CONCORDVILLE, Pa. — LedgeRock Golf Club’s Chip Lutz is up to his old tricks again. Tricks as in birdies, eagles, subpar scores and tournament victories.
The two-time reigning Golf Association of Philadelphia Senior Player of the Year continues to validate and expand his stellar senior résumé. Lutz continued his superb play Thursday by carding a sensational 6-under-par 65 to win the 78th Francis B. Warner Cup (Gross) at Concord Country Club (par 71, 6,583 yards) by six strokes. Three years into his Senior Division tenure, Lutz now holds three Senior titles. He is the 2010 Chapman Memorial (Gross) Champion and reigning Brewer Cup Champion.
“I love winning GAP events. It’s one of the best associations that I know of and get to play in,” Lutz, 57, of Reading, Pa., said. “We have a great group of people and the tournaments are run so well. I enjoy it, and it’s a thrill to win in my own backyard.”
“The keys were trying to stay patient because you’re going to miss greens, and fortunately, I made nice recoveries,” Lutz, a member of the Association’s Executive Committee and one of LedgeRock’s founding members, said. “The putter was working well for me. I had a great degree of confidence with it. I felt pretty well balanced today. I mishit some shots, but the key was missing in the correct direction and with a reasonable distance. I was pleased with my overall game.”
From tee to green, Lutz was an exceptional case study. His performance on the par 4, 357-yard 10th hole is evidence. After striping his drive down the middle of the fairway, Lutz knocked a 56-degree wedge 70 yards to seven feet below the flagstick and deposited the straightaway putt for birdie. Following a critical two-putt for par on the uphill No. 11 (par 3, 185 yards), Lutz stepped off the subpar street and carded consecutive bogeys on Nos. 12 (par 4, 435 yards) and 13 (par 4, 420 yards).
“I drifted a little bit there,” he said. “I sort of lost my concentration.”
On No. 12, he missed the green left, chipped on to four feet and failed to execute the short putt. Lutz reached the 13th green with a 7-iron from 163 yards, but misjudged its make-up.
“I was on the green, but I didn’t pick up the fact that it was a downhill putt,” he said. “It ran by probably a good eight feet. I had a long putt coming back that I didn’t make.”
Lutz showed his championship resolve on the next hole (par 5, 543 yards). He hit an uphill 52-degree wedge 106 yards to three feet and tapped-in for birdie. A birdie-eagle finish formally solidified Lutz’s place in the winner’s circle. He stuffed a 60-degree wedge 70 yards to two feet on the uphill par 4, 332-yard 17th hole. Lutz’s drive on No. 18 (par 5, 521 yards) caught the left rough.
“At first, I had a 5-iron in my hand and was thinking I had a little bit of a jumper there with a flier lie,” Lutz said of the ensuing approach. “Then I saw [playing partner] Don (Donatoni) come up short on his shot, and I thought he hit it decently good. So I decided on the 4-iron, knowing it was the right club for the distance. Then I just settled in and hit it good.”
Good indeed. His golf ball traveled 190 yards and settled 20 feet right of the flagstick. Lutz answered the eagle call.
“I actually got a little aggressive with it,” Lutz said. “I was on a great line and it just went dead-center. It was a perfect putt, a great way to finish.”
Lutz’s success is widespread. He is the reigning R&A Seniors Open Amateur Champion and Canadian Men’s Senior Amateur Champion. He is a two-time Golfweek/Wilson Senior Player of the Year. How has Lutz maintained such a high level of play?
“That’s a great question. I really couldn’t tell you,” Lutz said. “It’s a small miracle in some regards. I don’t know what to attribute it to. I’ve stayed in good physical shape. I like to work on my game and do it when I can. I’ve been consistent and enjoying scoring well. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself.”
“If you play well, you have some personal expectations, but then you also have to think about the other guys who are thinking you’re going to play well. It’s an interesting balance to hold onto.”
Four players finished at even par to share runner-up honors. They included Tom DiCinti of Links Golf Club, William Lawler of Fox Hill Country Club, Rich Thon of The Springhaven Club and Michael Vassil of the Country Club of Scranton.
Francis B. Warner of Philadelphia Cricket Club served as secretary-treasurer for the Golf Association of Philadelphia for 18 years. After his death in 1933, the Association started the Francis B. Warner Cup, an 18-hole, stroke play Senior event, as an ongoing tribute in his memory.
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.
|
Overall
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Chip Lutz, LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
65
|
|
Michael Vassil,
Country Club of Scranton
|
71
|
|
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
71
|
|
Tom DiCinti,
Links Golf Club
|
71
|
|
William Lawler, Fox Hill
Country Club
|
71
|
|
Frank Rutan, IV, Philadelphia
Cricket Club
|
72
|
|
Mark Walker, Laurel Creek
Country Club
|
72
|
|
Steve Javie, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
James Muller, Manufacturers
Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
Michael Moser, Kennett Square
Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
Don Donatoni, White Manor
Country Club
|
73
|
|
Gary Daniels, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook
Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Thomas Bartolacci,
Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Christopher Clauson,
Sandy Run Country Club
|
74
|
|
Christopher Lange, Overbrook
Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Buck Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
74
|
|
Ed Chylinski,
Chester Valley Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Robert VanEtten,
Laurel Creek Country Club
|
74
|
|
Drew Panebianco,
Five Ponds Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill
Country Club
|
75
|
|
Neil McDermott, Llanerch Country Club
|
75
|
|
Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
76
|
|
Michael Domenick,
Phoenixville Country Club
|
76
|
|
Pete Widdoes,
Inniscrone Golf Club
|
76
|
|
David Brookreson,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Anthony Kondracki,
Fox Hill Country Club
|
77
|
|
Mark Leaman,
Honeybrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Michael Bohardt,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Steven Walczak,
Wilmington Country Club
|
77
|
|
Alan Van Horn, Sandy Run
Country Club
|
77
|
|
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
|
Robert Billings, Rolling Green
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
David Smith, Doylestown Country
Club
|
78
|
|
Joe Wintsch,
Bellewood Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John Ward, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
78
|
|
Kevin McGrain,
Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
|
Roc Irey,
Lookaway Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Keith Li, Heidelberg Country
Club
|
78
|
|
Michael Nilon,
Philadelphia Country Club
|
78
|
|
Arthur Kania, Jr., Merion Golf
Club
|
79
|
|
Jon Stein, McCall Golf &
Country Club
|
79
|
|
Rick Gaydos,
Sakima Country Club
|
79
|
|
Rocky Dare, Running Deer Golf
Club
|
79
|
|
Steven Lucas, Concord Country
Club
|
79
|
|
Bill Vostinak, Lehigh Country Club
|
79
|
|
Richard Krauss, Manufacturers
Golf & Country Club
|
79
|
|
Allen Padovano,
Yardley Country Club
|
80
|
|
Gordon Jamieson, Merion Golf
Club
|
80
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Alan Bernabei,
Doylestown Country Club
|
80
|
|
Dave Jacobson, JC Melrose
Country Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph Cala,
LedgeRock Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph Reaney,
Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Richard Speranza, Jericho
National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Gary Daniels, Aronimink Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Joe Olin, Little Mill Country
Club
|
81
|
|
Matt Froncek,
Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Richard Custer, Brookside
Country Club
|
81
|
|
Bernard Zbrzeznj,
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
James Prendergast,
Gilbertsville Golf Club
|
81
|
|
John Hollingsworth, Sr.,
Concord Country Club
|
81
|
|
Theodore Beringer,
Philadelphia Country Club
|
81
|
|
James Lewis, Little Mill
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Culley,
The Springhaven Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Viechnicki,
Saucon Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Joseph Major, Brookside Country
Club
|
82
|
|
Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Michael Harms, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
William Stanley, Old York CC at
Chesterfield
|
82
|
|
Ralph Bincarowsky,
Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
82
|
|
Walter Wolfe, Stone Harbor Golf
Club
|
83
|
|
Craig Scott, Huntingdon Valley
Country Club
|
83
|
|
Kevin Scanlon, Stonewall
|
83
|
|
Thomas Mallouk,
Lookaway Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Thomas Mohr, Whitford Country Club
|
83
|
|
Mark Quigley, Lu Lu Country Club
|
84
|
|
Mike Owsik,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Paul Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Roy Gagne, Yardley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Francis McFadden, Overbrook
Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Joseph Marucci,
Saucon Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Michael Berger, Kennett Square
Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
Michael Ryan, Coatesville
Country Club
|
85
|
|
Peter Mimmo,
North Hills Country Club
|
85
|
|
Donald MacKelcan,
Wilmington Country Club
|
85
|
|
Wally Swiger,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
85
|
|
Antonio Leta,
Doylestown Country Club
|
86
|
|
Mike Miklinevich,
Greate Bay Country Club
|
86
|
|
Bob Majczan,
Lookaway Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia
Country Club
|
86
|
|
Lawrence Paster,
Philmont Country Club
|
86
|
|
Thomas Mairone,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
86
|
|
Rick Bunn, McCall Golf &
Country Club
|
87
|
|
Sean Duffy, Moselem
Springs Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Dennis Tadeo,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
89
|
|
Albert Hazzouri,
Jr., Country Club of Scranton
|
90
|
|
Terrence Sawyer, Mercer Oaks
Golf Course
|
90
|
|
George Collins, Sand Barrens
Golf Club
|
92
|
|
David Martin, Five Ponds Golf
Club
|
95
|
|
Eugene Maginnis, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
DQ
|
|
Bennett Meyer, Philmont Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Charles Dowds,
III, Applebrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
John Dickinson, Sr., Hartefeld National
|
WD
|
|
Richard Umani, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
William Erskine, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
John Emmel,
Jr., Back Creek Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert Ockenfuss,
Indian Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
Ages 55 to 59
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Chip Lutz, LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
65
|
|
Michael Vassil,
Country Club of Scranton
|
71
|
|
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
71
|
|
Frank Rutan, IV, Philadelphia
Cricket Club
|
72
|
|
Mark Walker, Laurel Creek
Country Club
|
72
|
|
Steve Javie, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
James Muller, Manufacturers
Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
Michael Moser, Kennett Square
Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
Christopher Clauson,
Sandy Run Country Club
|
74
|
|
Christopher Lange, Overbrook
Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Drew Panebianco,
Five Ponds Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill
Country Club
|
75
|
|
Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
76
|
|
Michael Domenick,
Phoenixville Country Club
|
76
|
|
Pete Widdoes,
Inniscrone Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Anthony Kondracki,
Fox Hill Country Club
|
77
|
|
Mark Leaman,
Honeybrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Michael Bohardt,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Steven Walczak,
Wilmington Country Club
|
77
|
|
David Smith, Doylestown Country
Club
|
78
|
|
Joe Wintsch,
Bellewood Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John Ward, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
78
|
|
Kevin McGrain,
Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
|
Roc Irey,
Lookaway Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Arthur Kania, Jr., Merion Golf
Club
|
79
|
|
Jon Stein, McCall Golf &
Country Club
|
79
|
|
Rick Gaydos,
Sakima Country Club
|
79
|
|
Rocky Dare, Running Deer Golf
Club
|
79
|
|
Steven Lucas, Concord Country
Club
|
79
|
|
Allen Padovano,
Yardley Country Club
|
80
|
|
Gordon Jamieson, Merion Golf
Club
|
80
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci,
Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Gary Daniels, Aronimink Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Joe Olin, Little Mill Country
Club
|
81
|
|
Matt Froncek,
Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Richard Custer, Brookside
Country Club
|
81
|
|
James Lewis, Little Mill
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Culley,
The Springhaven Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Viechnicki,
Saucon Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Joseph Major, Brookside Country
Club
|
82
|
|
Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Michael Harms, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
William Stanley, Old York CC at
Chesterfield
|
82
|
|
Walter Wolfe, Stone Harbor Golf
Club
|
83
|
|
Mark Quigley, Lu Lu Country Club
|
84
|
|
Mike Owsik,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Paul Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Roy Gagne, Yardley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Michael Berger, Kennett Square
Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
Michael Ryan, Coatesville
Country Club
|
85
|
|
Peter Mimmo,
North Hills Country Club
|
85
|
|
Antonio Leta,
Doylestown Country Club
|
86
|
|
Mike Miklinevich,
Greate Bay Country Club
|
86
|
|
Dennis Tadeo,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
89
|
|
Albert Hazzouri,
Jr., Country Club of Scranton
|
90
|
|
Bennett Meyer, Philmont Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Charles Dowds,
III, Applebrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
John Dickinson, Sr., Hartefeld National
|
WD
|
|
Richard Umani, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
William Erskine, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
| |
|
Ages 60 and over
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Tom DiCinti,
Links Golf Club
|
71
|
|
William Lawler, Fox Hill
Country Club
|
71
|
|
Don Donatoni, White Manor
Country Club
|
73
|
|
Gary Daniels, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf
Club
|
73
|
|
Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Thomas Bartolacci,
Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club
|
73
|
|
Buck Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
74
|
|
Ed Chylinski,
Chester Valley Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Robert VanEtten,
Laurel Creek Country Club
|
74
|
|
Neil McDermott, Llanerch Country Club
|
75
|
|
David Brookreson,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Alan Van Horn, Sandy Run
Country Club
|
77
|
|
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
|
Robert Billings, Rolling Green
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Keith Li, Heidelberg Country
Club
|
78
|
|
Michael Nilon,
Philadelphia Country Club
|
78
|
|
Bill Vostinak, Lehigh Country
Club
|
79
|
|
Richard Krauss, Manufacturers
Golf & Country Club
|
79
|
|
Alan Bernabei,
Doylestown Country Club
|
80
|
|
Dave Jacobson, JC Melrose
Country Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph Cala,
LedgeRock Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph Reaney,
Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Richard Speranza, Jericho
National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Bernard Zbrzeznj,
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
James Prendergast,
Gilbertsville Golf Club
|
81
|
|
John Hollingsworth, Sr.,
Concord Country Club
|
81
|
|
Theodore Beringer,
Philadelphia Country Club
|
81
|
|
Ralph Bincarowsky,
Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
82
|
|
Craig Scott, Huntingdon Valley Country
Club
|
83
|
|
Kevin Scanlon, Stonewall
|
83
|
|
Thomas Mallouk,
Lookaway Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Thomas Mohr, Whitford Country Club
|
83
|
|
Francis McFadden, Overbrook
Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Joseph Marucci,
Saucon Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Donald MacKelcan,
Wilmington Country Club
|
85
|
|
Wally Swiger,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
85
|
|
Bob Majczan,
Lookaway Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia
Country Club
|
86
|
|
Lawrence Paster,
Philmont Country Club
|
86
|
|
Thomas Mairone,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
86
|
|
Rick Bunn, McCall Golf &
Country Club
|
87
|
|
Sean Duffy, Moselem
Springs Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Terrence Sawyer, Mercer Oaks
Golf Course
|
90
|
|
George Collins, Sand Barrens
Golf Club
|
92
|
|
David Martin, Five Ponds Golf
Club
|
95
|
|
Eugene Maginnis, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
DQ
|
|
John Emmel,
Jr., Back Creek Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert Ockenfuss,
Indian Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
DQ-disqualification;
WD-withdrawal
|
