 |
| Overbrook Golf Club’s Chris Lange kisses the Warner Cup (Gross) trophy. |
*Photo Gallery
*History
*55-59 Scorecards
*60 & Over Scorecards
*White Manor’s Donatoni wins in Super-Senior debut
Overbrook’s Lange strikes gold in Warner Cup (Gross)
MALVERN, Pa. — Overbrook Golf Club’s Chris Lange is a fixture in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s history books. For starters, he is the organization’s only Grand Slam (Amateur, Middle-Amateur, Open and Patterson Cup) winner in its 117-year history. He’s undoubtedly been a prominent player over the last four decades. Such success and longevity, however, takes its toll.
In 2012, Lange cut back on his tournament schedule, citing a loss of interest and motivation. His desire to compete, although it fades in and out these days, peaked enough to bring Lange into Thursday’s Francis B. Warner Cup (Gross) at a pleasant White Manor Country Club (par 71, 6,626 yards).
The Bryn Mawr, Pa. resident made the most of his appearance, carding a 1-under-par 70 to take the tournament’s 79th edition. Lange, now in his fourth year on the Senior Division circuit, is also the 2010 Senior Amateur Champion.
“I’ve been chasing tournaments for 50 years,” the 58-year-old said. “It’s nice to shoot a good score in competition. This was a surprising round. I haven’t been playing that well. I have an ear infection, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to come out and get it in. You feel OK once you start making birdies. It puts a different perspective on things. Today I had two thoughts that work: a thought with the long game and a thought with putting, and I was like a different guy out there. My rolodex is getting very long.”
Those thoughts manifested into three birdies on Lange’s outward tour. On the par 3, 214-yard No. 3, he hit a rescue to 20 feet and drained a downhill, right-to-left breaker. He stopped a 75-yard L-wedge shot at seven feet on No. 6 (par 5, 545 yards). Lange deemed it a back-to-back affair by knocking a 56-degree wedge 90 yards to 10 feet on No. 7 (par 4, 330 yards). A 32 on the front nine made Lange the only player to make the turn in red figures on the day.
“I putted really well all day long, probably the best putting I can remember in awhile,” he said. “I just didn’t miss any little putts, and I made a lot of eight and 10-footers. That was probably the key.”
Lange’s “worst swing of the day” reared its unwanted presence on the par 5, 514-yard 11th hole. An unfinished backswing with a rescue club placed Lange in a left fairway bunker, some 80 yards from the green. His extrication attempt didn’t reach its desired destination, and Lange missed a 15-footer for par. He also carded a bogey on No. 16 (par 4, 415 yards) after pulling a 5-iron from 181 yards into the left greenside bunker and two-putting from 25 feet. Lange considered the previous hole (par 4, 310 yards) a round saver. He missed the green with a 56-degree wedge from 80 yards. Facing a downhill shot that presented grave consequences if misplayed, Lange executed a delicate chip to 10 feet for a safe 4.
“I could’ve made a bogey there pretty easily,” he said. “That kept things in perspective.”
To keep a 1 under on the scorecard, Lange sent a six-footer for par on the 18th hole (par 4, 398 yards) and watched it hang on the lip, only to drop a moment later. Once his golf ball rattled , a smile and fist pump entered the scene.
Lange is the third Overbrook member to win the Warner Cup (Gross). Andy Thompson (2008) and his brother Ray (2007, 2009) also hold the trophy.
Bent Creek Country Club’s David Richards carded a 1-over-par 72 to finish as runner-up. The Lancaster, Pa. resident never thought he’d return to tournament golf following a long hiatus, but a fresh start in a new division prompted a comeback.
“I’ve been afraid to compete because I couldn’t score,” he said. ““It was not good to the point where I didn’t know if I could get the ball in the hole. There are going to be more young guys coming through the Senior Division, so it’s only going to get harder and harder. I might as well try it while I’m the young guy and have a chance.”
Richards registered 17 fairways and 14 greens in regulation.
“I hadn’t played [White Manor] before and sometimes that can be good,” he said. “I had no expectations. I didn’t try to take any unnecessary risks, so it was good to keep it in front of me. I drove it very well.”
Richards opened his title bid in a non-titlist fashion, carding four consecutive bogeys largely in part to a shoddy mentality (“My head is not real good. I can shank a ball,” he said.). A wayward drive on No. 10 (par 4, 397 yards), his first hole, left Richards underneath a tree. He pitched out and failed to save par. A three-putt from 60 feet on No. 11 (par 5, 514 yards) put Richards two above the blue. He left a 6-iron short on the par 3, 176-yard 12th hole to card another bogey. The scorecard continued to bleed black as Richards experienced a similar fate on the difficult dogleg right No. 13 (par 4, 435 yards). He missed the green with a hybrid from 210 yards and failed to get up-and-down.
“At the beginning, it could’ve been really ugly,” Richards said. “I just sort of hung on.”
Richards didn’t just hang on; he forcefully climbed back onto the competitive cliff by carding three straight birdies to close his outward venture. He knocked an 8-iron 145 yards to 10 feet on No. 16 (par 4, 415 yards). Richards powered an upwind utility wood 215 yards to 25 feet on the strenuous par 5, 519-yard 17th hole. He ran his eagle effort 12 feet by the jar, but executed the comebacker for birdie. Richards canned a left-to-right curler from 10 feet on No. 18 (par 4, 398 yards) following a solid 8-iron from 140 yards.
Richards dusted off his competitive résumé with his performance Thursday. He qualified for the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Wilmington Country Club and fared well in the GAP Amateur Championship and Joseph H. Patterson Cup in the early 2000s. Work and family obligations kept Richards away from the competitive circuit.
Throughout the winter, Richards nearly lost confidence in his game. He regained it thanks to lessons from Mike Swisher, an instructor at Lebanon Country Club.
“Now a good teacher got me onto some good keys, so I’m hitting it solidly,” Richards said. “The ball is going the right distance. I’m in a better place today, and I’m hoping I can build off today.”
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 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.
|
Overall results
|
|
Name, club
|
Scores
|
|
Christopher Lange, Overbrook Golf Club
|
70
|
|
David Richards, Bent Creek Country Club
|
72
|
|
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
73
|
|
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Joseph Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
74
|
|
Mark Metaxas, Jericho National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Michael Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
74
|
|
Richard Umani, Honeybrook
Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
75
|
|
Chip Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
76
|
|
David Smith, Doylestown Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mike Owsik, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
77
|
|
James Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
77
|
|
Roc Irey, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Gordon Jamieson, Merion Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John Vergari, Tavistock
Country Club
|
78
|
|
John Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
78
|
|
Steven Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
78
|
|
Joe Viechnicki, Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Martin Klagholz, Aronimink
Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Drew Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Steve Javie, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Craig Scott, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
Raymond Pawulich, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Christopher Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
80
|
|
Mark Walker, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
80
|
|
Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club
|
80
|
|
Richard Custer, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Francis McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
James Prendergast, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
80
|
|
Mark Quigley, Blue Bell Country Club
|
80
|
|
Rich Colaguori, Talamore
Country Club
|
80
|
|
Robert Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Tom DiCinti, Little Mill Country Club
|
80
|
|
Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
81
|
|
John Reuter, Great Bear Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Robert Dietrich, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
81
|
|
Tom Borsello, Hartefeld
National
|
81
|
|
Alan VanHorn, Sandy Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Richard Krauss, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
Robert Lodovici, Little Mill Country Club
|
81
|
|
Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
Thomas Mallouk, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Frank Corrado, Jr., Jericho National Golf
Club
|
82
|
|
Gary Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Jim Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Rocky Dare, Running Deer Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf
Club
|
82
|
|
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club
|
82
|
|
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Robert Van Etten, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Culley, The Springhaven
Club
|
83
|
|
Mark Szilagyi, Brookside Country Club
|
83
|
|
Mike Miklinevich, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
83
|
|
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
|
John Turner, The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
|
Jon Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
84
|
|
Mark Leaman, Honeybrook
Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Richard Lownes, Manufacturers Golf &
Country Club
|
84
|
|
Bob Majczan, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Buck Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Dennis Tadeo, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Gary Daniels, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Jack O'Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
85
|
|
Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
85
|
|
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
85
|
|
Steven Lucas, Concord Country Club
|
85
|
|
Alan Bernabei, Doylestown Country Club
|
85
|
|
David Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country
Club
|
85
|
|
Thomas Mairone, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Daniel Dressel, St. Davids
Golf Club
|
86
|
|
J. Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Jon Harrison, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
Jon Helhowski, Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
86
|
|
Bill Vostinak, Lehigh Country Club
|
86
|
|
Frank Kovalcheck, Kennett Square Golf &
Country Club
|
87
|
|
Ansley Jessup, Jr., Rancocas Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Robert Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
88
|
|
Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Dave Jacobson, Medford Village Country Club
|
88
|
|
Donald MacKelcan, Wilmington Country Club
|
88
|
|
Robert Ockenfuss, Indian Valley Country
Club
|
88
|
|
Joseph Major, Brookside Country Club
|
89
|
|
Pierce Herbst, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
89
|
|
Jay Davidson, Rancocas Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Pete Widdoes, Inniscrone
Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Jim Willoughby, Bellewood Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Keith Li, Heidelberg Country Club
|
90
|
|
Michael Harms, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
91
|
|
Kevin Melnick, Plymouth Country Club
|
93
|
|
John Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
94
|
|
Rick Gaydos, Sakima
Country Club
|
94
|
|
Michael Fox, Hartefeld National
|
95
|
|
Joseph DeAngelis, Jericho National Golf
Club
|
95
|
|
Paul Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
95
|
|
Norman Cote, Coatesville Country Club
|
98
|
|
Robert Konczyk, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
102
|
|
Gerald Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
NC
|
|
Harold Schweitzer, Broad Run Golfers Club
|
NC
|
|
Arthur Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Eugene Maginnis, Jr., Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
NC - no card; WD - withdrawal
|
|
Ages 55-59
|
|
Name, club
|
Scores
|
|
Christopher Lange, Overbrook Golf Club
|
70
|
|
David Richards, Bent Creek Country Club
|
72
|
|
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
73
|
|
Joseph Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
74
|
|
Mark Metaxas, Jericho National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Michael Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
74
|
|
Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
75
|
|
Chip Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
76
|
|
David Smith, Doylestown Country Club
|
76
|
|
Mike Owsik, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
77
|
|
Gordon Jamieson, Merion Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John Vergari, Tavistock
Country Club
|
78
|
|
John Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
78
|
|
Steven Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
78
|
|
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Drew Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Steve Javie, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Christopher Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
80
|
|
Mark Walker, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
80
|
|
Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club
|
80
|
|
Richard Custer, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
81
|
|
John Reuter, Great Bear Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Robert Dietrich, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
81
|
|
Tom Borsello, Hartefeld
National
|
81
|
|
Frank Corrado, Jr., Jericho National Golf
Club
|
82
|
|
Gary Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Jim Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Rocky Dare, Running Deer Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf
Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Culley, The Springhaven
Club
|
83
|
|
Mark Szilagyi, Brookside Country Club
|
83
|
|
Mike Miklinevich, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
83
|
|
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
|
Jon Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
84
|
|
Mark Leaman, Honeybrook
Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Richard Lownes, Manufacturers Golf &
Country Club
|
84
|
|
Jack O'Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
85
|
|
Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
85
|
|
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
85
|
|
Steven Lucas, Concord Country Club
|
85
|
|
Daniel Dressel, St. Davids
Golf Club
|
86
|
|
J. Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Jon Harrison, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
Jon Helhowski, Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
86
|
|
Frank Kovalcheck, Kennett Square Golf &
Country Club
|
87
|
|
Ansley Jessup, Jr., Rancocas Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Robert Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
88
|
|
Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Joseph Major, Brookside Country Club
|
89
|
|
Pierce Herbst, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
89
|
|
Jim Willoughby, Bellewood Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Kevin Melnick, Plymouth Country Club
|
93
|
|
John Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
94
|
|
Michael Fox, Hartefeld National
|
95
|
|
Robert Konczyk, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
102
|
|
Arthur Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Gerald Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
NC
|
|
Harold Schweitzer, Broad Run Golfers Club
|
NC
|
|
|
Ages 60 & Over
|
|
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Richard Umani, Honeybrook
Golf Club
|
74
|
|
James Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
77
|
|
Roc Irey, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Joe Viechnicki, Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Martin Klagholz, Aronimink
Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Craig Scott, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
Raymond Pawulich, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Francis McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
James Prendergast, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
80
|
|
Mark Quigley, Blue Bell Country Club
|
80
|
|
Rich Colaguori, Talamore
Country Club
|
80
|
|
Robert Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Tom DiCinti, Little Mill Country Club
|
80
|
|
Alan VanHorn, Sandy Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Richard Krauss, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
Robert Lodovici, Little Mill Country Club
|
81
|
|
Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
Thomas Mallouk, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club
|
82
|
|
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Robert Van Etten, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
82
|
|
John Turner, The Springhaven Club
|
83
|
|
Bob Majczan, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Buck Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Dennis Tadeo, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
Gary Daniels, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Alan Bernabei, Doylestown Country Club
|
85
|
|
David Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country
Club
|
85
|
|
Thomas Mairone, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Bill Vostinak, Lehigh Country Club
|
86
|
|
Dave Jacobson, Medford Village Country Club
|
88
|
|
Donald MacKelcan, Wilmington Country Club
|
88
|
|
Robert Ockenfuss, Indian Valley Country
Club
|
88
|
|
Jay Davidson, Rancocas Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Pete Widdoes, Inniscrone
Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Keith Li, Heidelberg Country Club
|
90
|
|
Michael Harms, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
91
|
|
Rick Gaydos, Sakima
Country Club
|
94
|
|
Joseph DeAngelis, Jericho National Golf Club
|
95
|
|
Paul Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
95
|
|
Norman Cote, Coatesville Country Club
|
98
|
|
Eugene Maginnis, Jr., Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
WD - withdrawal; NC - no card
|
|
