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Matt Mattare of Saucon Valley Country Club took the
113th Open Championship at Philadelphia Country Club by two strokes. |
Saucon’s Mattare secures 113th #GAPOpen Championship
GLADWYNE, Pa.–Matt Mattare remained calm at every point of crisis in the Open Championship’s final round. A near disaster on No. 16 included.
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| Day 1 recap
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| Day 2 video |
Entering Round 2 with a four-shot advantage, and fresh off a Philadelphia Country Club (par 71, 6,920 yards) course-record of 8-under-par 63, Mattare kept the field at arm’s length throughout to register a two-shot victory. Mattare, an amateur, finished the 36 holes of the event’s 113th edition with a 138 total. He posted a second-round 4-over 75.
Mattare joins former Professional Ralph Hutchison as the only Saucon Valley Country Club reps to earn Open hardware. Hutchinson took the 1954 Open.
Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Country Club’s director of instruction, and Tony Perla, an assistant professional from Philadelphia Cricket Club, tied for second place as well as low-pro honors at 2 under. Only four players broke par for the 36 holes.
“It certainly wasn’t as easy as yesterday,” said Mattare, 31, of Jersey City, N.J. “It feels great to get it over the finish line. I feel like my résumé has a bunch of runner-ups and Top 5s and not enough of the big hardware. It feels great to bring this one home.”
Mattare’s top prior Open finish was a tie for third in 2011 and 2016.
He did win the Association’s Middle-Amateur Championship last spring at Waynesborough Country Club in a three-man playoff.
“This is definitely the biggest win I’ve had,” Mattare added.
This year’s Open was the first with a revamped format, which included the expansion of the field to 130-plus players (up from 78) and administration of the tournament over two days instead of one. A total of 65 players made the cut (the cut was the low 60 players and ties) – 38 amateurs and 27 professionals.
Mattare opened his title march in solid, yet conservative, fashion with nine straight pars. He either found the putting surface or the fringe on every front-nine hole. At one point, standing on No. 5 (par 3, 153 yards) he held a six-shot advantage. Mattare headed to the back nine eventually five strokes clear.
That’s when a little trouble started to brew. On Nos. 10 (par 4, 435 yards) and 11 (par 3, 192 yards), he missed both greens with resulting bogeys. On the former, his tee ball found the left rough and his subsequent approach missed right. On 11, his 5-iron landed eight feet left of the flagstick but bounced over the green. He missed his four-foot par try.
“The pins were a little tougher and the greens dried out a little bit,” said Mattare of the course conditions. “I wasn’t hitting bad shots. It was set up tough and the course fought back a little bit. I bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11. I didn’t hit bad shots. They just kind of bounced over the green. And I didn’t get up-and-down.”
Mattare found the greenside bunker on No. 15 (par 3, 221 yards) for another over-par score and then on No. 16 (par 4, 403 yards) almost watched his monster lead disappear.
He ripped a perfect drive and was left with an 85-yard wedge shot.
“The only time I felt like I hit a really bad shot was on No. 16 when I laid the sod over [the second shot],” said Mattare. “It’s such a ticklish shot down the hill, hitting a three-quarter lob wedge off a downhill lie to a pin where you have the size of a coffee table to land it in.”
Mattare’s next shot from 38 yards ran through the green, leaving him a 35-foot par effort. His bogey putt was six feet.
“That was the only putt I made outside three feet. Yesterday I had 13 one putts, today I had one. It was a very timely one putt. We got through that and here we are.”
He concluded with solid tee to green play and two pars.
Bergstol carded a 2-under 69 with six birdies to gradually move up the leaderboard. His score tied for the low round of the day.
Perla, who opened the second round at 4 under after a 67 yesterday, never seemed to find solid footing. He did, however, answer the bell late when he launched a 90-yard sand wedge on No. 18 (par 4, 390 yards) to eight feet and made the birdie putt to tie Bergstol as the low pro.
Defending champion Jeff Osberg of Huntingdon Valley Country Club tied for 37th after rounds of 74 and 75.
Next year, St. Davids Golf Club will host the 114th Open.
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 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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Name, club
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R1-R2-Total
|
|
(a)
Matthew Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club
|
63-75–138
|
|
Brian
Bergstol, Shawnee Country Club
|
71-69–140
|
|
Tony
Perla, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
67-73–140
|
|
John
Pillar, Sr., CC at Woodloch Springs
|
71-70–141
|
|
Chris
Krueger, Kings Creek Country Club
|
72-70–142
|
|
Michael
Little, Lookaway Golf Club
|
72-70–142
|
|
Billy
Stewart, The ACE Club
|
72-70–142
|
|
David
Quinn, Philmont Country Club
|
71-72–143
|
|
(a)
Gary McCabe, Jr., RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
75-69–144
|
|
Rich
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
72-72–144
|
|
(a)
Michael R. Brown, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club
|
73-71–144
|
|
Jordan
Gibbs, Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
75-69–144
|
|
Alexander
Knoll, Bethlehem Golf Club
|
71-73–144
|
|
David
McNabb, Applebrook Golf Club
|
73-71–144
|
|
(a)
Jack Melville, Lu Lu Country Club
|
70-74–144
|
|
(a)
Cole Berman, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
71-74–145
|
|
(a)
Yoseph Dance, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
73-72–145
|
|
(a)
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club
|
73-72–145
|
|
(a)
David Hicks, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
69-76–145
|
|
(a)
Michael McDermott, Merion Golf Club
|
69-76–145
|
|
Stuart
Ingraham, MGOLF Driving Range & Learning Center
|
70-76–146
|
|
(a)
Scott McLaughlin, Lu Lu Country Club
|
71-75–146
|
|
David
Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
74-72–146
|
|
Trevor
Bensel, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
72-74–146
|
|
(a)
P.J. Acierno, Lu Lu
Country Club
|
73-74–147
|
|
(a)
Carey Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
75-72–147
|
|
(a)
Marty McGuckin, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve
|
70-77–147
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|
(a)
Connor McNicholas, Lu Lu
Country Club
|
75-72–147
|
|
Mark
Sheftic, Merion Golf Club
|
70-77–147
|
|
(a)
Peter Bradbeer, Merion Golf Club
|
75-72–147
|
|
(a)
Ron Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
73-74–147
|
|
Andrew
Turner, Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
73-74–147
|
|
(a)
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
75-73–148
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|
(a)
Ross Pilliod, Gilbertsville Golf Club
|
71-77–148
|
|
(a)
Glenn Smeraglio, Lu Lu
Country Club
|
75-73–148
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|
William
Sautter, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
74-74–148
|
|
(a)
Peter Barron, III, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
75-74–149
|
|
(a)
Michael Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
71-78–149
|
|
George
Forster, Radnor Valley Country Club
|
73-76–149
|
|
(a)
Jeff Osberg, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
74-75–149
|
|
(a)
Max Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club
|
75-74–149
|
|
(a)
Clark Holle, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
73-77–150
|
|
Eric
Kennedy, Overbrook Golf Club
|
73-77–150
|
|
(a)
Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club
|
75-75–150
|
|
(a)
Michael Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
73-77–150
|
|
(a)
Michael Cook, Applebrook Golf Club
|
73-77–150
|
|
Corey
McAlarney, Squires Golf Club
|
75-75–150
|
|
Brendon
Post, University of Delaware
|
75-75–150
|
|
Matthew
Episcopo, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
75-76–151
|
|
(a)
Blaine Lafferty, Little Mill Country Club
|
74-77–151
|
|
(a)
Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
74-77–151
|
|
Greg
Matthias, Tavistock Country Club
|
74-78–152
|
|
(a)
Erik Reisner, The ACE Club
|
75-77–152
|
|
(a)
Andrew Wallace, Green Valley Country Club
|
75-77–152
|
|
Ryan
Lagergren, Stonewall
|
73-79–152
|
|
David
Fields, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
75-78–153
|
|
Joey
Pohle, Blue Bell Country Club
|
75-78–153
|
|
(a)
Alexander Kim, Blue Bell Country Club
|
75-79–154
|
|
(a)
Dominic Digiacomo, Greate
Bay Country Club
|
75-79–154
|
|
(a)
Brett Brenner, Green Valley Country Club
|
75-80–155
|
|
Bill
Walker, Riverton Country Club
|
75-80–155
|
|
(a)
Ryan Cass, Merchantville Country Club
|
75-81–156
|
|
(a)
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club
|
75-81–156
|
|
(a)
Matt Bierer, RiverCrest
Golf Club & Preserve
|
72-85–157
|
|
(a)
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club
|
74-88–162
|
| |
|
Failed
to qualify
|
|
Jason
Calhoun, Philadelphia Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Aaron Fricke, Lancaster Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Luca Jezzeny, The Bucks Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Bryan Keeling, Spring Mill Country Club
|
76
|
|
Joseph
Kogelman, GOLFTEC-Moorestown
|
76
|
|
(a)
Andrew Lombardo, Indian Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Brett
Melton, Radley Run Country Club
|
76
|
|
Tom
Michaels, Berkshire Country Club
|
76
|
|
Anthony
Napoletano, GOLFTEC-Malvern
|
76
|
|
John
Bierkan, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
76
|
|
Jakob
Gerney, Trump National Golf Club - Philadelphia
|
76
|
|
Terry
Hatch, Hickory Valley Golf Club
|
76
|
|
Zac
Oakley, The Rookery
|
76
|
|
(a)
Richard Riva, Bent Creek Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Ryan Rucinski, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Dylan Stein, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
76
|
|
(a)
Mike Sydnes, Talamore
Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
Jarred Texter, Conestoga Country Club
|
76
|
|
(a)
James Gillespie, Little Mill Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Connor Sheehan, Conestoga Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
Robert Firth, Jr., Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Robert
Hennefer, Indian Spring Country Club
|
77
|
|
Terry
Hertzog, Country Club of York
|
77
|
|
(a)
Noah Schwartz, Woodcrest Country Club
|
77
|
|
(a)
John Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Geoffrey Cooper, North Hills Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Tyler McGarry, Fox Hill Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Michael Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Jon Rudisill, Reading Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Kevin Sarlo, Burlington Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Chuck Briggs, Bala Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Matthew Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Matthew Finger, DuPont Country Club
|
78
|
|
Steve
Swartz, Regents'Â Glen
Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Nicholas Biondi, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
Nick
Gorman, Burlington Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Keith Olinick, Skippack Golf Club at Evansburg State Park
|
79
|
|
(a)
David West, Whitford Country Club
|
79
|
|
Curtis
Kirkpatrick, Indian Spring Country Club
|
79
|
|
Rick
LeBeau, Gulph Mills Golf
Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Ben Litt, Riverton Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Frank Corrado, Jr., Lu Lu
Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Wills Montgomery, Applecross Country Club
|
80
|
|
Eric
Schultz, Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
80
|
|
(a)
Thomas Lewis, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Jim Maru, Northampton Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Joel Hark, Woodcrest Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Michael Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
81
|
|
Scott
Reilly, Philadelphia Country Club
|
81
|
|
Gregory
Farrow, Deerwood Country Club
|
81
|
|
Ryan
Jones, Lehigh Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Liam McGrath, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Jon Nolan Perry, Waynesborough Country Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
William Howard, V, Applebrook Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Joseph Hughes, Little Mill Country Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Scott Kalan, Squires Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Joseph Markmann, Talamore
Country Club
|
83
|
|
John
Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Reed Winkler, Hartefeld National
|
84
|
|
(a)
Donald Burgess, Lancaster Country Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
Daniel Wu, Blue Bell Country Club
|
89
|
|
(a)
Ambrose Abbracciamento, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Matthew Balcer, Bensalem Township Country Club
|
WD
|
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Travis
Deibert, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
WD
|
|
(a)
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Joe Visalli, Hartefeld
National
|
WD
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WD-withdrawal
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