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| Louis Kelly, Jr. plays his approach on No. 15 (par 5, 512 yards). |
Philmont’s Kelly cards 65, caps Open Qualifier at North Hills
GLENSIDE, Pa. — With an endgame of earning a living on tour, Louis Kelly, Jr. is looking to prove to potential sponsors that he’s worth the investment. His stock rose Tuesday.
| Scorecards |
Photo gallery |
History |
Kelly, a Philmont Country Club member who plans to turn professional in the fall, carded a 6-under-par 65 to earn medalist honors in a Golf Association of Philadelphia Open Championship Qualifier at North Hills Country Club (par 71, 6,488 yards). He grabbed one of 29 qualifying positions available for the Championship proper, set for July 18 at The Ridge at Back Brook.
The cut line fell to 73 by day’s end.
“This is a big summer because I’m still trying to show people that I can play,” Kelly, 23, said. “I already had seven college wins and made it to a national championship [NCAA Division II in 2014]. I know that I can play; it’s just a matter of showing that I can make it to the next level. This is a good start.”
Is it ever.
Kelly, who graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in May with a business degree, separated from a sea of red by firing seven birdies against a bogey on the day. With conditions soft early due to overnight rain, he pounced with a 4 on the par 5, 505-yard No. 2, knocking a 60-degree wedge 70 yards to 12 feet. Kelly rolled in a four-footer on the next par 5 (No. 4, 612 yards), using that same wedge from 112 yards. On No. 8 (par 4, 430 yards), he executed a left-to-right breaking 25-footer for birdie following a 52-degree wedge from 150 yards. Kelly became one of 15 players in the morning wave to turn in red figures.
“I know that I’ve been working really hard on my game, so I was just like, ‘Let’s see what you got. Hit shots, don’t worry about score,’” he said.
Numbers remained an afterthought for the dialed-in Deptford, N.J. resident. He carded back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10 (par 4, 326 yards) and 11 (par 3, 143 yards); Kelly hit a 60-degree wedge 106 yards to 11 feet on the first, spun a gap wedge to 12 feet on the latter. He drained a 12-foot, left-to-right slider on the par 5, 512-yard 15th hole following a 56-degree wedge set-up from 121 yards. Even a wayward 3-wood off the 18th (par 4, 349 yards) failed to disrupt a birdie destination. Kelly, after receiving a fortuitous tree-kick on the dogleg right, chopped a 52-degree wedge 134 yards to five feet.
Tuesday marked Kelly’s first competitive tournament since, ironically, a Golf Association of Philadelphia Open Qualifier a year ago. He lost in a 12-for-1 playoff at Running Deer Golf Club. Work and school obligations thereafter kept Kelly off the course. He caddied at Philmont and Trenton Country Club last summer, then took a position in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s athletic department during his senior year.
Kelly now works as a caddie at Wilmington Country Club. He also assisted with tournament operations during the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club. In between, events such as the Open and Joseph H. Patterson Cup will fill his summer schedule.
During the winter, Kelly, under the aid of Athletic Motion Golf, underwent a swing change that’s transformed his game.
“I was down and to the left, hitting eight degrees down on the driver. Now I’m hitting three degrees up and gained 75 yards,” Kelly said. “I’m not taking those beaver pelts, digging up the whole range. I’m eco-friendly now. I’m actually a better player than I was. [Today’s round] is definitely a sign that I’m moving in the right direction.”
Amateurs John Samaha of Old York Road Country Club and Troy Vannucci of Little Mill Country Club, playing together in the day’s final group, carded respective 5-under-par 66s to share second place. Vannucci, 24, of Marlton, N.J., inked a 30 coming in to tie Samaha, who went out in 31. Overall, 14 players posted subpar scores.
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 153 Full Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. 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
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Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
(a)
Louis Kelly, Jr., Philmont CC
|
65
|
|
(a)
John Samaha, Old York Road CC
|
66
|
|
(a)
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill CC
|
66
|
|
Stephen Sieracki,
Indian Spring CC
|
67
|
|
(a)
Gary McCabe, Jr., RiverCrest GC & Preserve
|
68
|
|
(a)
Joseph Markmann, Talamore CC
|
68
|
|
(a)
Thomas Fisher, Commonwealth National GC
|
68
|
|
Gregory
Farrow, Deerwood CC
|
69
|
|
Jon
Rusk, Lu Lu CC
|
69
|
|
(a)
Ambrose Abbracciamento, Jericho National GC
|
70
|
|
(a)
Daniel Altieri, Makefield Highlands GC
|
70
|
|
(a)
Kevin Conners, Jr., Whitford CC
|
70
|
|
Trevor Bensel,
Huntingdon Valley CC
|
70
|
|
(a)
Vincent Kwon, Little Mill CC
|
70
|
|
(a)
Christopher Thude, Union League GC at Torresdale
|
71
|
|
Corey McAlarney,
Sunnybrook GC
|
71
|
|
(a)
Drew Guarino, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
71
|
|
Hugo Mazzalupi,
Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
71
|
|
John
Allen, Huntingdon Valley CC
|
71
|
|
(a)
Peter Barron, III, Stone Harbor GC
|
71
|
|
Eric
Schultz, Sunnybrook GC
|
72
|
|
(a)
Geoffrey Cooper, North Hills CC
|
72
|
|
Greg
Matthias, Tavistock CC
|
72
|
|
(a)
Kevin Maguire, Trump National GC - Philadelphia
|
72
|
|
(a)
Michael R. Brown, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
72
|
|
Mike Meisenzahl,
Little Mill CC
|
72
|
|
(a)
*Ben Keyser, Woodcrest CC
|
73
|
|
(a)
*Brian Fischer, Commonwealth National GC
|
73
|
|
(a)
*Ryan Rucinski, Fieldstone GC
|
73
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| |
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Alternates
(in order)
|
|
(a)
*Sam Soeth, White Manor CC
|
73
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*Michael Paukovits,
St. Davids GC
|
73
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|
(a)
*Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
73
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| |
|
Failed
to qualify
|
|
(a)
Jackson Fiel, Sea Oaks GC
|
73
|
|
(a)
Mark Czerniakowski, Lu Lu CC
|
73
|
|
(a)
Adam Mistretta, White Clay Creek CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Alex Kane, Radley Run CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Eric Carlidge, North Hills CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
James Greenhalgh, Manufacturers G&CC
|
74
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|
(a)
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Lodie Van Tonder, Sakima CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Mark Benevento, Jr., Greate Bay CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Michael Cook, Applebrook GC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Ross Pilliod, Stonewall
|
74
|
|
(a)
Scott McKean, Chester Valley GC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Scott McLaughlin, Lu Lu CC
|
74
|
|
Tom
Michaels, Berkshire CC
|
74
|
|
(a)
Brandon Raihl, Heidelberg CC
|
75
|
|
(a)
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook GC
|
75
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Dean Halterman,
Galloway National GC
|
75
|
|
Jeffrey
Bonicky, Sea Oaks GC
|
75
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|
Justin Rinas,
Commonwealth National GC
|
75
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|
Michael
Ladden, Whitford CC
|
75
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|
(a)
Nick Madden, Lu Lu CC
|
75
|
|
(a)
Nino Rosal, Wild Quail G&CC
|
75
|
|
(a)
P.J. Acierno, Lu Lu CC
|
75
|
|
(a)
Peter Moran, Whitford CC
|
75
|
|
(a)
Tim Slizofski, North Hills CC
|
75
|
|
(a)
Yoseph Dance, Meadowlands CC
|
75
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|
Andrew
Pierson, Camden County Golf Academy
|
76
|
|
(a)
Anthony Barr, Blue Bell CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Bo Maguire, Brookside CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Brian Gillespie, St. Davids GC
|
76
|
|
Curtis
Kirkpatrick, Indian Spring CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Dante DiStefano, Commonwealth National GC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Drew Petri, Jericho National GC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Eamon Marone, Northampton CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Evan Notaro, Woodstone CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Frank Kohute, Running Deer GC
|
76
|
|
Jason
Calhoun, Philadelphia CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Justin Schorr, Talamore CC
|
76
|
|
(a)
Michael Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
|
Alexander
Knoll, Bethlehem GC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Brendan Borst, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Jack Quirk, Huntingdon Valley CC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Kevin Sarlo, Burlington CC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Mark Hill, Rolling Green GC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Phillip Held, Jr., Blue Bell CC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Robert Olseski, Sandy Run CC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Ryan Carroll, Chester Valley GC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Sam Digaetano, Mercer Oaks GC
|
77
|
|
(a)
Serge Hogg, Riverwinds Golf & Tennis Club
|
77
|
|
Andrew Baldo, Hartefeld National
|
78
|
|
Brad
McFadden, Overbrook GC
|
78
|
|
(a)
Brendan Bacskai, Union League GC at Torresdale
|
78
|
|
(a)
David West, Whitford CC
|
78
|
|
(a)
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley GC
|
78
|
|
Frederick Blumenstock,
Cherry Valley CC
|
78
|
|
(a)
J.B. Reibstein, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
John
Rutecki, White Manor CC
|
78
|
|
(a)
Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Marc Oliveri, Jr., Lancaster CC
|
78
|
|
(a)
Matt Smith, Wilmington CC
|
78
|
|
(a)
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia CC
|
78
|
|
(a)
Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
78
|
|
(a)
Andrew Sterge, Applebrook GC
|
79
|
|
Doug
Delaney, Sand Barrens GC
|
79
|
|
(a)
Evan Galbreath, Philmont CC
|
79
|
|
(a)
Frankie Brigidi, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
John Burke, III, Hartefeld National
|
79
|
|
(a)
Ken Sim, Commonwealth National GC
|
79
|
|
(a)
Kenny Engel, Jr., North Hills CC
|
79
|
|
(a)
Kevin Cahill, Merion GC
|
79
|
|
(a)
Mark Coassolo, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
79
|
|
(a)
Mark Wachter, DuPont CC
|
79
|
|
(a)
Nick Ostash, The Bucks Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Richard Vanni, III, Union League GC at Torresdale
|
79
|
|
(a)
Terry Tompkins, Merchantville CC
|
79
|
|
Anthony Napoletano,
GC at Glen Mills
|
80
|
|
Gregg Gipp,
Phoenixville CC
|
80
|
|
Hugh
Reilly, Jr., Huntingdon Valley CC
|
80
|
|
John Kondash,
Jr., Greenbriar Oceanaire G&CC
|
80
|
|
(a)
Kevin Haag, Makefield Highlands GC
|
80
|
|
(a)
Michael Shevlin, Sr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
80
|
|
(a)
Mike Cavanaugh, Jericho National GC
|
80
|
|
(a)
Phil Formica, Makefield Highlands GC
|
80
|
|
(a)
Vincent Budny, Metedeconk National GC
|
80
|
|
(a)
Brandon Capone, Mercer Oaks GC
|
81
|
|
(a)
Christian Haldeman, Saucon Valley CC
|
81
|
|
(a)
Dan Agoglia, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Fran Begley, Wedgwood CC
|
81
|
|
(a)
Gregory Dapron, Hartefeld National
|
81
|
|
(a)
Kevin O'Brien, Cedarbrook CC
|
81
|
|
(a)
Matt Rosal, Wild Quail G&CC
|
81
|
|
(a)
Alex Bauman, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
82
|
|
(a)
Blake Vogdes, Wildwood G&CC
|
82
|
|
(a)
Billy Matthews, North Hills CC
|
83
|
|
(a)
Donald Burgess, Lancaster CC
|
83
|
|
(a)
Eric Spiller, Huntingdon Valley CC
|
83
|
|
(a)
Jack Martinides, Trenton CC
|
83
|
|
(a)
Jimmy Chang, Woodcrest CC
|
83
|
|
(a)
Andrew Ring, Meadowlands CC
|
84
|
|
(a)
David Shell, Radley Run CC
|
84
|
|
(a)
Forrest Swisher, Jericho National GC
|
84
|
|
(a)
Jeffrey Angelucci, Union League GC at Torresdale
|
84
|
|
(a)
Joe Visalli, White Clay Creek CC
|
84
|
|
(a)
Brendan McNamara, The ACE Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Mathew Becker, Commonwealth National GC
|
85
|
|
(a)
Mike Keenan, Commonwealth National GC
|
85
|
|
Jonathan Trauner,
Burlington CC
|
86
|
|
(a)
Luke Liddell, Union League GC at Torresdale
|
86
|
|
(a)
Robert Dietrich, Loch Nairn GC
|
86
|
|
(a)
Robert Loftus, Overbrook GC
|
86
|
|
(a)
Todd von Vital, Jericho National GC
|
87
|
|
Jim
Vernon, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
91
|
|
(a)
Michael Winton, Tavistock CC
|
92
|
|
(a)
Robert Fisher, Five Ponds GC
|
92
|
|
(a)
Dan Agee, Five Ponds GC
|
95
|
|
(a)
Todd Joseph, The ACE Club
|
NS
|
|
(a)
Clark Holle, Mercer Oaks GC
|
WD
|
|
Jared Cottell,
Elkview CC
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Jonathan Shevlin, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Lance Oberparleiter, Little Mill CC
|
WD
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*-determined
in playoff; (a)-denotes amateur
|
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NS-no
show; WD-withdrawal
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