|
 |
| Oscar Mestre (left) and Ray Thompson fired a 7-under 64. |
Overbrook's Mestre, Thompson light up Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — Need an ideal example of the meaning of “team”? Look no further than Overbrook Golf Club members Oscar Mestre and Raymond Thompson. They are virtually a living definition at this point, with a plethora of trophies to prove it.
| Scoring portal |
History |
Mestre and Thompson won 13 Golf Association of Philadelphia Team Championships together, pairing up in most of those title runs between 1981 and their latest in 2012. They added to their team, and Overbrook’s, trophy cabinets again on Thursday.
Despite a lightning delay that lasted almost two hours, including a strike that landed within feet of the scoring area, the pair prevailed for their first title in the event, firing a 7-under 64 to top a field of 49 Senior teams at Laurel Creek Country Club (par 71, 6,449 yards).
“We know each other’s game. Our chemistry is great out there,” said Mestre, 57, of Berwyn, Pa. “In the Team Championships, we would usually partner up. We’ve got experience together, definitely.”
Nine birdies on the card ended up being the deciding factor for Mestre and Thompson, who finished third in last year’s championship at LedgeRock Golf Club.
“I did the best driving I’ve ever done. I drove the cart really well today,” said Mestre, the Secretary of the GAP Executive Committee. “Ray just really had it going today. There were other players out there that were trying to steal him from me [as a partner].”
Thompson jarred seven birdies overall. His five red numbers on the front – on Nos. 1 (par 4, 490 yards), 4 (par 4, 391 yards), 5 (par 5, 489 yards), 6 (par 4, 420 yards) and 9 (par 5, 526 yards) – gave his team an impressive 5-under total heading to Laurel Creek’s second side.
“Most of those birdies, they weren’t close looks. I definitely made some longer putts today to get them. I was rolling the ball well,” said Thompson, 65, of Drexel Hill, Pa.
Thompson says his birdie on No. 5 stood out, mostly because of a “really good hybrid approach” after a perfect drive lead to a 25-foot two putt for the 4.
However, the GAP Senior stalwart did it all alone. Mestre rolled in two birdies of his own, first on No. 8 (par 4, 316 yards), where his lob-wedge approach led to a 15-foot conversion, followed by “the shortest birdie putt of the day” on No. 17 (par 3, 197 yards).
The back nine hosted less birdies but more drama. Play was suspended at 5:25 p.m. when Mestre and Thompson were on the 18th (par 4, 407 yards), teeing up as the horn sounded.
“We were ready to go, tees in the ground. We were ready to sprint up that last hole,” said Mestre.
“When we came in here with the guys during the delay, they were really getting on us, saying ‘They’re going to cancel this, guys. You guys are going to have to play 18 all over again.’,” said Thompson.
The golf gods cooperated, allowing the eventual champs enough time to complete their round, which bettered last year’s champions Glenn Smeraglio of Lu Lu Country Club and Thomas Bartolacci, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley Country Club by four strokes.
“I’m glad we got it done today,” said Mestre. “I didn’t have any birdies left in me [if we had to come back tomorrow], but I know Ray did.”
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| Carl Everett (left) & Don Donatoni. |
Super-Senior Division
They've done it again. Three times, to be exact.
White Manor Country Club's Don Donatoni, the reigning four-time Super-Senior Player of the Year, and good friend Carl Everett of Merion Golf Club claimed their third straight title in the Super-Senior Division.
The formidable duo fired a 6-under 65 to win the title from tees playing 5,963 yards. They bettered a field by three strokes that hosted 29 total Super-Senior teams.
It took a minute for the realization that they had won three consecutive trophies sink in. Everett asked Donatoni after the round, “Is it really three in a row? Wow.”
“We don’t have to communicate a lot out there. It’s like we know what’s going on in each other’s mind,” said Donatoni, 69, of Malvern, Pa. “It’s get up, hit it, go find it and put it in the hole, and it’s just worked out for us lately.”
Fresh coming off qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur this week at LedgeRock Golf Club, Donatoni was still feeling it Thursday.
Donatoni drained three birdies on the front, on Nos. 3 (par 3, 132 yards) , 5 (par 5, 446 yards) and 9 (par 5 495 yards), while Everett drilled a 25-foot putt from the front fringe to card a red number on No. 8 (par 4, 305 yards). Two more birdies fell on the back nine to get them to -6.
Unlike the Senior champions, Donatoni and Everett were a little more pessimistic about the rain delay. Donatoni wouldn’t have been around for a Friday restart, as his son, A.J. is set to be married this weekend.
“I was concerned because I knew how well Don had played today, and I couldn’t bare thinking that he wouldn’t be able to come back and finish it off,” said Everett, 70, of Harleysville, Pa. “I’m thrilled we were able to get this in.”
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.
|
Senior
Division
|
|
Gross
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Oscar
Mestre/Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
64
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr./Glenn Smeraglio,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club/Lu Lu Country
Club
|
68
|
|
Joseph
Roeder/Bill Cregar, Little Mill Country Club
|
68
|
|
Michael
Tash/Christopher Lange, Sr., Tavistock Country
Club/Overbrook Golf Club
|
69
|
|
Chris
Smedley/Paul Hess, Hartefeld National
|
69
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey/Bill Charpek,
Merion Golf Club
|
70
|
|
John Alterman/Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Steven
Lucas/Michael Quinn, Wilmington Country Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
70
|
|
Robert Wurtz, Jr./Gary Smith, Philadelphia Cricket
Club/Pine Valley Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Thomas Alestock/Norman Charlesworth, Running Deer Golf Club
|
71
|
|
John
Ward/Archie Struthers, Greate Bay Country
Club
|
71
|
|
Robert
Hackett, Jr./Joseph Hacker, Wilmington Country Club
|
71
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips/Bob Beck, Lancaster Country Club/Lehigh Country Club
|
71
|
|
Gordon
Jamieson/Robert Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Drew Panebianco/Craig Kliewer,
Five Ponds Golf Club/Honeybrook Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Gregory Buliga/Paul Dansbury,
Yardley Country Club
|
71
|
|
Robert
Gill/Brian Corbett, Fox Hill Country Club/Country Club of Scranton
|
72
|
|
Mark
Walker/Joseph Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
72
|
|
Nick Zammer/Charles Dowds, III, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
73
|
|
Richard
Custer/Bob Majczan, Bellewood Country
Club/Lookaway Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Buddy
Reed/Alan Wagenschnur, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Brian Trymbiski/Greg Divona,
Doylestown Country Club
|
74
|
|
Harold
Schweitzer, Jr./Zoran Damnjanovic, Broad Run
Golfer's Club
|
74
|
|
Doug Fedoryshyn/Bill Dwyer, Applebrook Golf
Club/Concord Country Club
|
74
|
|
Rich
Thon/Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
74
|
|
Michael Shoup/Gerry Nelson, Sandy Run Country Club/Five Ponds
Golf Club
|
74
|
|
Jon
Stein/Chris O'Brien, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
76
|
|
Dan
Farragut/Gary Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
76
|
|
Frank Corrado, Jr./Wayne Bartolacci,
Lu Lu Country Club/Jericho National Golf
Club
|
77
|
|
Rodger
Gottlieb/Gary Dornhoefer, Blue Heron Pines
Golf Club
|
77
|
|
George
Henninger/Edward Bondi, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Alex Celluzzi/Vernon Gerety,
Laurel Creek Country Club/Downingtown Country Club
|
78
|
|
Vince
Yost/Edward Roberts, Cedarbrook Country Club/Manufacturers' Golf &
Country Club
|
79
|
|
Hal
Morris/Steven Cucinotti, Talamore Country Club
|
80
|
|
James Barling/Craig White, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81
|
|
Roland
Thomas, Jr./Larry Riviello, McCall Golf &
Country Club
|
81
|
|
Steven
Buck/Michael Maro, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
81
|
|
Naz Gagliardi/Robert Howard, Bensalem Township Country
Club/Deerwood Country Club
|
81
|
|
Tim Ungrady/Dan Lamb, The Springhaven Club/Golf
Course at Glen Mills
|
82
|
|
Charles Stines, III/Salvatore Drago, Old York CC at
Chesterfield/Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
84
|
|
Dave
Bresnahan/William Schmidt, Riverton Country Club
|
84
|
|
Kenneth Orner/Edward Attarian, PineCrest Country Club/Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
85
|
|
Michael
DeSantis/Bruce Aikin, Hartefeld National
|
85
|
|
Joe Balkovec/Bill Flavell, Manufacturers' Golf &
Country Club
|
86
|
|
Thomas
Huff/George Marshalek, Coatesville Country
Club
|
88
|
|
John Kivitz/Vincent Torno,
McCall Golf & Country Club
|
91
|
|
Jeff
Garrett/John Riccio, The Bucks Club/Jericho National Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Bill Burkavage/John Voigt, Country Club of Scranton
|
WD
|
|
Ron
Weaver/Scott Mayne, Bent Creek Country Club/LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Mike Miklinevich/Michael Civitella, Greate Bay Country Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Net
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Robert
Hackett, Jr./Joseph Hacker, Wilmington Country Club
|
64
|
|
Oscar
Mestre/Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
64
|
|
Alex Celluzzi/Vernon Gerety, Laurel
Creek Country Club/Downingtown Country Club
|
65
|
|
Thomas Alestock/Norman Charlesworth, Running Deer Golf Club
|
66
|
|
John
Ward/Archie Struthers, Greate Bay Country
Club
|
66
|
|
Jon
Stein/Chris O'Brien, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
66
|
|
Gregory Buliga/Paul Dansbury,
Yardley Country Club
|
66
|
|
Chris
Smedley/Paul Hess, Hartefeld National
|
66
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Jr./Glenn Smeraglio,
Huntingdon Valley Country Club/Lu Lu Country
Club
|
66
|
|
Joseph
Roeder/Bill Cregar, Little Mill Country Club
|
66
|
|
Nick Zammer/Charles Dowds, III, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
67
|
|
Gordon
Jamieson/Robert Wagner, Merion Golf Club
|
67
|
|
John Alterman/Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
67
|
|
Michael Shoup/Gerry Nelson, Sandy Run Country Club/Five Ponds
Golf Club
|
67
|
|
Michael
Tash/Christopher Lange, Sr., Tavistock Country
Club/Overbrook Golf Club
|
68
|
|
Steven
Buck/Michael Maro, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
68
|
|
Steven
Lucas/Michael Quinn, Wilmington Country Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
68
|
|
Rich
Thon/Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
68
|
|
Robert Wurtz, Jr./Gary Smith, Philadelphia Cricket
Club/Pine Valley Golf Club
|
69
|
|
Brian Trymbiski/Greg Divona,
Doylestown Country Club
|
69
|
|
Harold
Schweitzer, Jr./Zoran Damnjanovic, Broad Run
Golfer's Club
|
69
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips/Bob Beck, Lancaster Country Club/Lehigh Country Club
|
69
|
|
Robert
Gill/Brian Corbett, Fox Hill Country Club/Country Club of Scranton
|
69
|
|
Mark
Walker/Joseph Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
69
|
|
Richard
Custer/Bob Majczan, Bellewood Country
Club/Lookaway Golf Club
|
69
|
|
Dan
Farragut/Gary Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
70
|
|
J.
Kirk Luntey/Bill Charpek,
Merion Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Drew Panebianco/Craig Kliewer,
Five Ponds Golf Club/Honeybrook Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Buddy
Reed/Alan Wagenschnur, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
71
|
|
Tim Ungrady/Dan Lamb, The Springhaven Club/Golf
Course at Glen Mills
|
71
|
|
Kenneth Orner/Edward Attarian, PineCrest Country Club/Commonwealth National Golf
Club
|
71
|
|
Roland
Thomas, Jr./Larry Riviello, McCall Golf &
Country Club
|
71
|
|
James Barling/Craig White, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
72
|
|
Vince
Yost/Edward Roberts, Cedarbrook Country Club/Manufacturers' Golf &
Country Club
|
72
|
|
George
Henninger/Edward Bondi, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
Naz Gagliardi/Robert Howard, Bensalem Township Country
Club/Deerwood Country Club
|
72
|
|
Charles Stines, III/Salvatore Drago, Old York CC at
Chesterfield/Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
73
|
|
Dave
Bresnahan/William Schmidt, Riverton Country Club
|
73
|
|
Rodger
Gottlieb/Gary Dornhoefer, Blue Heron Pines
Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Hal
Morris/Steven Cucinotti, Talamore Country Club
|
73
|
|
Doug Fedoryshyn/Bill Dwyer, Applebrook Golf
Club/Concord Country Club
|
73
|
|
Frank Corrado, Jr./Wayne Bartolacci,
Lu Lu Country Club/Jericho National Golf
Club
|
74
|
|
Joe Balkovec/Bill Flavell, Manufacturers' Golf &
Country Club
|
75
|
|
Thomas
Huff/George Marshalek, Coatesville Country
Club
|
75
|
|
Michael
DeSantis/Bruce Aikin, Hartefeld National
|
76
|
|
Jeff
Garrett/John Riccio, The Bucks Club/Jericho National Golf Club
|
79
|
|
John Kivitz/Vincent Torno,
McCall Golf & Country Club
|
84
|
|
Bill Burkavage/John Voigt, Country Club of Scranton
|
WD
|
|
Ron
Weaver/Scott Mayne, Bent Creek Country Club/LedgeRock
Golf Club
|
WD
|
|
Mike Miklinevich/Michael Civitella, Greate Bay Country Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Super-Senior
Division
|
|
Gross
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Carl
Everett/Don Donatoni, Merion Golf Club/White Manor Country Club
|
65
|
|
Frank Polizzi/Bernie Zbrzeznj,
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
68
|
|
Robert
Billings/James Coleman, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
69
|
|
Dave
Jacobson/Jon Mabry, Medford Village Country Club/Moorestown Field Club
|
70
|
|
Mike Tomasic/David Brackenbury, Woodstone Country
Club
|
70
|
|
Alan
Over/Ronald Yarnell, Bent Creek Country Club
|
71
|
|
Robert Lodovici/Robert Proto, Little Mill Country Club
|
72
|
|
Thomas
Mohr/Robert Zakian, Whitford
Country Club/Rolling Green Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Michael Nilon/Buck Jones, Philadelphia Country
Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
72
|
|
John
Owens/Lawrence Harrison, Tavistock Country
Club/Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
73
|
|
Eugene Maginnis, Jr./John Gonsior, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club/Limekiln Golf
Club
|
73
|
|
Thomas Mallouk/Michael Anton, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
73
|
|
Alexander
Maguire, Sr./John Foore, Brookside Country
Club/Spring Ford Country Club
|
74
|
|
Michael
Rose/Matthew Bellis, Talamore Country
Club/Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Charles
Caparo/David Harbaugh, Plymouth Country Club
|
75
|
|
John
Cech/Robert Thornton, Jr., Riverton Country Club
|
76
|
|
Arthur
Frankel/Herbert Sachs, Philmont Country Club
|
76
|
|
Peter Torras/Joseph Viscuso,
Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
77
|
|
John
Young/John DiMarzio, Sandy Run Country Club
|
77
|
|
John
Snyder/Richard Genoni, Waynesborough Country Club
|
77
|
|
Charles
Whipple/Robert Peterman, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
78
|
|
Gary
Ames/Rick Ames, Bala Golf
Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
78
|
|
Louis Newett/Gary Steck, Indian
Valley Country Club
|
80
|
|
Ned
Moore/Bill Doherty, Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club
|
80
|
|
David
Kearney/Gerald Barr, Lehigh Country Club
|
80
|
|
Stephen
Cooper/Michael Torpey, Laurel Creek Country
Club
|
81
|
|
John
Patton/James Wiley, Little Mill Country Club/Old York Road Country Club
|
82
|
|
William
McCabe, Jr./Joseph Cassidy, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
85
|
|
James
Barton/John Siegrist, Manufacturers' Golf & Country
Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Alan
Van Horn/Arthur Jacoby, Commonwealth National Golf Club/Philadelphia Cricket
Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
Net
|
|
Name,
club
|
Score
|
|
Thomas
Mohr/Robert Zakian, Whitford
Country Club/Rolling Green Golf Club
|
65
|
|
Carl
Everett/Don Donatoni, Merion Golf Club/White Manor Country Club
|
66
|
|
Frank Polizzi/Bernie Zbrzeznj,
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
66
|
|
Robert
Billings/James Coleman, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
66
|
|
Dave
Jacobson/Jon Mabry, Medford Village Country Club/Moorestown Field Club
|
67
|
|
Mike Tomasic/David Brackenbury, Woodstone Country
Club
|
67
|
|
Alan
Over/Ronald Yarnell, Bent Creek Country Club
|
68
|
|
Alexander
Maguire, Sr./John Foore, Brookside Country
Club/Spring Ford Country Club
|
68
|
|
Charles
Caparo/David Harbaugh, Plymouth Country Club
|
68
|
|
John
Cech/Robert Thornton, Jr., Riverton Country Club
|
68
|
|
John
Young/John DiMarzio, Sandy Run Country Club
|
68
|
|
Robert Lodovici/Robert Proto, Little Mill Country Club
|
69
|
|
Arthur
Frankel/Herbert Sachs, Philmont Country Club
|
69
|
|
John
Snyder/Richard Genoni, Waynesborough Country Club
|
69
|
|
Gary
Ames/Rick Ames, Bala Golf
Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
69
|
|
John
Owens/Lawrence Harrison, Tavistock Country
Club/Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
70
|
|
Eugene Maginnis, Jr./John Gonsior, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club/Limekiln Golf
Club
|
70
|
|
Thomas Mallouk/Michael Anton, Lookaway Golf
Club
|
70
|
|
Stephen
Cooper/Michael Torpey, Laurel Creek Country
Club
|
70
|
|
Michael Nilon/Buck Jones, Philadelphia Country
Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
71
|
|
Peter Torras/Joseph Viscuso,
Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
72
|
|
Louis Newett/Gary Steck, Indian
Valley Country Club
|
72
|
|
John
Patton/James Wiley, Little Mill Country Club/Old York Road Country Club
|
72
|
|
Michael
Rose/Matthew Bellis, Talamore Country
Club/Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
73
|
|
David
Kearney/Gerald Barr, Lehigh Country Club
|
73
|
|
William
McCabe, Jr./Joseph Cassidy, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
73
|
|
James
Barton/John Siegrist, Manufacturers' Golf & Country
Club/Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
73
|
|
Charles
Whipple/Robert Peterman, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
74
|
|
Ned
Moore/Bill Doherty, Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club
|
74
|
|
Alan
Van Horn/Arthur Jacoby, Commonwealth National Golf Club/Philadelphia Cricket
Club
|
WD
|
| |
|
WD-withdrawal
|
|
