Super Powers: Woodlochâs own tops #BMWPhillyAm QualifierHAWLEY, Pa. â Country Club at Woodloch Springâs David Powers flashed a mighty super power of his own Wednesday at his home course (par 72, 6,521 yards), topping the first of four BMW Philadelphia Amateur Qualifiers.
Powers, a Saint Peterâs University sophomore and recent individual winner of the Villanova Wildcat Invitational, fired a blazing 2-under 70 to earn medalist honors over a field of 12 #BMWPhillyAm hopefuls. The fieldâs cut line stopped at 3-over 75. Woodlochâs Alex Pillar and Elkview Country Clubâs Chris Killiany were the other players who claimed the available spots. The Championship proper is set for June 12-14 and 16 at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. Players will compete in stroke-play qualifying on June 12 (one round each at Whitemarsh Valley and Green Valley Country Club) to determine the 32-player, match-play bracket. âItâs really hard to break par here. I donât often do it, especially in a tournament setting at my home course. Today was my first GAP event and overall it was just a perfect day for me,â said Powers, a resident of Glen Spey, N.Y. The dayâs low round didnât take long to get into the red category. Powers pulled a 3-hybrid off the tee on No. 3 (par 5, 558 yards), so a 4-iron punch out was played as his second. Powers then pured a wedge from 62 yards out, landing it to 15 feet followed by a well-executed birdie conversion. A bogey blemish on No. 4 (par 3, 167 yards) brought him back to even, which he would eventually make the turn at. âTo be honest, I was kind of frustrated on the front nine that I didnât shoot lower. I had a good amount of birdie looks that just didnât fall early,â said Powers, 19. âI figured I had to turn it up on the back nine.â That he did. On No. 12 (par 4, 346 yards, a mammoth drive left him with just 47 yards in. A short wedge nestled up to three feet, leading to a tap-in 3. Powers jotted down nothing but pars after that, until he stepped up to No. 17 (par 3, 135 yards). âI hit a smooth 8-iron off the tee there and it wasnât the greatest shot â just on the front of the green. The hole was all the way in the back. I was able to make the putt from 70 feet. It was very, very long,â he said. Powers, who is serving his second season at Woodloch as a golf cart attendant, knows the track inside-and-out. In fact, he made a victory lap around the front nine immediately after the medal-earning round in order to get some more work in. The commitment to the game has been paying off as of late, as evidenced by Powersâ individual title in the Wildcat Invitational at White Manor Country Club, where he posted a two-shot victory thanks to rounds of 68 and 70 (-4). âThat was huge for me and my confidence. It was our first major tournament of the spring season, so it was great to get that accomplishment,â he said. âIt was big for my career and game moving forward.â Looking ahead, Powers will look to keep the ball rolling as he is now set to appear in his first GAP Major. âI figured, âWhy not?â when I saw the [BMW Philadelphia Amateur] Qualifier was being held at my home club. Itâs great to advance and Iâm ready to get down to Whitemarsh and check it out,â said Powers. The BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship is the Golf Association of Philadelphiaâs 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 Fatherâs Day weekend. The winner receives the J. Wood Platt Trophy; its namesake holds a record-seven Amateur Championship titles.
Golf Association of Philadelphia
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