Philadelphia Country Club hosts historical
100th Philadelphia Open Championship

  The day will not only commemorate the centennial anniversary of the third oldest tournament in the Golf Association of Philadelphia, but will also mark the first time a woman has competed in the Open Championship. Additionally, defending champion Brian Kelly of Bucknell GC looks to join a group of only eight others who have captured three Open titles.

  In all, a field of 60 players, 45 professionals and 15 amateurs, will compete in the one-day, 36-hole stroke play tournament.

  Last July, Kelly carded a 3-over-par total of 143 at Huntingdon Valley Country Club to become the 23^rd multiple winner of the event. He also captured the 2000 Philadelphia Open.

  "All past winners are proud to hold the title," said Kelly, 44, of Lewisburg, Pa. "It’s an event we all look forward to every year."

  Looking for her first Open Championship will be Kim Verrecchio, a teaching professional at Wayneborough CC. Verrecchio will be the first woman to play in an Open Championship.

  "To be one of 45 golf professional, male of female, playing in the Philadelphia Open is special," said Verrecchio, 35, of Havertown, Pa. "I think it’s good for other female professionals to see someone qualify. It’s enticing to them that courses are playable and they can compete."

  It’s not the first time Verrecchio has acted as a trend setter.

  She was the lone woman on the Haverford High School golf team and also was the first female to play in the Philadelphia Section of the PGA Assistants Championship, that in 1995.

  Verrecchio rejoined the Philly Section this spring, when her club in Florida, The Loxahatchee Club, closed for renovations. The Director of Instruction at Loxahatchee, she decided to spend the summer up North with her family. A change she said she sees for the foreseeable future. Verrecchio was a member of the Philly Section until 1996 before she headed South.

  Michael McDermott of Llanerch CC is the top returning amateur in the field from a year ago. He placed sixth last summer. Other amateurs in the field included 2004 Amateur Champion Scott Ehrlich of Meadowlands CC and Michael Tash, runnerup in the 2004 Amateur and the 2003 Amateur Champion.

  The Philadelphia Open has been played annually since 1903, with the exception of 1943 and 1945, due to World War II. The Open began as a 72-hole medal play tournament and was later changed to match play format. In 1913, the tournament returned to its original format and was reduced to its current 36-hole medal play format in 1940.

  A four-hole cumulative score playoff will resolve a championship tie.

  Past Opens held at Philadelphia CC were won by Gilbert Nicholls of Wilmington CC (1912), Tom McNamara of Boston, Mass., (1915) and Jack Connelly of Huntingdon Valley CC (1979).

  The last amateur to win the Open was Michael Brown of Old York Road CC in 1997.

  Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. for the first round and 12:45 p.m. for the second. An awards ceremony will follow the conclusion of play, at approximately 7 p.m.

  The list of past Open champions is rich in history and include current Senior PGA Tour members Jay Sigel and Ed Dougherty, former PGA Tour regulars Dick Hendrickson and George Fazio, and legendary amateur William Hyndman, III. Standouts Johnny J. McDermott, Tommy Armour, Al Besselink and Dick Smith have also captured the Open at one time.