POTTSTOWN, Pa. – Bob Hennefer hit the shot of his life, and then finished atop a leaderboard because of it.
In a Open Championship Qualifier at Bellewood Country Club (par 71, 6,685 yards), Hennefer holed his first career ace and took home Monday’s medalist honors after firing a 3-under 68. He topped a field of 146 players who played for 27 available spots in addition to three alternates.
“It was my first one in competition, and first one ever. It was awesome,” said the 31-year-old Hennefer. “I was looking to hit a nice, tight draw and get it somewhere on the green. It was on the line all the way to the pin. Once we got up there, there were only two balls on the green. And there it was, right in the cup.”
The hole-in-one wasn’t the only highlight of Hennefer’s mistake-free round. After 10 straight pars out of the gate, he put a pitching wedge to 10 feet on No. 11 (par 4, 424 yards) and then jarred his downhill, left-to-right birdie attempt.
More pars succeeded Hennefer’s first red number of the day, until the ace came at No. 17 (par 3, 167 yards).
“I made no mistakes today,” he said. “I was pretty conservative off the tee and hit a good amount of fairways. I missed only two or three greens in regulation, but was able to get those up and down relatively easy. All around, it was kind of a stress free day.
Hennefer serves as the Director of Golf at Indian Spring Country Club, where he also plays out of. The Cherry Hill, N.J. resident recently earned medalist honors at last week’s New Jersey State Open Qualifier at Pine Barrens Golf Club. His game found the same success on Wednesday, despite the fact that Hennefer has never played a round at Bellewood prior to his Qualifying round.
“I thought it was playing very fair. The greens were rolling great and so were the fairways,” Hennefer said. “I had a few putts get away from me and I was lucky enough to hit the comebackers. If you are not making your 5, 6, 7 footers here, you’re going to be in for a long day.”
Last year, Hennefier qualifed for his first Open at Makefield Highlands Golf Club. He finished 10 over (74-78) for the Championship, finishing tied for 46th at Applebrook Golf Club.
Hennefer’s next stop will be at Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course, the home of the 2015 Open Championship.
“I played Militia Hill earlier this year and I also played Wissahickon last year right before they closed up for renovations,” Hennefer said. “They do a really great job out there and its one of my favorite facilities in the area.”
Out of the 27 available spots available, 21 were taken by amateurs and six by professionals. The last five champions have all been amateurs. In the prior 105 Opens before that, only 12 amateurs broke through with wins. The last professional to win the Open was Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford Country Club in 2009.
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 151 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.
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Qualifiers
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Robert
Hennefer, Indian Spring Country Club
|
68
|
|
(a)
Gregor A. Orlando, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
69
|
|
(a)
Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
70
|
|
(a)
Michael Carr, Plymouth Country Club
|
70
|
|
(a)
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
70
|
|
(a)
Benjamin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
71
|
|
(a)
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
|
71
|
|
John
Bierkan, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
71
|
|
(a)
Scott McLaughlin, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
71
|
|
(a)
Ben Feld, Green Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Bobby Kershner, Spring Ford Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Evan Thornton, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
P.J. Acierno, Sandy Run Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Sean Semenetz, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
72
|
|
Stephen
Sieracki, Indian Spring Country Club
|
72
|
|
Curtis
Kirkpatrick, Indian Spring Country Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Jack Wallace, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73
|
|
Mark
Miller, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Patrick Ross, Huntsville Golf Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Shawn Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
73
|
|
(a)
Benjamin Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
David West, Whitford Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
G. Patrick Dougherty, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
Hugo Mazzalupi, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Heidler, GolfTEC - Main
Line
|
74
|
| |
|
Alternates
(in order)
|
|
*(a)
Cory Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club
|
74
|
|
*John
Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
75
|
|
*Rico
Riciputi, Glenmaura
National Golf Club
|
75
|
| |
|
Failed
to qualify
|
|
*(a)
Doug Marcincin, Northampton Country Club
|
75
|
|
*(a)
Jimmy Wolfe, Bellewood Country Club
|
75
|
|
*(a)
Michael Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
75
|
|
*(a)
Ryan Wolbach, Brookside Country Club
|
75
|
|
*Tyler
Flagler, Talamore Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Alex Blickle, LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Alexander
Knoll, Bethlehem Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Blake Hinckley, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
James Pokorny, Golf Course at Glen Mills
|
76
|
|
(a)
John Samaha, Old York Road Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Jordan Lerner, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Michael
Little, Lookaway Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Richard Hunter, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
76
|
|
(a)
Russell Hill, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
76
|
|
(a)
Sam Soeth, White Manor Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Serge Hogg, RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Steven Altieri, Hopewell Valley Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Alex
Willey, Burlington Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Brock Kovach, Berkshire Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Chris Esbenshade, Bent Creek Country Club
|
77
|
|
Daniel
Bolstein, Riverton Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Dominic Digiacomo, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
77
|
|
Gregg
Gipp, The Springhaven
Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Jack Russell, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Mark Farley, Lu Lu Country Club
|
77
|
|
Michael
Paukovits, St. Davids
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Michael
Wheeler, Bellewood Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Paul Liebezeit, Aronimink
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Peter Moran, Edgmont Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Thomas Lewis, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Tony
Perla, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
William Naylor, Applebrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
William
Sautter, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Carey Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Christopher Thude, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
78
|
|
(a)
Dan Rudershausen, Kennett Square Golf & Country
Club
|
78
|
|
Ed
Gibson, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Evan Notaro, Woodstone
Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Francis Nattle, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
78
|
|
(a)
Greg O'Connor, Bellewood Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Kevin Kramarski, Riverton Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Mike Bliss, Jericho National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Oliver White, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Ryan Riviezzo, Applecross
Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Ryan Siegler, Makefield Highlands
Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Steve Oh, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Andrew LaRosa, Whitford
Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Brandon Capone, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
79
|
|
(a)
Brandon Raihl, Heidelberg Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Brian Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Dustin
McCormick, Glen Brook Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Joseph
Kogelman, GolfTEC - King
of Prussia
|
79
|
|
(a)
Kevin Cahill, Merion Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Luke Liddell, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
79
|
|
(a)
Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Carlos Fullerton, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
80
|
|
(a)
Duane Pinnock, RiverCrest
Golf Club & Preserve
|
80
|
|
(a)
John Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph
Ambrose, Paupack HIlls Golf
& CC
|
80
|
|
(a)
Mark Coassolo, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
80
|
|
Matthew
Episcopo, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Michael Cook, Applebrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Michael Santerian, Wedgwood Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Ryan Worthy, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Anthony
Napoletano, Golf Course at Glen Mills
|
81
|
|
(a)
Eamon Marone, Northampton
Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Jeff Nocella, Bala Golf
Club
|
81
|
|
Joey
Pohle, Blue Bell Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Joseph Markmann, Talamore
Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Larry Martone, Stonewall
|
81
|
|
Mark
Anderson, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Matthew Bastian, Jr., Rolling Green Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Steven Montgomery, Bellewood Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Alex Bauman, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
82
|
|
(a)
Chris Lawler, Applebrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Clay Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Jonathan Burns, Talamore Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Matthew Livingston, Lu Lu Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Max Hirsh, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Robert Cummings, Riverton Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Thomas Fisher, Talamore Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Greg Berdini, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Jimmy Kramarski, Riverton Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Mark Wachter, DuPont Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Dave Caldwell, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
(a)
Evan Joyce, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Gus Steiger, Great Bear Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Jos-Mara Centurin,
Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
84
|
|
(a)
Kenny Engel, Jr., North Hills Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Nicholas Johnson, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Brendan Worthy, Merion Golf Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Butch Silknitter, Bellewood
Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Chuck Lynch, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Jimmy Taylor, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
85
|
|
Jonathan
Trauner, Talamore Country
Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Matthew Ade, Riverton Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
David Sim, Coatesville Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Jeffrey Angelucci, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
86
|
|
(a)
Matt Palumbo, Phoenixville Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Ryan Carroll, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Brad McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Jack Gregor, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
John Manfredi, Woodcrest Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Christopher Clauson, Sandy Run Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Robert Olseski, Sandy Run Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Sean Ebert, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Corey Betham, Skippack Golf Club at Evansburg State Park
|
92
|
|
(a)
Royce Yeager, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
92
|
|
Anthony
Shields, The ACE Club
|
93
|
|
(a)
Daniel Tennekoon, Golf Course at Glen Mills
|
93
|
|
(a)
Liam Fahey, Overbrook Golf Club
|
94
|
|
(a)
Alexander Maguire, Jr., Brookside Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Christopher Fuga, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Geoffrey Cooper, North Hills Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Gui Costin, Merion Golf
Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
James Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Mike Cavanaugh, Jericho National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Phil Formica, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
NS
|
|
(a)
Sean Coyle, Llanerch Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Spencer Stillman, Penn Oaks Golf Club
|
DQ
|
|
(a)
Stephen Osullivan, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Tyler Canfield, Downingtown Country Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
*-determined
in playoff
|
|
(a)-denotes
amateur
|
|
DQ-disqualification;
NS-no show; WD-withdrawal
|
