Joseph Russo was one of four players who qualified.

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White Manor’s Donatoni tops USGA Senior Amateur Qualifier

  HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. — Philmont Country Club always gets the best of Don Donatoni. The Malvern, Pa. resident can never get the upper hand when he traverses its challenging elevations and undulating greens. He finally turned the tables Tuesday.

  Donatoni carded a 2-over-par 72 to earn medalist honors in a USGA Senior Amateur Championship Qualifier administered by the Golf Association of Philadelphia at Philmont’s North Course (par 70, 6,459 yards).

   “I’ve never been able to score well here,” Donatoni, 64, said. “The greens are tough; they always are. You have to keep the ball below the hole on just about every hole, and I did that today.”

  In doing so, Donatoni adhered to a strategy stressed by Michael Rose, a former Philmont member and good friend.

   “He’s a great assist to me because he’ll always remind me to keep the ball below the hole,” Donatoni said. “I was able to think through shots a little bit better. I two-putted a lot, and the greens that I missed, I was able to get up-and-down.”

  A putter change boosted Donatoni’s play as well.

   “I’ve become more vertical with the shaft,” he said. “I started to putt a little more like Steve Stricker with the heel up in the air a little bit, just above the ground. It allows me to release the putter better, and I’m able to go back and through with more confidence. I think that made a difference today. I made a number of four, five and six footers to save par.”

  Donatoni hit 12 fairways and just as many greens in regulation, managing to mold his misses into pars. Philmont’s par 3s prevented a potential red figure finish; Donatoni bogeyed three of them during his qualifying bid. On the 157-yard No. 3, Donatoni hit a 6-iron to the front fringe. He left an uphill birdie attempt 10 feet short and missed the ensuing par putt. Donatoni also bogeyed No. 4 (par 4, 409 yards) thanks to a wayward drive to move to 2 over. He caught the front left bunker on No. 8 (par 3, 132 yards) with a wedge. He splashed out of a difficult lie and missed a six-footer for par. The last par 3 haymaker occurred on No. 11 (213 yards). Donatoni blocked a 2-hybrid right, chipped onto the putting surface and missed a 10-footer to save par.   Two birdies allowed Donatoni to post a contentious number on a day when the field scoring average boomed to 81.8. He conquered the dogleg right par 5, 574-yard No. 9, knocking an 8-iron 140 yards to six feet.

   “I knew I had something going. I had some momentum,” Donatoni said. He also fired a birdie on No. 15 (par 4, 390 yards), smacking a wedge 95 yards to five feet left of the flagstick.

  Clinging onto a 2 over score with three holes remaining, Donatoni felt he needed one more birdie to feel safe. He almost found it on the par 4, 343-yard 18th hole. With his golf ball sitting in a bird’s nest, Donatoni sent a 58-degree wedge 80 yards into a strip of rough — some five feet shy of the green. He nestled a chip on and watched his ball dart toward the jar.

   “I landed it exactly where I wanted it,” Donatoni said. “It looked like it was going in and it just stopped on the edge. All I needed was one more half-revolution. I was pretty proud of the way I finished.”

  After four attempts, Donatoni will make his first appearance in the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, set for Sept. 29-Oct. 4 at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J.

   “It’s always been on my bucket list,” he said. “I’m thrilled. I was born and raised in North Jersey, so it’ll give me a chance to go and see my mom. I have a place to stay. My mom’s 89, so she can’t caddie for me.”

  Also qualifying Tuesday were Don Russell of Tequesta, Fla. and Joseph Russo of Sewell, N.J. Greg Osborne of Lititz, Pa. survived a six-for-one playoff to grab the final qualifying spot.

  Russo, who celebrates his 55th birthday tomorrow, stood at 5 over thru nine holes.

   “I was kind of frustrated because I hit almost every fairway,” he said. “I said to myself if I could make a couple birdies, I’d have a chance.”

  Russo did make birdies — four straight, to be exact, to move to 1 over with four holes to play. A double bogey on No. 16 (par 4, 451 yards) and 17 (par 3, 188 yards) left Russo wondering if he’d get through to the Championship proper at 4 over.

   “I’m very fortunate the golf course played as tough as it did,” he said jokingly.

  Over the weekend, Russo captured the Gloucester County Amateur Championship at Riverwinds Golf & Tennis Club.

   “I guess I should buy a lottery ticket,” he said jokingly.

  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.