Lu Lu’s Melville ousts Williamson Cuppers en route to Jr. Boys' semisTELFORD, Pa. — Indian Valley Country Club is technically located in Telford, Pa. The sign out front, though, read “Welcome to Melville” Tuesday.
| Photo gallery | Jack Mellville, a 5’7” swinger out of Lu Lu Country Club, ousted a pair of Williamson Cuppers to become a semifinalist in the 101st Junior Boys’ Championship at Indian Valley. He stormed past Cole McCook of Applecross Country Club, 6&5, in the Round of 16 before upending Kevin Conners, Jr. of Whitford Country Club, the reigning Christman Cup Champion, in the quarterfinals, 3&2. Melville, a rising senior at Upper Dublin High School, joins Roland Massimino of Jericho National Golf Club, Max Siegfried of Aronimink Golf Club and Kyle Vance of the GAP Junior Players Club as semifinalists. He faces another Williamson Cupper in Siegfried at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow; the Massimino and Vance contest will follow at 7:37 a.m. “It’s very exciting and surprising,” Melville, 17, of Maple Glen, Pa., said. “If I keep playing well like this, it’s really fun. I knew a little bit about Cole and how he was runner-up [in the Junior Boys’ Championship in 2014]. Kevin’s an overall great player. I kind of went in with an aggressive mindset.” He sure did. In the morning, Melville won the first six holes against McCook and never looked back. What he lacked in distance against Conners Mellville made up for with a steady flatstick. He safely reached the No. 4 (par 3, 130 yards) green with a pitching wedge and the No. 5 (par 4, 420 yards) green with a hybrid from 190 yards and registered two-putt pars for a 1-up lead. Melville assured victory with a swift birdie on No. 14 (par 4, 463 yards), where he knocked a soft 8-iron 130 yards and buried a 15-footer for birdie. Melville may be small in size and reputation on the GAP circuit, but his self-branded label is one that’s contributed to his successes. “Being the underdog is not that much of a bad thing because once you get out on the course, it’s pretty level,” Melville said. “No one really has a huge advantage.” Advantage is apropos when comparing Melville and Vance; the latter is a good seven inches taller. But the two share an aggressive mindset that’s paid dividends at Indian Valley. “I have the mentality of trying to win instead of trying to make the cut,” Vance, 16, of Audubon, Pa., said. “I feel like my game’s coming together, so I’m feeling confident right now.” Victories on Nos. 16 (par 3, 152 yards) and 17 (par 4, 289 yards) allowed Vance, a rising junior at Methacton High School, to edge John Foley of Spring Ford Country Club, 2&1, in the quarterfinals. He nudged an uphill chip to a foot on the first. On the tempting 17th hole, Vance kept the driver in his bag and pulled a 3-iron. He found the fairway and an appetizing yardage. “I was going to play it safe,” he said. “I had a wedge in and a number [80 yards] where I could hit off that hill a little bit.” Vance’s approach rolled to a foot for a concession and a handshake. In his first Junior Boys’ appearance a year ago, Vance failed to qualify for either the Championship Flight or First Flight. Now he’s two wins away from hoisting the Peg Burnett Trophy. “I need to try and beat the course, not the player,” Vance said. “Sometimes I focus too much on what he’s doing and not myself.” That player is Massimino, the 2013 Junior Boys’ titleholder. Massimino, 18, of Lumberville, Pa., posted resounding victories over J.T. Spina of Spring Ford Country Club, 6&5, and Cole Berger of White Manor Country Club, 4&3, Tuesday. “I played in the Sunnehanna Amateur last week so I thought this would be a good tournament to start my summer with. It’s something I’m familiar with and know I’m going to play well in,” Massimino, a recent New Hope Solebury High School graduate, said. “It feels good to be back here. I’m really excited for tomorrow.” Against Berger, Massimino, who will attend Kansas State University in the fall, birdied three of the match’s last seven holes. A 25-footer on No. 9 (par 4, 357 yards) following a 52-degree wedge from 115 yards started the sizzling streak. And it’s a birdie bonanza that boosted Siegfried, 17, of Villanova, Pa., into the semifinals as well. He reeled off three in a six-hole stretch to stop home-club hopeful Dawson Anders, 7&6. Siegfried, a Golf Association of Philadelphia Magaine Player to Watch in 2015, hit a 50-degree wedge 117 yards to six feet on No. 5 (par 4, 420 yards), a 9-iron 147 yards to eight feet on No. 7 and a pitch 20 yards to two feet on No. 8 (par 5, 500 yards). Siegfried reached the quarterfinals in 2014. He feels thrilled to be a semifinalist this year. “It’s pretty sweet,” Siegfried, a rising senior at The Haverford School, said. “All year, I’ve gotten so much better. To have two wins like I had today is definitely a confidence booster. I’m pretty psyched.” NOTES — Adam Lowe of the host club aced the par 3, 196-yard No. 6 during the Round of 16 in the First Flight … play was suspended at 4:45 p.m. due to severe weather with one match on the golf course. In a First Flight quarterfinal, Erik Reisner of Philadelphia Publinks GA stood 3-up over Connor Boham of Spring Ford Country Club thru 12 holes. The two will resume play at 7:30 a.m. on the 13th hole. The Junior Boys’ Championship is the premier Major in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Junior Division. Now in its 101st year, it is open to GAP Member Club golfers aged 14-18 who have not started their college education and who hold a handicap index of 14.4 or lower. Sixteen players qualify for match play; an additional 16 advancing into the event’s First Flight. The Junior Boys’ Champion is awarded the Peg Burnett Trophy, named in honor of the Association’s Executive Secretary from 1951-76. Mrs. Burnett was an ardent Junior golf supporter who emphasized sportsmanship and respect for the game. “I was very strict about checking the rule book. I didn’t make the rules, but since they are there, you have to abide by them.”
Golf Association of Philadelphia
Championship Flight
Round of 16
First Flight
Round of 16
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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.
