at Chesterfield
|
66
|
|
Dan Smith/Thorne Ranieri, The Springhaven Club/Rolling
Green Golf Club
|
66
|
|
Andrew Strock/Michael Minter,
Trenton Country Club/Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
67
|
|
Sean Torpey/T.J. Summers,
Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
67
|
|
Mark Wachter/Michael Brown, Jr., DuPont Country Club/Lu Lu Country Club
|
68
|
|
John Simone/Neil Gordon, Philmont Country Club/Five Ponds Golf
Club
|
68
|
|
Ray Pyontek/Mark Sobolewski,
Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
68
|
|
Bill Burke/John Dugan, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
68
|
|
Joe Zulli/Kevin Maguire, Trump
National Golf Club - Philadelphia
|
68
|
|
Mike Cavanaugh/Trey Watts, Jericho National Golf Club
|
68
|
|
Andrew Abrams/Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
68
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci/Charles Dowds, III,
Lu Lu Country Club/Applebrook Golf
Club
|
68
|
|
Greg Galtere/Tom Walker, Reading
Country Club
|
69
|
|
Beau Guarino/Michael O'Keefe, Valleybrook Country
Club/Laurel Creek Country Club
|
69
|
|
Walt Danker/Timothy Gaughan,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
70
|
|
David Levine/John Cyb, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Daniel McManamon/Charles
McDermott, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Brad Cornforth/Joe Spitaleri,
Loch Nairn Golf Club/Inniscrone Golf
Club
|
71
|
|
Alexander Maguire, Sr./Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club
|
71
|
|
George Ackerman/Robert Carrier, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
71
|
|
Thomas Covello/Joseph Boyle, Sandy Run
Country Club
|
72
|
|
Matthew Boyer/Kevin Koch, Spring Ford Country Club
|
72
|
|
Jeff Hanson/Frank Ferrese,
Merchantville Country Club/Tavistock Country
Club
|
72
|
|
Anthony Dent/Ed Ciel, Medford Lakes Country Club
|
72
|
|
Robert Curry/Charles Carlson, Jr., North Hills Country Club
|
73
|
|
Brian Kreamer/Lars Beck, Bala Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Scott Hynes/Bob Lindenberger,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Gil Golding/Mark Lawlor, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Andrew Dietz/Pat Curiale, Laurel
Creek Country Club/Medford Village Country Club
|
74
|
|
Peter Pagano, Jr./Vincent Cedrone,
Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Nicholas Angiulo/Dave Vizzini, Deerwood Country Club
|
75
|
|
Gershom Spengler/David Leonardis,
Jack Frost National
|
75
|
|
Robert Dziak/Shane Dooley, Bellewood Country Club/Applecross Country Club
|
75
|
|
Michael Dwyer/Chris Buoni,
Medford Village Country Club
|
76
|
|
Bill Watts/Thomas Gramlich,
Medford Lakes Country Club
|
76
|
|
Chip Kern/Timothy Eutsler,
Huntsville Golf Club/Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Charles Johnson/Ronald White, Jericho National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Mark Smedley/John Monday, Applebrook Golf
Club/Chester Valley Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Bill Kowals/Dan Burns, Cherry
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Mitch Friedman/Matthew Weyand,
Yardley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Justin Caple/Bob Zegel,
Phoenixville Country Club
|
78
|
|
David Dorey/Dino Stathis, Tavistock Country Club/Metedeconk National
Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Dan Farragut/Gary Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
David Meschel/Jamie Evans,
Yardley Country Club
|
78
|
|
George Crouse/Michael Vogt, Ramblewood
Country Club
|
79
|
|
Anthony Bonasera/David Fournier, Hopewell Valley Golf &
Country Club
|
79
|
|
Todd Luft/John Bucci, Sandy Run
Country Club
|
80
|
|
Jian Zhang/Adrian Terranova, Inniscrone Golf
Club/Hartefeld National
|
81
|
|
Alan Roy/Stanley Panasewicz,
Cherry Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
Roland Thomas, Jr./James Reger,
McCall Golf & Country Club/The Springhaven Club
|
82
|
|
Andre Ferber/Kenneth Wortley, Radnor Valley Country Club/Bala Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Thomas Weinman/Michael Penso,
Rancocas Golf Club/Metedeconk National Golf
Club
|
84
|
|
Gary Roberts/Rick Studer, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
WD
|
|
|
Net
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Bob Dumont/Jerry Haftmann, Llanerch Country Club/Rolling Green Golf Club
|
56
|
|
Alan Kliewer/John Digiacomo, Lebanon Country Club
|
59
|
|
Edward Erickson/Paul Rogowicz, Makefield Highlands Golf Club/Yardley Country Club
|
60
|
|
Peter Pagano, Jr./Vincent Cedrone,
Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
60
|
|
Dan Smith/Thorne Ranieri, The Springhaven Club/Rolling
Green Golf Club
|
60
|
|
Larry Benedetto/Jim Allen, Concord Country Club
|
61
|
|
Michael Decker/Jim Schulz, Jr., Mercer Oaks Golf Course/Old York
CC at Chesterfield
|
61
|
|
John Buliga/David Kimbley, Yardley Country Club/Coatesville Country Club
|
61
|
|
Bradley Roberts/Vincent Kwon, Little Mill Country Club
|
62
|
|
Chip Kern/Timothy Eutsler,
Huntsville Golf Club/Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
62
|
|
Dan Ayars/Andy Kerestesy, Running Deer Golf Club
|
62
|
|
George Ackerman/Robert Carrier, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
62
|
|
Michael Dwyer/Chris Buoni,
Medford Village Country Club
|
63
|
|
Ray Pyontek/Mark Sobolewski,
Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
63
|
|
Anthony Dent/Ed Ciel, Medford Lakes Country Club
|
63
|
|
Greg Galtere/Tom Walker, Reading
Country Club
|
63
|
|
Mike Cavanaugh/Trey Watts, Jericho National Golf Club
|
63
|
|
Will Young/James Kyle, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club
|
63
|
|
Thomas Covello/Joseph Boyle, Sandy Run
Country Club
|
64
|
|
Daniel McManamon/Charles
McDermott, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
64
|
|
Andrew Strock/Michael Minter,
Trenton Country Club/Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
64
|
|
Walt Danker/Timothy Gaughan,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
64
|
|
Justin Caple/Bob Zegel,
Phoenixville Country Club
|
64
|
|
Bill Watts/Thomas Gramlich,
Medford Lakes Country Club
|
64
|
|
Gil Golding/Mark Lawlor, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
64
|
|
Charles Johnson/Ronald White, Jericho National Golf Club
|
65
|
|
Robert Curry/Charles Carlson, Jr., North Hills Country Club
|
65
|
|
Joe Zulli/Kevin Maguire, Trump
National Golf Club - Philadelphia
|
65
|
|
David Meschel/Jamie Evans,
Yardley Country Club
|
65
|
|
Scott Hynes/Bob Lindenberger,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
65
|
|
Bill Kowals/Dan Burns, Cherry
Valley Country Club
|
65
|
|
Mitch Friedman/Matthew Weyand,
Yardley Country Club
|
65
|
|
John Simone/Neil Gordon, Philmont Country Club/Five Ponds Golf
Club
|
66
|
|
Mark Czerniakowski/Scott Forrester,
Lu Lu Country Club
|
66
|
|
Bill Burke/John Dugan, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
66
|
|
Andrew Abrams/Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
66
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci/Charles Dowds,
III, Lu Lu Country Club/Applebrook Golf Club
|
66
|
|
Matthew Boyer/Kevin Koch, Spring Ford Country Club
|
67
|
|
Jeff Hanson/Frank Ferrese,
Merchantville Country Club/Tavistock Country
Club
|
67
|
|
Brad Cornforth/Joe Spitaleri,
Loch Nairn Golf Club/Inniscrone Golf
Club
|
67
|
|
Sean Torpey/T.J. Summers,
Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
67
|
|
Beau Guarino/Michael O'Keefe, Valleybrook Country
Club/Laurel Creek Country Club
|
67
|
|
Todd Luft/John Bucci, Sandy Run
Country Club
|
67
|
|
Anthony Bonasera/David Fournier, Hopewell Valley Golf &
Country Club
|
67
|
|
Brian Kreamer/Lars Beck, Bala Golf Club
|
68
|
|
Dan Farragut/Gary Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
68
|
|
Thomas Weinman/Michael Penso,
Rancocas Golf Club/Metedeconk National Golf
Club
|
68
|
|
Jian Zhang/Adrian Terranova, Inniscrone Golf
Club/Hartefeld National
|
68
|
|
Mark Wachter/Michael Brown, Jr., DuPont Country Club/Lu Lu Country Club
|
69
|
|
Andrew Dietz/Pat Curiale, Laurel
Creek Country Club/Medford Village Country Club
|
69
|
|
Roland Thomas, Jr./James Reger,
McCall Golf & Country Club/The Springhaven Club
|
69
|
|
David Levine/John Cyb, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
69
|
|
Gershom Spengler/David Leonardis,
Jack Frost National
|
69
|
|
Alexander Maguire, Sr./Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club
|
69
|
|
Nicholas Angiulo/Dave Vizzini, Deerwood Country Club
|
70
|
|
Andre Ferber/Kenneth Wortley, Radnor Valley Country Club/Bala Golf Club
|
71
|
|
George Crouse/Michael Vogt, Ramblewood
Country Club
|
71
|
|
David Dorey/Dino Stathis, Tavistock Country Club/Metedeconk National
Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Mark Smedley/John Monday, Applebrook Golf
Club/Chester Valley Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Alan Roy/Stanley Panasewicz,
Cherry Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
Robert Dziak/Shane Dooley, Bellewood Country Club/Applecross Country Club
|
73
|
|
Gary Roberts/Rick Studer, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
WD
|
|
|
*-decided in five-hole, sudden-death playoff
|
|
WD-withdrawal
|
|
