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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.
“I 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.
“I’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.
“Today 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
|
|