The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Brandon Matthews on No. 11 tee at Overbrook Golf Club

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Glenmaura’s Matthews keeps rolling, tops U.S. Amateur Qualifier

VILLANOVA, Pa. —A marvelous week grew in grandeur for Brandon Matthews Monday. Five days after capturing the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 109th Open Championship, he qualified for his first U.S. Amateur Championship. The Dupont, Pa. resident carded a 4-under-par 136 to earn medalist honors in a qualifier at Overbrook Golf Club (par 70, 6,568 yards) and Radnor Valley Country Club (par 70, 6,544 yards).

“It feels great. All I wanted to do was make it today,” Matthews, 18, said. “I wanted to not only get there, but I want to make it to match play. I’m going to make my own destiny from there. When I got to the last two holes at Radnor Valley [site of Matthews’ final round], I said, ‘I can make an 8 here and still be OK. That’s a comfortable feeling.”

Joining Matthews as qualifiers for the Championship proper are fellow collegians Christopher Crawford of Spring Mill Country Club, Brandon Dalinka of The Ridge at Back Brook and Overbrook’s own Sean Fahey, who heads to Dartmouth College in the fall. Crawford is an incoming sophomore at Drexel Univeristy, Dalinka a junior at the University of North Carolina. Llanerch Country Club’s Stephen Seiden, a 31-year-old from Drexel Hill, Pa., also advanced. The U.S. Amateur will take place Aug. 12-18 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

Matthews totaled 11 birdies on the day, finding fairways frequently and firing at flagsticks with little remorse. He emerged as the event’s 18-hole leader by carding a 3-under-par 67 at Overbrook. Matthews opened his bid with a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 380 yards), hitting a knockdown pitching wedge 127 yards to eight feet. He carded consecutive 3s on Nos. 13 (par 4, 384 yards) and 14 (par 4, 305 yards) to secure 18-hole leader status. Matthews sent a wedge onto the back collar and rolled in a 25-footer on the first, and left a 70-yard wedge at three feet on the latter. He felt far from weary entering the event’s final round.

“I always have gas in the tank. Sometimes you go through burnout, and I didn’t have that today,” Matthews, an incoming sophomore at Temple University, said.

Matthews separated himself from the pack at Radnor Valley. He again started with a birdie, powering a 3-iron into the front bunker and splashing out a foot on No. 10 (par 5, 520 yards). He lost a stroke on the par 4, 424-yard 12th hole by depositing a 54-degree wedge into the front bunker. Label 13 and 14 as his lucky numbers, though; Matthews inked red on both at Radnor Valley as well. He hit a 58-degree wedge to five inches on No. 13 (par 4, 320 yards) and to six feet on No. 14 (par 4, 435 yards). The battletested, battle-approved Matthews cited a pair of par saves down the stretch as critical junctures. After watching his 3-iron crash into a tree and potentially out-of-bounds on No. 17 (par 4, 416 yards), he re-teed, only to execute an identical shot. Fortunately for Matthews, he found his first golf ball, punched onto the fairway and slammed a wedge 118 yards to two feet. He sunk a clutch 12-footer for 4 on No. 18 (par 4, 432 yards).

“Those were really good,” Matthews, the reigning GAP Patterson Cup Champion, said. “At the end of a day like this, you’re starting to get tired. Your swing’s starting to get long. Having that little cushion for the final nine holes in a big event like this is something that’s very big because you might be getting a little tired and go back into old habits. Coming down the end of 36-hole tournaments, I really rely on my short game, and it was there.”

Matthews’ summer to remember tour will now stop in Massachusetts.

“To almost make the U.S. Open and to make the U.S. Amateur and hopefully do well in it means a lot,” Matthews said. “My coach (Brian Quinn) has helped me so much over the past year and a half. I’m so thankful to have him. I’ve been very blessed this season.”

Fahey, 18, of Villanova, Pa., set a competitive course record at Radnor Valley to rocket up the leaderboard Monday. He carded a 5-under-par 65, which featured five consecutive birdies.

“I wanted to try and focus on hitting the ball a little more solid, and I knew I’d shoot a couple under par if I did that because I was putting really well [at Overbrook],” Fahey said. “I had no idea about the course record. I was just trying to play the last round well. I hit two 4-irons into the last hole. It’s cool to have a course record somewhere.”

George “Buddy” Marucci, Jr. nearly qualified for his 24th U.S. Amateur Championship. He fell to Dalinka in a sudden-death session after catching the right greenside bunker on Overbrook’s No. 10 (par 3, 178 yards), the first playoff hole, with a 5-iron. Marucci played in the 1981 U.S. Amateur at The Country Club.

“I wanted to try and get back,” “Marucci, 61, of Villanova, Pa., said. “Frankly, if you told me I was going to be in a playoff for one spot, I probably would have taken it.”

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 143 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	City, state	Rd. 1		Rd. 2		Total
Brandon Matthews	Dupont, PA	67	OGC	69	RVCC	136
Sean Fahey	Villanova, PA	74	OGC	65	RVCC	139
Stephen Seiden	Drexel Hill, PA	69	OGC	71	RVCC	140
Christopher Crawford	Bensalem, PA	70	RVCC	70	OGC	140
*Brandon Dalinka	Newtown, PA	70	OGC	71	RVCC	141

Alternates (in order)
*George Marucci, Jr.	Villanova, PA	69	OGC	72	RVCC	141
*Evan Galbreath	Huntingdon Valley, PA	71	OGC	71	RVCC	142

Failed to qualify
*Ryan Siegler	West Windsor, NJ	70	OGC	72	RVCC	142
Cory Siegfried	Wayne, PA	71	OGC	72	RVCC	143
Oscar Mestre	Berwyn, PA	74	RVCC	69	OGC	143
James Kania	Haverford, PA	72	OGC	72	RVCC	144
Peter Barron, III	Mays Landing, NJ	70	RVCC	74	OGC	144
Brad McFadden	Bryn Mawr, PA	74	RVCC	70	OGC	144
Brian Gillespie	Wayne, PA	71	RVCC	74	OGC	145
Jonathan Ortiz	Lansdale, PA	74	RVCC	71	OGC	145
Conor Casey	Madison, NJ	71	OGC	76	RVCC	147
Joe April	Philadelphia, PA	73	OGC	74	RVCC	147
Mike Amole	Huntingdon Valley, PA	73	OGC	74	RVCC	147
Jeff Kiley	Los Angeles, CA	74	RVCC	73	OGC	147
Vinay Ramesh	Newtown, PA	74	RVCC	73	OGC	147
Dave Liotta	West Chester, PA	73	RVCC	74	OGC	147
Matthew Crescenzo	Cheltenham, PA	76	RVCC	71	OGC	147
Jonathan Heydt	Mertztown, PA	74	OGC	74	RVCC	148
Paul Yun	Wayne, PA	79	OGC	69	RVCC	148
Benjamin Feld	Blue Bell, PA	72	OGC	76	RVCC	148
Tucker Koch	Malvern, PA	71	RVCC	77	OGC	148
Mike Hyland	Marlton, NJ	75	RVCC	73	OGC	148
Ryan Triller	Street, MD	73	OGC	76	RVCC	149
T. Raleigh Chapin	Doylestown, PA	75	OGC	74	RVCC	149
Tommy Higham	Shelley, ID	74	OGC	75	RVCC	149
Daniel Myers	West Chester, PA	74	OGC	75	RVCC	149
James Braunsberg	Plymouth Meeting, PA	75	RVCC	74	OGC	149
Michael Johnson	Ambler, PA	73	OGC	77	RVCC	150
Bin Kwon	Marlton, NJ	79	OGC	71	RVCC	150
Robert Galbreath	Huntingdon Valley, PA	75	OGC	75	RVCC	150
Jay Pinkos	Clifton, VA	73	OGC	77	RVCC	150
Tim Godshalk	Exton, PA	74	OGC	76	RVCC	150
Zachary Falone	Mickleton, NJ	74	RVCC	76	OGC	150
Trevor Randolph	Wyckoff, NJ	74	RVCC	76	OGC	150
Ryan Brown	Scranton, PA	73	RVCC	77	OGC	150
Matt Kocent	Bala Cynwyd, PA	74	RVCC	76	OGC	150
Michael Kania	Haverford, PA	76	RVCC	74	OGC	150
Ed Carnes	Tinton Falls, NJ	79	OGC	72	RVCC	151
Dan Arison	Norristown, PA	76	RVCC	75	OGC	151
Joseph Fabrizio, Jr.	West Chester, PA	77	OGC	75	RVCC	152
Evan Notaro	Bath, PA	73	OGC	79	RVCC	152
Roland Massimino	Lumberville, PA	75	OGC	77	RVCC	152
Rodney Anders	Telford, PA	78	RVCC	74	OGC	152
P. Chet Walsh	Wayne, PA	75	RVCC	77	OGC	152
Luke Graboyes	Watchung, NJ	72	RVCC	80	OGC	152
Kevin Haag	Hummelstown, PA	77	RVCC	75	OGC	152
Tyler Fewell	Harrisburg, PA	77	OGC	76	RVCC	153
Eric Slawter	Wayne, PA	78	RVCC	75	OGC	153
Conrad Von Borsig	Swarthmore, PA	74	RVCC	79	OGC	153
Blayze DiPasquale	Richboro, PA	77	RVCC	76	OGC	153
Tom Horgan	Radnor, PA	76	RVCC	77	OGC	153
Christopher Lange, Jr.	Newtown Square, PA	77	OGC	77	RVCC	154
Zachary Allinson	Allentown, PA	73	OGC	81	RVCC	154
Alexander Hicks	Cape May Court House, NJ	79	OGC	75	RVCC	154
Steve Oh	Philadelphia, PA	73	RVCC	81	OGC	154
Andrew Lawson	West Chester, PA	74	RVCC	80	OGC	154
Ted Brennan	Newtown Square, PA	75	RVCC	79	OGC	154
Morgan Dougherty	Warrington, PA	76	RVCC	78	OGC	154
Christopher Fuga	Phoenixville, PA	78	OGC	77	RVCC	155
Patrick Ross	Dunmore, PA	78	OGC	77	RVCC	155
Jimmy Pokorny	Havertown, PA	76	OGC	79	RVCC	155
Vince Sirianni	Blue Bell, PA	75	OGC	80	RVCC	155
Benjamin Smith	Voorhees, NJ	74	RVCC	81	OGC	155
Brendan Worthy	Chester Springs, PA	80	RVCC	75	OGC	155
Russell Hill	Bordentown, NJ	82	OGC	74	RVCC	156
Grant Skyllas	Wyomissing, PA	77	OGC	79	RVCC	156
Jesse Bingaman	Nazareth, PA	78	OGC	78	RVCC	156
Cole Willcox	Berwyn, PA	81	RVCC	75	OGC	156
Marc Mandel	Plymouth Meeting, PA	77	OGC	80	RVCC	157
Michael Rogers	Bryn Mawr, PA	82	OGC	75	RVCC	157
Larry Georgetti	Marmora, NJ	76	OGC	81	RVCC	157
Oliver White	Lower Gwynedd, PA	78	RVCC	79	OGC	157
Matt Cocco	Churchville, PA	81	RVCC	76	OGC	157
Anthony List	Havertown, PA	82	RVCC	75	OGC	157
Robbie Coyne	West Chester, PA	77	RVCC	80	OGC	157
Mark Kosko	Egg Harbor Twp, NJ	80	RVCC	77	OGC	157
Brendan Papariello	Villanova, PA	81	RVCC	76	OGC	157
Will Flood	Blue Bell, PA	78	RVCC	79	OGC	157
Shawn Lavin	Drexel Hill, PA	82	OGC	76	RVCC	158
Joshua Bennett	Pitman, NJ	77	RVCC	81	OGC	158
Zachary Melnick	Blue Bell, PA	74	RVCC	85	OGC	159
Clark Holle	South Orange, NJ	74	RVCC	85	OGC	159
Jimmy Johnston	Wayne, PA	78	RVCC	81	OGC	159
Bobby Svigals	Villanova, PA	77	RVCC	83	OGC	160
Stephen Welkie	Coopersburg, PA	80	RVCC	80	OGC	160
Joseph Perese	Huntingdon Valley, PA	80	OGC	81	RVCC	161
Brendan Young	Malvern, PA	80	OGC	81	RVCC	161
James Kelly	Cape May Court House, NJ	77	OGC	84	RVCC	161
Cameron Liebert	Malvern, PA	80	RVCC	81	OGC	161
Patrick Knott	Bryn Mawr, PA	82	RVCC	79	OGC	161
Quinn Dolan	Broomall, PA	82	RVCC	79	OGC	161
Alex Dupre	Drexel Hill, PA	82	OGC	80	RVCC	162
Pete Moran	Chester Springs, PA	81	OGC	81	RVCC	162
Brian Todaro	Springfield, PA	85	OGC	77	RVCC	162
Douglas Hilgenberg	Flemington, NJ	79	RVCC	83	OGC	162
Richard Marabella	East Norriton, PA	81	OGC	83	RVCC	164
Brian Dempster	Robbinsville, NJ	83	RVCC	81	OGC	164
Trey Swanson	West Chester, PA	80	RVCC	84	OGC	164
Paul Acierno	Flourtown, PA	80	OGC	85	RVCC	165
Matthew Krass	Unionville, PA	80	OGC	85	RVCC	165
Daniel Furman	Blue Bell, PA	81	OGC	84	RVCC	165
David Long	Coatesville, PA	83	RVCC	82	OGC	165
Ryan Carroll	Malvern, PA	87	OGC	79	RVCC	166
Gwinyai Murahwa	Devon, PA	84	OGC	82	RVCC	166
Blake Hinckley	Kennett Square, PA	80	OGC	86	RVCC	166
Kevin Fuchs	Garden City, NY	84	RVCC	82	OGC	166
Daniel Robertson-Duggan	Daly City, CA	86	RVCC	81	OGC	167
Brandon Roche	Burlington, NJ	83	RVCC	84	OGC	167
Brian Fischer	Lansdale, PA	86	RVCC	82	OGC	168
John Leighton	Huntingdon Valley, PA	86	OGC	84	RVCC	170
R.J. Cummings	Moorestown, NJ	88	OGC	83	RVCC	171
Duane Pinnock	Eagleville, PA	85	OGC	86	RVCC	171
Richard Reed	Drexel Hill, PA	87	RVCC	85	OGC	172
Justin Pak	Media, PA	84	RVCC	88	OGC	172
Stephen Kidron	Horsham, PA	93	OGC	80	RVCC	173
Kevin Delaney	Malvern, PA	85	OGC	90	RVCC	175
Kevin O'Donnell	Cape May Court House, NJ	87	RVCC	89	OGC	176
Tyler Flagler	North Wales, PA	87	RVCC	90	OGC	177
John Burke	Mantua, NJ	85	RVCC	92	OGC	177
Ryan McCormick	Middletown, NJ	75	OGC	WD	RVCC	WD
Matthew Teesdale	Maple Glen, PA	74	OGC	DQ	RVCC	DQ
Andy Achenbach	Wayne, PA	81	OGC	WD	RVCC	WD
Brian David	Fairless Hills, PA	91	OGC	WD	RVCC	WD
Paul Bickford	Runnemede, NJ	79	RVCC	NS	OGC	NS
Geoffrey Cooper	Philadelphia, PA	76	RVCC	WD	OGC	WD
James Bea	Churchville, PA	81	RVCC	WD	OGC	WD

* - determined in playoff
DQ - disqualification; WD - withdrawal; NS - no show

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A Walk Through Time

Glenmaura’s Matthews keeps rolling, tops U.S. Amateur Qualifier