 |
| William Jeremiah of Bidermann Golf Club. |
*Scorecards
Three players head Open Qualifier at Whitford Country Club
EXTON, Pa.–A trio of amateurs with diverse Pine Valley Golf Club experiences shared medalist honors in a 108th Open Championship Qualifier on Wednesday at Whitford Country Club under bright blue skies and windswept conditions.
William Jeremiah of Bidermann Golf Club; Brian Gillespie of St. Davids Golf Club and home-club talent David West, all carded even-par 72s (par 72, 6,688 yards) to earn three of the 11 available qualifying positions in the 156-player field. The Open is set for July 23 at revered PVGC. A field of 72 players, amateur and professionals, will compete.
Jeremiah, 43, of West Grove, Pa., is a former Pine Valley assistant professional who’s carded a 67 at the South Jersey sanctuary. He regained his Amateur status in 2002 and competes in the Crump Cup, PVGC’s prestigious invitational, yearly. Gillespie, 37, of Wayne, Pa., too, is a Crump Cup regular who visits golf’s Holy Grail annually. On the other hand, West, 52, Downingtown, Pa., has teed it up at Pine Valley just once, a decade ago.
“I played Pine Valley once in my life. To go back and play it in tournament conditions that’s terrific,” said an elated West.
Added Jeremiah, “To play Pine Valley under tournament conditions it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Jeremiah and West completed their rounds in the morning.
“It’s certainly a lot of fun to test your skills on the greatest course on the planet against the top players, amateur or professional, in the area,” said Gillespie.
The wind blew steady most of the day, making conditions tough and the already challenging greens harder and faster.
Jeremiah was first to post a score. He made the turn at 2-over par after a couple of tough breaks – an unfilled fairway divot and an unraked bunker issue resulted in bogeys – but rallied with four birdies in his last six holes to finish even.
“I was hitting it well on the front,” said Jeremiah, who has never competed in an Open. “I had a few bad breaks.”
Jeremiah knocked a 7-iron on No. 13 (par 3, 150 yards) to six feet for birdie; lofted a 110-yard gap wedge on No. 14 (par 4, 363 yards) to five feet for a three; made a smooth up-and-down on the par 5, 16th (561 yards) for four and on No. 18 (par 4, 393 yards) chipped a 9-iron from 106 yards out under a tree branch to eight feet for birdie.
“Even par has made it at [the other two Open qualifiers], so I thought that was the number,” said Jeremiah.
West, a member at Whitford the last 12 years, recorded a very methodical round. Eight pars and one bogey on the front had West make the turn at 1 over. On the back, West had two birdies and a bogey. He pulled even on No. 11 (par 4, 340 yards) with a lob wedge from 82 yards that stopped 10 feet from the hole. On No. 12 (par 5, 500 yards), West made bogey when his greenside bunker splash stopped 40-feet above the hole but responded nicely to that hiccup on No. 14 (par 4, 363 yards) with another lob wedge shot from 75 yards to 15 feet for a circle three.
West, a seven-time Whitford club champion, will be competing in his third Open Championship.
“I had my entry in the day [the qualifier] opened,” said West. “I wasn’t going to miss it.”
Gillespie, too, used a back-nine surge to punch his ticket.
One-over at the turn, Gillespie netted three-straight birdies on holes Nos. 11-13 to push into red figures. He knocked a 3-iron, 133-yard wedge to two feet on No. 11; chipped out of the trees on No. 12 for his second shot and laced a 7-iron from 165 yards to 15 feet; and drained an unexpected 40 footer on No. 13, from below and right of the hole. Gillespie bogeyed two of his remaining five holes, taking a conservative route to the house.
“I figured I had a little cushion after that so I maybe played a little too conservative,” said Gillespie, who finished as the second low amateur the last time Pine Valley hosted the Open in 2002.
This is the third of four Open Championship Qualifiers. The final one is set for Bellewood Golf Club on July 2.
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 145 Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
|
Qualifiers
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
(a)
David West, Whitford Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
William Jeremiah, Bidermann Golf Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Brian Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Alexander Hicks, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Eric Williams, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Scott McNeil, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
73
|
|
(a)
Greg Wolfe, Cavaliers Country Club
|
73
|
|
John
Allen, GolfTec-Mainline
|
74
|
|
(a)
Mark Wachter, DuPont Country Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Ladden, Whitford Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
| |
|
Alternates
(in order)
|
|
*(a)
Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club
|
75
|
|
*(a)
Vince Boyle, Torresdale-Frankford Country Club
|
75
|
| |
|
Failed
to qualify
|
|
*(a)
William Naylor, Applebrook Golf Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Stephen Seiden, Llanerch Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
John Moheyer, Back Creek Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Rob Rowe, Bent Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Anthony Apostolico, Back Creek Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Patrick Phillips, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
76
|
|
(a)
Michael Carr, Plymouth Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Stephen McIntyre, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Sean Semenetz, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
77
|
|
Frank
Palumbo, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Stephen Hudacek, III, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Jeff Osberg, Llanerch Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Mike Amole, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Cameron Liebert, White Manor Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Chas Hudacek, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
James Clearkin, IV, Old York Road Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Thomas Greenwood, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
|
Steve
Cutler, Radley Run Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Chris Esbenshade, Bent Creek Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Tom Borsello, Hartefeld National
|
78
|
|
(a)
Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Oliver White, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Andrew Strock, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Kenneth Croney, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Jon Brestle, Seaview Resort & Spa
|
79
|
|
(a)
Joe Viechnicki, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Ryan Ade, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Kyle Davis, Bidermann Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Benjamin Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Steve V. Scarpetta, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Eric
Schultz, Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Lucas Serbun, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Matthew Burkhart, Meadia Heights Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Jim Allen, Edgmont Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Matt
Foust, Bensalem Township Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Joshua Isler, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Garrett
Korte, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Tom Carter, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Robert Dziak, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
81
|
|
(a)
James Donnelly, Merion Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Steve Oh, Llanerch Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Michael Korcuba, Running Deer Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
John Mullins, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
James Bea, Spring Mill Country Club
|
81
|
|
Daniel
Donohue, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Christopher Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
 William
Hoerr, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Tim Barbacane, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Stephen Dressel, St. Davids Golf Club
|
82
|
|
 Neil
Maurer, Bayside Resort
|
82
|
|
(a)
Roc Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Michael Santerian, Wedgwood Country Club
|
82
|
|
Andy
Watters, Inniscrone Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Thomas
Carpus, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Joseph Fabrizio, Jr., Aronimink Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Alan Lazzarino, DuPont Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Ellis Chandler, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Tucker Koch, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
83
|
|
(a)
James O'Connor, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Ben
Debski, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Jose Rovelli, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Billy McCrossan, White Manor Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Tim Freeh, Back Creek Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Mike Owsik, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
(a)
Ryan Riviezzo, Applecross Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Andrew Battaglini, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Tim Godshalk, Whitford Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Matt Dietrich, Whitford Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Patrick O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Daniel Mahoney, Yardley Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Mike Hartsough, Edgmont Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Francis Worthington, Jr., Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Pete Zollers, Spring Ford Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Jack Clough, Wilmington Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
John Fasy, Wilmington Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Andrew Kennedy, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Michael Hodges, The Springhaven Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Ron Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Eugene Maginnis, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
85
|
|
Stephen
Frederick, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
85
|
|
(a)
Ryan Fogel, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Aaron Burton, Applecross Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Danny Myers, French Creek Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Bill Turner, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
86
|
|
(a)
Andrew LaRosa, Whitford Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Taylor Stansberry, Jericho National Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Ted Brennan, Philadelphia Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Brandon Hartranft, Bent Creek Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Michael Boden, Aronimink Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Matt Gehrt, Hartefeld National
|
86
|
|
(a)
William Breskman, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Eric
Figueroa, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
86
|
|
Jason
Przystup, Four Seasons Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Dean
Kandle, St. Davids Golf Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Chris Corr, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Brian Dobisch, Talamore Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Bill Lippman, The Bucks Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Joseph Major, Brookside Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Andrew Sterge, Stonewall
|
87
|
|
(a)
Brian Myers, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Tom Quinn, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
Bobby Moratti, Yardley Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
Gerald Bowes, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
Jonathan Heydt, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
88
|
|
(a)
Mike Cavanaugh, Jericho National Golf Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Matthew Bastian, Jr., Rolling Green Golf Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Alex Kane, Radley Run Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Lawrence Kelly, Whitford Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Owen Brown, Coatesville Country Club
|
90
|
|
(a)
Evan Markowitz, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
90
|
|
(a)
Jason Jolliffe, Cherry Valley Country Club
|
90
|
|
(a)
Damon Zappariello, North Hills Country Club
|
91
|
|
(a)
Nicholas Angiulo, Deerwood Country Club
|
91
|
|
(a)
Joe Rushton, The ACE Club
|
91
|
|
(a)
Liam Fahey, Overbrook Golf Club
|
92
|
|
(a)
Kyle Donovan, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
93
|
|
(a)
John Inman, Cherry Valley Country Club
|
93
|
|
(a)
Rob Beaver, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
94
|
|
Billy
Hallman, Olde Homestead Golf Club
|
94
|
|
(a)
Kevin Dougher, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
95
|
|
(a)
Jon Harrison, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
95
|
|
(a)
Alex Blickle, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
NS
|
|
(a)
Michael Rogers, Llanerch Country Club
|
NS
|
|
(a)
James Kelly, Wildwood Golf & Country Club
|
NC
|
|
(a)
Andrew Winn, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Gary Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Peter Barron, III, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
John Grove, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Eric
Kennedy, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Thomas Gramigna, Tavistock Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Jeff
Orleski, Yardley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Sean Coyle, Llanerch Country Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
NC-no
card; NS-no show; WD-withdrawal
|
|
*-determined
in playoff
|
|
(a)-denotes
amateur
|
|
