*William Hyndman, III POY Standings
Applebrook to host 110th Open ChampionshipThe most talented and competitive field in Philadelphia golf tees it up for the 110th Open Championship at Applebrook Golf Club on Wednesday. The 78-player roster is a mix of Golf Association of Philadelphia top amateurs and Philadelphia Section of the PGA professionals. It is the first time the Open will cite Applebrook as the venue, which ironically is the permanent location for the annual Philadelphia Challenge Matches between amateurs and pros. It did host the Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Championship in 2007. “It’s a huge deal for the club. We are very excited to be holding the Open at Applebrook,” said McNabb, Applebrook's pro since 2010. “It’s one of the most prestigious tournaments in the area and we feel the golf course is indicative of a venue that can test the area’s best.” Seven former Open Champions are slated to compete: professionals Stu Ingraham (1994) of MGolf Driving Range and Learning Center; Terry Hertzog (2001) of the Country Club of York; John Appleget (2002) of Wildwood Golf & Country Club; Graham Dendler (2005) of Trenton Country Club; Dave Quinn (2006) of Links Golf Club, who is also the current Philadelphia Section of the PGA Haverford Trust Company Player of the Year; Rick Steinmetz (2009) of Spring Ford Country Club, and amateur Michael R. Brown (2010) of Mercer Oaks Golf Course. Also in the field are the reigning GAP Amateur and Middle-Amateur champions, Jeff Osberg of Huntingdon Valley Country Club and Peter Barron, III, of Stone Harbor Golf Club, respectively; Billy Stewart of The ACE Club, last year’s low professional, and Applebrook pro Dave McNabb, who recently finished tied for 12th in the National Club Pro Championship. Last year’s Open winner Brandon Matthews, who defeated Stewart in a four-hole aggregate playoff, is not competing. Osberg, who recorded the Amateur’s largest margin of victory in history in early June, 10&9, is looking to join father Rick (2009) as an Open winner. If Jeff is able to pull out a victory, the duo would become the first father-son team to claim that distinction. “I would love to be the first father-son combination. It would be something really special to see our names mixed together,” said Osberg, 30, of West Chester, Pa. “As amateurs, we don’t get to play against pros a lot so it’s nice to go out and test your game against the area’s very best.” The field of 78 breaks down into 41 Association amateurs and 37 Philadelphia PGA Section professionals. Total purse for the professionals is $35,000. The low pro will win $7,000. Amateurs have won the last four editions, 16 overall. Jay Sigel holds the most Open titles at six. He won all those as an amateur. The Golf Association of Philadelphia serves as the sole administrator of the Open Championship. It increased the field size from 72 to 78 players last year. Forty-nine players secured a spot in the field by qualifying at either Makefield Highlands Golf Club or Greate Bay Country Club. The remaining 29 earned exemptions based on previous results. Participants include professionals who are members in good standing of the Philadelphia Section PGA, head professionals of GAP Member Clubs and amateurs who are members of member clubs and carry a handicap index of 7.0 or less. As always, the public and media are welcome to attend.
Golf Association of Philadelphia |
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.
