*Event Photos
*Scorecards
Bent Creek CC's Esbenshade tops Amateur Qualifier at Meadowlands
BLUE BELL, Pa. — Chris Esbenshade of Bent Creek CC carded a 1-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors in an Amateur Championship Qualifier at Meadowlands CC (par 71, 6,454 yards) Wednesday.
The Lititz, Pa. resident led a field of 139 players attempting to earn one of 45 qualifying positions and ties available for the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 111th Amateur Championship, which will be held June 14-16 & 18 at Manufacturers G&CC/North Hills CC (qualifying).
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| Chris Esbenshade |
“I made a couple of key putts and kept the momentum going,” Esbenshade, 35, said. “I had really good iron-control with some of my distances, which helped me with these firm greens.”
Esbenshade, who started on the back nine, generated said momentum by firing back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 (par 5, 487 yards) and 18 (par 4, 404 yards). He laid up in front of the water hazard on No. 17 and knocked a soft sand wedge 85 yards to six feet. On the following hole, Esbenshade drilled his 7-iron 145 yards to four feet. He also posted a red figure on No. 5 (par 4, 369 yards). Esbenshade launched his 7-iron 155 yards to the front fringe and canned an uphill 35-footer.
“I had a good read,” he said. “I had a good speed on it, and it held its line and went right into the cup. That felt good. If I didn’t make that, I’d probably have a four-footer coming back.”
Throughout the day, he executed crucial par saves and only encountered problems on a pair of par 3s — Nos. 3 (par 3, 150 yards) and 12 (par 3, 171 yards). Esbenshade, a member of the 2009 Compher Cup team, pushed his 7-iron right on No. 3 and couldn’t convert a 15-footer to save par. On the 12th hole, he came up short of the green with a firm 6-iron, “hacked out of a bad lie” and watched a 12-footer drift right of the jar.
But carding only two bogeys should be regarded as an impressive feat, considering Esbenshade was playing only his second competitive round in 11 months. He underwent hip surgery last June.
“It feels good to get a good round in like this,” he said. “It’s been tough. Things haven’t been going the way they’re supposed to. I still have swelling (in my hip). In fact, when I get home tonight, I’ll ice it.”
Esbenshade has competed in the Amateur Championship eight times, but only advanced into match play twice. He will continue down the road to recovery leading up to the Championship Proper.
“My big goal is to get in good shape to walk 36 holes in one day,” Esbenshade said. “I never played the course, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure I’ll be in pretty good shape, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Sean Fahey of Overbrook GC carded an even-par 71 to place second. Consistent ball-striking, coupled with a sound short game, defined the Villanova, Pa. resident’s play.
“I drove the ball really well,” Fahey, 15, said. “I made a lot of putts when I needed to.”
Fahey, a sophomore at Episcopal Academy, intends to increase his golf workload this year. He’s off to an excellent start.
Traversing Meadowlands with Bobby Svigals, the 2010 Christman Cup Champion, on the bag, Fahey registered four red figures on the day. He rifled his 9-iron to 25-feet on the downhill par 3, 150-yard 3rd hole. The ensuing slider tracked directly into the jar.
“It broke about a cup right,” Fahey said. “I hit it hard, but it went right in the middle.”
On the enticing No. 8 (par 4, 336 yards), Fahey again struck an aggressive 9-iron 145 yards to the back fringe. He unintentionally converted the downhill 35-footer.
“It was a pretty straight putt. I was just trying to lag it down there and get it close,” Fahey said.
Fahey also fired two birdies on his inward tour. With 80 yards to the No. 13 (par 4, 342 yards) flagstick, he stuck his 58-degree wedge to 10 feet and drained the right-to-left breaker. On the challenging par 5, 487-yard 17th hole, Fahey cleared the intersecting water hazard with a 6-iron from 170 yards out. However, his golf ball drifted left and landed in the rough. A delicate chip left Fahey with a painless tap-in.
Unfortunately for Fahey, four bogeys essentially washed out his red figures. On the straightaway No. 6 (par 3, 216 yards), his tee shot came up short of the green. Fahey then “chunked” his 58-degree wedge from 70 yards out and two-putted from 30 feet. Another par 3 — the 162-yard 16th hole — also gave Fahey fits. He ripped his 7-iron to 15-feet left of the flagstick, but struggled with the flatstick and three-putted.
Prior to Wednesday, the 2010 Francis X. Hussey Memorial and the GAP Team Matches marked the extent of his Association experience. But Fahey wants to add more events to his résumé, and the GAP Amateur Championship was first on his list.
“It’s one of the biggest tournaments in the Philadelphia area,” he said. “I want to do well. I want to try and get into match play and see what happens. I feel like my game’s ready for it. I’m playing well, working on a couple of things.”
The cut line fell to 79 at the end of the day.
Wednesday’s qualifier was the first of two Amateur Championship qualifiers used to determine who will play in the Championship Proper next month. The second qualifier will take place on Monday, May 23 at White Clay Creek CC.
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Qualifiers
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Chris Esbenshade, Bent Creek Country Club
|
70
|
|
Sean
Fahey, Overbrook Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Kyle Sterbinsky, Yardley Country Club
|
72
|
|
Brandon
Matthews, Fox Hill Country Club
|
72
|
|
Stephen
Hudacek III, Glenmaura
National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Connor McNicholas, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Sean
Coyle, Llanerch Country Club
|
74
|
|
Patrick
Ross, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Carr, Plymouth Country Club
|
74
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
75
|
|
Ryan
Gelrod, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
|
75
|
|
Jared Palubinski, Golden Oaks Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Shawn
Lavin, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
75
|
|
Cole
Berman, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
|
Ben Feld, Blue Bell Country Club
|
76
|
|
Joshua Isler, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
76
|
|
John
Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Ross
Brown, Huntsville Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Scott Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
|
Kevin Genuardi, Cedarbrook Country
Club
|
76
|
|
Lance Oberparleiter, Little Mill Country Club
|
76
|
|
Scott
McNeil, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
76
|
|
Tom Spano, Llanerch Country Club
|
77
|
|
Johan
van Schalkwyk, Burlington Country Club
|
77
|
|
Mike
Amole, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Dan
Bernard, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
77
|
|
Kevin
Cahill, Merion Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Evan Galbreath, Philmont Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Jeffrey
Griest, Waynesborough
Country Club
|
77
|
|
Sean
Sexton, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Mark
Quigley, Lu Lu Country Club
|
78
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Simone, Philmont Country Club
|
78
|
|
Matthew
Finger, Wedgwood Country Club
|
78
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
78
|
|
Aaron
Burton, Hartefeld National
|
78
|
|
Christopher
Fuga, Phoenixville Country Club
|
78
|
|
Russell
Hartung, Doylestown Country Club
|
78
|
|
Daniel
Feeney, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
Jason
Barkley, Huntsville Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Rose, Meadowlands Country Club
|
79
|
|
Santo Lafoca, Huntsville Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Greg
O'Connor, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Michael
Boden, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
79
|
| |
|
Failed
to qualify
|
|
Jordan Wycoff, Whitemarsh Valley
Country Club
|
80
|
|
Charles
Bernard, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
80
|
|
Jeff Klagholz, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
80
|
|
John Aloisio, Running Deer Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Kenneth
Matt, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
81
|
|
Dewey
Burke, Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Neil
Gordon, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Michael
O'Keefe, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Zachary
Rothaus, Philmont Country
Club
|
81
|
|
Richard
Marabella, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
John
Donnelly, Concord Country Club
|
81
|
|
Bob
Ball, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
81
|
|
Bobby Kershner, Spring Ford Country Club
|
81
|
|
Max Bichsel, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
81
|
|
John Nottage, Lu Lu Country Club
|
81
|
|
Philip
Potter, Radley Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Pat Pasquariello, Philadelphia Country Club
|
82
|
|
James
Bell, III, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club
|
82
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Robert
Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
John Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Jalen Griffin, Talamore
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Eric Chipin, Philmont Country Club
|
82
|
|
Luke
Liddell, Torresdale-Frankford Country Club
|
82
|
|
Sean
Ryan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Dan
Pickering, Indian Valley Country Club
|
83
|
|
Mike Hartsough, Edgmont Country Club
|
83
|
|
William
Breskman, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Mike Amtsberg, Brookside Country Club
|
83
|
|
Lynn Kilduff, Huntsville Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Stephen
Kidron, Old York Road Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jon Graulich, Meadowlands Country Club
|
83
|
|
Matt Krass, Radley Run Country Club
|
83
|
|
Max Matejik, Yardley Country Club
|
83
|
|
John
Perrine, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bill
Boyle, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Edward Woehlcke, Cedarbrook Country
Club
|
83
|
|
Jim Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Sean Torpey, Doylestown Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bradley
Bernosky, Stonewall
|
83
|
|
Connor Eichman, Llanerch Country Club
|
84
|
|
Jim
Simmons, Stonewall
|
84
|
|
Ari Flaisher, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
84
|
|
Ryan
O'Donnell, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Joseph
F.X. Morrissey, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
84
|
|
Scott
McLaughlin, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Stephen
McIntyre, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Nelson
Hargrove, Merion Golf Club
|
84
|
|
John
Gosselin, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
84
|
|
Jonathan
Shevlin, North Hills Country Club
|
85
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Downingtown Country Club
|
85
|
|
Kevin Bondi, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
85
|
|
Brad
McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Joe
Bernard, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
85
|
|
Jason
Kowalski, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Damon Zappariello, North Hills Country Club
|
86
|
|
Justin
Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
Gerald
Bowes, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
Christopher
Parmer, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Joseph Dulka Jr, Hartefeld National
|
86
|
|
Michael
Shenkman, The ACE Club
|
86
|
|
George
Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
87
|
|
J.T.
Taylor, Blue Bell Country Club
|
87
|
|
Jonathan
Burns, Talamore Country Club
|
87
|
|
Mark Howarth, Llanerch Country Club
|
87
|
|
Mike Salvitti, Cedarbrook Country
Club
|
87
|
|
Michael
Beran, RiverCrest Golf
Club & Preserve
|
87
|
|
Phil Rothermel, Golden Oaks Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Bo
Maguire, Brookside Country Club
|
88
|
|
James
Braunsberg, Blue Bell Country Club
|
88
|
|
Kevin Melnick, Plymouth Country Club
|
88
|
|
Eric
Spiller, Woodcrest Country Club
|
88
|
|
Christopher
Crawford, Lu Lu Country Club
|
88
|
|
Jason Staso, Spring Mill Country Club
|
88
|
|
Patrick
Welsh, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Michael
Flatley, Bellewood Golf
Club
|
88
|
|
Jack Bondi, Medford Village Country Club
|
89
|
|
Kevin Dougher, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
89
|
|
Matt
Brady, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Joseph
Greenwald, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
90
|
|
Mark
O'Neill, Sandy Run Country Club
|
90
|
|
Tim
Westfall, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
90
|
|
Dan
Kilpatrick, Running Deer Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Fred
Luck, Spring Ford Country Club
|
91
|
|
Duane Pinnock, RiverCrest Golf Club
& Preserve
|
91
|
|
Timothy
Anderson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
96
|
|
Gary
Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
96
|
|
Mark Kosko, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
NC
|
|
Zachary
Pogust, The ACE Club
|
NS
|
|
Christopher
Reedman, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
NS
|
|
Matt Dolinsky, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Austin
List, Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
NC-no
card; NS-no show; WD-withdrawal
|
|
