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 |
| Mark Dennish (above) of The Ridge at Back Brook and Drew Panebianco of Five Ponds Golf Club are tied for the lead in the 44th Senior Amateur Championship.
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Pair of upstarts share lead in 44th Senior Amateur Championship
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa.–In a star-studded Senior Amateur field, a pair of unfamiliar faces took center stage.
Mark Dennish of The Ridge of Back Brook and Drew Panebianco of Five Ponds Golf Club both carded 1-over-par 71s at Philmont Country Club (North Course, par 70, 6,415 yards) to share the lead after Round 1 of the 44th Senior Amateur Championship. The second and final round is Wednesday. Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. The leaders start at 2 p.m.
Ray Thompson of Overbrook Golf Club, a two-time Senior Amateur winner (2007, 2011), stands a shot back at 2 over.
On a sweltering, sticky day, Dennish and Panebianco turned the clubhouse upside down early. Both played in the morning and posted scores that wouldn’t be challenged.
Dennish said he rarely competes in Association events, but has found some time in his schedule to break away. He’s also been working with the Ridge at Back Brook staff on his game.
Those factors resulted in a prepared opportunity.
Dennish capitalized by hitting 15 greens on the rolling hills of the North Course.
“It was a real solid round,” Dennish, 56, of Skillman, N.J., said. “I kept the ball in front of me. This gives me something to build off of. I don’t hit the ball very far. I’m more of a shotmaker. I try to hit fairways and greens.”
Dennish carded three bogeys and two birdies on Tuesday.
On No. 2, he dropped a 6-iron from 160 yards to 12 feet and made the birdie putt. However, the 6-iron taketh away on the next hole, the par 3, 156-yard third, when he pulled the club left of the green.
Dennish bogeyed the treacherous and difficult 11th (par 3, 215 yards) with an errant tee ball but carded a birdie on No. 13 (par 4, 341 yards) knocking a three-quarter 9-iron from 135 yards to 10 feet to move back to even par. On No. 14 (par 4, 434 yards), statistically the hardest hole on the course playing to a 5.011 scoring average, Dennish just missed a five-foot par save.
A member at the Ridge since its opening, Dennish was a baseball player in high school before taking up golf his senior year. He attended the College of New Jersey and played on the golf team. After college, he focused on business. In the pharmecutical industry, Dennish stopped playing for 20 years before taking the game back up when he joined the Ridge.
“I have no expectations for tomorrow. I want to play a strong round, keep the ball in front of me and see where the gets me in the end,” he said.
Business kept Dennish from competition; a hand injury limited Panebianco’s ability. He could only use three fingers when gripping a club his left hand, which made breaking 80 a tall order throughout the summer. The injury is healing, and to further cope, Panebianco implemented a grip he saw presented during a TV program featuring golf greats Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino last night.
"Trevino was talking about how Player was weak with his right hand. It reminded me that years ago I used a grip like that," Panebianco, 61, of Gwynedd Valley, Pa., said. "I tried it on the range this morning and started hitting it well. It kind of came together today."
It sure did. Panebianco, who started on No. 10 (par 4, 319 yards), opened with five straight pars before unearthing a birdie on No. 15 (par 4, 388 yards), where he drilled an 8-iron 139 yards to five feet. He relinquished a stroke on the demanding par 3, 185-yard 17th hole. Panebianco launched a hybrid onto the top shelf, rolled his par putt 12 feet and missed the comebacker.
Ensuing back-to-back birdies brought Panebianco back into leaderboard prominence. He hit a pitching wedge 105 yards to 18 feet on No. 18 (par 4, 344 yards), a 9-iron 130 yards to five feet on No. 1 (par 4, 388 yards). With the good came a bit of bad, though, as Panebianco bogeyed his next two holes: a three-putt on No. 2 (par 4, 386 yards) and a heavy 6-iron on No. 3 (par 3, 156 yards). He also bogeyed the par 4, 414-yard No. 5 after missing the green with a 6-iron.
Panebianco nudged a 9-iron to six feet for a 2 on No. 8 (par 3, 133 yards). His last hole served as a head-scratcher. After his first two shots found the fairway, Panebianco fired an uphill, upwind 8-iron from 133 yards into a tournament leaderboard — some 10 yards behind the green. He failed to get up-and-down from there.
"Maybe I caught it a little thin. I still don't know how that happened," Panebianco said.
To make Panebianco's 1 over performance even more impressive, he carried his own bag, navigating Philmont's hilly terrain in oppressive heat.
"I caddie part-time at Squires [Golf Club], so that's really not an issue. I like it because it seems like I get looser," he said.
Co-leader status comes as a surprise to Panebianco, but he's thrilled to be in that position entering the event's final round.
"I've been hitting it better lately, so hopefully, I can keep it going," he said.
Super Senior
Longtime friends and recent GAP champion partners share the Super-Senior Division lead. White Manor Country Club’s Don Donatoni and Merion Golf Club’s Carl Everett, who teamed to capture the Senior 27-Hole Challenge a week ago, carded respective 3-over-par 73s on the par 70, 6,060-yard set-up.
“You’re never really comfortable here because you have to keep the ball in play. You have to hit your tee shots in the fairway,” Everett, 67, of Havertown, Pa., said. “The humidity was hard on everybody, and you just had to be patient. But it also helped the field because the greens were soft. If you hit a good shot, you got rewarded.”
“I just wanted to make pars,” Donatoni, 66, of Malvern, Pa., said. “Pars are your friend out there. I wasn’t aggressive with a lot of putts as I could have been. There are a couple of greens that are really dangerous here, and I was really cognizant of that. I just was trying to play steady and get in position.”
Donatoni stood in position to grab the lead outright, but a double bogey on No. 18 (par 4, 333 yards) extinguished those prospects. Donatoni, the Division’s defending champion, aimed a pitching wedge from 110 yards at the left side of the green, only to see it jump through the fringe and into a bird’s nest behind the surface. Facing an awkward shot, he chose a chip over a flop and left it 20 feet short. Donatoni ran his par putt six feet by and missed the comebacker.
Everett carded four bogeys and a birdie on the day. His lone red figure occurred on the difficult par 3, 199-yard 11th hole. Everett launched a hybrid into a collection area to the left of a middle hole location. He then executed a stellar chip-in.
Four players stand a shot back of Donatoni and Everett. The two will tee off at 9:20 a.m. tomorrow.
“It’s always nice to be paired with guys you enjoy playing with,” Donatoni said. “Carl’s a good friend. Whether you’re in the hunt or not, you’re still rooting for each other.”
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.
|
Senior
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Mark
Dennish, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
71
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
72
|
|
John
Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Chip
Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Christopher
Lange, Overbrook Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
74
|
|
Michael
Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
75
|
|
Pete
Widdoes, White Clay Creek Country Club
|
75
|
|
Robert
Van Etten, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
75
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley
Country Club
|
76
|
|
Jon
Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Robert
Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Robin
McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Andrew
Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
77
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
77
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Reading Country Club
|
77
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77
|
|
John
Willadsen, Sakima Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Larry
Piekarsky, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
77
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Stan
Zabytko, Loch Nairn Golf
Club
|
77
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Back Creek Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Andy
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
78
|
|
David
Smith, Doylestown Country Club
|
78
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
78
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
James
Robertson, Llanerch Country Club
|
78
|
|
Jeff
Paige, Bellewood Country Club
|
78
|
|
John
Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Richard
Custer, Reading Country Club
|
78
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
78
|
|
Buck
Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
79
|
|
Donald
MacKelcan, Wilmington Country Club
|
79
|
|
George
Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Michael
Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
79
|
|
Raymond
Pawulich, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
79
|
|
Bennett
Meyer, Philmont Country Club
|
80
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Geoff
Moulton, Jr., Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
John
Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
80
|
|
Mark
Quigley, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
80
|
|
Robert
Harrington, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Scott
Orr, Brookside Country Club
|
80
|
|
Thomas
Humphrey, Wilmington Country Club
|
80
|
|
Bob
Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
81
|
|
James
Prendergast, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
81
|
|
Leonard
Pearson, Philmont Country Club
|
81
|
|
Alan
Van Horn, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
82
|
|
James
Blickle, LedgeRock Golf
Club
|
83
|
|
Joe
Duhack, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
83
|
|
John
Vergari, Tavistock
Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jon
Helhowski, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Phil
Remig, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
83
|
|
Robert
Lodovici, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Joseph
Zelechoski, Silver Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
Marty
Dorminy, Spring Ford Country Club
|
84
|
|
Steve
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Thomas
Mairone, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
84
|
|
Bob
Walsh, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Gerald
Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
85
|
|
Jim
Willoughby, Bellewood Country Club
|
85
|
|
John
Duke, Sandy Run Country Club
|
85
|
|
Wayne
Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Bob
Majczan, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
86
|
|
Donald
Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club
|
86
|
|
George
Reby, Greate Bay Country
Club
|
86
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
86
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York Road CC at Chesterfield
|
86
|
|
Brian
Sexton, Seaview Resort & Spa
|
90
|
|
Jack
O'Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
91
|
|
Ansley Jessup,
Jr., Rancocas Golf Club
|
92
|
|
Michael
Caulfield, Commonwealth National GC
|
93
|
|
Matthew
Manfred, Blue Bell Country Club
|
96
|
|
Richard
Timbrell, The Bucks Club
|
NC
|
|
Michael
Anderson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Francis
McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Jim
Macallister, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Mike
Miklinevich, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Neal
Levitsky, Wilmington Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Paul
Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Bill
Boyle, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
James
Sullivan, Sr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Winter, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Ages
55 to 59
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Mark
Dennish, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
71
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Chip
Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Christopher
Lange, Overbrook Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
74
|
|
Michael
Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
75
|
|
Jon
Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Andrew
Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
77
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
77
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Reading Country Club
|
77
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77
|
|
John
Willadsen, Sakima Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Larry
Piekarsky, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
77
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Back Creek Golf Club
|
78
|
|
David
Smith, Doylestown Country Club
|
78
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
78
|
|
James
Robertson, Llanerch Country Club
|
78
|
|
Jeff
Paige, Bellewood Country Club
|
78
|
|
John
Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
78
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
79
|
|
Geoff
Moulton, Jr., Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
John
Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
80
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
80
|
|
Robert
Harrington, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Scott
Orr, Brookside Country Club
|
80
|
|
Bob
Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
81
|
|
Leonard
Pearson, Philmont Country Club
|
81
|
|
James
Blickle, LedgeRock Golf
Club
|
83
|
|
Joe
Duhack, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
83
|
|
John
Vergari, Tavistock
Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jon
Helhowski, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Phil
Remig, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
83
|
|
Marty
Dorminy, Spring Ford Country Club
|
84
|
|
Bob
Walsh, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Gerald
Henderson, Blue Bell Country Club
|
85
|
|
Jim
Willoughby, Bellewood Country Club
|
85
|
|
John
Duke, Sandy Run Country Club
|
85
|
|
George
Reby, Greate Bay Country
Club
|
86
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
86
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
Brian
Sexton, Seaview Resort & Spa
|
90
|
|
Jack
O'Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
91
|
|
Matthew
Manfred, Blue Bell Country Club
|
96
|
|
Michael
Anderson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Jim
Macallister, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Neal
Levitsky, Wilmington Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Bill
Boyle, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Winter, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Ages
60 and over
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
72
|
|
John
Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
74
|
|
Pete
Widdoes, White Clay Creek Country Club
|
75
|
|
Robert
Van Etten, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
75
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley
Country Club
|
76
|
|
Robert
Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Robin
McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Stan
Zabytko, Loch Nairn Golf
Club
|
77
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
Richard
Custer, Reading Country Club
|
78
|
|
Buck
Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
79
|
|
Donald
MacKelcan, Wilmington Country Club
|
79
|
|
George
Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
Michael
Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
79
|
|
Raymond
Pawulich, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Bennett
Meyer, Philmont Country Club
|
80
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Mark
Quigley, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
Thomas
Humphrey, Wilmington Country Club
|
80
|
|
James
Prendergast, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
81
|
|
Alan
Van Horn, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Robert
Lodovici, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Joseph
Zelechoski, Silver Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
Steve
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Thomas
Mairone, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
84
|
|
Wayne
Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Bob
Majczan, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
86
|
|
Donald
Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club
|
86
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York Road CC at Chesterfield
|
86
|
|
Ansley Jessup,
Jr., Rancocas Golf Club
|
92
|
|
Michael
Caulfield, Commonwealth National GC
|
93
|
|
Richard
Timbrell, The Bucks Club
|
NC
|
|
Francis
McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Mike
Miklinevich, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Paul
Keating, Aronimink Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
James
Sullivan, Sr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Super
Senior
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Carl
Everett, Merion Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Don
Donatoni, White Manor Country Club
|
73
|
|
John
Rowe, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
Jon
Mabry, Moorestown Field Club
|
74
|
|
O.
Gordon Brewer, Jr., Pine Valley Golf Club
|
74
|
|
William
Lawler, Fox Hill Country Club
|
74
|
|
Hugh
Kenworthy, III, Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Frank
Polizzi, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Charles
McDowell, Wilmington Country Club
|
77
|
|
James
Haynie, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Charles
Whipple, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Fred
Olt, Little Mill Country Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Rose, Talamore Country Club
|
78
|
|
Terry
Fair, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
78
|
|
Jay
Ward, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
79
|
|
John
Owens, M.D., Tavistock Country Club
|
79
|
|
Dave
Jacobson, Medford Village Country Club
|
80
|
|
Michael
Anton, Lookaway Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Bernard
Kelly, Little Mill Country Club
|
81
|
|
Bruce
Gladish, Sandy Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Jay
Howson, Jr., St. Davids
Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Richard
Keesling, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
81
|
|
Thomas
Mallouk, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
81
|
|
Charles
McClaskey, Back Creek Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Herbert
Gordon, Doylestown Country Club
|
82
|
|
John
Cech, Riverton Country Club
|
82
|
|
Michael
Nilon, Philadelphia Country Club
|
82
|
|
Norman
Jester, Downingtown Country Club
|
82
|
|
Richard
Smith, Philadelphia Country Club
|
82
|
|
Gregory
Gaul, Merion Golf Club
|
83
|
|
John
Patton, Little Mill Country Club
|
84
|
|
Terry
Law, Yardley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Ed
Zebrowski, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Fred
Jones, Merion Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Raymond
Fuller, Running Deer Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Richard
Speranza, Jericho National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Richard
Franklin, Stonewall
|
86
|
|
Thomas
O'Rourke, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Curt
Fromal, The Springhaven
Club
|
88
|
|
Peter
Torras, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
88
|
|
Charles
Caparo, Plymouth Country Club
|
89
|
|
Robert
Murphy, Wilmington Country Club
|
89
|
|
David
Jordan, Sakima Country Club
|
90
|
|
George
Collins, Sand Barrens Golf Club
|
90
|
|
James
Coleman, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
91
|
|
David
Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Ockenfuss, Indian Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Terrence
Sawyer, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
WD
|
| |
|
NC-no
card; WD-withdrawal
|
|
