LedgeRock’s Lutz blitzes
Bent Creek CC to top Marston Cup

  LITITZ, Pa.– Chip Lutz of LedgeRock GC torched Bent Creek CC (par 71, 6,463 yards) to the tune of eight birdies to top the 77-player field with a 6-under-par 65 at the fourth edition of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Marston Cup Wednesday.

  Lutz’s field-low round allowed him to bounce back with a win after a somewhat disappointing second-place finish at last year’s event at his home club.

  "I was hopeful to win it [at home] last year, came up short and didn’t really have a good day," said Lutz, who admitted to thinking about last year’s finish when it came to playing in the event today. "It was in the back of my mind, in a way."

  But Lutz managed to put 2007 out of his mind as he carded only two bogies on the day.

  "I kept the ball in front of me all day and just hit it solid," said Lutz, who had three tap-ins for birdie on hole Nos. 1 (par 4, 421 yards), 7 (par 4, 305 yards) and 11 (par 4, 358 yards).

  On each occasion the Wyomissing, Pa., resident knocked his approach shot stiff with a wedge from within 100 yards. And in one of those instances the 53-year-old even hit the flagstick, almost jarring his second shot from 36 yards out with a 60-degree wedge on the par 4, 7^th hole.

  "[The ball] hit the stick and almost went in," he said. "It was a great shot."

  Added Lutz, "I just had a good ball-striking round, putted well and my distance control was pretty good.

  Although I don’t think it was my best round of all-time, I’m definitely pleased with the score," he said. "It was one of those rounds where the score was a little better than you actually played."

  Home-track hopeful David Richards of Bent Creek CC, fired five birdies on the day to finished alone in second place with a 4-under-par 67.

  "It definitely helped," said Richards of his home course advantage. "There’s a definite comfort level when you play at home. From knowing the green speeds to knowing where to hit it and where not to hit it, it most certainly helps."

  But for Lutz, the 2007 GAP Mid-Amateur champion, it was about getting back to the top Wednesday.

  "It’s been an off year for me so it’s nice to get back into the winner’s circle," he said.

Max Marston
  For four months in the summer of 1923, Marston was America’s best amateur golfer. Between mid-May and mid-September, Marston was virtually unstoppable through a series of club, state, national and international events.

  It began with the Walker Cup Matches where Marston won two matches as the Americans successfully retained the Cup. Marston returned home to capture the Patterson Cup and Amateur Championship in successive weeks and, in doing so, earned the Silver Cross Award. In July, he took the Pennsylvania Amateur title and finished as the low amateur in the Philadelphia Open.

  In September, Marston traveled to Floosmoor Country Club outside Chicago for the U.S. Amateur. He rallied in the second round to defeat tournament favorite Bob Jones, 2&1, before knocking off Francis Ouimet in the semifinals. He stopped defending champion Jess Sweetser in the final on the 38^th hole.

  In that four month span, he also captured the Merion Cricket Club championship and Pine Valley GC’s Crump Cup.

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  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 56,000 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.

Results
Overall
1. Chip Lutz, LedgeRock GC 65
2. David Richards, Bent Creek CC 67

+4 to 2 Handicaps
T1. Steven Walczak, Wilmington CC 70
T1. Oscar Mestre, Jr., Overbrook GC 70

3 to 11 Handicaps
1. R. Blake Slawecki, Spring Ford CC 77
T2. James Loftus, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club 78
T2. John Frampton, Whitemarsh Valley CC 78
T2. Jeff Tetrick, Cavaliers CC 78