The Golf Association of Philadelphia

McDermott heads U.S. Middle-Amateur Qualifier

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – Michael McDermott of Havertown, Pa., topped Thursday’s 2007 U.S. Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifier held at Huntingdon Valley CC (par 70, 6,878 yards) with a 2-under-par 68 to advance to his fifth U.S. Middle-Amateur Championship. The 2007 Patterson Cup Champion qualified for the event in four consecutive years from 2001-04.

McDermott for birdie on No. 9.

Chris Gallagher of West West Chester, Pa., who fired an even-par 70, will join McDermott in the Championship later this month. Chip Lutz of Reading, Pa., Brian Gillespie of Wayne, Pa., and Stephen Seiden of Boothwyn, Pa., each carded 1-over-par 71s to also advance to the Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore.

Bob Bechtold of Avondale, Pa., and David Liotta of Broomall, Pa., rounded out the remaining two qualifying spots after a two-hole playoff.

McDermott, who also qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in five consecutive years from 2000 –04, overcame a slow start to card six birdies en route to the only sub-par round of the day.

"I made the turn at 2 over which was about where I should have been at since I played pretty well but made a couple mistakes," said the Golf Association of Philadelphia Player of the Year points leader. "From there on I really played solid. I had to rally a little bit there on the back and fortunately I did."

Although he three-putted the par 3 5^th (170 yards) hole, McDermott, who started on the 10^th tee, still finished with birdies on No. 6 (par 4, 435 yards), No. 8 (par 4, 411 yards) and No. 9 (par 4, 460 yards).

Chris Gallagher

McDermott capped his day with two near perfect drives on No. 8 and No. 9 and followed each up with nearly identical wedges that left him roughly 10 feet to the hole in both cases.

"I hit both wedges were right where I wanted to," he said. "They both ended up about ten feet [from the hole] and I made both of them which was nice. It was a nice way to close it out especially when you know you are in good shape."

Gallagher, too, finished strong with birdie of his own on No. 9. to advance to his first national championship.

"I’m fired up," Gallagher said. "I didn’t have my best stuff today but I got it done. I can’t wait to go."

Chip Lutz

Added Gallagher, who is in second place behind McDermott in the Player of the Year point standings, "I was 3 over after five holes, so to come back and shoot even par I’m definitely happy."

Lutz, who is also making his fifth appearance in the U.S. Mid.-Amateur Championship, advanced to last year’s U.S. Mid.-Am. in Flagstaff, Ariz., and lost in the first round of match play.

"Any U.S. event is an honor to play in and I’m looking forward to heading out there," Lutz said. "I played Bandon Dunes last year and it’s a fabulous venue that is very links-like and I particularly like links-style golf.

Links-style golf suits my game since I tend to hit it a little lower and under the wind," he said. "I’m excited about the opportunity to go."

The U.S. Middle-Amateur, set for Sept. 29 to Oct. 4, originated in 1981 for the amateur golfer of at least 25 years of age, the purpose of which to provide a formal national championship for the post-college player. The event is open to those with a USGA Handicap Index of 3.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

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	City	Total
Michael McDermott	Havertown, PA	68
Chris Gallagher	West Chester, PA	70
Brian Gillespie	Wayne, PA	71
Chip Lutz	Reading, PA	71
Stephen Seiden	Boothwyn, PA	71
*Bob Bechtold	Avondale, PA	73
*David Liotta	Broomall, PA	73

Alternates (in order)
*Robert Savarese Jr	Lafayette Hill, PA	73
*John Robinson	North Wales, PA	73

Failed to qualify
Bill Jeremiah	West Grove, PA	74
David Brookreson	Huntingdon Valley, PA	74
Glenn Smeraglio	Newtown, PA	74
Roc Irey	Furlong, PA	74
William McGuinness	Woodbury, NJ	74
Frank Corrado	Washington Crossing, PA	75
A J Denicco	Pottstown, PA	76
Douglas Gregor	Phoenixville, PA	76
Gary Daniels	Berwyn, PA	76
James Sullivan, Jr.	Glenside, PA	76
Oscar Mestre	Berwyn, PA	76
Robert De Rojas	Philadelphia, PA	76
James Donnelly	Wayne, PA	77
Jim Simmons	Chester Springs, PA	77
Kevin Kelly	Horsham, PA	77
Michael Anderson	Horsham, PA	77
Paul Liebezeit	Paoli, PA	77
Rich Thon	Swarthmore, PA	77
Ryan Gelrod	Hoboken, NJ	77
Steven Owens	Philadelphia, PA	77
Brian Rothaus	Huntingdon Valley, PA	78
Geoff Cooper	Philadelphia, PA	78
Peter Barron	Mays Landing, NJ	78
Robert Arthur	Marlton, NJ	78
Robin McCool	Bethlehem, PA	78
Samuel Sikes	Richmond, VA	78
Scott Harrington	Emmaus, PA	78
Thomas Gramigna	Haddonfield, NJ	78
Brad Sokol	Wayne, PA	79
Chris Esbenshade	Lititz, PA	79
Edward Erickson	Yardley, PA	79
Jeffrey Wuerstle	Schwenksville, PA	79
Jhoon Chang	Ardmore, PA	79
Jimmy Kieserman	Dresher, PA	79
Ken Sim	Ambler, PA	79
Andy Dietz	Marlton, NJ	80
Anthony List	Havertown, PA	80
Brad McFadden	Ardmore, PA	80
Chad Perman	Philadelphia, PA	80
Kevin Bondi	Dresher, PA	80
Marc Mandel	Lafayette Hill, PA	80
Patrick Dougherty	North Wales, PA	80
Michael Quinn	East Fallowfield, PA	80
Pete Moran	Chester Springs, PA	80
Timothy Westfall	Bala Cynwyd, PA	80
Ajai Sirohi	Princeton, NJ	81
David West	Downingtown, PA	81
John Lovett	Marlboro, NJ	81
Kevin Heyeck	Pennington, NJ	81
Mike Owsik	Bryn Mawr, PA	81
Chris Lange	Bryn Mawr, PA	82
Gary Root	Elverson, PA	82
James Sullivan	Abington, PA	82
Jeff Huntzinger	Huntingdon Valley, PA	82
Jim Schulz Jr	Hamilton, NJ	82
Sean Ryan	Huntingdon Valley, PA	82
Christopher Wallin	Collegeville, PA	83
Clinton Bunting	Rehoboth Beach, DE	83
Jason Loehrs	Wilmington, DE	83
Jeff Hudson	Center Valley, PA	83
Michael Digiandomenico	Elverson, PA	83
Santo Lafoca	Lehman, PA	83
A J Digennaro	Woodbury Heights, NJ	84
Burton McHugh	Philadelphia, PA	84
Johan Van Schalkwyk	Haddon Heights, NJ	84
Rufino Rosal	Camden Wyoming, DE	84
Tim McNerney	Phoenixville, PA	84
Yvan Rheault	Joliette, QC	84
Richard Reed	Bryn Mawr, PA	85
Andrew Halle	Downingtown, PA	86
Christopher Corr	Rosemont, PA	86
George Wall	Brielle, NJ	86
Ryan Morrissey	Newark, DE	86
Aaron Bracy	Merchantville, NJ	88
Andrew Speaker	Newtown, PA	88
Richard Blumberg	Philadelphia, PA	88
Timothy Haberbusch	Montclair, NJ	89
Vince D'Ginto	Green Lane, PA	89
Jeffrey Allen	Wyoming, DE	90
Jonathan Hoffman	Bryn Athyn, PA	90
Andrew Bowers	Cherry Hill, NJ	92
William Corry	Vero Beach, FL	94
Alexander Maguire	Philadelphia, PA	NS
Andy Achenbach	Royersford, PA	WD
Bob Young	Atlanta, GA	WD
Brian Fisher	Norristown, PA	NC
Charles Whalen	Paoli, PA	WD
Chris Kallmeyer	Philadelphia, PA	WD
Christopher Scott	Short Hills, NJ	WD
David Derminio	Coopersburg, PA	WD
Douglas Schroer	Malvern, PA	WD
Ed Chylinski	Gulph Mills, PA	WD
Francis Hamm	Clarks Summit, PA	WD
Glen Schreiner	Elkton, MD	WD
J Kirk Luntey	Ardmore, PA	WD
Jamie Slonis	Sewell, NJ	WD
John Alterman	New Hope, PA	WD
John Lupica	Newtown, PA	WD
Jon Thomas	Landenberg, PA	WD
Joseph Costanzo	Newtown, PA	WD
Michael Domenick	Phoenixville, PA	WD
Paul Rogowicz	Yardley, PA	WD
Raymond Pyontek	Hamilton, NJ	WD
Robert Morris	Great Falls, VA	WD
Rusty Seyle	Bethlehem, PA	WD
Stephen Wall	Cortland, NY	WD
Steve Walczak	Greenville, DE	WD
Thomas Timby	Doylestown, PA	NS
Tom Hamilton	Pleasantville, NY	NC
Warren Smith	Wilmington, DE	WD
William Kelly	Trappe, PA	WD

*- determined in a playoff
WD-withdrawal; NS-no show; NC- no card

[ Back ]

Membership

Quick Links

Play

Quick Links

Resources

Quick Links

About

Quick Links

A Walk Through Time

McDermott heads U.S. Middle-Amateur Qualifier