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| Brian Corbett rips a drive on No. 1 (par 4, 450 yards). |
Huntsville’s Corbett catapults to Senior title in Warner Cup (Gross)
ROYERSFORD, Pa. — Brian Corbett turned a golfer’s nightmare into tournament reverie Thursday at Spring Ford Country Club (par 72, 6,520 yards).
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As the Senior Division leader with two holes remaining in the 83rd Francis B. Warner Cup (Gross), Corbett took an untimely unplayable lie on the 17th hole. He then sunk a sand shot for a vital par and soon-to-be score of even-par 72. That number translated into a two-stroke victory for the longtime Golf Association of Philadelphia competitor.
Lancaster Country Club’s Kenneth Phillips and Little Mill Country Club’s Joseph Roeder tied for second at 2-over-par 74.
“It doesn’t feel any better than this,” an overwhelmed Corbett, 58, of Clarks Summit, Pa., said. “I’ve always wanted to win a GAP event. I’m really happy with what I’ve accomplished today. It’s going to be a great car ride home.”
On the aforementioned No. 17, a slight dogleg right measuring 413 yards, Corbett faced a known and unknown on the tee: go right, and he can’t carry the trees on his approach. Slam it straight, and he risks the dreaded fairway-runner into trouble.
“I hit it right down the walking line, thinking I’m perfect. It went through the fairway,” Corbett, an insurance agent, said. “My ball was lying right against a root in between two roots. I may have been able to hack down on something and punch it out to maybe 160 yards, but I was afraid that if I hit the root — and I’ve had it happen before — the club would hit the root, bounce over the ball and then I whiff. So, I took an unplayable.”
With 175 yards for his third shot, Corbett pushed a 5-iron into the right greenside bunker. He holed the ensuing extrication for par.
“I was kind of stunned. I was happy, but I was stunned,” Corbett said. “At that point of a round in any tournament, I don’t think I’ve ever holed out on the 17th hole from a bunker, whether it be for a par or a birdie.”
Although he escaped No. 17 unscathed, Corbett encountered another test of nerves on the closing 18th hole (par 5, 492 yards). Another striped drive cut through the fairway and settled two inches outside the right fairway bunker. Exhibiting a Hokey Pokey stance, Corbett cleared the water hazard with a 4-hybird. He then knocked a wedge 90 yards to 10 feet above the hole, rolled a slippery slider 18 inches by and dropped the anxious comebacker.
Corbett’s championship round started in non-championship form. On the V-shaped No. 1 (par 4, 450 yards), Corbett dealt with a 180-yard uphill approach out of a downhill lie. Ruling out a hybrid, he chose a hard 5-iron and came up short of the green. A two-putt from 15 feet resulted in a bogey. Corbett splashed a drive into the water hazard on No. 2 (par 4, 406 yards) for another 5. Next came the turnaround.
“I actually hit the ball very well once I got past No. 2, which was critical. I really didn’t miss a shot from No. 3 tee through No. 9 green,” Corbett said.
Oh no he didn’t.
Corbett, playing in the afternoon’s first group, birdied the par 5, 520-yard No. 5 after flipping a wedge to 10 feet above the hole location. He drained an uphill, left-to-right breaking 25-footer on No. 7 (par 3, 187 yards) following a splendid 5-iron. On the par 5, 522-yard No. 9, Corbett hit a wedge 50 yards to four feet below the flagstick and made the birdie putt.
Corbett’s inward nine mirrored his outward start. Old habits created a bogey on No. 10 (par 4, 412 yards).
“I always hit driver. I always aim at the right bunker, and I always hit it right where I’m aiming,” Corbett said. “Then I have to hit a 9-iron up to the green because you have to get over the lip. I missed about a 10-footer [for par].”
On No. 11 (par 4, 354 yards), Corbett, thinking extra club to avoid a guarding bunker, flushed a 9-iron over the green and failed to get up-and-down. As the sun sheltered in cloud cover, temperatures dipped slightly; the winds not so much. Corbett, however, withstood any interference from Mother Nature — and the rest of the field. He reached the 15th green (par 5, 485 yards) in two with a 4-wood from 230 yards for a two-putt birdie. A save on No. 16, a treacherous downhill, upwind par 3 measuring 196 yards, preluded Corbett’s heroics on the 17th hole. Again, old habits caused trouble.
“It always plays the distance, and I always hit it into the front bunker,” Corbett said. He did just that, but splashed out to eight feet and wiggled a par putt in the side door.
Corbett, who’s competed in two U.S. Mid-Amateurs, credits his instructor, John Spina, with an assist in his breakthrough performance at Spring Ford.
“I’ve been struggling for a few years. I’ve been working on my game for about a year now with John,” he said. “I’m always migrating back to what I used to do, which is bad shots. I really stayed in the moment and did some things he tells me that I’m supposed to do. It was quite gratifying to, down the stretch, do the things I’m supposed to do. I’ve been playing a long time and have been really frustrated with golf. Right now, it feels pretty good.”
Francis B. Warner of Philadelphia Cricket Club served as the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s secretary-treasurer for 18 years. After his death in 1933, the Association started the Francis B. Warner Cup as an ongoing tribute in his memory. It is the first Senior Major of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s tournament season.
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.
|
Overall
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
|
74
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
74
|
|
Drew
Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Doug
Fedoryshyn, Applebrook
Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Roc
Irey, Lookaway Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Michael
Tash, Tavistock Country Club
|
76
|
|
Thomas
Bartolacci, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld National
|
76
|
|
Christopher
Clauson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
77
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
77
|
|
Glenn
Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Raymond
Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Gary
Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Scott
Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Alan
Wagenschnur, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
James
Muller, Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
Ed
Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Greg
Guyer, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
David
West, Whitford Country Club
|
78
|
|
Michael
Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Robert
Wurtz, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
79
|
|
Tom
DiCinti, Old York CC at Chesterfield
|
79
|
|
Craig
Kliewer, Honeybrook Golf
Club
|
79
|
|
Thomas
Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
George
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
80
|
|
Jim
Yenser, Raven’s Claw Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Gregory
Day, Old York Road Country Club
|
80
|
|
Michael
Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
80
|
|
Wayne
Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph
Lewis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Barry
Cahill, Radley Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Frank
Corrado, Jr., Lu Lu Country
Club
|
81
|
|
Steven
Lucas, Wilmington Country Club
|
81
|
|
Eric
Meyer, Whitford Country Club
|
81
|
|
Mark
Leaman, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
81
|
|
John
Robinson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
81
|
|
Rich
Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
82
|
|
Mike
Owsik, Cobbs Creek Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Chuck
Kraatz, Talamore Country
Club
|
82
|
|
Joe
Viechnicki, Saucon Valley
Country Club
|
82
|
|
Randy
Mitchell, Wilmington Country Club
|
82
|
|
Lawrence
Piekarsky, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Bob
Taylor, Middletown Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bob
Walsh, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
Cameron
Campbell, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
|
Thomas
Alestock, Running Deer Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
83
|
|
Jeff
Poet, Country Club of York
|
83
|
|
John
Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Richard
Custer, Bellewood Country Club
|
83
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
Michael
Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
84
|
|
William
Thornton, Jr., LedgeRock Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Mark
Dennish, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
84
|
|
Robert
Van Etten, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
84
|
|
Paul
Altieri, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Mark
Cubberley, Mercer Oaks Golf Course
|
85
|
|
Patrick
O’Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
85
|
|
Robert
Amen, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
John
Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Michael
Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
Marlin
Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club
|
85
|
|
Jim
Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Brian
Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Steve
Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Christopher
Moresco, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
87
|
|
Steven
Walczak, Wilmington Country Club
|
87
|
|
Andrew
Sterge, Applebrook Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Jon
Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
88
|
|
Robert
Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Doug
Cornforth, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Andrew
Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
88
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
88
|
|
Pierce
Herbst, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Thomas
Soares, Lehigh Country Club
|
89
|
|
Robert
Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
90
|
|
Matt
Brady, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
90
|
|
Eugene
Haag, Tavistock Country Club
|
90
|
|
Paul
Dansbury, Yardley Country Club
|
91
|
|
Steve
Walsh, Sandy Run Country Club
|
92
|
|
Art
Caldwell, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
92
|
|
Alan
Lazzarino, DuPont Country Club
|
92
|
|
Patrick
Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
93
|
|
Robert
Yermish, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Jeff
Lysek, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
96
|
|
George
Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
|
Ages 55-59
|
|
Name, club
|
Score
|
|
Brian
Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club
|
72
|
|
Kenneth
Phillips, Lancaster Country Club
|
74
|
|
Joseph
Roeder, Little Mill Country Club
|
74
|
|
Doug Fedoryshyn, Applebrook Golf
Club
|
75
|
|
Michael
Tash, Tavistock Country Club
|
76
|
|
Chris
Smedley, Hartefeld National
|
76
|
|
Joseph
Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club
|
77
|
|
Glenn Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club
|
77
|
|
Alan Wagenschnur, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
Greg Guyer, Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
David
West, Whitford Country Club
|
78
|
|
Oscar
Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Robert Wurtz, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club
|
78
|
|
Ron
Weaver, Bent Creek Country Club
|
79
|
|
Craig Kliewer, Honeybrook Golf Club
|
79
|
|
George
Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club
|
80
|
|
Jim Yenser, Raven’s Claw Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Gregory
Day, Old York Road Country Club
|
80
|
|
Joseph
Lewis, Aronimink Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Barry
Cahill, Radley Run Country Club
|
81
|
|
Frank Corrado, Jr., Lu Lu Country
Club
|
81
|
|
Eric
Meyer, Whitford Country Club
|
81
|
|
John
Robinson, Lu Lu Country Club
|
81
|
|
Chuck Kraatz, Talamore Country Club
|
82
|
|
Randy
Mitchell, Wilmington Country Club
|
82
|
|
Lawrence
Piekarsky, Hidden Creek Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Bob
Taylor, Middletown Country Club
|
83
|
|
Bob
Walsh, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
Cameron
Campbell, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
83
|
|
Thomas Alestock, Running Deer Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Bob
Beck, Lehigh Country Club
|
83
|
|
John Alterman, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
83
|
|
Byron
Whitman, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
83
|
|
Michael
Shoup, Sandy Run Country Club
|
84
|
|
William
Thornton, Jr., LedgeRock Golf Club
|
84
|
|
Richard
Atcavage, Whitemarsh
Valley Country Club
|
84
|
|
Mark Dennish, The Ridge at Back Brook
|
84
|
|
Paul
Altieri, Makefield Highlands Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Patrick
O’Brien, North Hills Country Club
|
85
|
|
Robert
Amen, Philadelphia Publinks GA
|
85
|
|
John Nottage, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
85
|
|
Jim Gavaghan, Jericho National Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Christopher
Moresco, Aronimink Golf
Club
|
87
|
|
Andrew
Sterge, Applebrook Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Doug
Cornforth, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Gregory
Buliga, Yardley Country Club
|
88
|
|
Thomas
Soares, Lehigh Country Club
|
89
|
|
Robert Tredinnick, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
90
|
|
Ed
Kahn, Little Mill Country Club
|
90
|
|
Matt
Brady, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
90
|
|
Eugene
Haag, Tavistock Country Club
|
90
|
|
Paul Dansbury, Yardley Country Club
|
91
|
|
Steve
Walsh, Sandy Run Country Club
|
92
|
|
Alan Lazzarino, DuPont Country Club
|
92
|
|
Patrick
Cahill, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
|
93
|
|
Robert Yermish, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
93
|
|
Jeff Lysek, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
96
|
|
George
Connell, Jr., Gulph Mills Golf Club
|
97
|
|
Buddy
Reed, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club
|
WD
|
|
|
|
Ages 60 & Over
|
|
Name club
|
Score
|
|
Drew Panebianco, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Roc Irey, Lookaway
Golf Club
|
75
|
|
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Huntingdon
Valley Country Club
|
76
|
|
Christopher Clauson, Lu Lu Country
Club
|
77
|
|
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Gary Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club
|
77
|
|
Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club
|
78
|
|
James Muller, Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club
|
78
|
|
Michael Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
|
78
|
|
Tom DiCinti, Old York CC at
Chesterfield
|
79
|
|
Thomas Hyland, Little Mill Country Club
|
79
|
|
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton
|
80
|
|
Wayne Bartolacci, Jericho National
Golf Club
|
80
|
|
Steven Lucas, Wilmington Country Club
|
81
|
|
Mark Leaman, Stone Harbor Golf Club
|
81
|
|
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club
|
82
|
|
Mike Owsik, Cobbs Creek Golf Club
|
82
|
|
Joe Viechnicki, Saucon
Valley Country Club
|
82
|
|
Jeff Poet, Country Club of York
|
83
|
|
Richard Custer, Bellewood Country Club
|
83
|
|
Robert Van Etten, Laurel Creek Country
Club
|
84
|
|
Mark Cubberley, Mercer Oaks Golf
Course
|
85
|
|
Michael Quinn, Philadelphia Publinks
GA
|
85
|
|
Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster Country
Club
|
85
|
|
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club
|
86
|
|
Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club
|
87
|
|
Steven Walczak, Wilmington Country
Club
|
87
|
|
Jon Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club
|
88
|
|
Robert Dietrich, Loch Nairn Golf Club
|
88
|
|
Andrew Harmer, The Springhaven Club
|
88
|
|
Pierce Herbst, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
89
|
|
Art Caldwell, Sea Oaks Golf Club
|
92
|
|
|
|
WD-withdrawal
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