Merion GC’s Dendler, field eyes 102nd Open ChampionshipFor the first time in more than half a century, the Open Championship returns to historic Llanerch Country Club. The 102nd Open Championship takes place on Wednesday, July 19, with a field of 60 players competing in the one-day, 36-hole stroke play championship. The field will be comprised of 15 amateurs from the Golf Association of Philadelphia and 45 professionals from the Philadelphia Section of the PGA.All media are welcome.
"I’m very much looking forward to it," said Dendler of defending his title. "I’ve been playing well this year and I just want to go out and continue that. If I play well and that gets me close, that’s great, if not, then that’s great, too." And if Dendler does repeat, his victory will be well earned. He’ll have to get past former champions and fellow professionals John Appleget of Harbor Pines Golf Club (2002), Terry Hertzog of Bent Creek Country Club (2001), Stu Ingraham of Overbrook Golf Club (1994) and Brian Kelly of Bucknell Golf Club (2000, 2003). His Amateur challengers include Kyle Davis of Fieldstone Golf Club, the 2006 Amateur Champion, Clint Deibert of Doylestown Country Club, the 2005 Amateur Champion and last year’s low amateur in the Open, Chris Lange of Overbrook Golf Club, the 2004 Open Champion, and recently reinstated amateur James Sullivan, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley CC, the 1999 Amateur Champion. "It’s always an honor to play in an event like the Open," said Deibert, 24, of Doylestown, Pa. "Any time you get a chance to play against the top players from the GAP and the [Philadelphia] Section [of the PGA], it’s going to be a tough test." The Philadelphia Open has been played annually since 1903, with the exception of 1943 and 1945, due to World War II and is the third oldest tournament in the Golf Association of Philadelphia, only behind the Amateur Championship and Patterson Cup. 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 stroke play format in 1940. A four-hole cumulative score playoff will resolve a championship tie. This marks the third time in the history of the Open that Llanerch Country Club will host the event. The first was in 1942 when Joseph Lewis of Tredyffrin Country Club won the event. Nine years later in 1951, Henry Williams, Jr. of Berkleigh Country Club emerged victorious at the Havertown, Pa., club. 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. Johnny J. McDermott, Tommy Armour, Al Besselink and Dick Smith have also captured the Open. |
A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition – the Team Matches – and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
