2015 Williamson Cup roster
Brown’s commitment and dedication to improving his game has been on full display in 2015, as evident by his consistent play in Junior competitions. “It means the world to me to be selected [to the Williamson Cup team]. I spend a lot of time trying to play great golf, and working hard to reach my goals,” said Brown, 16, of Chadds Ford, Pa. “I believe this is part of the next step in reaching my goals — being a part of a great team like this.” The rising junior at Kennett High School finished second in a U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier administered by the Golf Association of Philadelphia at Concord Country Club after carding rounds of 73 and 69. Brown continued his strong play in the Championship proper at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C. Brown earned the No. 39 seed for in the match-play portion and fell to eventual semifinalist Eugene Hong, 7&6, in the Round of 64. His other impressive showings in 2015 included a 10th place finish in the Delaware State Golf Association’s Amateur Championship at Heritage Shores Golf Club and a fourth place finish in the Christman Cup at Gulph Mills Golf Club, where Brown fired rounds of 73 and 71. Brown currently stands in fourth place in the Junior Player of the Year standings.
When he received an invitation to represent Team GAP in the Williamson Cup, an eager yet uncertain Melville, 17, of Maple Glen, Pa., accepted. “At first, I wasn’t sure what the Williamson Cup was, but as I looked into the history, I could tell [being selected] was a big honor,” Melville, a rising senior at Upper Dublin High School, said. “I’m excited. Being on a team is fun. We will all have each other’s backs. I think we can make a pretty good run.” Despite his minimal Williamson Cup knowledge, Melville holds a vague connection to the prestigious event. He eliminated a pair of reigning Williamson Cuppers in Cole McCook and Kevin Conners, Jr. en route to the 101st Junior Boys’ Championship semifinals at Indian Valley Country Club. There, Melville endured a 1-up loss at the hands of Williamson Cup teammate Max Siegfried. A day later, he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur at Concord Country Club. Melville carded rounds of 71 and 74 to reach a sudden-death playoff for the final qualifying spot. Melville birdied third playoff hole to advance to the Championship proper at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, S.C. In the U.S. Junior Amateur, he failed to make the match play cut with rounds of 78 and 80. The experience, though, left a lasting impression. “It was awesome. Just to be there was a dream come true for me,” Melville said. “I learned so many things and met so many people from around the world. Everyone there is really good, so just watching them and learning how they play each shot and handle themselves … I try to emulate them now.” Melville currently ranks sixth in the Junior Player of the Year standings.
The Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine cited Siegfried, 17, of Villanova, Pa., as a Player to Watch in 2015. In the piece, Siegfried pointed to his experience as a member of the organization’s 2014 Williamson Cup team as motivation to work harder for 2015 tournament success. He worked harder alright. Look as Siegfried’s 2015 Williamson Cup status — Siegfried returns to the team — and Junior Player of the Year position — he leads the standings by 137.5 points — for evidence. “It’s obviously been a pretty solid year,” Siegfried, a rising senior at The Haverford School, said. “I wasn’t fully expecting to be on the team, but I definitely wanted to be picked. That kind of just made me work harder. I’m really excited. It’s going to be really fun.” Siegfried opened his season with a runner-up performance in the 101st Junior Boys’ Championship at Indian Valley Country Club. He fell to fellow Williamson Cupper Kyle Vance, 4&2, in the Final. Siegfried carded rounds of 70 and 76 to earn co-runner-up honors in the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Junior Boys’ Championship at Hershey Country Club. Siegfried shattered a trending silver status with a breakthrough victory in the Christman Cup. He emerged as the event’s 18-hole leader with a round of 71 and followed with a 67 to prevail by four strokes at Gulph Mills Golf Club. Although he fell to Mark Benevento, Jr. in a sudden-death playoff for the Jock MacKenzie Memorial title at Sandy Run Country Club, Siegfried tied Saucon Valley Country Club’s J.T. Barker for the Harry Hammond Award at 282. The two will compete in an 18-hole stroke-play playoff at a date and venue to be determined. The next meal, however, on Siegfried’s golf plate is the Williamson Cup. He hopes to apply a few 2014 lessons to Saucon Valley. “I kind of learned that it’s not just about you. There is an individual thing, but you want to win as a team. That’s the whole point,” Siegfried said. “It’s a big field, but you just have to pretend like it’s any other tournament. You’re surrounded by a lot of friends, so you just have to have a good time and realize what a privilege it is to be on the team and representing the GAP.”
Vance, 16, of Audubon, Pa., has grown accustomed to raising championship hardware in 2015. His winning pedigree will be a welcome addition to this year’s GAP roster. Vance started his season with a victory at the IJGT Major Championship in March thanks to impressive rounds of 75 and 76 at Duke University Golf Club. In June, he defeated Williamson Cup teammate Max Siegfried, 4&2, to capture the 101st Junior Boys’ Championship at Indian Valley Country Club. The rising Methacton High School junior followed up his first GAP Major victory with another impressive win in AJGA Junior at Talbot Country Club, where he finished with a 9-under-par 207 tournament total. Vance has played the Weyhill course on a few previous occasions and looks forward to bringing that knowledge into the team huddle. “I’m looking forward to just being there as a team,” he said. “I’ll be representing all of us out there, and I’m really looking forward to the team atmosphere that will be at Weyhill.” With 200 points, Vance is currently in fifth place in the Junior Player of the Year standings.
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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.
