*Challenges/Playoff schedule
CNGC, Cricket, HVCC, Llanerch advance to GAP Team Matches Final FourOne certainty remains after a stunning final week of the GAP Team Matches. A new champion will be crowned. Llanerch Country Club shockingly eliminated three-time defending titleholder Tavistock Country Club in Division AA Section 1 to join other bracket winners Huntingdon Valley Country Club (Section 2), Commonwealth National Golf Club (Section 3) and Philadelphia Cricket Club (Section 4) in Saturday’s Playoff.
However, you know what they say about assuming, and a spirited Wilmington squad outscored Tavistock at its temporary home of Woodcrest Country Club, 27-7, en route to a 39.75-26 victory. That loss, coupled with a Llanerch Country Club defeat of Merion Golf Club, 45.5-25.5, pushed the outcome to the tiebreaker: Total points. Llanerch finished with 104 points compared to Tavistock’s 99.25 points. “Believe it or not we were really just pleased we weren’t going to get challenged this year after beating Merion,” said Dave Poletti, the longtime Llanerch captain. “Then [team member] Neil [McDermott] got a phone call from a friend that we had won the division. We didn’t believe it so we had our pro [Ben Lesniak] check the GAP Web site and there we were. It was very surprising. First, I was happy not to play on Saturday in the Challenges but now I’m happy to know I am playing Saturday in the Playoff.” Llanerch last competed in the Playoff in 2003 when it lost the title by a quarter point to, ironically enough, Merion. Overall, Llanerch has won six GAP Team Matches crowns, the last one coming in 1938. Overshadowed by Llanerch’s improbable ascent but not to be overlooked was Philadelphia Cricket Club’s, 36-25.5, victory over Yardley Country Club. Both squads entered the final week undefeated (2-0) knowing that the winner would advance. Cricket got a decisive home squad victory, 25-9, and a solid effort from its road unit, who fell only 16.25-13.75. Cricket’s home squad heroes were Bob Ball and his partner Kevin Kelly. In singles, Ball earned five points and Kelly netted 3.5 points. The two also combined for 3.5 more better-ball points. On the road, team captain Chris Kallmeyer netted a best 3.25 points. Partner Jhoon Chang also posted 2.75 points. “We couldn’t be happier,” said Kallmeyer, Cricket’s team captain. “Our strategy was to win big at home and keep it close on the road and that’s what we did. We were surprised that we won by 11 points, however. We thought it was going to be one of those quarter-point matches.” Cricket, a founding member of the Association in 1897, has never won a GAP Team Matches title. According to Kallmeyer, this is the first time in the modern era Philadelphia Cricket Club has made the Final Four. “[Making the Playoff] was our goal,” said Kallmeyer. “We believe we’ve been one of the best teams in the GAP Team Matches the last two or three seasons but for some reason or another we haven’t played up to our ability [and made the Playoff].” Huntingdon Valley Country Club advanced to the Final Four by continuing its strong play. HVCC defeated Huntsville Golf Club, 45-22.25, in Week 3. Huntingdon Valley is seeking its record 32nd GAP Team Matches crown. It last won the title in 2001. Commonwealth rounds out the foursome after upending Cavaliers Country Club, 44-23.75, on Sunday. Commonwealth National is also in search of its first title. This, however, is the third straight year Commonwealth has made the final. |