The Golf Association of Philadelphia

July 22, 2016

Michael Nilon, now a two-time champion, bombed two closing-nine birdies from distance.

Super-sub Yenser pairs with Jones, LeBoeuf, Nilon
to win Senior Four-Man Team

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. - Sometimes, champions get lucky. Other times, champions make good things happen when it matters most.

| Scorecards | History |

You can say both applied to Philadelphia Publinks GA’s Buck Jones, Ravens Claw Golf Club’s Jim Yenser, and Philadelphia Country Club’s Michael Nilon and Jim LeBoeuf on Friday at Philmont Country Club (par 70, 6,189 yards). Wielding a team-oriented style of play, the foursome stepped up at the right time to win the 27th playing of the Senior Four-Man Team. A total of 42 teams – up from 29 last year – competed in an 18-hole, two best balls of four, stroke-play format.

The first group of the morning, which included an all-Wilmington Country Club foursome of Donald MacKelcan, Steve Walczak, Brett Koelle and Bob Hackett, Jr., turned in the first 9-under card of the day. The winning foursome, who teed off as the last morning-wave group, turned in their scorecard, noticed a tie and anxiously waited for word on who would claim the top spot if the results held.

Since both teams started on the back nine, meaning identical 9-hole scores, the last six holes on the back became the tiebreaker as suggested by the United States Golf Association. The champion’s last six edged out the Wilmington group's score, 34 to 36. Their 5-under total over that stretch ended up being the winning difference.

The title-claiming round started off with a bit of rust, including a few makeable birdie putts that were missed on Nos. 1 (par 4, 374 yards) and 2 (par 4, 382 yards).

But soon after, a spectacular 25-yard chip by Yenser got the group into red on No. 12 (par 5, 490 yards) when his ball landed within inches of the cup. A tap-in birdie followed.

On No. 15 (par 4, 371 yards), Yenser landed near the front of the green, about 18 feet away, and drained a tough birdie look. Jones followed suit, dropping his five-foot attempt from behind the hole.

Another double-birdie score, one of “the keys of the round”, arrived on No. 18 (par 4, 332 yards). After well-placed approach shots with wedges, Jones jarred one from eight feet while Yenser dropped his putt on top of him from four feet.

On the group’s closing nine, reinforcements arrived. Nilon carded a 1-under 34 on the back, equipped with two crucial red numbers, to help will his team to victory down the stretch.

The first sign of Nilon’s resurgence came on No. 3 (par 3, 151 yards) thanks to a 20-foot birdie bomb. After a 30-footer from Jones was converted on the par-4, 345-yard 13th, Nilon dropped in a 25-footer of his own to make the group 2 under on the hole.

The winning birdie arrived on No. 8 (par 3, 130 yards), although the group didn’t quite know it at the time. Yenser’s wedge off the tee nestled 20 feet from the flagstick there. Facing a left-to-right attempt, Yenser sent the ball to the bottom of the cup.

Talk about clutch.

Most of the group is battle tested at Philmont. Yenser, a certified Club Champion fitter who has an extensive background in that field, made his debut on the Huntingdon Valley, Pa. track. He fired an even-par 70 on his own ball.

“The approach shots are difficult. The greens are difficult,” said Yenser, 55, of Birdsboro, Pa. “I knew about it through some people telling me about the course – it’s a classic Philadelphia course – but the greens ended up playing harder than what people have said.”

Today marked the first time this Four-Man team has played together in competition. When Philly Country’s Don Ashley, a frequent Four-Man teammate of Jones and Nilon, was forced to drop out, Jones knew who his first phone call would go to.

That phone call went immediately to super-sub Yenser, his good friend.

“We were pretty happy with the production we got out of him today. We’ve played as Better-Ball teammates before, so it was great to have him on the team today,” said Jones, 65, of Collegeville, Pa.

“I had it blocked off in my schedule. I wanted to play, but I didn’t know who to get in with. It’s easy to get a partner but it’s harder to get a full four,” said Yenser.

LeBoeuf rounded out the foursome, adding a 2-over-round of 72 to the mix. His birdie on No. 13 (par 4, 327) yards helped steady a hole where the others struggled.

Jones and Nilon have competed together roughly “35 times”. They know what it takes to be successful in this unique playing format with all of that experience to their names. Nilon, especially, as he took home the title in 2007 at The Springhaven Club.

“You can take a break for a while and then show up. That’s always nice in this event,” said Nilon. 67, of Gladwyne, Pa. “It’s a fun one, because you’re out there with four guys you’re friends with, and there is less pressure on you. That mindset helped us out today.”

“We all took turns going on vacation today,” said Yenser. “The thing is, our bad holes never overlapped. There was always someone there to make par and keep us going.”

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.

Gross Division
Name, club	Total
*John LeBoeuf, Philadelphia Country Club; Michael Nilon, Philadelphia Country Club; Buck Jones Philadelphia Publinks GA; & Jim Yenser, Raven's Claw Golf Club	131
Robert Hackett, Jr., Brett Koelle, Donald MacKelcan & Steven Walczak, Wilmington Country Club	131
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill Country Club; James Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club; Bryan Marvin Old York Road Country Club; Bob Arthur, Tavistock Country Club	132
Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club; Christopher Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club; Steven Lucas, White Manor Country Club & Michael Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA	135
Bill Charpek, Gordon Jamieson, J. Kirk Luntey & Robert Wagner, Merion Golf Club	135
Don Donatoni, White Manor Country Club; Carl Everett, Merion Golf Club; Neil McDermott, Llanerch Country Club & Michael Rose, Talamore Country Club	136
Robert Amen Philadelphia Publinks GA; Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club; Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield & Bob Majczan, Lookaway Golf Club	139
Alan Lazzarino & Robert Walters, DuPont Country Club; Thomas Alestock & Rocky Dare, Running Deer Golf Club	140
Scott Carney, Scott Page, Larry Seltzer & Edward Yamasaki, Commonwealth National Golf Club	142
Richard Custer, Marty Dorminy, Scott Orr & James Prendergast, Bellewood Country Club	142
Charles Bernard, Joseph Lewis, Chris Moresco & Jeff Snider, Aronimink Golf Club	142
Bruce Berger, Arthur Frankel, Irving Kraft & Leonard Pearson, Philmont Country Club	143
Robert Fox, Philmont Country Club; Gary Gordon, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Steven Gordon, Old York CC at Chesterfield & Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club	143
David Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club; Arthur Jacoby, Philadelphia Cricket Club; John Nottage & Alan Van Horn, Commonwealth National Golf Club	143
Michael Anton, Frank Ferino, Roc Irey & Thomas Mallouk, Lookaway Golf Club	144
Michael Brady, Steve Dionisio, Jim Gavaghan & Thomas Mensel, Jericho National Golf Club	144
Daniel Burton, Lancaster Country Club; Gerald Eckert, William Reuter & Ronald Yarnell, Bent Creek Country Club	144
Gary Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club; Andy Karff, Richard Lownes & George May, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	145
Robert Garis, Gregory Sheva, Joseph Shevlin & Brad Tanner, North Hills Country Club	146
Andrew Harmer, Michael Howanski, Rich Thon & John Turner, The Springhaven Club	146
Ross Faigen & Eugene Rockower, Philmont Country Club; Larry Borowsky & Hal Stupp, White Manor Country Club	146
Dave Jacobson, Medford Village Country Club; Peter Mimmo, Philmont Country Club; Jon Mabry & Joseph Perrone, Moorestown Field Club	147
Edward Bondi, Pete Ervin, Robert Galbreath, Sr. & George Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club	147
Chris Hunger, Philadelphia Publinks GA; Robert Lodovici, Raymond Pawulich & Joseph Roeder, Little Mill Country Club	148
Craig Melville, Lu Lu Country Club; Wally Swiger, Philadelphia Publinks GA; Geoff Moulton, Jr. & Robert Reed, Sunnybrook Golf Club	148
Richard Keesling, Mark McDermott, Peter Torras & Joseph Viscuso, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club	149
Roy Bell, Joe Culley, R.B. DIorio, Jr. & Richard Hartmann, The Springhaven Club	149
Robert Dubin, Green Valley Country Club; Laurence Hirsh, Tom Meyers & Patrick O'Kane, Philadelphia Cricket Club	149
Carl Kruse, Randy Kruse, William McCabe, Jr. & Jon Stein, Sandy Run Country Club	150
James Gillespie, Cedarbrook Country Club; Gene Lorenzetti, Lookaway Golf Club; David Lovitz, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club & James Wiley, Old York Road Country Club	150
Neil Donovan, Richard Genoni, Stephen Negrotti & John Snyder, Waynesborough Country Club	151
Don Hohnstine, Thomas Isola, Thomas Mohr & W. Scott Yard, Whitford Country Club	151
John Heald, Domenick Pendino, John Vergari & Gerald Willis, Tavistock Country Club	152
David Bellet, Rolling Green Golf Club; K.C. Isdaner, Woodcrest Country Club; Jeff Klein Talamore Country Club & Anthony Sherr, Green Valley Country Club	152
Gary Ames, Bala Golf Club; Rick Ames, Philadelphia Publinks GA; John Carew, DuPont Country Club & William Erskine, Green Valley Country Club	152
Damian Anzaldo Kennett Square Golf & Country Club; Thomas Brennan, Sr., Moselem Springs Golf Club; Chris Ebersole & John Watson, Blue Bell Country Club	156
Donald Fagnan, Talamore Country Club; Terry Fair RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve; Bob Harris, Old York Road Country Club & Terry Radcliffe, Lancaster Country Club	156
Martin Boland, Werner Cziriak, Michael Kyle & Robert Hayes, Talamore Country Club	160
Edward Sager, Jr., Commonwealth National Golf Club; John Siegrist, Philadelphia Publinks GA; Gary Gardner & Charles Quinn, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	164
Joe Balkovec, Bill Flavell, John McKee & Chris Meyer, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	165
Jack Endicott, Ned Moore, Rick Rutter & W. Frank Skilton, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	166
Mike Boyle, John Desantis, David Kaarby & Paul Salvo, Blue Bell Country Club	174

Net Division
Name, club	Total
Robert Hackett, Jr., Brett Koelle, Donald MacKelcan & Steven Walczak, Wilmington Country Club	121
John LeBoeuf, Philadelphia Country Club; Michael Nilon, Philadelphia Country Club; Buck Jones Philadelphia Publinks GA; & Jim Yenser, Raven's Claw Golf Club	126
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill Country Club; James Muller, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club; Bryan Marvin Old York Road Country Club; Bob Arthur, Tavistock Country Club	127
Neil Donovan, Richard Genoni, Stephen Negrotti & John Snyder, Waynesborough Country Club	127
Don Donatoni, White Manor Country Club; Carl Everett, Merion Golf Club; Neil McDermott, Llanerch Country Club & Michael Rose, Talamore Country Club	128
James Gillespie, Cedarbrook Country Club; Gene Lorenzetti, Lookaway Golf Club; David Lovitz, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club & James Wiley, Old York Road Country Club	128
Gregory Buliga, Yardley Country Club; Christopher Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club; Steven Lucas, White Manor Country Club & Michael Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA	129
Scott Carney, Scott Page, Larry Seltzer & Edward Yamasaki, Commonwealth National Golf Club	129
Roy Bell, Joe Culley, R.B. DIorio, Jr. & Richard Hartmann, The Springhaven Club	129
Bill Charpek, Gordon Jamieson, J. Kirk Luntey & Robert Wagner, Merion Golf Club	130
Bruce Berger, Arthur Frankel, Irving Kraft & Leonard Pearson, Philmont Country Club	130
Gary Smith, Pine Valley Golf Club; Andy Karff, Richard Lownes & George May, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	130
Ross Faigen & Eugene Rockower, Philmont Country Club; Larry Borowsky & Hal Stupp, White Manor Country Club	130
Robert Fox, Philmont Country Club; Gary Gordon, Philadelphia Cricket Club; Steven Gordon, Old York CC at Chesterfield & Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club	131
Robert Garis, Gregory Sheva, Joseph Shevlin & Brad Tanner, North Hills Country Club	131
Gary Ames, Bala Golf Club; Rick Ames, Philadelphia Publinks GA; John Carew, DuPont Country Club & William Erskine, Green Valley Country Club	131
Daniel Burton, Lancaster Country Club; Gerald Eckert, William Reuter & Ronald Yarnell, Bent Creek Country Club	132
Edward Bondi, Pete Ervin, Robert Galbreath, Sr. & George Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club	132
Richard Keesling, Mark McDermott, Peter Torras & Joseph Viscuso, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club	132
Donald Fagnan, Talamore Country Club; Terry Fair RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve; Bob Harris, Old York Road Country Club & Terry Radcliffe, Lancaster Country Club	132
Robert Amen Philadelphia Publinks GA; Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club; Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield & Bob Majczan, Lookaway Golf Club	133
Alan Lazzarino & Robert Walters, DuPont Country Club; Thomas Alestock & Rocky Dare, Running Deer Golf Club	133
John Heald, Domenick Pendino, John Vergari & Gerald Willis, Tavistock Country Club	133
David Bellet, Rolling Green Golf Club; K.C. Isdaner, Woodcrest Country Club; Jeff Klein Talamore Country Club & Anthony Sherr, Green Valley Country Club	133
Richard Custer, Marty Dorminy, Scott Orr & James Prendergast, Bellewood Country Club	134
Robert Dubin, Green Valley Country Club; Laurence Hirsh, Tom Meyers & Patrick O'Kane, Philadelphia Cricket Club	134
Andrew Harmer, Michael Howanski, Rich Thon & John Turner, The Springhaven Club	135
Dave Jacobson, Medford Village Country Club; Peter Mimmo, Philmont Country Club; Jon Mabry & Joseph Perrone, Moorestown Field Club	135
Damian Anzaldo Kennett Square Golf & Country Club; Thomas Brennan, Sr., Moselem Springs Golf Club; Chris Ebersole & John Watson, Blue Bell Country Club	135
Martin Boland, Werner Cziriak, Michael Kyle & Robert Hayes, Talamore Country Club	135
David Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club; Arthur Jacoby, Philadelphia Cricket Club; John Nottage & Alan Van Horn, Commonwealth National Golf Club	136
Michael Anton, Frank Ferino, Roc Irey & Thomas Mallouk, Lookaway Golf Club	136
Carl Kruse, Randy Kruse, William McCabe, Jr. & Jon Stein, Sandy Run Country Club	136
Charles Bernard, Joseph Lewis, Chris Moresco & Jeff Snider, Aronimink Golf Club	137
Craig Melville, Lu Lu Country Club; Wally Swiger, Philadelphia Publinks GA; Geoff Moulton, Jr. & Robert Reed, Sunnybrook Golf Club	137
Jack Endicott, Ned Moore, Rick Rutter & W. Frank Skilton, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	137
Michael Brady, Steve Dionisio, Jim Gavaghan & Thomas Mensel, Jericho National Golf Club	138
Edward Sager, Jr., Commonwealth National Golf Club; John Siegrist, Philadelphia Publinks GA; Gary Gardner & Charles Quinn, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	138
Don Hohnstine, Thomas Isola, Thomas Mohr & W. Scott Yard, Whitford Country Club	140
Joe Balkovec, Bill Flavell, John McKee & Chris Meyer, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club	140
Chris Hunger, Philadelphia Publinks GA; Robert Lodovici, Raymond Pawulich & Joseph Roeder, Little Mill Country Club	141
Mike Boyle, John Desantis, David Kaarby & Paul Salvo, Blue Bell Country Club	148

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A Walk Through Time

Super-sub Yenser pairs with Jones, LeBoeuf, Nilon
to win Senior Four-Man Team

Membership

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Play

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A Walk Through Time

Super-sub Yenser pairs with Jones, LeBoeuf, Nilon to win Senior Four-Man Team

Super-sub Yenser pairs with Jones, LeBoeuf, Nilon
to win Senior Four-Man Team