Division B features five marquee match-ups in GTM Week 3

  Section titles are on the line in Week 3 of the GAP Team Matches as clubs seek to leave their imprint on the 2010 campaign. Division B features five marquee matches between undefeated and upstanding squads.

  Burlington 1 vs. Sakima 1

  Both Burlington 1 (2-0, 116.75 points) and Sakima 1 (2-0, 127 points) have been explosive so far, and this Sunday, the two will battle for the Section 3 title.

  “We’ve kind of been looking toward that match knowing it was going to be a tough one,” Chris Bevelheimer, Sakima’s captain, said. “Handicap-wise, we match up well. Everybody’s just going to have to play well next week.”

  A potent mixture of new and old Sakima members has propelled the team.

  “We had an influx of good players come in this year,” he said. “Some guys from Woodbury (Country Club) came over since Woodbury closed. Some past members who went to other courses came back this year.”

  Through two weeks, Sakima 1 is averaging 63.5 points per match. Given such a strong balance, Bevelheimer finds it difficult to pinpoint a team member who’s truly risen above the rest.

  “It’s been a total team effort so far,” he said.

  Team balance has also been integral part in Burlington 1’s success so far, according to its captain Tim Sindorf.

  “We’ve got a good group of young kids, four of which have gone through the Drexel (University) golf program,” he said. Jack Wallace, Sean Semenetz, Joe April, our club champion, and Frank Petrash, who’s currently a member of the Drexel team, have all played well for us. Johan (von Schalkwyk) has done a great job for us.”

  Sindorf believes Burlington needs to carry its consistency into Week 3.

  “It all boils down to you got to play well,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll come out on top.”

  Penn Oaks 1 vs. Wyoming Valley 1

  Penn Oaks 1 (2-0, 121.25 points) will compete against Wyoming Valley 1 (112 points) for the Section 4 title. Both teams have earned victories over Burlington 2 and Wilmington 2, respectively.

  “It seems like the guys are out having fun, and obviously, it’s turned out to be productive,” Jef Fogel, Penn Oaks’ captain, said.

  It may come as a surprise that Penn Oaks 1 adopted a relaxed attitude this year. The squad lost “a bunch of good players,” such as Vinny Alessi and Jeff Simon, Fogel said. However, Penn Oaks 1 assembled a balanced attack that features Bill Albertus, who leads the team with 18.75 individual points through two weeks.

  Now, Penn Oaks 1 hopes to maintain its relaxed approach as it prepares for Week 3.

  “Everybody wants to win,” Fogel said. “I told the guys, ‘let’s go out, have fun and see what happens. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.’”

  It’s all smiles at the Wyoming Valley 1 camp as well.

  “I think we’re happy,” WVCC captain Ken Donlavage said. “I think our experience has been fun so far.”

  Joseph Weiscarger and John Olszewski have excelled for Wyoming Valley 1, Donlavage said. Furthermore, the team hasn’t lost a match in the better-ball portion through two weeks.

  “That’s where you get points, and every point matters obviously,” Donlavage said.

  Donlavage feels the team “needs to play well” in order to topple Penn Oaks 1.

  “We have had good balance so far,” Donlavage said.

  Links 1 vs. Running Deer 1

  The Section 8 title is on the line when Links 1 (2-0, 105.50 points) takes on Running Deer 1 (2-0, 97.75 points).

  Both teams carry balanced rosters and formidable firepower into the match-up. Running Deer’s Pat Purcell leads Division B in scoring with 22.75 total points while Links’ Jim Schurr ranks fifth with 19.25 points.

  “We have some fairly good players. We’ve got a mixture where I can make comfortable pairings,” Links’ captain Dave Padgett said. “We’re trying to climb back up the ladder.”

  To prevail Sunday, Links’ needs to concentrate on the task at hand, according to Padgett.

  “We need to focus on our games and not worry about the outcome,” he said.

  Running Deer 1 overcame membership changes and put together a stout squad this year. Joseph Russo, a prominent club player, declined to participate in the Team Matches because of personal reason. Furthermore, the club lost one of its best players in Matthew Finger, who departed for Wedgwood CC.

  “That was obviously a big loss for us,” Michael Korcuba, Running Deer’s captain, said.

  However, Running Deer 1 did accrue a few players from Wedgwood and now-defunct Woodbury CC that have performed well for the team.

  “That’s kept us very competitive,” Korcuba said. “I think it’s heartened the team to be dedicated to each match.”

  Korcuba hopes a new line-up strategy will boost Running Deer 1 to a triumph over Links 1.

  “We’re going to put players that are able to hit the ball pretty straight at Links,” he said. “If we can win at Links, then I think we’ll wrap up the Section. Hopefully, we’ll get the job done at home.”

  Concord 1 vs. Lu Lu 1

  In Section 11, Concord 1 (2-0, 130.75 points) and Lu Lu 1 (2-0, 98.50 points) will tussle for the title. Both teams consider the match-up to be a difficult challenge.

  “It’s going to be a much tougher test,” Stephen Seiden, Concord’s captain, said. “I like the way we line up. It’s just a matter of getting out there and getting the ball in the hole first.”

  “Our sense is it’s going to be one of those matches that comes down to the wire,” Lu Lu captain Jim Adair added. “It’s going to take an outright victory. We definitely have our work cut out for us.”

  For Concord 1, winning Section 11 marks another step in its quest to return to Division AA. Comfortable, efficient pairings have contributed significantly to the squad’s 2-0 record.

  “We made an assessment of our team and made a couple of changes,” Seiden said. “It seems like we’re all having a great time out there. We’re trying to get back to where we think we belong.”

  Concord’s 2010 campaign also marks a return to form for Seiden, a two-time Compher Cup player. He currently ranks third in scoring in Division B.

  “My short game has really improved,” Seiden said. “I think that’s really helped me save some pars and make a better score.”

  Collective improvement has launched Lu Lu 1 to a 2-0 start.

  “We’re a pretty cohesive bunch,” Adair said. “We get along well. We just try to go out, enjoy the matches and the competition”

  Stephen Daley, James Haynie and Alan Van Horn are just a few “seasoned guys” who bring consistency to Lu Lu 1, Adair said.

  “There are not a lot of jitters or nerves here,” he said.

  Fieldstone 1 vs. Wildwood 1

  Fieldstone 1 (2-0, 131.50 points) and Wildwood 1 (2-0, 125.25 points) each scored decisive victories over Brookside 2 and Stone Harbor 1 in the first two weeks. Now, both teams will look to score the most decisive victory of all as the Section 13 title hangs in the balance.

  “We’re going to be very evenly matched,” Fieldstone captain Rand Mendez said. “”They’re not courses that either team gets to play often. The key is going to be matching the right players at the right course.”

  Steady participation and commitment to play has served as Fieldstone’s catalyst through two weeks, according to Mendez. Elias Chua and Paul Kupcha, as well as the pairing of Hank Grabowski and Mark Scott, have posted strong performances. Also, Kyle Davis, the 2006 Amateur Champion, emerged in Week 2, shooting 4-under at Stone Harbor and earning five individual points.

  “We’ve got some good team chemistries going,” Mendez said. “We’ve enjoyed the courses we played and the teams we played against.”

  Along similar lines, a couple of Wildwood 1’s best players will take to the course this Sunday as Steve Ransom, Jr. and Johnny Wheeler return after a Week 2 absence.

  “We have all of our guns this week, so hopefully, that will help,” Wildwood’s captain Keith Cope said. “It’s going to be a tough match. They’re a good team.”

  Both clubs are somewhat familiar with one another. Four years ago, they met in Week 2, and Fieldstone 1 came away with a 10-point victory. Wildwood’s visiting team scraped together only three points on the road.

  “We had a lot of strong players, but there were also a few weak spots. I don’t think we have any weak spots this year,” Cope said.