Gray, Pelet, Robertson top GOGC Open Qualifier
FLEETWOOD, Pa.– Christopher Gray, a professional who splits his time between Hartefeld National and the North Carolina-based Tarheel Tour, John Michael Pelet, an amateur out of Wyncote GC, and Robert Robertson, the 2007 GAP Junior Boys’ runner-up out of Sunnybrook GC, earned tri-medallist honors with 5-under-par 67s at the Open Championship Qualifier at Golden Oaks GC (par 72, 7,106 yards) Wednesday to join 12 others in advancing to the field of 72 for 103rd Open Championship set for Aug. 6 at the historic East Course of Merion GC.
 |
| John Michael Pelet |
The trio topped the 151-player field at the second of three Open Championship qualifiers administered by the Golf Association of Philadelphia to advance to the momentous Main Line contest.
And although each player turned in the same scores, each followed their own different path to their field low rounds.
Gray, who said he took time off from his first season on the Tarheel Tour just for this chance to play in the Open, carded six birdies and one bogey to finish tied atop the field.
"That’s the only reason I took off this week," said the pro out of Hartefeld National. "It was to try to get into Merion."
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| Robert Robertson |
Pelet, too, was able to card half a dozen birdies on the day. But his 5-under-par 67 also included three bogeys that required an eagle effort on No. 5 (par 5, 494 yards) for him to get back in the lead. Under wet conditions, Pelet, who played in the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Merion GC, laced a rescue club from about 225 yards out to roughly eight feet for eagle.
"I’m thrilled," said Pelet of his return to Merion GC. "The goal in these things is just to get through [it]. It’s great if you can shoot well but that’s a bonus."
Added Pelet, "The idea is to go out there and not make too many mistakes. I think I did a pretty good job of that today and managed my way around the course."
Robertson, who comes off a win at last week’s 22nd Francis X. Hussey Memorial Championship and a second-place finish at the 93rd Junior Boys’ Championship the week before that, carded five birdies on the day but managed to string together the only bogey free round of the tri-medallists.
"I got off to a fast start," said Robertson who birdied three of the first five holes with a solid putting game. "Once I got on the green, my distance [on my putts] was always good."
But when he came to No. 9 (par 3, 213 yards), his bogey-free round was in jeopardy as he sent his shot off the cart path and into the bushes behind the green. From there, Robertson was forced to take a drop but was able to get up-and-down for par and continue his sub-par round.
"That could have gone either way and I could have easily made double [bogey]," Robertson said. "That just kept me going."
Roberston now heads off to play Merion GC for only his second time.
"I’m pumped," said the co-captain of the Chestnut Hill Academy golf team on playing Merion GC. "I’m playing pretty confident right now, especially on the greens with my putter. I’m rolling it well."
Gray, who has yet to play the famous Ardmore, Pa. course, was given some advise from a couple friends who played in the 2005 U.S. Amateur at Merion.
"‘It’s brutal. Hit fairways’ they said to me," Gray said. "That’s one of my strong points and I can roll it most of the time so I’m looking forward to it."
This is the first year the Golf Association of Philadelphia will solely administer the Open Championship and its qualifiers. The field of 72 players will be comprised of 29 exempt entrants and 43 qualifiers. The remaining qualifier is scheduled for July 16 at Little Mill CC (12 qualifying positions). The Open Championship will have a record purse of $40,000.
Dave Quinn, the director of golf at Links GC, is the defending champion. Quinn defeated then Philadelphia CC assistant Michael Ladden in a four-hole playoff.
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 135 Member Clubs and 60,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.
|
Qualifiers |
|
Name |
Club |
Total |
|
(a) Robert Robertson |
Sunnybrook Golf Club |
67 |
|
(a) John Michael Pelet |
Wyncote Golf Club |
67 |
|
Christopher Gray |
Hartefeld National |
67 |
|
Eric McNamee |
Stonewall |
68 |
|
(a) Logan Terry |
Plymouth Country Club |
68 |
|
Adam Corson |
Toftrees Resort |
69 |
|
(a) Patrick Hardin |
Northampton Country Club |
69 |
|
(a) Douglas Zelner |
Coatesville Country Club |
70 |
|
David Olexson |
Lehigh Country Club |
70 |
|
(a) Robert Galbreath, Jr. |
Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
70 |
|
Travis Deibert |
Commonwealth National Golf Club |
70 |
|
(a) Greg Wolfe |
Cavaliers Country Club |
70 |
|
(a) Mark Miller |
Yardley Country Club |
70 |
|
(a) Billy McCrossan |
White Manor Country Club |
70 |
|
Paul Viola |
Bethlehem Golf Club |
70 |
| |
|
Alternates (in order) |
|
*(a) David West |
Whitford Country Club |
71 |
|
* James Maack |
Kimberton Golf Club |
71 |
|
* J.R. Delich |
The Reserve |
71 |
| |
|
Failed to qualify |
|
* Gary Hardin |
Northampton Country Club |
71 |
|
* William Sautter |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
71 |
|
* (a) Tyler Glassman |
Meadowlands Country Club |
71 |
|
* (a) Robert Savarese |
Sand Barrens Golf Club |
71 |
|
Andrew Barbin |
Chesapeake Bay GC |
72 |
|
(a) Kevin Genuardi |
Cedarbrook Country Club |
72 |
|
Peter Carmain |
French Creek Golf Club |
72 |
|
Eric Shillinger |
Moselem Springs Golf Club |
72 |
|
(a) Donny Wessner |
Golden Oaks Golf Club |
72 |
|
(a) James Rattigan |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
72 |
|
(a) Travis J Gahman |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
72 |
|
George Forster, Jr. |
Radnor Valley Country Club |
72 |
|
Tom Ryan |
Green Valley Country Club |
72 |
|
(a) Kevin Frost |
Honeybrook Golf Club |
72 |
|
(a) Michael Schunke |
Hartefeld National |
73 |
|
(a) P. Chet Walsh |
Philadelphia Country Club |
73 |
|
John Allen |
Sunnybrook Golf Club |
73 |
|
Christopher Stager |
Brookside C.C. of Allentown |
73 |
|
Theron Harvey |
The ACE Club |
73 |
|
(a) Jeff Osberg |
Brandywine Country Club |
73 |
|
(a) Tom Piersanti |
Applebrook Golf Club |
73 |
|
Darren Mills |
Northampton Country Club |
73 |
|
(a) Bertus Wessels |
Green Valley Country Club |
73 |
|
Michael Grabosky |
Heidelberg Country Club |
73 |
|
(a) John Simone |
Blue Bell Country Club |
74 |
|
(a) Frank Petrash |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
74 |
|
(a) Byron Whitman |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
74 |
|
(a) Brendan Mohler |
Northampton Country Club |
74 |
|
(a) Jacob Pleczkowski |
Saucon Valley Country Club |
74 |
|
(a) Scott Lightbody |
Coatesville Country Club |
74 |
|
(a) Doug Marcincin |
Northampton Country Club |
74 |
|
(a) Duncan Zeiders |
Old York Road Country Club |
74 |
|
Matthew Ujfalusi |
Aronimink Golf Club |
74 |
|
John Spina |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
75 |
|
(a) Anthony DeNicco |
Brookside Country Club |
75 |
|
Bill Kindoll |
Heidelberg Country Club |
75 |
|
(a) Michael Gross |
Glenmaura National Golf Club |
75 |
|
(a) Scott Klee |
Indian Valley Country Club |
75 |
|
(a) Michael Moffat |
Commonwealth National Golf Club |
75 |
|
(a) Jeffrey Stanford |
The ACE Club |
75 |
|
(a) Jamie Wallace |
Laurel Creek Country Club |
75 |
|
Kevin Nicholson |
Overbrook Golf Club |
75 |
|
Michael Dean |
Cedarbrook Country Club |
75 |
|
Jeff Van Etten |
Hickory Heights GC |
75 |
|
(a) C.J. Sturgell |
Applebrook Golf Club |
75 |
|
(a) Michael Decapua |
Northampton Country Club |
75 |
|
(a) Scott Orr |
Brookside Country Club |
75 |
|
Robert Shutte |
Lehigh Country Club |
75 |
|
(a) Bo Maguire |
Brookside Country Club |
76 |
|
(a) Mike Chambers |
Wyncote Golf Club |
76 |
|
(a) Phil Over |
Penn Oaks Golf Club |
76 |
|
(a) Anthony List, Jr. |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
76 |
|
(a) Christopher Kaspar |
Lu Lu Country Club |
76 |
|
(a) Dominic Schiavone |
The ACE Club |
76 |
|
Paul Galczyk |
Westover Inn & Golf Club |
76 |
|
(a) Christopher Terebesi |
Chester Valley Golf Club |
76 |
|
Dong Lee |
The ACE Club |
76 |
|
Donald Stutts |
LedgeRock Golf Club |
76 |
|
Josh Lewis |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
76 |
|
Ryan Gray |
French Creek Golf Club |
76 |
|
Brian Gardner |
Chester Valley Golf Club |
76 |
|
(a) Robert Bechtold |
Fieldstone Golf Club |
77 |
|
(a) John Salamone |
Meadowlands Country Club |
77 |
|
Frank Palumbo |
Rolling Green Golf Club |
77 |
|
(a) Paul Liebezeit |
Aronimink Golf Club |
77 |
|
(a) Jason Mustapich |
Huntsville Golf Club |
77 |
|
Fred Purdy |
Sandy Run Country Club |
77 |
|
Peter Kowalinski |
LedgeRock Golf Club |
78 |
|
(a) Matt Dolinsky |
Honeybrook Golf Club |
78 |
|
Kevin Edwards |
Riverview Country Club |
78 |
|
(a) Robert Gill |
Fox Hill Country Club |
78 |
|
(a) Greg Forster |
Radnor Valley Country Club |
78 |
|
(a) Joe Bevevino |
Huntsville Golf Club |
78 |
|
Jim Smith, Jr. |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
78 |
|
(a) Christopher Wallin |
Indian Valley Country Club |
79 |
|
(a) Ken Sim |
Commonwealth National Golf Club |
79 |
|
William Walker |
Bala Golf Club |
79 |
|
(a) William Hoese |
Links Golf Club |
79 |
|
Andy Watters |
Philadelphia Cricket Club |
79 |
|
(a) Eric Fonner |
Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
79 |
|
(a) Joey C Garrity |
Northampton Country Club |
79 |
|
(a) Charles Meadows |
RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve |
79 |
|
(a) Jeffrey Wuerstle |
Indian Valley Country Club |
79 |
|
(a) Mark J Coassolo |
Berkleigh Country Club |
79 |
|
Bill Barrick |
LedgeRock Golf Club |
79 |
|
James Larkin |
Fieldstone Golf Club |
79 |
|
(a) Kevin DeHaven |
Hopewell Valley Golf Club |
80 |
|
(a) Michael Domenick |
Phoenixville Country Club |
80 |
|
(a) Greg Verde |
Spring Ford Country Club |
80 |
|
(a) Steve Scarpetta |
Glenmaura National Golf Club |
80 |
|
Jim Haus |
Bent Creek Country Club |
80 |
|
(a) Peter Moran |
Edgmont Country Club |
80 |
|
Daniel Malley |
Paxon Hollow Country Club |
80 |
|
Pete Cunningham |
Overlook Golf Course |
81 |
|
(a) Michael S. Boden |
Burlington Country Club |
81 |
|
Butch Johnson |
Concord Country Club |
81 |
|
Benjamin Lesniak |
Llanerch Country Club |
81 |
|
(a) Marc Delong |
Golden Oaks Golf Club |
81 |
|
(a) John Olszewski |
Wyoming Valley Country Club |
81 |
|
(a) Francis McFadden |
Overbrook Golf Club |
81 |
|
(a) Ted Kerschner |
Overbrook Golf Club |
82 |
|
(a) Jason Barkley |
Huntsville Golf Club |
82 |
|
(a) Santo Lafoca |
Huntsville Golf Club |
82 |
|
Wesley Hollis |
Fore Seasons Golf Phoenixville |
82 |
|
(a) Kenneth Ralston |
Huntsville Golf Club |
82 |
|
Stephen Wright |
St. Davids Golf Club |
82 |
|
(a) Michael Costonis |
Blue Bell Country Club |
83 |
|
(a) Patrick Welsh |
Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
83 |
|
(a) Jake Asplundh |
Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
83 |
|
(a) David Milkowski |
Llanerch Country Club |
83 |
|
(a) Brian Corbett |
Huntsville Golf Club |
84 |
|
(a) Zac G Robertson |
Edgmont Country Club |
84 |
|
(a) Marty Crounse |
Mercer Oaks Golf Course |
84 |
|
Dave Roberts |
Cedarbrook Country Club |
84 |
|
(a) Matt Dudas |
Indian Valley Country Club |
85 |
|
(a) Robert Pina |
Chester Valley Golf Club |
86 |
|
(a) Kevin Melnick, Jr. |
Plymouth Country Club |
86 |
|
(a) Motohiro Yogo |
Rolling Green Golf Club |
86 |
|
(a) William Ciccotti |
Glenmaura National Golf Club |
86 |
|
(a) A.J. Tomasello |
Plymouth Country Club |
86 |
|
(a) Brian Walsh |
Llanerch Country Club |
86 |
|
Bradley Kane |
Dauphin Highlands Golf Course |
86 |
|
John Diamond |
Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club |
87 |
|
James Dendy |
Ed Porky Oliver Golf Club |
88 |
|
(a) Nick Verrecchio |
Rolling Green Golf Club |
88 |
|
(a) John Lupica |
ACE Club |
88 |
|
(a) Craig Lozak, Jr. |
Bucks County Golf Club |
90 |
|
(a) Alex Rupple |
Philadelphia Publinks GA |
90 |
|
(a) Chuck Kraatz |
Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club |
91 |
|
(a) Samuel Ryder |
Aronimink Golf Club |
WD |
|
(a) Joshua Krumholz |
Berkleigh Country Club |
WD |
|
David Fields |
Brookside C.C. of Allentown |
WD |
|
(a) Joseph Costanzo |
Blue Bell Country Club |
WD |
| |
|
*-decided in a playoff |
|
(a) - denotes amateur |
|
WD-withdrawal |
|
