*Match play bracket

Tavistock CC’s Jamie Slonis tops
Amateur Championship Qualifier

  BLUE BELL, Pa.–Jamie Slonis of Tavistock CC braved stifling weather conditions to earn the top seed in the match play draw for the 105th Amateur Championship with a 2-under-par 141 in qualifying on Tuesday at Cedarbrook CC (par 72, 6,959 yards) and Green Valley CC (par 71, 6,757 yards).

  A field of 131 players vied for the 32 match play slots that determine the Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Champion. The first and second rounds of the Amateur Championship are set for tomorrow. The first round begins at 8 a.m. with second-round tee times to follow. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Thursday with the 36-hole final set for Saturday, June 18. All matches will be played at Cedarbrook CC.

  "It’s a nice honor [to be medallist] because it’s an event everyone shoots to play well in," said Slonis, 36, of Sewell, N.J. "I haven’t really put it all together for a day [recently]. This is the first day I played fairly solid from start to finish."

  Slonis carded an even-par 70 at Green Valley CC in the morning before recording a 2-under-par 70 at Cedarbrook CC in the p.m. Players completed 18 holes at each course in qualifying. A playoff for the final match play position fell at the two-round total of 154. Three players contested for the one spot with Chris Sylvia of Little Mill CC surviving.

  Slonis opened his day with a 2-under-par 33 on the backside at Green Valley CC, his opening nine, but finished bogey, double bogey to drop to even after one round. At Cedarbrook CC, Slonis wasn’t about to let that happen again.

  He made the turn with an even-par 36 after carding two birdies and two bogeys. A kick-in birdie on the 10th (par 5, 531 yards) and a short putt on No. 12 (par 5, 516 yards) moved him back into red digits. However, bogeys on No. 15 (poor drive) and 16 (poor iron shot), started leaving that bad taste in his mouth again. He put a stop to that rather quickly, though, knocking a pitching wedge from 127 yards to three feet on No. 17 (par 4, 418 yards) and a sand wedge from 82 yards on No. 18 (par 4, 431 yards) to a foot.

  "I wanted to avoid the big mistakes," said Slonis, who works in the finance world. "I putted really well today. I had a couple three putts from long distances, but I made my fair share of 10-15-20 footers."

  The Amateur Championship Qualifier also serves as qualifying for the Open Championship and the initial two scores of the Silver Cross. Slonis was the low qualifier for the Open Championship as well and, obviously, currently leads the Silver Cross. However, his chance at winning the coveted cross an award that dates back to 1902 and awarded to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the qualifying rounds of the Amateur Championship and the two rounds of the Patterson Cup won’t happen.

  Slonis is set to travel to Scotland in August for the British Middle-Amateur Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. He is exempt for the tournament based on qualifying for match play of the U.S. Mid-Am Championship at Wilmington CC two years ago.

  "I figured it would be a once in a lifetime chance," said Slonis.

  A number of prominent figures in the Golf Association of Philadelphia qualified for match play, including Brian Gillespie, the 2001 Amateur Champion; Chris Lange of Overbrook GC, a three-time Amateur Champion and reigning Player of the Year; Michael McDermott of Merion GC, a three-time Player of the Year and Michael Tash of Tavistock CC, the 2003 Amateur Champion.

  Other past champions in the match play field include Chris Anderson of Wilmington CC (1982-83) and Bill McGuinness of Tavistock CC (1996).

  Perhaps the most intriguing story of the tournament comes from Robert Galbreath, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley CC. Galbreath, who turned 14 years old today, carded a 152 total, 9-over-par, and qualified for match play for the first time in three prior tries. He is believed to be the youngest player in Golf Association of Philadelphia to qualify for match play of the Amateur.

  "I didn’t come in here with a cocky attitude, but I had a good amount of confidence," said Galbreath of Huntingdon Valley, Pa. "I thought I could make it."

Qualifiers

Name

Club

Rd. 1

Rd. 2

Total

Jamie Slonis

Tavistock Country Club

71

GVC

70

CCC

141

John Sawin

Merion Golf Club

69

CCC

75

GVC

144

Dan Walters

Philadelphia Publinks GA

70

CCC

76

GVC

146

Chris Gallagher

Penn Oaks Golf Club

75

GVC

71

CCC

146

Clint Deibert

Doylestown Country Club

70

CCC

77

GVC

147

Tug Maude

Merion Golf Club

73

CCC

74

GVC

147

Conrad Von Borsig

Concord Country Club

72

GVC

76

CCC

148

Kyle Davis

Inniscrone Golf Club

74

GVC

74

CCC

148

Francis McFadden

Overbrook Golf Club

74

CCC

75

GVC

149

Sean Leonard

Tavistock Country Club

77

CCC

72

GVC

149

Shane Dooley

Spring Ford Country Club

75

CCC

74

GVC

149

Glenn Smeraglio

Yardley Country Club

78

GVC

71

CCC

149

Gui Costin

Merion Golf Club

73

CCC

76

GVC

149

Christopher Gold

Little Mill Country Club

74

GVC

76

CCC

150

Patrick Marshalek

Whitford Country Club

74

GVC

76

CCC

150

Brian Gillespie

St. Davids Golf Club

77

GVC

73

CCC

150

Michael Tash

Tavistock Country Club

79

CCC

71

GVC

150

Douglas Schroer

St. Davids Golf Club

78

GVC

73

CCC

151

Bryant Reyes

Hartefeld National

76

CCC

75

GVC

151

Christopher Lange

Overbrook Golf Club

71

GVC

80

CCC

151

David Liotta

Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

74

CCC

77

GVC

151

Michael Rose

Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club

74

GVC

77

CCC

151

Chris Anderson

Wilmington Country Club

77

GVC

75

CCC

152

Douglas Zelner

Coatesville Country Club

76

GVC

76

CCC

152

Michael Moffat

Commonwealth National Golf Club

77

CCC

75

GVC

152

Oscar Mestre, Jr.

Overbrook Golf Club

78

GVC

74

CCC

152

Robert Galbreath, Jr.

Huntingdon Valley Country Club

74

CCC

78

GVC

152

Kenneth Matt

Lu Lu Country Club

80

GVC

73

CCC

153

James Kieserman

Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club

76

GVC

77

CCC

153

Michael McDermott

Merion Golf Club

78

GVC

75

CCC

153

William McGuinness

Tavistock Country Club

76

GVC

77

CCC

153

*Chris Sylvia

Little Mill Country Club

74

CCC

80

GVC

154

 

Failed to qualify

Brian Owens

Gulph Mills Golf Club

76

GVC

78

CCC

154

Warren Smith

Cavaliers Country Club

73

CCC

81

GVC

154

Billy Mullen

Plymouth Country Club

79

CCC

76

GVC

155

Douglas Cusick

Tavistock Country Club

77

GVC

78

CCC

155

Logan Terry

Plymouth Country Club

79

CCC

76

GVC

155

Scott Storck

Philadelphia Cricket Club

80

CCC

75

GVC

155

Billy McCrossan

White Manor Country Club

78

GVC

77

CCC

155

Christopher Ault

Spring Mill Country Club

76

GVC

79

CCC

155

James Winner

Philadelphia Publinks GA

79

GVC

76

CCC

155

Paul Gagliardi

Cedarbrook Country Club

73

CCC

82

GVC

155

Brian Creghan

Plymouth Country Club

77

GVC

79

CCC

156

Bryan Marvin

Old York Road Country Club

78

CCC

78

GVC

156

John Mullins

Spring Ford Country Club

74

GVC

82

CCC

156

Mario Verticelli

Spring Mill Country Club

77

CCC

79

GVC

156

Robert Arthur

Tavistock Country Club

79

CCC

77

GVC

156

Robert Gill

Fox Hill Country Club

81

CCC

75

GVC

156

Billy Stewart

Llanerch Country Club

78

CCC

78

GVC

156

Byron Whitman

Golden Oaks Golf Club

79

GVC

77

CCC

156

Christian Davis

Glenmaura National Golf Club

80

CCC

76

GVC

156

James Kania, Jr

Overbrook Golf Club

80

GVC

76

CCC

156

John Robinson

Commonwealth National Golf Club

79

GVC

77

CCC

156

Patrick Garrison

Philadelphia Publinks GA

79

CCC

77

GVC

156

Drew Garis

North Hills Country Club

74

CCC

83

GVC

157

Fredrick Taggart

Meadia Heights Golf Club

76

CCC

81

GVC

157

Robert Dziak

Spring Ford Country Club

79

GVC

78

CCC

157

John Michael Pelet

Wyncote Golf Club

78

GVC

79

CCC

157

P. Chet Walsh

Philadelphia Country Club

75

CCC

82

GVC

157

Robin McCool

Saucon Valley Country Club

79

GVC

78

CCC

157

Santo Lafoca

Huntsville Golf Club

80

CCC

77

GVC

157

Sean Clifford

Ashbourne Country Club

81

GVC

76

CCC

157

Tom Borsello

Fieldstone Golf Club

79

CCC

78

GVC

157

Brian Rothaus

Philmont Country Club

75

CCC

83

GVC

158

Chris Kallmeyer

Philadelphia Cricket Club

81

CCC

77

GVC

158

Jeff Huntzinger

North Hills Country Club

84

CCC

74

GVC

158

Mark Kosko

Seaview Marriott Resort

79

GVC

79

CCC

158

Stephen Seiden

Concord Country Club

81

CCC

77

GVC

158

Anthony Apostolico

Hartefeld National

77

CCC

81

GVC

158

Gary Daniels

Applebrook Golf Club

79

GVC

79

CCC

158

Paul Polinsky

Manufacturers Golf & Country Club

77

GVC

81

CCC

158

Rich Thon

The Springhaven Club

78

GVC

80

CCC

158

Anthony Martire

Seaview Marriot Resort & Spa

78

CCC

81

GVC

159

Brandon Detweiler

Lancaster Country Club

81

GVC

78

CCC

159

Dan Pinciotti, Jr.

Huntingdon Valley Country Club

80

GVC

79

CCC

159

James Arsenault

Little Mill Country Club

77

CCC

82

GVC

159

Joe April

Wedgwood Country Club

76

CCC

83

GVC

159

Matt Raudenbush

Pine Valley Golf Club

80

CCC

79

GVC

159

Robert Billings

Rolling Green Golf Club

81

GVC

78

CCC

159

Tyler Glassman

Meadowlands Country Club

80

GVC

79

CCC

159

Roc Irey

Cedarbrook Country Club

78

GVC

81

CCC

159

Sean Seese

Huntingdon Valley Country Club

83

GVC

76

CCC

159

Geoffrey Cooper

Ballamor Golf Club

82

GVC

78

CCC

160

Gerard Ascolese

North Hills Country Club

82

GVC

78

CCC

160

Jim Yenser

Philadelphia Publinks GA

82

CCC

78

GVC

160

Marlin Detweiler

Lancaster Country Club

82

GVC

78

CCC

160

Charles Dowds, III

North Hills Country Club

83

GVC

77

CCC

160

Ron Weaver

Meadia Heights Golf Club

81

CCC

79

GVC

160

James Greenhalgh

Wildwood Golf & Country Club

81

CCC

80

GVC

161

Brian Corbett

Huntsville Golf Club

81

GVC

80

CCC

161

Donald Ashley

Philadelphia Country Club

78

GVC

83

CCC

161

Drew Panebianco

Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club

82

CCC

80

GVC

162

R. Blake Slawecki

Spring Ford Country Club

77

GVC

85

CCC

162

Scott Elwell

Running Deer Golf Club

80

CCC

82

GVC

162

Steven Walczak

Wilmington Country Club

81

GVC

81

CCC

162

Chris Bevelheimer

Sakima Country Club

84

GVC

79

CCC

163

Stephen Sieracki

Merchantville Country Club

84

CCC

79

GVC

163

Geoff Forcino

Waynesborough Country Club

78

CCC

85

GVC

163

Mike Lebow

Spring Ford Country Club

83

CCC

80

GVC

163

Bill Boyle

Metedeconk National Golf Club

86

CCC

78

GVC

164

Cole Willcox

Philadelphia Country Club

76

CCC

88

GVC

164

Daniel Doyle

Edgmont Country Club

84

CCC

80

GVC

164

David Grossman

Greate Bay Golf Club

82

GVC

82

CCC

164

Thomas DiCinti

Little Mill Country Club

85

GVC

79

CCC

164

Bill Murray

Merchantville Country Club

86

GVC

79

CCC

165

David Hoegel

Little Mill Country Club

79

GVC

86

CCC

165

Leonard Staskiel

Woodbury Country Club

79

GVC

86

CCC

165

Matthew Bellis

Commonwealth National Golf Club

80

CCC

85

GVC

165

Rand Mendez

Fieldstone Golf Club

82

GVC

83

CCC

165

Tom Piersanti

Radley Run Country Club

78

CCC

87

GVC

165

Michael O'Keefe

Little Mill Country Club

80

GVC

86

CCC

166

Perry Landis

Berkleigh Country Club

85

CCC

81

GVC

166

Jack Wallace

Burlington Country Club

82

CCC

85

GVC

167

Thomas Flatley

Merion Golf Club

85

CCC

82

GVC

167

James Finnerty

Radley Run Country Club

83

CCC

85

GVC

168

Vince Yost

Cedarbrook Country Club

82

GVC

87

CCC

169

Joshua Caggiula

Phoenixville Country Club

86

CCC

83

GVC

169

Scott Klee

RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve

86

CCC

85

GVC

171

Mark Bielecki

Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

83

CCC

89

GVC

172

Bryan McClaskey

Merchantville Country Club

89

GVC

86

CCC

175

J Kirk Luntey

Merion Golf Club

81

CCC

94

GVC

175

Larry Silk

Greate Bay Golf Club

81

CCC

NC

GVC

NC

Dan Pickering

Indian Valley Country Club

81

CCC

WD

GVC

WD

Frank Corrado, Jr.

Jericho National Golf Club

86

GVC

WD

CCC

WD

Mark Battista

Philadelphia Publinks GA

83

GVC

WD

CCC

WD

Michael Sanger

Merion Golf Club

85

GVC

WD

CCC

WD

William Bello

Metedeconk National Golf Club

88

CCC

WD

GVC

WD

Thomas Gramigna

Tavistock Country Club

84

GVC

WD

CCC

WD

 

GVC-Green Valley Country Club

CCC-Cedarbrook Country Club

*-advanced in playoff

WD-withdrawal; NC-no card

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