|
 |
| Kyle Martin watches his eagle putt on No. 9 (par 5, 512 yards). |
*Scorecards
*Photo gallery
Commonwealth’s Martin medals in Open Qualifier at Makefield
YARDLEY, Pa. — A steady flatstick erased early struggles and facilitated a fiery finish for Kyle Martin Monday. He carded a 5-under-par 66 to earn medalist honors in a Golf Association of Philadelphia Open Championship Qualifier at a marvelous Makefield Highlands Golf Club (par 71, 6,864 yards). Martin, an amateur out of Commonwealth National Golf Club, deposited three birdies and an eagle to ink a 31 on his inward venture and, in the process, set a competitive course record at Makefield.
He led a field of 140 players hoping to earn one of 31 qualifying positions available for the Championship proper, scheduled for July 23 at Applebrook Golf Club.
The cut line stopped at 73 by day’s end.
“I think I only missed one putt inside of 10 feet, so I was really putting it well,” Martin, 20, of Horsham, Pa., said. “Whenever I had a birdie look, I basically made it, so everything kind of worked out.”
Did it ever.
With barely a breeze present on the typically windy links-style layout, Martin, who started on No. 10, fired back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 (par 5, 547 yards) and 13 (par 4, 283 yards) — two of the three greens he reached in regulation on his outward tour. On No. 12, he powered a downhill 2-iron from 251 yards over the back edge of the green and floated a chip into gimme range. Martin drove the No. 13 green with a 3-wood and two-putted. The only putt he missed within 10 feet occurred on No. 14 (par 3, 206 yards) and resulted in a bogey. A skulled chip preempted a 5 on the par 4, 442-yard 18th hole.
Martin, a junior at the University of Delaware, turned at even but quickly re-entered red figures with a birdie on No. 2 (par 4, 451 yards), where he hit a pitching wedge 127 yards to 15 feet. Martin knocked a 56-degree wedge 80 yards to eight feet for a birdie on the par 4, 337-yard No. 4. He added another 3 to the scorecard on No. 6 (par 4, 420 yards), drilling an 8-iron 167 yards to four feet. Martin secured the scoring record with an eagle on No. 9 (par 5, 512 yards). He hammered a 4-iron 222 yards to 40 feet right of a middle left hole location.
“I saw the way [playing partner Matthew] Crescenzo’s chip broke on the top of the hill, so I knew once it got over the hill, the putt was going to be straight,” Martin said. “I basically just got it up there and got lucky that it went in.”
Martin’s game appears to be peaking at the right time. He advanced to the Round of 16 in last week’s GAP Amateur Championship at White Manor Country Club.
“Ever since college ended, for some reason, it feels like my game’s gotten a lot better,” Martin said. “I just feel like I have a lot more time to practice, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at Commonwealth. I’ve spent a lot more time on more short game. I was getting almost everything up-and-down today.”
Martin hopes his game continues trending upward as the Open Championship at Applebrook approaches.
“I know they can get the greens out there rolling really well,” he said. “There will be a lot of putts out there that you can make. I’m looking forward to being out there. I love that place.”
Huntingdon Valley Country Club staked the second spot Monday. Jordan Gibbs, an assistant professional at the club, and Benjamin Smith, an amateur, both posted 3-under-par 68s.
A lingering back injury, though, nearly prompted Gibbs to withdraw.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to play,” Gibbs, 26, of Philadelphia, Pa., said. “I had an early tee time and figured I might as well show up and see how it feels, and it surprisingly felt better than I thought. Yesterday I couldn’t swing a club at all. I had trouble walking. I woke up early this morning and was icing it a lot. It really wasn’t too bad.”
Gibbs totaled 29 putts on the day. Smith, equally as solid, registered 15 greens in regulation.
”I switched to a fat grip on my putter yesterday, and I shot 69 at Huntingdon Valley,” Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, Pa., said. “I made everything, and today, I kept the momentum going. The super-stroke is starting to work out for me, so I think I’m going to keep it.”
Smith, who also qualified for match play in the Amateur Championship a week ago, had a chance to equal Martin’s mark, but carded a double bogey on his last hole (No. 18). His chip from a swale to the left ran out, and Smith proceeded to three-putt.
Golf Association of Philadelphia
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 150 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, club
|
Scores
|
|
(a) Kyle Martin, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
66
|
|
(a) Benjamin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
68
|
|
 Jordan Gibbs, Huntingdon
Valley Country Club
|
68
|
|
(a) Michael Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
69
|
|
(a) Philip Bartholomew, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
69
|
|
(a) Benjamin Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
70
|
|
(a) Matthew Crescenzo, Philmont
Country Club
|
70
|
|
(a) Brendan Worthy, Merion Golf Club
|
70
|
|
 Kevin Nicholson, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
70
|
|
(a) John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
71
|
|
(a) Michael Carr, Plymouth Country Club
|
71
|
|
(a) Scott Jaster, Talamore
Country Club
|
71
|
|
 Jon Rusk, Lu Lu Country Club
|
71
|
|
(a) Daniel Furman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
72
|
|
(a) Patrick Ross, Huntsville Golf Club
|
72
|
|
(a) John Samaha, Old York Road Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a) Carey Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a) Tyler Sokolis, Commonwealth National
Golf Club
|
72
|
|
 Robert Hennefer,
Indian Spring Country Club
|
72
|
|
 Chris Krueger, W., Kings Creek
|
72
|
|
 Joseph Kogelman,
GolfTEC- King of Prussia
|
72
|
|
*(a) Cory Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks Golf
Course
|
73
|
|
*(a) Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Robert Galbreath, Jr., Philmont Country Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Michael Cook, Applebrook Golf Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Luke McKeogh, Commonwealth National
Golf Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Jesse Bingaman, Northampton Country Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Lodie Van Tonder,
Sakima Country Club
|
73
|
|
*Thomas Michaels, Waynesborough Country
Club
|
73
|
|
|
Alternates (in order)
|
|
*Adam Brigham, Waynesborough Country Club
|
73
|
|
*(a) Joseph Hughes, Little Mill Country Club
|
73
|
|
*Jakob Gerney,
Trump National Golf Club - Philadelphia
|
73
|
|
|
Failed to qualify
|
|
 Peter Clarke, Manufacturers
Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
(a) Jack Russell, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
(a) Alex Blickle, LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
74
|
|
(a) Evan Thornton, Berkshire Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a) Ivan McBride, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
(a) Kenny Engel, Jr., North Hills Country Club
|
74
|
|
 David Taraschi,
Merchantville Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a) Charles Filling, Stockton Seaview Hotel
& Golf Club
|
74
|
|
 Colin Corrigan, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
 Dan Bisazza,
Waynesborough Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a) Tom Yarson, Cherry Valley Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a) Tyler Flagler, Talamore Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a) Timothy Anderson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
75
|
|
(a) Brian Dempster, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
75
|
|
(a) Joseph Markmann, Talamore
Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a) Robert Bishop, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
75
|
|
 Ed Gibson, Makefield
Highlands Golf Club
|
75
|
|
 David Sandberg, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
75
|
|
 Tom Gilbert, Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
75
|
|
(a) Geoffrey Cooper, North Hills Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Evan Galbreath, Philmont
Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Luke Liddell, Torresdale-Frankford
Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Tim Godshalk, Whitford
Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Benjamin Kotler, Squires Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Matthew McFarlane, Doylestown Country Club
|
76
|
|
 Stephen Sieracki,
Burlington Country Club
|
76
|
|
 Nick Gorman, Links Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Winfield Hill, Applebrook Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a) Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a) John Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a) James Braunsberg, Blue Bell Country
Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Patrick O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Jimmy Pokorny, Golf Course at Glen
Mills
|
77
|
|
(a) Ryan Worthy, Merion Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Mac Ryan, Overbrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Russell Hill, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
77
|
|
(a) Dave Caldwell, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
77
|
|
(a) Gerald Bowes, Jr, Whitemarsh Valley
Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Daniel Mahoney, Lu Lu Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Will Flood, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Marc Oliveri, Jr., Lancaster Country
Club
|
77
|
|
 Tyler Johnson, Talamore Country Club
|
77
|
|
 Justin Riegel,
Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a) Peter Moran, Edgmont Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Johan van Schalkwyk, Merchantville
Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Jake van Arkel, Merion Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Liam Lafferty, Burlington Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Blaine Lafferty, Burlington Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Evan Notaro, Woodstone
Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Matt Baer, Broad Run Golfers Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Rodney Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Matt Kocent, White Manor Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Michael Dimeglio, Mercer Oaks Golf
Course
|
78
|
|
(a) Mark Hill, Jr., Rolling Green Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a) Mark Coassolo, Brookside C.C. of
Allentown
|
79
|
|
(a) Raleigh Chapin, Lookaway Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a) Sean Ebert, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a) J.T. Twomey, Jericho National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a) Joe Perese, Philmont
Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a) Alejandro Velez, Indian Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
 John Spina,
Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
|
(a) David Sim, Applecross
Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a) Andrew Kennedy, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
80
|
|
(a) Kenneth Taras, Laurel Creek Country
Club
|
80
|
|
(a) Troy Thierolf, Commonwealth National
Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a) Robert Fiori, Plymouth Country Club
|
80
|
|
 Michael Attara,
Five Ponds Golf Club
|
80
|
|
 Michael Ladden,
Whitford Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a) Patrick Welsh, Makefield Highlands Golf
Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Steven Minnick, Jr., Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Christopher Reedman, Makefield
Highlands Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Tom Piersanti, Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Brian Fischer, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a) William Thornton, Jr., LedgeRock Golf
Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Dan Clark, Old York Road Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Brud Hutchinson, Makefield
Highlands Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Quinn Guzman, Talamore Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a) Cody Fitzpatrick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
 Greg Wingate, Merion Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a) David West, Whitford Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a) Walt Lucki, The ACE Club
|
82
|
|
(a) Zachary Melnick, Plymouth Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a) Chris Szal, Jr., Torresdale-Frankford
Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a) John Donnelly, White Manor Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a) Drew Petri, Jericho National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a) Mark Farley, Lu Lu Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a) Steven Altieri, Hopewell Valley Golf
Club
|
84
|
|
 Justin Rinas,
Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a) Patrick Buckley, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a) Ryan Walker, St. Davids Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a) Larry Gauger, Radnor Valley Country
Club
|
85
|
|
 Jim Smith, Jr., Philadelphia
Cricket Club
|
85
|
|
 Jeff Orleski,
Yardley Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a) Nick Pocceschi, Makefield
Highlands Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a) Michael Ritchie, Ravens Claw Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a) Philip Formica, Makefield Highlands
Golf Club
|
87
|
|
(a) Jason Miller, Lu Lu Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a) Robert Olseski, Sandy Run Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a) George Jiruska, Lu Lu
Country Club
|
88
|
|
(a) Kyle Allan, Phoenixville Country Club
|
89
|
|
 Bob Doria, Makefield
Highlands Golf Club
|
91
|
|
 Anthony Shields, The ACE Club
|
94
|
|
(a) Nicholas Johnson, Glenmaura National
Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a) Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
NC
|
|
(a) Joshua Isler, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a) Rob Moses, Concord Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a) Tom Gravina, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a) Paul Polinsky, Manufacturers Golf &
Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a) Carl Scaramuzza, Cedarbrook
Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a) Zack Mulhern, Fox Hill Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
* - advanced in playoff; (a) - amateur
|
|
WD - withdrawal; NC - no card;
|
|
