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Philadelphia Golf Legends: Cavaliers' Paul Erhardt, IIIThe latest installment of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Legends video series spotlights Paul Erhardt, III of Cavaliers CC. Known as “Bucky” among golf circles, Erhardt, a retired autoparts distributor, captured three Silver Cross Awards in a three-decade span (1968, 1978 and 1981). He qualified for match play in 11 Amateur Championships and made the Association’s Compher Cup and Mason-Dixon teams a sensational 15 straight seasons. Overall, Erhardt competed in 38 honorary team events. A Salem, N.J. native, Erhardt proved a constant threat to leaderboards throughout his playing career. He earned low amateur honors in two Open Championships (1971 and 1976). After qualifying as medalist in the 1970 Amateur Championship, Erhardt forged his way into the semifinals, where he fell to good friend and fellow legend R. Jay Sigel, 2&1. Erhardt finished a stroke shy of Major hardware in the 1977 Patterson Cup. A year later, Erhardt tied Charles Bolling, Jr. of Gulph Mills GC in regulation with a score 145 at Old York Road CC and Meadowlands CC; his hard luck, however, continued as Erhardt lost in an 18-hole playoff by a stroke. Erhardt went on to capture back-to-back Joseph H. Patterson Cups in 1981-82. Erhardt, of Newark, Del., also performed well on the national stage. He qualified for 10 USGA Championships, including the 1990 U.S. Senior Open at Ridgewood CC. Erhardt also won the 1977 Middle-Atlantic Golf Association Amateur Champion — besting Sigel in a playoff. Today, Erhardt, 71, plays golf recreationally and mentors his 12 year-old grandson. He was inducted into the Salem County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. Launched in 2010, the Legends video series features prominent local players recalling their experiences and accomplishments both on and off the golf course. This is the eighth installment in the series overall. O. Gordon Brewer, Jr. of Pine Valley GC, Herman J. Fry of Reading CC, Blaise Giroso of Fieldstone GC, John Guenther, Jr. of Heidelberg CC, John Markel of Berkshire CC, Lincoln Roden, III of Huntingdon Valley CC and Don Weiland of Phoenixville CC were also featured. |
A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition – the Team Matches – and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
