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| David Hicks (left) and Dylan Stein (right) both earned #USAmateur invites. |
Stein medals; Cooley takes final #USAmateur Qualifier spot
ELVERSON, Pa. — Rain and inclement weather threatened – and arrived with a delaying impact – Monday’s U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier at Stonewall, but in the end, it wasn’t wet or dark enough to keep medalist honors out of Dylan Stein’s grasp.
| Scorecards |
Stein, a rising University of Arizona junior who plays out of Mercer Oaks Golf Course, fired a 2-under total of 138 to lead a pack of 125 hopefuls competing on Stonewall's two tracks -- Old (par 70, 6,923 yards) and North (par 70, 6,821 yards).
An hour and twenty-minute delay began the day in gloom due to rain accumulations – roughly three inches – that fell overnight. Tee times were pushed back, but the show went on. But as the 36-hole event carried on, the Flemington, N.J. resident’s medalist honors didn’t appear as if they would be awarded Monday after all.
When the horn sounded at 7 p.m., Stein, who carded an even-par 70 in the morning, stood on the 16th green of the Old Course wondering if he’d squeeze his second round in.
The green light was ultimately given to resume play at 8 p.m. Stein, hustling from tee-to-green, would go par-bogey-par to clinch the top honor. His 2-under 68 was tied for low on the Old track, which served as the main site of the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
“I was definitely stiff heading back out there,” said Stein, who transferred to Arizona after spending his first season with Towson University. “But when I got out there I was still looking to make birdies. I wanted to be aggressive.”
“I was actually worried the most about how the greens would be,” said Stein. “It did rain a little bit and I was worried if it was going to slow up or be more receptive. The course is unbelievable. It drained well and everything was great.”
Stein says he’ll join a few of his Wildcat teammates for the championship proper. The #USAmateur is set for Aug. 14-20 at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif.
“I’d say I put extra pressure on myself today, knowing a few of our guys already made it. But it feels good to get a spot and I’m excited to play out there,” he said.
The other two spots secured on Monday went to David Hicks of Cape May Court House, N.J., a College of William and Mary junior standout, and Michael Graboyes, a senior Cornell University player of Watchung N.J., who each carded 1-under totals of 139.
The day’s overall low round – a 3-under 67 on the North track in the morning wave – propelled Hicks, a Wildwood Golf & Country Club member, into qualifying position.
His name isn’t a new one to the Golf Association of Philadelphia region. Hicks has become a mainstay near the top of GAP Major leaderboards as of late. He’s recorded Top 10 finishes in the Joseph H. Patterson Cup in back-to-back years, and reached the Round of 16 in this year’s #BMWPhillyAm at Philadelphia Cricket Club.
“Making a USGA championship has always been a goal for me,” said the 20-year-old Hicks. “I’ve always played OK and somewhat competitive in these events, but I’ve never really been near the cut at the end of the day.”
Daylight also became an obstacle for Hicks in finishing off his dual stellar rounds. A form of speed golf was implemented by him and his group.
“I’ve really got to thank my playing competitors. They kept saying, ‘We really don’t want to go out tomorrow so let’s just book it. They were really great with that,” he said. “I tried to take my time and missed a couple of putts but I was able to make a good one on No. 18 (par 4, 451 yards), a 10-foot par putt to finish.”
Four contestants — Carter Thompson of Tallahassee, Fla., Ben Cooley of Rydal, Pa., Ryan Dornes of Lancaster, Pa. and Christian Sease of Mount Pleasant, S.C. returned to the Old course Tuesday morning to decide the final spot. All four players finished at even-par 140 on Monday.
The playoff began on No. 9 (par 3, 218 yards) on Tuesday at 7 a.m. Cooley secured the fourth and final spot in result of a beautiful bunker blast that lead to a tap-in par. Sease was tagged as the first alternate after a great bogey despite finding the left water hazard off the tee, while Dornes, a Penn State University junior, went on to grab the second alternate position after birdieing the second playoff hole, No. 10 (par 4, 442 yards).
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.
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Qualifers
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Name, city, state
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R1-R2–Total
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Dylan
Stein, Flemington, N.J.
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70N-68O–138
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Michael
Graboyes, Watchung, N.J.
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69N-70O–139
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David
Hicks, Cape May Court House, N.J.
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67N-72O–139
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*Benjamin
Cooley, Rydal, Pa.
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71O-69N–140
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Alternates
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*Christian
Sease, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
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72O-68N–140
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*Ryan
Dornes, Lancaster, Pa.
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69N-71O–140
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Failed to qualify
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Carter
Thompson, Philadelphia, Pa.
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70N-70O–140
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Chris
Cerminaro, Carbondale, Pa.
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71N-70O–141
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John
Sawin, San Francisco, Calif.
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71O-70N–141
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Jay
Whitby, Wyoming, Del.
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73O-68N–141
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Yoseph Dance,
Richmond, Va.
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73O-69N–142
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Rodney
Anders, Telford, Pa.
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72O-71N–143
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Kevin
Conners, Downingtown, Pa.
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74O-69N–143
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Tony
Gil, Thornhill, Ontario
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72N-71O–143
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Andrew
Kolarik, Cockeysville, Md.
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71N-72O–143
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Paul
Acierno, Flourtown, Pa.
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72N-72O–144
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John
Barone, Dunmore, Pa.
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71N-73O–144
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John
Buliga, Langhorne, Pa.
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76O-68N–144
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Elliott
Grayson, Shelby, N.C.
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73O-71N–144
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Ian
Hildebrand, Purcellville, Va.
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75N-69O–144
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Connor
Sheehan, Quarryville, Pa.
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71O-73N–144
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Henry
Shimp, Charlotte, N.C.
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76N-68O–144
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Carey
Bina, Villanova, Pa.
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75N-70O–145
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Geoffrey
Cooper, Erdenheim, Pa.
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75N-70O–145
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Luca
Jezzeny, Furlong, Pa.
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75O-70N–145
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Gary
McCabe, Collegeville, Pa.
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69N-76O–145
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Marty
McGuckin, Valley Forge, Pa.
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76O-69N–145
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Cory
Siegfried, Haverford, Pa.
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70N-75O–145
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Peter
Bradbeer, Rosemont, Pa.
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71O-75N–146
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Alexander
Butler, East Norriton, Pa.
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72N-74O–146
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James
Kania, Jr., Haverford, Pa.
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72N-74O–146
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Brendan
Bacskai, Berwyn, Pa.
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78O-69N–147
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Nicholas
Biondi, Moosic, Pa.
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77N-70O–147
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Roland
Massimino, Lumberville,
Pa.
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77O-70N–147
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Jack
Melville, Maple Glen, Pa.
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73N-74O–147
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Sam
Soeth, Newtown Square, Pa.
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73O-74N–147
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Joseph
Chambers, Malvern, Pa.
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77O-71N–148
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Ryan
Tall, Malvern, Pa.
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74N-74O–148
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Robert
Bechtold, Avondale, Pa.
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76N-73O–149
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Cole
Berman, Rosemont, Pa.
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73N-76O–149
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David
Kim, Dresher, Pa.
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77O-72N–149
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Matt
Kristick, Berlin, Md.
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76O-73N–149
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Bin
Kwon, Marlton, N.J.
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73N-76O–149
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Joshua
Madarang, Chester Springs, Pa.
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75O-74N–149
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Benjamin
Smith, Philadelphia, Pa.
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75N-74O–149
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Sam
Stilwell, Sterling, Va.
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74O-75N–149
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Quinn
Dolan, Broomall, Pa.
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79O-71N–150
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Scott
McLaughlin, Hatboro, Pa.
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73N-77O–150
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Christopher
Reedman, Langhorne, Pa.
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74N-76O–150
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Erik
Reisner, Philadelphia, Pa.
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78O-72N–150
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Caleb
Ryan, Norristown, Pa.
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74N-76O–150
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Troy
Vannucci, Marlton, N.J.
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79O-71N–150
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Reed
Winkler, Wilmington, Del.
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74O-76N–150
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Michael
Cook, Berwyn, Pa.
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75N-76O–151
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Robert
Maguire, Pottstown, Pa.
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74O-77N–151
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Stephen
Barry, Mullica Hill, N.J.
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77O-75N–152
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Danny
Dougherty, Wilmington, Del.
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74O-78N–152
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Sean
Seese, Rydal, Pa.
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76O-76N–152
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Grant
Skyllas, Wyomissing, Pa.
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75O-77N–152
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Andrew
Wallace, Narberth, Pa.
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74N-78O–152
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Aaron
Fricke, Denver, Pa.
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80O-73N–153
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Connor
McNicholas, Ambler, Pa.
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76O-77N–153
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Rory
Smith, Addison, Texas
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78O-75N–153
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Tyler
Canfield, West Chester, Pa.
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79N-75O–154
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Brian
Gillespie, Newtown Square, Pa.
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79N-75O–154
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Paul
Mauer, Eagleville, Pa.
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76N-78O–154
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John
Murphy, II, Cape May Court House, N.J.
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79O-75N–154
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Forrest
Swisher, Titusville, N.J.
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77N-77O–154
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Nicholas
Dimaio, Old Brookville, NY
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77O-78N–155
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Dylan
Chessher, Dover, Del.
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76N-80O–156
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Christopher
Lawler, Philadelphia, Pa.
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77O-79N–156
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Kevin
Silvestri, Marlboro, N.J.
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73O-83N–156
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Andreas
Aivazoglou, Glen Mill, Pa.
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75N-82O–157
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Alexander
Kim, Blue Bell, Pa.
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78O-79N–157
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Paul
Kovalcheck, Aston, Pa.
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75O-83N–158
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Tanner
Robb, West Chester, Pa.
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78N-80O–158
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Cory
Haldeman, Center Valley, Pa.
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82O-77N–159
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David
Kimbley, Elverson, Pa.
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76N-83O–159
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Thomas
Lewis, Doylestown, Pa.
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79N-80O–159
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Brandon
Raihl, Wernersville, Pa.
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82O-77N–159
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Joseph
Visalli, Dover, Del.
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78N-81O–159
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Shawn
Lavin, Drexel Hill, Pa.
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83O-77N–160
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Ryan
Orcutt, Bethlehem, Pa.
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80O-80N–160
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Pete
Moran, Chester Springs, Pa.
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77N-84O–161
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Lodie Van Tonder, Pennsville, N.J.
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78N-83O–161
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Dawson
Tate Anders, Telford, Pa.
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87O-75N–162
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Christian
Haldeman, Center Valley, Pa.
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84O-78N–162
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Robert
Olseski, Wayne, Pa.
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82N-80O–162
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Daniel
Altieri, Skillman, N.J.
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80N-83O–163
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Andrew
Curran, Media, Pa.
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83O-80N–163
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Thomas
Freed, Royersford, Pa.
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86N-77O–163
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William
Mitchell, Moorestown, N.J.
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83O-80N–163
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Parth Ahuja,
Monmouth Junction, N.J.
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82O-82N–164
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Ross
Pilliod, Sinking Spring, Pa.
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79N-85O–164
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Kyung
Hwan Chung, Tifton, Ga.
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81O-84N–165
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Sean
Ebert, Furlong, Pa.
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85N-80O–165
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Wills
Montgomery, Exton, Pa.
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91O-75N–166
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Matthew
Marino, Malvern, Pa.
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88O-81N–169
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Nicholas
Lukow, Whitehall, Pa.
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88N-86O–174
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Andrew
Cornish, Santee, Calif.
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80N-NCO–NC
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Ransom
Hare, Honesdale, Pa.
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75N-NCO–NC
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Matthew
Bierer, Phoenixville, Pa.
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NSO-NSN–NS
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Gregory
Shaw, Cornwall On Hudson, N.Y.
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WDO-NSN–NS
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Matthew
Anderson, West Lawn, Pa.
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82N-WDO–WD
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Matthew
Balcer, Bensalem, Pa.
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77N-WDO–WD
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Matthew
Bastian, Jr., Media, Pa.
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73N-WDO–WD
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Adam
Bracy, Edgewater Park, N.J.
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WDO-WDN–WD
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Ed
Brown, Rehoboth Beach, Del.
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82N-WDO–WD
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John
Burke, Wilmington, Del.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Stuart
Carrihill, Lancaster, Pa.
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NSO-WDN–WD
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Dwight
Cauthen, Columbia, S.C.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Billy
Civitella, North Palm Beach, Fla.
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WDO-WDN–WD
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Edward
Conway, Horsham, Pa.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Michael
Davis, Newtown Square, Pa.
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74N-WDO–WD
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Joseph
Dulka, West Chester, Pa.
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82N-WDO–WD
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Benjamin
Feld, Gladwyne, Pa.
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74N-WDO–WD
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John
Foley, Limerick, Pa.
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82N-WDO–WD
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Alex
Golland, Wynnewood, Pa.
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WDO-WDN–WD
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Blake
Hinckley, Chadds Ford, Pa.
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77N-WDO–WD
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Michael
Kania, Haverford, Pa.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Matthew
Keim, Limerick, Pa.
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79O-WDN–WD
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Cole
Kemmerer, Malvern, Pa.
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WDO-WDN–WD
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Chris
Lange, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
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WDO-WDN–WD
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Isaiah
Logue, Fairfield, Pa.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Adam
Mistretta, Easton, Pa.
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70O-WDN–WD
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Mike
Moffat, Warrington, Pa.
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78N-WDO–WD
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Robert
Moratti, Cherry Hill, N.J.
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80O-WDN–WD
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Drew
Petri, New Hope, Pa.
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81N-WDO–WD
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Saris
Ratanavadi, Los Angeles, Calif.
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81O-WDN–WD
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Ryan
Rucinski, Wilmington, Del.
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73O-WDN–WD
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Stephen
Seiden, Newtown Square, Pa.
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72O-WDN–WD
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Max
Siegfried, Villanova, Pa.
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72N-WDO–WD
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Matthew
Smith, Yorklyn, Del.
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81O-WDN–WD
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Tyler
Smith, Bath, Pa.
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WDO-WDN–WD
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Matthew
Starobin, Davidsonville, Md.
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82O-WDN–WD
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Kelly
Sun, Bradenton, Fla.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Connor
Vanin, Coopersburg, Pa.
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84O-WDN–WD
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Blake
Vogdes, Wildwood Crest, N.J.
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83N-WDO–WD
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Conrad
Von Borsig, Philadelphia, Pa.
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NSO-WDN–WD
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Clancy
Waugh, North Palm Beach, Fla.
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69N-WDO–WD
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Russell
Wren, Morgantown, Pa.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Reeves
Zaytoun, Raleigh, N.C.
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WDN-WDO–WD
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Tianlin Zhang,
Plymouth, Minn.
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77O-WDN–WD
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*-determined in playoff
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NC-no
card; NS-no show; WD-withdrawal
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Stonewall courses: N-North; O-Old
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