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| Jarred Texter, a former pro, is looking to prove himself on the amateur level. |
Gerney, Texter take low honors in #GAPOpen Qual. at Blue Bell
BLUE BELL, Pa. — One familiar professional of Philadelphia and one former pro recently returning to amateur status topped the first of two Golf Association of Philadelphia Open Championship Qualifiers at Blue Bell Country Club (par 71, 6,674 yards).
| Scorecards |
History |
Jakob Gerney, an assistant at Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia, and Jarred Texter, a former pro himself playing out of Conestoga Country Club, each fired rounds of 2-under 69 to grab medalist honors Wednesday.
The day’s cut line stopped at 6-over 77. Starting at 4:19 p.m., there was an hour weather delay due to heavy winds and rain passing through the Blue Bell area.
The championship proper, which will feature a new two-day playing format, will be played July 17-18 at Philadelphia Country Club.
Five birdies sent Texter to the top of a leaderboard featuring 141 hopefuls. On No. 2 (par 4, 455 yards), his 3-wood tee shot surfaced in the right rough, leading to a hybrid approach over a water hazard that ran up to the front of the green. Left with a 25-footer, the putt would fall for the first red number.
Then, a triple bogey arrived on the par-4, 427-yard 4th hole. It was a blemish on the card, but it didn’t rattle Texter’s game.
“I pulled the tee shot, and the OB was right there. It hit the cart path, went out and then I bogeyed my provisional ball,” said Texter. “But at that point, I knew there was a ton of golf left. I really just wanted to qualify and I got that done.”
The rest of the birdies came on par 5s (Nos. 7, 9, 14, 17) – a rarity, he says.
“That was kind of a surprise. I don’t usually play those incredibly well, traditionally, because you always feel the pressure to make birdies and take advantage on those,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s always been a mental thing or not, but today I was able to get up and down really well today for birdies.”
It may bode well for Texter, who regained his amateur-playing status back this season after competing professionally on mini-tours for seven years, that he’ll be appear in the #GAPOpen as an amateur. The last seven titles have gone their way.
“Coming back as an amateur, I feel like I need to prove myself all over again,” said Texter, said Texter, a four-year member of UNLV’s golf team, including All-America honors in 2006 and 2007. “I’ve played in some pretty big stuff as a pro, but now that I’ve got my status back, I’m really looking forward to my future here playing in GAP [events].”
Did we mention he’s fresh off his GAP Major debut just last week?
Texter qualified for the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship match play as the No. 11 seed after a 36-hole total of 3-over par 145 at Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon), but ultimately fell to No. 22 seed David Hicks of Wildwood Golf and Country Club’s, 3&1, in the Round of 32.
“These events have such a big feel to them. Whether it’s all the stuff the staff does at a tournament, or whether it’s the videos or social media, it just feels big time,” said Texter, of Millersville, Pa.
Gerney, starting on Blue Bell’s back nine, bogeyed Nos. 12 (par 3, 173 yards) and 13 (par 4, 374 yards) to dig himself in a shallow hole early. That hole was kicked in quickly.
A birdie dropped on No. 14 (par 5, 491 yards) after Gerney blasted his ball out of a greenside bunker, jarring the 10-foot attempt that followed. On No. 17 (par 5, 493 yards), he blasted a drive down the center followed by a 6-iron that left him in front of the dance floor. A two-putt birdie from 35 feet got him back to even. Another one fell on No. 18 (par 4, 422 yards), after a punch 7-iron led to a six-foot downhiller that was converted.
A solid second nine, including a tap-in birdie from eight inches on No. 4 (par 4, 427 yards), was the cherry on top for the day’s low score.
Gerney, entering his seventh season at Trump National, is now set to make his eighth #GAPOpen appearance.
“I love the new two-day format. It’ll give some other guys a chance, it’s a little more manageable. I’d play decent in the morning, but once I would get to the second back nine, it would be over for me,” said Gerney, 38, of Sewell, N.J.
He’ll look to end the trend of amateurs winning when he steps up to the tee at Philly Country.
“The [amateur] talent level is awesome. It’s very strong. You’ve got guys like Chris Crawford making back-to-back U.S. Open appearances,” said Gerney. “It’s good moving on in golf tournaments no matter where and what they are.”
The second and final Qualifier will be administered June 27 at Radnor Valley Country Club.
The 2017 #GAPOpen field has expanded to 132 players. The format remains 36 holes of stroke play, however, the Championship will be contested over two days this year, rather than one day. A cut to the low 60 and ties takes place after Round 1.
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
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Score
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(a)
Jarred Texter, Conestoga Country Club
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69
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Jakob
Gerney, Trump National Golf Club - Philadelphia
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69
|
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Brian
Bergstol, Shawnee Country Club
|
70
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|
(a)
Yoseph Dance, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
|
71
|
|
(a)
Jack Melville, Lu Lu Country Club
|
71
|
|
(a)
Ambrose Abbracciamento, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
71
|
|
(a)
John Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Joey
Pohle, Blue Bell Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Luca Jezzeny, The Bucks Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Dylan Stein, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
72
|
|
(a)
Bryan Keeling, Spring Mill Country Club
|
72
|
|
(a)
Andrew Wallace, Green Valley Country Club
|
73
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David
Fields, Brookside CC of Allentown
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74
|
|
(a)
Thomas Lewis, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
Andrew Lombardo, Indian Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
William Howard, V, Applebrook Golf Club
|
74
|
|
(a)
Gary McCabe, Jr., RiverCrest Golf Club &
Preserve
|
75
|
|
(a)
Alexander Kim, Blue Bell Country Club
|
75
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|
(a)
Liam McGrath, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Matthew Balcer, Bensalem Township Country Club
|
75
|
|
(a)
Glenn Smeraglio, Lu Lu
Country Club
|
75
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Nick
Gorman, Burlington Country Club
|
75
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|
(a)
Chuck Briggs, Bala Golf Club
|
75
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|
(a)
Clark Holle, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
75
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|
(a)
Jon Rudisill, Reading Country Club
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75
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|
(a)
Joe Visalli, Hartefeld
National
|
75
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|
(a)
Matthew Davis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
76
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(a)
Jon Nolan Perry, Waynesborough Country Club
|
76
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|
(a)
Daniel Wu, Blue Bell Country Club
|
76
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|
(a)
Ross Pilliod, Gilbertsville Golf Club
|
76
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|
(a)
Ryan Rucinski, Fieldstone Golf Club
|
76
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|
(a)
Kevin Sarlo, Burlington Country Club
|
76
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Ryan
Jones, Lehigh Country Club
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76
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|
(a)
Jim Maru, Northampton Country Club
|
77
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|
(a)
Erik Reisner, The ACE Club
|
77
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|
(a)
Joseph Markmann, Talamore
Country Club
|
77
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(a)
Donald Burgess, Lancaster Country Club
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77
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(a)
Michael Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club
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77
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(a)
Reed Winkler, Hartefeld National
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77
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(a)
Tyler McGarry, Fox Hill Country Club
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77
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|
(a)
Noah Schwartz, Woodcrest Country Club
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77
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|
(a)
Connor Sheehan, Conestoga Country Club
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77
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|
(a)
Frank Corrado, Jr., Lu Lu
Country Club
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77
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(a)
Keith Olinick, Skippack Golf Club at Evansburg State Park
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77
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(a)
Ryan Cass, Merchantville Country Club
|
77
|
| |
|
Failed
to qualify
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(a)
Mark Benevento, Jr., Greate Bay Country Club
|
78
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|
(a)
Jonathan Radick, Northampton Valley Country Club
|
78
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|
(a)
Kenneth Matt, Talamore Country Club
|
78
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Andy
Watters, Talamore Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Michael Moffat, Lu Lu Country Club
|
78
|
|
Mark
Anderson, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
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Kevin
Kraft, Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center
|
78
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|
(a)
Buddy Hansen, IV, Blue Bell Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Ed Brown, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Drew Guarino, Old York CC at Chesterfield
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78
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|
(a)
Mitch Burns, Golden Oaks Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Matt Smith, Wilmington Country Club
|
78
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|
(a)
Rick Hendrickson, Aronimink Golf Club
|
78
|
|
(a)
Adam Bracy, Rancocas Golf Club
|
78
|
|
John
Cooper, Jr., Green Valley Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Noam Roizman, Bluestone Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Doug Gordon, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Connor Vanin, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
79
|
|
(a)
Christopher Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Greg Welsh, Talamore Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Jack Wallace, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
79
|
|
Jon
Rusk, Lu Lu Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Kevin Haag, Glenmaura National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Rocco Sgrillo, Philmont Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Shawn Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Jay Nistad, Medford Village Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Trey Kuntz, Lancaster Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Anthony Hoffman, Middletown Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Dylan Chessher, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Cory Meyer, Burlington Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Phil Formica, Yardley Country Club
|
79
|
|
(a)
Clay Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Jordan Wycoff, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Richard Hunter, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
80
|
|
(a)
Joe Kerrigan, Jr., Llanerch Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Mark Hill, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Eric Buckland, Meadia Heights Golf Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Alec Cwienkala, Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
(a)
Mark Hodgson, Medford Village Country Club
|
80
|
|
Andrew
Pierson, Camden County Golf Academy
|
81
|
|
(a)
David Kim, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Andrew Simpson, Indian Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Rodney Anders, Indian Valley Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Mike Keenan, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Andrew Curran, Overbrook Golf Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Mark Coassolo, Brookside CC of Allentown
|
81
|
|
(a)
Mark Farley, Lu Lu Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Bret Howey, Woodstone Country Club
|
81
|
|
(a)
Sean Ebert, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Brendan Bacskai, Applebrook
Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Daniel Rieger, Sunnybrook Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Rob Wilson, Bala Golf Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Bradley Bernosky, Broad Run Golfer's Club
|
82
|
|
(a)
Todd Baron, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
82
|
|
(a)
Jordan Lerner, Metedeconk National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
(a)
Bob Ball, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Chris Binet, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Timothy Smith, Bensalem Township Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Nick Madden, Lu Lu Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Stephen Barry, Sakima Country Club
|
84
|
|
(a)
Jules Quinones, Blue Bell Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
John O'Donnell, White Manor Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Matt Dreyfuss, Hartefeld
National
|
85
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|
(a)
Rajat Gogia, Applecross Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Paul Bickford, Wedgwood Country Club
|
85
|
|
(a)
Corey Betham, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
86
|
|
(a)
Jonathan Green, Green Valley Country Club
|
86
|
|
(a)
Jh Park, Blue Bell Country Club
|
86
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|
(a)
Brian Leftwich, Pine Valley Golf Club
|
86
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Joseph
Ambrose, Paupak Hills Golf & Country Club
|
86
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|
(a)
Dave Landau, Berkshire Country Club
|
86
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|
(a)
Lodie Van Tonder, Sakima Country Club
|
86
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|
(a)
Alec Stern, Green Valley Country Club
|
87
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|
(a)
Greg Blackburn, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
87
|
|
(a)
James Peruggia, Blue Bell Country Club
|
88
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|
(a)
Phillip Held, Jr., Blue Bell Country Club
|
90
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|
(a)
Terry Tompkins, Talamore Country Club
|
90
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|
(a)
Kenny Engel, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
90
|
|
(a)
Richard Reed, Hartefeld National
|
90
|
|
(a)
Matthew Bastian, Jr., Rolling Green Golf Club
|
91
|
|
(a)
Dave DiValentino, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
91
|
|
(a)
Reed Huntzinger, Bent Creek Country Club
|
91
|
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Anthony
Shields, The ACE Club
|
94
|
|
(a)
Fran Migliocco, DuPont Country Club
|
94
|
|
(a)
Edward Conway, Blue Bell Country Club
|
101
|
|
(a)
Kevin Hart, Jr., Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club
|
WD
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(a)
Matthew Cleary, Wilmington Country Club
|
WD
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(a)
Luke Liddell, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale
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WD
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(a)
Matt Keim, Brookside Country Club
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WD
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(a)
Matt Milligan, Skippack Golf Club at Evansburg
State Park
|
WD
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(a)
Robert Loftus, Overbrook Golf Club
|
WD
|
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(a)
Andrew Gallagher, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
WD
|
|
(a)
Owen Samuda, Valleybrook
Country Club
|
WD
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|
(a)
Conor McGrath, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
WD
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(a)
Brian Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
WD
|
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(a)
Robert Wojczak, Makefield
Highlands Golf Club
|
WD
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(a)
Kevin Cahill, Merion Golf Club
|
WD
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(a)
Forrest Swisher, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
NC
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Greyson
Rossi, Bayside Resort Golf Club
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NC
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(a)-denotes amateur
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NC-no
card; WD-withdrawal
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