May 12, 2015

Joe April has taken medalist honors at both GAP Major Qualifiers he has played in 2015.

Philly Cricket's April continues winning ways in BMW Philly Am. Qual. at Kennett

  KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. – Joe April’s game is making a name for itself in 2015 after a blazing-hot start. The GAP Middle-Amateur Qualifier medalist at Five Ponds Golf Club made an early-season statement once again on Tuesday, taking home medalist honors in a BMW Philadelphia Qualifier at Kennett Square Golf and Country Club (par 71, 6,357 yards).

| Scorecards | Photo gallery |
  April of Philadelphia Cricket Club fired a 1-under 70 to finish on top of a competitive leaderboard of 99 hopefuls looking to acquire one of 23 qualifying spots and ties for the 115th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship to be played at Rolling Green Golf Club and Llanerch Country Club on June 16-18 and 20.

  The 30-year-old finished with 3 birdies and 13 pars on the summer-like day. His scorecard’s only two blemishes came on consecutive holes at No. 3 and 4. On the 3rd (par 3, 175 yards), he pulled a four-iron and ended long and left, resulting in his first of two bogeys. His second came on No. 4 (par 4, 373 yards), where he reached the green in regulation before a disappointing three-putt bogey from 20-feet.

  April then bounced back like a potential BMW Philly Am. champion would, playing his final 14 holes in a fashion of 2-under-par.

  â€śI had a lot of good opportunities for birdie and made a couple. Also had a number of two putts to make pars, including a 16-foot par save. But other than those 2 bogeys, I’m happy overall about finishing at 1-under,” said April, who works in the private equity field.

  April seems to be finding his groove at the ideal time, gearing up to play in the season’s first two GAP Major Amateur championships. April’s strongest finish in a BMW Philadelphia Amateur came in 2013 when he reached the Round of 16 of match play, before falling to Tucker Koch of RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, 4 and 3. In last year’s stroke play qualifying round, April carded a 73 at Overbrook Golf Club and a 78 at White Manor Country Club respectively, failing to qualify for the championship’s match play round.

  â€śI’ve placed relatively well in it at Aronimink, and I should have probably gone further but I came up short. I want to play well in stroke play qualifying, and then get the opportunity to hopefully catch fire at the right time,” April said. “I think I’m a contender to go all the way. I think especially in match play you can ride a hot wave all the way to the final.”

  This year's championship season might be setting up for a more triumphant ending for April.

  â€śToday was a good number, and I think in the back of my mind I’ve gained confidence from winning the Mid-Am qualifier. I’m certainly happy that my numbers are under par right now,” said the Conshohocken, Pa., resident. “You’ve got the Mid.-Am. coming up in a few weeks and now I’ve got the BMW GAP Amateur. There’s going to be a lot of practice before then. I’m looking forward to it, and I definitely want to play well.”

  April has a perfect batting average so far in 2015, going an impressive two-for-two in Major Qualifiers. If he can attain his first GAP Major victory, April would be making the ultimate home-run statement.

  The BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship is the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s premier event. Participants must first advance through a one day, 36-hole stroke play qualifier to gain one of 32 available match play positions. Those who qualify for match play must advance through four matches in two days to reach the Amateur Final, which is typically held on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. The winner receives the J. Wood Platt Trophy; its namesake holds a record-seven Amateur Championship titles.

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 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.

Qualifiers

Name, club

Score

Joe April, Philadelphia Cricket Club

70

Carey Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club

71

Liam McAnally, Applecross Country Club

71

Brian Malley, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

72

Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club

72

Jon-Michael Socaris, Broad Run Golfers Club

72

Thomas Lindberg, St. Davids Golf Club

72

David Waxman, Little Mill Country Club

73

Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club

73

Ryan Bree, Fieldstone Golf Club

73

Bobby Kershner, Spring Ford Country Club

74

Brian McDermott, Llanerch Country Club

74

Dan Rudershausen, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

74

David Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

74

David West, Whitford Country Club

74

Nick Calabrese, Edgmont Country Club

74

R.J. Wren, Applecross Country Club

74

Robert Bechtold, Fieldstone Golf Club

74

Trey Croney, Overbrook Golf Club

74

Alex Kane, Radley Run Country Club

75

Blake Hinckley, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

75

Chris Esbenshade, Bent Creek Country Club

75

Joe Visalli, White Clay Creek Country Club

75

Jonathan Radick, Northampton Valley Country Club

75

Michael Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club

75

Michael Zieg, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

75

Peter Moran, Edgmont Country Club

75

Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club

75

Serge Hogg, RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club

75

 

Failed to qualify

Blake Cleary, Wilmington Country Club

76

Mark Wachter, DuPont Country Club

76

Philip Formica, Makefield Highlands Golf Club

76

Tom Spano, Llanerch Country Club

76

Donald Burgess, Lancaster Country Club

77

Jack Glacken, Bala Golf Club

77

Liam Murphy, Hartefeld National

77

Lodie Van Tonder, Sakima Country Club

77

Marc Oliveri, Jr., Lancaster Country Club

77

Michael Moffat, Commonwealth National Golf Club

77

Ryan Carroll, Chester Valley Golf Club

77

Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield

77

William Howard, V, West Chester Golf & Country Club

77

Bradley Bernosky, Broad Run Golfer's Club

78

Brandon Raihl, Heidelberg Country Club

78

Brian Kenny, Greate Bay Country Club

78

Evan Brown, Hartefeld National

78

Jeffrey Grisillo, Applecross Country Club

78

Kevin Turner, Philadelphia Publinks GA

78

Michael Casella, Northampton Country Club

78

Michael Flatley, Merion Golf Club

78

William Breskman, Rolling Green Golf Club

78

Eric Slawter, St. Davids Golf Club

79

Jack Quirk, Huntingdon Valley Country Club

79

Kevin Haag, Makefield Highlands Golf Club

79

Pat Pasquariello, Philadelphia Country Club

79

Paul Mauer, Stonewall

79

Brian Corcoran, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

80

Chip Studer, North Hills Country Club

80

David Sim, Coatesville Country Club

80

Erik Reisner, Philadelphia Publinks GA

80

Joseph Dulka, Bellewood Country Club

80

Will Holt, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

80

Adam Puskar, Middletown Country Club

81

Connor Boham, Spring Ford Country Club

81

David Kim, Commonwealth National Golf Club

81

Duane Pinnock, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve

81

John Gosselin, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

81

Michael Hodges, The Springhaven Club

81

Robert Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club

81

Alexander Penza, Llanerch Country Club

82

Brett Murphy, Wildwood Golf & Country Club

82

Jeff St. Amour, Llanerch Country Club

82

Kenneth Matt, Philadelphia Publinks GA

82

Matt Keim, Brookside Country Club

82

Matthew Cleary, Wilmington Country Club

82

Michael Boden, Aronimink Golf Club

82

Ross Pilliod, GAP Junior eClub

82

Kevin Hart, Jr., Hopewell Valley Golf Club

83

Kevin Levitsky, Wilmington Country Club

83

Matthew Hilbush, Commonwealth National Golf Club

83

Mike Ellis, Loch Nairn Golf Club

83

Dan Brown, Llanerch Country Club

84

Jules Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club

84

Leland Weaver, Hartefeld National

84

Matt Smith, Wilmington Country Club

84

Matthew Vassil, Makefield Highlands Golf Club

84

Damian Anzaldo, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

85

William Mitchell, Laurel Creek Country Club

85

Wayne Lesage, Jr., Chester Valley Golf Club

86

Zac Robertson, Edgmont Country Club

86

John Welkie, Ravens Claw Golf Club

88

Mike Keenan, Commonwealth National Golf Club

90

Spencer Grossinger, Rolling Green Golf Club

98

Larry Gauger, Radnor Valley Country Club

NS

Andrew Sterge, Applebrook Golf Club

WD

David Sirolly, Country Club of York

WD

Ryan McHugh, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club

WD

Scott Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club

WD

NS-no show; WD-withdrawal

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