Familiar foes face off for BMW GTM Championship

  The BMW GAP Team Matches Playoff — with one exception — will mirror that of a year ago.

  Defending champion Overbrook Golf Club (2.5–0.5) and 2013 titleholder Philadelphia Cricket Club both secured spots by posting Week Three victories. In a pair of “win and you’re in” battles, Aronimink Golf Club (3–0), which also reached the Playoff a year ago, and Llanerch Country Club (3–0) prevailed to earn their tickets into the last dance.

  The BMW GAP Team Matches Playoff — featuring teams from Division AA, the event’s highest division — will take place on Saturday, May 9. Three players for each participating club play at each venue. Each player competes in a three-way match against one foe from another team.

  “The result of the first three weeks leads to probably one of the most exciting days of competition that we have on the GAP schedule,” Oscar Mestre, Overbrook’s captain, said. “It’s a fun kind of pressure, playing three other very solid teams. It’s a special day. I know that all four clubs will take it seriously and make the most of it.”

  “Whoever wins is going to have to be at the top of their game, like Overbrook was last year,” Rob Savarese, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket’s captain, added. “We’re going to have to play at the top of our game to win.”

  Philadelphia Cricket’s proved to be at the top of its game throughout the 2015 BMW GAP Team Matches. It coasted to a 3–0 record in Section I and 116.5 points, three shy of a Division AA record it set in 2014. In Week Three, it defeated Back Creek Golf Club (1–2), 34–20 to reach the Playoff for the fourth consecutive year. The victory showcased Philadelphia Cricket’s depth chart; four of its top players — Philip Bartholomew, Andy Latowski, Sean Semenetz and Jack Wallace — competed in the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Championship at The Olympic Club.

  “We were in a unique situation [having those guys out this week],” Savarese said. “We knew we needed to come away with at least 13 points [in Week Three], so that was a huge relief.”

  Philadelphia Cricket knows its Playoff counterparts in Aronimink and Overbrook. It is also well-familiar with Llanerch’s team. Over the last few years, both clubs clash in a practice match prior to the BMW GAP Team Matches.

  “We have a lot of fun with them. The practice match is very similar to what we do in Team Matches,” Savarese said. “We’re obviously very happy they made it into the Final.”

  Llanerch is beyond elated to be there as well. It last reached the Playoff in 2007, when it finished fourth behind champion Commonwealth National Golf Club, Philadelphia Cricket and Huntingdon Valley Country Club. Llanerch upended two-time titleholder Little Mill Country Club (2–1), 32.5–21.5, in Week Three. It topped Section II with 113.5 points.

  “The last couple of years, we’ve been 2–0 and got defeated in that third week. It’s nice to finally get over that hurdle and make it into the Final,” Tom Spano, Llanerch’s captain, said. “The beauty of our place is 11 of our 12 guys are under 40 years old. I think we have a really deep Middle-Amateur squad. There’s a lot of energy and a lot of dedication. We take it pretty seriously.”

  In the bout against Little Mill, Llanerch’s away team teed of nearly three hours prior to its home counterpart. It provided peace of mind thanks to a 15-point showing.

  “A couple of our guys texted us when we were just getting done at Little Mill,” Spano said. “It was a big thing to send back to the home guys, especially when they’re making the turn. It was pretty tight over there. Knowing they only needed six out of 18 points coming in was big.”

  Llanerch received hefty production from its Nos. 5 and 6 slots. Stephen Seiden and James Wingerter grabbed eight points at Little Mill while Eddie Johnson and Kevin McDermott etched 6.5 points at home.

  “I went real strong Nos. 5 and 6, both home and away — a lot of guys who play in tournaments and play under pressure knowing there are points on the line,” Spano said. “Those are the guys who really help our team.”

  Like Llanerch, Aronimink knew that it needed a triumph over Glenmaura National Golf Club (2–1) in Week Three to advance into the Playoff. It answered the call with a 32.5–21.5 triumph. Aronimink finished atop Section IV with 97 points.

  “Our guys played great. We’ve been winning big at home, but our road team was incredible,” Jeff Fialko, Aronimink’s captain, said. “Max and Cory [Siegfried] — getting nine points as the [Nos.] 1 and 2 players on the road — was incredible. We’re really excited about having those guys playing together. Glenmaura’s a really tough team, especially at home.”

  Fialko also pointed out the addition of Michael Davis as a key in Aronimink’s Week Three effort. Davis, a freshman at Princeton University, posted three singles points in a match against Stephen Hudacek, III, the 2011 BMW Philadelphia Amateur runner-up. Davis stands amid a crop of younger players priming Aronimink for the Playoff.

  “We’re obviously the underdog going in. We’re going to be playing against some really great teams,” Fialko said. “But I think we have a little more experience after last year. Bringing some young guys into the mix, I think our talent level is up also. Our young guys are motivating our veterans. It’s added a lot of energy to our team.

  “It will be a great challenge. We’re really excited to be in the Playoff again.”

  As Aronimink welcomed the addition of Davis in Week Three, Overbrook accounted for the absences of Chris Lange and Michael Kania. It knocked off Merion Golf Club 36–18, to ensure a definitive title defense. Lange’s son Chris, however, paired with Michael Rogers to grab a full nine points on the road. The venerable Thompsons — brothers Andy and Ray — and Brad McFadden led Overbrook at home with three singles points apiece.

  “I’m very proud of everybody,” Mestre said. “I must admit that I had a little bit of angst. Everybody just rallied. It was truly a team effort, which I what you hope for and what we called for.”

  With its BMW GAP Team Matches victory last year, Overbrook joined Playoff counterparts Aronimink and Llanerch in third place on the all-time title list. All three clubs now have a chance to break free and move into second alongside Old York Road Country Club with eight.

  Huntingdon Valley holds an impressive 32 titles. The BMW GAP Team Matches began in 1897.

  “As much as we had a great team effort to get into the show, we’re going to need an equally — if not better — showing this week to have any chance,” Mestre said. “The elephant in the room is Cricket. They’re a strong team, top to bottom. I would think they are the favorite and Aronimink, Llanerch and Overbrook are chasing. They’re clearly the team to beat. Not that the other teams don’t have a chance. A lot of things have to go right for us to be victorious.”

  Philadelphia Cricket may be pegged as a paper favorite, given its plus-handicap roster. Such a label, though, isn’t preventing its fellow Playoff participants from putting their best feet forward.

  “Aronimink’s fairly young. Overbrook has some wise veterans. Philadelphia Cricket obviously is very deep,” Spano said. “We’re just going to play as hard as we can, put the guys at the appropriate courses and see what happens.”

  The favorite distinction isn’t swelling Philadelphia Cricket’s mindset, either.

  “We’re obviously very happy they made it into the Final,” Savarese said. “Overbrook’s always tough. They’re going to be tough forever because they have great players with tons of experience, and Aronimink has a bunch of good players as well. I think it’s going to be close. We like our chances, but we’re not taking anything for granted, that’s for sure.”