*Event Photos
*Scorecards
Third time’s a charm: Spring Mill CC's Bea bests Patterson Qualifier
IVYLAND, Pa. — Experience and history favored James Bea Thursday. In the last two years, the Spring Mill CC member has earned medalist honors in consecutive Joseph H. Patterson Cup Qualifiers at The Springhaven Club and Trenton CC, respectively. This time around, the event came to his home course, and as any sage may’ve foreseen, Bea again emerged as medalist.
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| James Bea |
“Good rounds don’t matter until you put them up at the tournament you qualified for,” the Churchville, Pa. resident said. “I’m lucky enough to get in the tournament. That was the number one goal of the day, but I’m sure ready to turn that corner and make a mark in a tournament. I hung in there today. It’s nice to hold my ground, play a good round of golf and finish in red figures.”
Bea carded a 2-under-par 70 at a sweltering Spring Mill CC (par 72, 6,906 yards) to lead a field of 140 players attempting to attain one of 36 available spots into the Championship proper, set for Aug. 11-12 at White Manor CC.
“I’m excited to put up a good number, but I need to re-adjust the goals and set myself up for playing better golf in the tournaments that I qualify for,” Bea, 21, said. “These numbers wash away as soon as you step onto the first tee at the Patterson Cup.”
What hasn’t washed away is Bea’s penchant for the medalist platform. Starting on the back nine Thursday, he didn’t begin his qualifying bid in an optimal manner. He pulled a pitching wedge out of the fairway bunker to the left of the No. 10 (par 4, 395 yards) green. Bea’s chip chugged to five feet, but he couldn’t convert the par putt. He parred the next six holes, with a couple of scrambles sprinkled in. His second shot on the par 5, 573-yard 11th ran through the fairway and trickled onto the cart path. Bea took relief, knocked his third shot 50 yards short of the green and saved par with a wedge blast to four feet. Bea, a soon-to-be senior at Saint Joseph’s University, flew a 9-iron 145 yards to the back of the No. 13 (par 5, 535 yards) green. His chip stopped 12 feet from the jar, and he canned the par try.
Bea, a looper at Lookaway GC, found his first red figure on No. 17 (par 4, 445 yards). He powered a pitching wedge 150 yards to 10 feet. Bea gave that stroke back on the par 4, 396-yard No. 1. He tugged his drive into a row of trees on the right and dumped a pitching wedge a 54-degree wedge 120 yards into the bunker. Bea exploded out to 10 feet and missed the par try. The sequence could’ve been worse, though.
“Luckily, I had a backswing. I got a good enough club on it to put it in the greenside bunker,” Bea said of the approach. “I was pleased to see it didn’t clip any trees, and I got on the green where I gave myself a chance to make a par.”
The five-time Spring Mill club champion knew that red figure opportunities lingered on the front. As the heat intensified, so did Bea's putter. He birdied three of his final four holes to fashion a subpar score. On No. 6 (par 4, 395 yards), he flipped a wedge 50 yards to three feet below the flagstick. A sensible tee shot on No. 7 (par 4, 400 yards) led to a birdie.
“It had been giving me problems from the back tees,” Bea said of No. 7. “I’d always step up and rip a driver there, and I’ve been pulling it left. I hit 3-iron and it came up short of the lake on the left.” He drilled a 9-iron 165 yards to five feet.
Standing 180 yards from the No. 8 (par 5, 460 yards) flagstick, Bea pulverized a 7-iron to eight feet and watched his eagle effort stop inches from the jar. He salvaged a solid score by getting up-and-down for par on No. 9 (par 4, 446 yards) from the left rough. Bea has proven to be unstoppable in qualifiers, but still seeks success in the Championship proper.
“I’m familiar with White Manor. I’m looking forward to putting up a couple of good rounds,” he said.
Danny Costello, also of the host club, and Alexander Hicks of Wildwood G&CC both registered even-par 72s to finish second. At the end of the day, the cut line fell to 78.
Thursday’s qualifier was the first of two events used to determine who will play in the Championship proper. The next will be held Thursday, July 28 at Coatesville CC.
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Qualifiers
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Name, club
|
Score
|
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James Bea, Spring Mill Country Club
|
70
|
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Danny Costello, Spring Mill Country Club
|
72
|
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Alexander Hicks, Wildwood Golf & Country
Club
|
72
|
|
Ryan Worthy, Merion Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Tom DiCinti, Links Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Daniel Pinciotti, Jr., Huntingdon Valley
Country Club
|
74
|
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Peter Eiler, Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
75
|
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Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
75
|
|
James Braunsberg, Blue Bell Country Club
|
75
|
|
Oliver White, Manufacturers Golf &
Country Club
|
75
|
|
Shawn Lavin, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
75
|
|
Andrew Lawson, Hersheys Mill Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Andrew Strock, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
76
|
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Joseph Gunerman, Jericho National Golf Club
|
76
|
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Matthew Teesdale, Commonwealth National
Golf Club
|
76
|
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Aaron Burton, Hartefeld National
|
76
|
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Scott McLaughlin, Commonwealth National
Golf Club
|
76
|
|
G. Patrick Dougherty, Philadelphia Cricket
Club
|
76
|
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Mike Hartsough, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
|
Jimmy Wolfe, Bellewood Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Johan van Schalkwyk, Burlington Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Mark Hodgson, Medford Village Country Club
|
77
|
|
Louis Giovi, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
77
|
|
Robert Acciardo, Whitford Country Club
|
77
|
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William Rolli, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
77
|
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Mark Coassolo, Brookside C.C. of Allentown
|
77
|
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Sean Torpey, Doylestown Country Club
|
77
|
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Steve Ransom, Jr., Wildwood Golf &
Country Club
|
77
|
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James Ridgway, Wildwood Golf & Country
Club
|
77
|
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Patrick Phillips, Spring Ford Country Club
|
77
|
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Lance Oberparleiter, Little Mill Country
Club
|
77
|
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Max Matejik, Yardley Country Club
|
77
|
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Joe Viechnicki, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
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Connor Eichman, Llanerch Country Club
|
78
|
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Bob Majczan, Lookaway Golf Club
|
78
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Mike Amole, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
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Samuel Hockfield, White Manor Country Club
|
78
|
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Erik Settelen, Bensalem Township Country
Club
|
78
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Brad Sokol, Green Valley Country Club
|
78
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Kevin Genuardi, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
78
|
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Lance Hornung, Wedgwood Country Club
|
78
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Failed to qualify
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Scott Kalan, White Manor Country Club
|
79
|
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Frank Nattle, The ACE Club
|
79
|
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Eric Spiller, Woodcrest Country Club
|
79
|
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Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
79
|
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Joseph Fabrizio, Jr., Aronimink Golf Club
|
79
|
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Evan Galbreath, Philmont Country Club
|
79
|
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Bobby Arthur, Jr., Tavistock Country Club
|
79
|
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Kevin Bondi, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
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Kevin McDermott, Llanerch Country Club
|
79
|
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Pat Pasquariello, Philadelphia Country Club
|
80
|
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Blayze DiPasquale, Commonwealth National
Golf Club
|
80
|
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Tom Piersanti, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
80
|
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Andrew Dietz, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
80
|
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Brian Degnan, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
80
|
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Bradley Roberts, Wedgwood Country Club
|
80
|
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John Donnelly, Concord Country Club
|
80
|
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Nelson Hargrove, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
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Stephen McIntyre, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
80
|
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J. Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
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Eric Slawter, St. Davids Golf Club
|
80
|
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Ari Flaisher, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
81
|
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Todd Gunerman, Jericho National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
R. Morgan Dougherty, Huntingdon Valley
Country Club
|
81
|
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Rick Wright, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
81
|
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Thomas Fisher, North Hills Country Club
|
81
|
|
C.J. Van Ostenbridge, Spring Ford Country
Club
|
81
|
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Joseph Costanzo, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
81
|
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Michael O'Keefe, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
81
|
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Chris Hynoski, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
81
|
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Edward McCrossen, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley
Country Club
|
81
|
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Regan Papariello, White Manor Country Club
|
81
|
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Jeff LeFevre, Linwood Country Club
|
81
|
|
Drew Panebianco, Talamore Country Club
|
81
|
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Logan Cloak, Spring Mill Country Club
|
81
|
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Jeffrey Stokes, Lu Lu Country Club
|
82
|
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Mark Endres, Overbrook Golf Club
|
82
|
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Jonathan Burns, Talamore Country Club
|
82
|
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Joseph Budash, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
83
|
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Dave DiValentino, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
83
|
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George Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country
Club
|
83
|
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Denis Dotson, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
83
|
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John Fasy, Wilmington Country Club
|
83
|
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Michael Hodges, The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
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Alec Kissell, Huntingdon Valley Country
Club
|
83
|
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Zach Arsenault, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
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Jason Barkley, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Matt Krass, Radley Run Country Club
|
83
|
|
Adam Gelwarg, Green Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Patrick O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
84
|
|
James Bell, III, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
84
|
|
L.J. Georgetti, Wildwood Golf & Country
Club
|
84
|
|
John Inman, Cherry Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Andrew Bauer, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
Justin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country
Club
|
85
|
|
George Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Kyle Williams, Glen Oak Country Club
|
85
|
|
Beau Guarino, Burlington Country Club
|
85
|
|
Russell Hartung, Doylestown Country Club
|
85
|
|
Ryan Ade, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
85
|
|
Mike Dunn, Little Mill Country Club
|
85
|
|
Dave Locher, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
Brett Cybulski, Merchantville Country Club
|
86
|
|
Justin Cifra, Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Richard Marabella, Whitemarsh Valley
Country Club
|
86
|
|
Thomas Corr, RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
86
|
|
Michael Walsh, III, Aronimink Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Tom Moran, Overbrook Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Kevin Bair, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Michael Lamond, White Manor Country Club
|
86
|
|
Nathan Herring, Limekiln Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Danny Myers, French Creek Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Dan Farragut, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
87
|
|
Kevin Melnick, Jr., Plymouth Country Club
|
87
|
|
James Lewis, Little Mill Country Club
|
87
|
|
Jack Anderson, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
87
|
|
Jason Staso, Spring Mill Country Club
|
88
|
|
Christopher Rotelli, Huntingdon Valley
Country Club
|
88
|
|
Griffin Drury, Bellewood Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Stephen Rodgers, Doylestown Country Club
|
89
|
|
Lynn Kilduff, Huntsville Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Greg Blackburn, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Pete D'Angelo, Burlington Country Club
|
90
|
|
Ryan Kidd, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
91
|
|
Sean Braddish, Medford Lakes Country Club
|
92
|
|
Joseph Greenwald, RiverCrest Golf Club
& Preserve
|
92
|
|
Jeffrey Hilton, Northampton Valley Country
Club
|
92
|
|
Dino Dicamillo, Indian Valley Country Club
|
93
|
|
Philip Formica, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
93
|
|
Tim Smith, Bensalem Township Country Club
|
94
|
|
Mike Krantz, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
94
|
|
Mac Walsh, Aronimink Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Ryan Aceto, Waynesborough Country Club
|
98
|
|
John Mastronardo, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
102
|
|
Adam Mastone, Talamore Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Joseph Major, Brookside Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Duane Pinnock, RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
WD
|
|
Tommy Horgan, Plymouth Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Andrew Lombard, The Springhaven Club
|
WD
|
|
Patrick Welsh, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
WD
|
|
Richard Bass, Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
DQ
|
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|
DQ-disqualification; WD-withdrawal
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