Commonwealth National wins Team ChampionshipA talented blend of youth and experience boosted Commonwealth National Golf Club to victory in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 95th Team Championship June 23 at Trump National Golf Club — Philadelphia. It posted 23 points to defeat Philadelphia Cricket Club (19), Overbrook Golf Club (16.5) and Philmont Country Club (13.5) and to secure its second title. Commonwealth National also won in 2009 at LedgeRock Golf Club. “It’s always one of the best days of the year,” Brett Diakon, Commonwealth National’s team captain, said. “I got to talk to some guys I didn’t know before the day. It always brings together a good mix of people, and the competition is spectacular as always. Fortunately for Commonwealth, I’d like to say the older, experienced guys pulled through for us, even though it was the younger kids who probably carried the burden of some of the tougher matches.” In the morning at Trump National, Diakon and Scott McLaughlin did pull through indeed by rattling off three points during the foursomes portion. Collegiates Dan Furman and Kyle Martin also posted the same total to lead Commonwealth to eight points overall before the break. During the singles segment, four of its players, including team newcomers Matt Cocco and Michael Johnson, earned three points apiece to secure a second Team Championship title. “I knew we had a pretty stacked team, so it was going to be tough to make the line-up. Once I got the call from Brett, I was pretty excited to play,” Cocco, 22, of Chruchville, Pa., said. “We have a lot of guys who are up at the club all the time, so it lets us pick and choose. We’re used to playing match play against each other. We get a lot of good simulations of what those kind of matches are going to be like.” “We always look at it as we’re looking for the best competition within the club, which is why it doesn’t matter how old these guys are,” Diakon, 35, of Perkasie, Pa., added. “We all try to get together and play. What Commonwealth has always done is support the Junior program and give it the resources to succeed. That Junior member hopefully becomes a member for a long time.”
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A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition – the Team Matches – and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
