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| Joseph Russo eyes his drive on No. 9 (par 5, 510 yards). |
Chapman (Gross): Laurel Creek’s Russo earns Senior trophy
ABSECON, N.J. — Galloway National Golf Club is assuredly in Joseph Russo’s good graces. He qualified for his second U.S. Senior Amateur on the Jersey Shore property in 2014. On Wednesday, Russo carded a 2-under-par 69 to win the Senior title in the Frank H. Chapman Memorial Cup (Gross).
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History |
Senior POY standings |
Senior Silver Cross Award standings |
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Photo gallery |
The Laurel Creek Country Club member was the only player to ink red on the demanding par 71, 6,531-yard layout. In doing so, he earned his second piece of individual hardware on the Senior circuit. Russo captured the Tournament of Champions crown a year ago.
“This really is a hard golf course. For some reason, I usually score pretty well here,” Russo, 58, of Washington Township, N.J., said. “Was I expecting to shoot 69 today? No. I’ve been struggling with my putter a little bit. In fact, the putter that I had here today is one I hadn’t putted with in almost a year. Sometimes you have to put them on the shelf and make them wonder what’s going on.”
That putter, metaphorically speaking, clearly atoned for any past wrongdoing Wednesday. It secured a birdie-birdie start at Galloway to send Russo on his way. He stopped a 52-degree wedge from 124 yards at two feet on No. 1 (par 4, 375 yards) and left a ballmark two inches off the No. 2 (par 3, 143 yards) cup following a fluid 9-iron. He capped his front nine in identical fashion. On the par 3, 164-yard No. 8, Russo launched a 7-iron to 17 feet and sank the straightaway birdie. The strenuous par 5, 510-yard No. 9 generated his “two best shots of the day.” After pummeling a pristine drive, he cut a 3-wood 252 yards to 30 feet. Russo cozied the eagle attempt into gimme range. A poor 6-iron on the par 3, 174-yard No. 4 spurned his lone outward blemish.
With the winds gaining strength, Russo slightly stumbled a bit on Nos. 12 (par 4, 363 yards) and 13 (par 4, 423 yards). On the first, he missed a 30-footer for par after bunker trouble. Taking an awkward stance atop the left greenside bunker on No. 13, Russo tumbled a wedge to 15 feet and again failed to save 4.
“When the wind picked up the way it did, I wasn’t prepared to play those kind of shots,” he said. “I feel like I got rattled a little bit. I worried about losing my lead. The two bogeys I made I was probably trying to protect.”
A storm front descended upon Galloway as Russo pegged his tee ball on No. 16 (par 5, 525 yards). High winds created unplayable conditions and a subsequent one hour and 20-minute delay. When Russo returned to the course, so did the winds — at double the speed. He remained steady, however. A milestone tee shot on the challenging par 3, 217-yard 17th hole set up a five-footer for birdie.
“That’s the longest 4-iron I ever hit in my life,” Russo, a retired police officer, said. “I know you don’t have to fly the ball back to that hole. I got it probably on the front third of the green and it rolled back there.”
With a three-shot lead on No. 18 (par 4, 425 yards), Russo faced a yardage of 168 from the right side of the fairway. Given a gust scale of 40-50, he equipped a 5-iron and aimed left toward safety on the sprawling surface. Russo didn’t start it far enough and found the right greenside bunker instead. He then halted a textbook bunker shot five feet from a front right hole location to save par.
“I hit the ball in the direction I wanted to hit it and hit it in the yardage I wanted to hit it today,” Russo said. “The last two weeks I made a couple of easy swings to where I can feel the club in the right spot. My putting’s really been the issue. I needed to have something different in my hands.”
That putter will stay in his hands following Wednesday’s performance.
“It might come to bed with me tonight. The wife might be on the couch,” Russo said.
Jericho National Golf Club’s Jim Gavaghan carded a 2-over-par 73 to earn runner-up honors.
“As the round went on, I started hitting the ball really well,” Gavaghan, 58, of Newtown, Pa., said. “The last 11 holes, I hit it probably about as well as I could hit it. I haven’t played well at all this year, so this is a little bit of a surprise.”
Frank H. Chapman, a Whitemarsh Valley Country Club member, served as the Association’s secretary-treasurer for 23 years. He died on June 7, 1955 at the age of 88. The Gross tournament, now in its 11th year, is held in his honor.
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.
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Overall results
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
69
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
74
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club
|
75
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club
|
75
|
|
Thomas
Alestock, Running Deer Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
76
|
|
Glenn
Zuck, Galloway National Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
76
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Bob
Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
78
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Kappes, Blue Heron Pines Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
78
|
|
Frank
Corrado, Jr., Jericho National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Gary
Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Jim
Yenser, Raven's Claw Golf Club
|
79
|
|
John
Psillas, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Paul
Hess, Hartefeld National
|
79
|
|
Thomas
Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
William
McGuinness, Tavistock Country Club
|
79
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld National
|
80
|
|
David
Folkes, Metedeconk
National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
John
LeBoeuf, Philadelphia Country Club
|
80
|
|
John
Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
80
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
80
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
80
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Chris
Hunger, Little Mill Country Club
|
81
|
|
David
Richards, Bent Creek Country Club
|
81
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
|
81
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
82
|
|
Thomas
Finn, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Buck
Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley
Country Club
|
82
|
|
John
Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jeffrey
Allen, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
|
Larry
Piekarsky, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Robert
Amen, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
Ron
Clark, Tavistock Country Club
|
83
|
|
Tim
Sindorf, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bill
Cregar, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bruce
Himelman, Greenbriar Oceanaire Golf & CC
|
84
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Michael
Brady, Jericho National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Steve
Dionisio, Jericho National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Craig
Kliewer, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
85
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Jon
Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
Gene
Goudy, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
86
|
|
Kirk
Larsen, St. Davids Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Mark
Hogan, Spring Ford Country Club
|
86
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
86
|
|
George
Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Jim
Simmons, Stonewall
|
87
|
|
Kevin
Sartell, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
87
|
|
Archie
Struthers, Greate Bay Country Club
|
87
|
|
Mark
Martin, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
88
|
|
David
West, Applecross Country Club
|
89
|
|
Jim
Dalzell, Linwood Country Club
|
89
|
|
Robert
Galbreath, Sr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
89
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Mark
Leaman, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Scott
Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
92
|
|
David
Maslanka, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Michael
Caulfield, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Mike
Miklinevich, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
96
|
|
Arthur
Wheeler, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Thomas
Ritter, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
DQ
|
|
Mark
Walker, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
DQ
|
|
Andrew
Sterge, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
WD
|
|
Bill
Turner, Rancocas Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Dave
Caldwell, Brookside Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Ed
Cybulski, Valleybrook
Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Harold
Schweitzer, Jr., Broad Run Golfers Club
|
WD
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Jeff
Lysek, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
John
Robinson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
WD
|
|
John
Willadsen, Sakima Country
Club
|
WD
|
|
Patrick
O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Thomas
Mensel, Jericho National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
James
Prendergast, Bellewood Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Jozef
Swatowski, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Todd, Applecross Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Pete
Widdoes, White Clay Creek Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Peter
Mimmo, Philmont Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Scott
Latimer, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
DQ -
disqualification; WD - withdrawal
|
|
Ages
55-59
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
74
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club
|
75
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club
|
75
|
|
Thomas
Alestock, Running Deer Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
76
|
|
Glenn
Zuck, Galloway National Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Bob
Arthur, Tavistock Country Club
|
78
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Kappes, Blue Heron Pines Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
78
|
|
Frank
Corrado, Jr., Jericho National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Gary
Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Jim
Yenser, Raven's Claw Golf Club
|
79
|
|
John
Psillas, Moselem Springs Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Paul
Hess, Hartefeld National
|
79
|
|
Thomas
Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
William
McGuinness, Tavistock Country Club
|
79
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld National
|
80
|
|
David
Folkes, Metedeconk
National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
John
LeBoeuf, Philadelphia Country Club
|
80
|
|
John
Ward, Greate Bay Country Club
|
80
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
80
|
|
Chris
Hunger, Little Mill Country Club
|
81
|
|
David
Richards, Bent Creek Country Club
|
81
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
|
81
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
82
|
|
Thomas
Finn, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jeffrey
Allen, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
|
Larry
Piekarsky, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Robert
Amen, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
Ron
Clark, Tavistock Country Club
|
83
|
|
Tim
Sindorf, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bruce
Himelman, Greenbriar Oceanaire Golf & CC
|
84
|
|
Craig
Kliewer, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
85
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Gene
Goudy, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
86
|
|
Kirk
Larsen, St. Davids Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Mark
Hogan, Spring Ford Country Club
|
86
|
|
George
Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Jim
Simmons, Stonewall
|
87
|
|
Kevin
Sartell, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
87
|
|
Mark
Martin, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
88
|
|
David
West, Applecross Country Club
|
89
|
|
Jim
Dalzell, Linwood Country Club
|
89
|
|
Robert
Galbreath, Sr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
89
|
|
Mark
Leaman, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
92
|
|
David
Maslanka, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Arthur
Wheeler, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
DQ
|
|
Mark
Walker, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
DQ
|
|
Andrew
Sterge, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
WD
|
|
Bill
Turner, Rancocas Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Dave
Caldwell, Brookside Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Ed
Cybulski, Valleybrook
Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Harold
Schweitzer, Jr., Broad Run Golfers Club
|
WD
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey, Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Jeff
Lysek, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
John
Robinson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
WD
|
|
John
Willadsen, Sakima Country
Club
|
WD
|
|
Patrick
O'Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Robert
Gill, Fox Hill Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Thomas
Mensel, Jericho National Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
|
Ages 60 & Over
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
69
|
|
Bert
Kosup, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
76
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
77
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
80
|
|
Robert
Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Buck
Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley
Country Club
|
82
|
|
John
Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Bill
Cregar, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Michael
Brady, Jericho National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Steve
Dionisio, Jericho National Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Jon
Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
86
|
|
Archie
Struthers, Greate Bay Country Club
|
87
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Scott
Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Michael
Caulfield, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Mike
Miklinevich, Greate Bay
Country Club
|
96
|
|
Thomas
Ritter, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Arthur
Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
James
Prendergast, Bellewood Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Jozef
Swatowski, Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
WD
|
|
Michael
Todd, Applecross Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Pete
Widdoes, White Clay Creek Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Peter
Mimmo, Philmont Country Club
|
WD
|
|
Scott
Latimer, Cedarbrook Country Club
|
WD
|
|
