HAVERFORD, Pa. — The Semifinals for the 111th Junior Boys’ Championship are set. Wednesday morning at Merion Golf Club (West) (par 70, 5,857 yards), a pair of home-club hopefuls and two traveling teens vie for positions in the Junior Boys’ Final.
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Wednesday afternoon, finalists will face off to decide which name will be added to the Peg Burnett trophy.
Sean Curran and Nicky Nemo are both long-time Merion Golf Club members. The pair is situated on separate sides of the Championship Flight bracket. If both prevail in the Semis, then it will be the first time since 2000 (Billy Stewart, Vince Covello of Llanerch Country Club) that clubmates oppose one another in the Junior Boys’ Final.
Luke McGraw of USGA/GAP GC hails from State College, Pa. Jake Hollerback of Baywood Greens is from Millsboro, Del. Both McGraw and Hollerback traveled upwards of two hours to compete in the championship.
McGraw faces Nemo at 7:30 a.m. Curran opposes Hollerback at 7:37 a.m. Wednesday. The Junior Boys’ Final will follow.
Curran, the No. 2 seed, secured his bid in the Semifinals after dispatching No. 7 seed Beckett Chipman of Wilmington Country Club, 7&6, in the Quarterfinals.
“I thought I played great. The putter was fine, but I hit the ball excellently,” Curran, 17, of Newtown Square, Pa., said. “I just played smart golf and was patient.”
Curran dominated in his afternoon match. He won the first six holes and nipped Chipman on No. 12 (par 4, 335 yards).
Potential for success is strong with Merion being his home.
“I definitely felt like I could go far in this,” Curran, a rising Senior at The Haverford School, said. “I want to do well, and I know I [can.]”
Nemo, the No. 4 seed, found his way to a Semifinal berth after upending No. 5 seed Jack Homer of Wilmington Country Club, 6&4.
The home-field advantage has remained prevalent throughout the competition.
“I would say I played about 18 holes the last five days, so the practice rounds have definitely paid off,” Nemo, 17, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., said. “I think there’s a little bit of additional pressure, just because I’m a member here.”
Nemo began his Quarterfinal match with a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 315 yards). He hit a 60-degree wedge just four feet away to take the lead early. His foot remained on the accelerator throughout the remaining holes until he prevailed on No. (par 4, 441 yards).
“I get sort of nervous on the first tee if it’s stroke-play qualifying,” Nemo, a rising senior at The Haverford School, said. “Match play, you know you can mess up and it won’t penalize you that bad.”
Nemo plans to practice his putting this evening in advance of tomorrow.
Nemo and Curran, who are also teammates on Haverford’s golf team, traverse Merion together weekly. If they meet in the Final, things will be a bit different.
“I’m always rooting for Sean, but in a tournament like this I don’t know if I can anymore,” Nemo said. “If we do make it to the Final, I think it’ll be a close matchup and a lot of fun.”
McGraw, the No. 9 seed, looks to become the first USGA/GAP GC member to reach the Junior Boys’ Final. He dominated in his Quarterfinal match against Stroke-Play Qualifying medalist and No. 1 seed Luca Kleinschmidt of The Springhaven Club, 5&4. It was a similar theme in his Round of 16 match where he bested No. 8 seed Grant Burkhart of Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, 8&6.
“I struck the ball very mediocre, but I felt like my short game today was really second to none,” McGraw, 16, a rising junior at State College Area High School, said. “I feel like my game plan was pretty similar to stroke play just try to play as aggressive as you can out here because Merion West is pretty tight.”
McGraw identifies No. 3 (par 5, 476 yards) as a key point in his Quarterfinal match. After a poorly-struck 4-iron left him 20 yards short of the green, his ensuing chip shot settled 8 feet away resulting in a birdie and a 2-up lead.
“I can’t recall too many times today where I missed a green, and I didn’t get up and down,” McGraw said. “My short game definitely led me today.”
Hollerback, the No. 6 seed, looks to become the first Delaware club representative since 1979 to take a spot in the Final. Todd Anderson of Wilmington Country Club won the event in 1979.
In the Quarterfinals, Hollerback edged No. 3 seed Lannon Boyd of Overbrook Golf Club, 5&3. He wore down his opponent with steady play.
“In the second round, I was very consistent and made pars all around. It’s tough to beat pars,” Hollerback, 16, a rising junior at Sussex Central High School, said. “I’ve been playing really well lately. I’ve had a couple of my best rounds out here. It’s been really dialed.”
A key par on No. 11 (par 4, 384 yards) after escaping a fairway bunker gave Hollerback the momentum he needed to finish off Boyd on No. 15 (par 3, 231 yards).
“I don’t hit the ball a long way and putting isn’t my strong suit, but I have one of the best wedges out here,” Hollerback said.
The quartet has a big day ahead.
Round of 16
Prior to Kleinschmidt’s Quarterfinal match in the afternoon, he faced friend and Springhaven clubmate Jason DiRita in the Round of 16.
Kleinschmidt prevailed in thrilling fashion with a birdie on the first extra hole (No. 1 (par 4, 315 yards).
“I know coming down the stretch I had to put together some good golf if I wanted to win this match,” Kleinschmidt, 17, of Wallingford Pa., said. “J.D. was putting some good shots into the greens close.”
At the conclusion of the outward nine, DiRita led, 2-up. The pair halved No. 10 (par 4, 362 yards) with birdies. Kleinschmidt then took advantage of an out of position DiRita on Nos. 11 (par 4, 384 yards), 12 (par 4, 335 yards) and 13 (par 4, 348 yards) winning with a bogey and two pars, respectively.
After making birdie on No. 17 (par 3, 135 yards) by sticking a gap wedge to 15 feet, Kleinschmidt stood, 1-up. A three-putt from 45 feet on No. 18 (par 4, 346 yards) sent the match to extra holes.
“J.D. birdied that hole to start the round,” Kleinschmidt said. “I was thinking to myself walking up 18 green, ‘Let’s not go to a playoff hole.’”
Both competitors hit the green in regulation. DiRita’s 50-degree wedge stopped 12 feet from the hole location. Kleinschmidt’s approach, a 60-degree from 60 yards, settled to 10 feet.
Kelinschmidt drained his birdie putt to earn himself a spot in the Quarters while DiRita’s slid by.
“I thought I played pretty good. I rolled in a couple putts [and] got a lot of bad breaks, but it happens,” DiRita, 18, of Media, Pa., said. “Didn’t come out with the win and that’s golf. Still years to come and time to get better.”
The Springhaven members have spent countless hours with one another on the golf course. Last year, the pair battled for the final qualifying position in Springhaven’s club championship.
“[Luca] was consistent overall. He didn’t make many bad holes, and he made putts when he needed to,” DiRita, an incoming freshman at Albright College, said. “It’s usually a back and forth on who wins, and he came out on top today.”
“We play all the time during the week and everything,” Kleinschmidt said. “It was nice being with him. It was a little less nerve wracking than it usually should be because we’re good friends.”
Junior Boys’ Championship
The Junior Boys’ Championship is the premier Major in the GAP Junior Division. Originally known as the Junior Golf Championship of Philadelphia, the event was conceived by Robert Lesley, the longest tenured president in GAP history (1906-24). It is open to members of a GAP Member Club 14-18 years of age who have not started their college education and who hold a handicap index of 14.4 or lower. Sixteen players qualify for match play; an additional 16 advance into the event’s First Flight.
The Junior Boys’ Champion is awarded the Peg Burnett Trophy, named in honor of the organization’s beloved Executive Secretary from 1951-76. Burnett was an ardent junior golf supporter who emphasized sportsmanship and respect for the game. “I was very strict about checking the rule book. I didn’t make the rules, but since they are there, you have to abide by them.” Dalton Balthaser profiled Burnett in the Summer 2024 edition of GAP Magazine.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 130,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
Quarterfinals
Championship Flight
9. Luke McGraw, USGA/GAP GC d. 1. Luca Kleinschmidt, The Springhaven Club, 5&4; 4. Nicky Nemo, Merion GC d. Jack Homer, Wilmington CC, 6&4; 2. Sean Curran, Merion GC d. Beckett Chipman, Wilmington CC, 2&1; 6. Jake Hollerback, Baywood Greens d. Lannon Boyd, Overbrook GC, 5&3.
First Flight
1. Nathan Radwanski, LedgeRock GC d. 8. David Burmeister, North Hills CC, 19 holes; 13. Brendan Bell, Jr., CC of Scranton d. Nicolas Gaughan, Concord CC, 4&3; 10. Nick Belgrade, GAP Youth on Course d. 2. Logan McGinn, Williamsport CC, 20 holes; 11. Christopher Sung, Waynesborough CC d. Paul Reilly, Galloway National GC, 21 holes.
Round of 16
Championship Flight
1. Luca Kleinschmidt, The Springhaven Club, d. 16. Jason DiRita, The Springhaven Club, 19 holes; 9. Luke McGraw, USGA/GAP GC, d. Grant Burkhart, Kennett Square G&CC, 8&6;4. Nicky Nemo, Merion GC, d. 13. Ian Larsen, Honeybrook GC, 4&3; 5. Jack Homer, Wilmington CC, d. 12. Kie Shaw, Rock Manor GC, 6&4; 2.Sean Curran, Merion GC, d. 15. Colin McAskin, Saucon Valley CC, 3&2; 7. Beckett Chipman. Wilmington CC, d. 10. Wyatt Underwood, GAP Youth on Course, 2&1; 3. Lannon Boyd, Overbrook GC, d. 14. Quinn Marshall, DuPont CC, 2&1; 6. Jake Hollerback, Baywood Greens, d. 11. Logan Turner, White Manor CC, 3&2.
First Flight
1. Nathan Radwanski, LedgeRock GC, d. Declan McLane, North Hills CC, 2-up; 8. David Burmeister, Saucon Valley CC d. 9. Brendan Schott, Rock Manor GC, 3&1; 13. Brendan Bell, Jr., CC of Scranton, d. 4. Declan Conner, The Skramble House of Golf, 1-up; 12. Nicolas Gaughan, Concord CC, d. 5. Dallas Inch, USGA/GAP GC, 1-up; 2. Logan McGinn, Williamsport CC, d. 15. Freddy Hartmann, Overbrook GC, 3&1; 10. Nick Belgrade, GAP Youth on Course, d. 7. Jasper Dittus, Philadelphia Cricket Club, 7&5; 14. Paul Reilly, Galloway National GC, d. 3. Phillip Matthews, CC of Scranton, 3&1; 11. Christopher Sung, Waynesborough CC, d. 6. Liam McFadden, Overbrook GC, 4&3.
