119th #GAPOpen: Round Two

RGGC’s Shattuck redeems at Lookaway

BUCKINGHAM, Pa.–A year later, Braden Shattuck found himself in the same spot with the same shot. Standing on the 18^th tee box of the 119^th Philadelphia Open Thursday, the 28-year-old surged to the top of the scoreboard. Flashback to last July, at Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course, Shattuck was tied for the lead on 18. His closing tee ball flared to the right, however, and trickled out-of-bounds by four inches. A double bogey dropped him into a tie for second.

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So with redemption on the mind, and 2-iron in-hand, Shattuck scripted a dreamy final scene in 2023. He stepped up, took a deep breath, and roped said 2-iron down the center of Lookaway’s intimidating 18^th hole. The Rolling Green Golf Club Director of Instruction then added some whip cream and strawberries with a decisive, and delicious, approach: a 7-iron from 166 yards to five feet.

Shattuck made birdie, instantly eliminating the Cricket nightmare.

The strong hitter played the Philadelphia’s Open’s 36 holes in 10 under, carding a final-round 66 to swoop past a field of the area’s top amateur and professionals. His 10 under equaled the lowest score in relation to par. Rich Steinmetz set the mark in 2009 at Bent Creek Country Club. In addition to hoisting the John J. McDermott Trophy, presented to the champion, Shattuck earned the $7,000 low professional prize.

Campbell Wolf, an amateur representing the GAP/USGA GC, placed second at 8 under courtesy of a final-round 67. Day One leader Trevor Bensel, an assistant professional at Sandy Run Country Club, spun his wheels to an even-par 72 and a tie for third at 7 under.

“Of course it obviously felt great to get some redemption from last year since I completely messed that one up,” said a smiling Shattuck. “I played well both days and just felt good to get it done.”

And what about that final tee shot? Did you have a flashback to 2022?

“Oh yeah, all the negative thoughts came running back to me there on 18. As soon as I hit it, though, I knew it was gonna be pretty good.”

The victory is Shattuck’s first in the Philadelphia Open. But not his most impressive of 2023.

The local Aston, Pa. product, and Wilmington, Del., resident made headlines nationwide with a victory in the 2023 PGA Professional Championship in May. He made a 10-foot par on the last hole for the win.

Today, it was a strong middle move that put Shattuck in prime position. He birdied Nos. 7-10 to eliminate a three-shot deficit and forge to a tie for the lead. He, Wolf and Bensel exchanged spaces and first places before Shattuck finally emerged late.

On No. 7 (par 4, 399 yards), a sand wedge from 110 yards stopped 10 feet above the cup before he converted the birdie putt; on No. 8 (par 5, 542 yards), Shattuck ripped a 2-iron from the fairway to the front of the game and chipped up to a couple feet for a tap-in four; on No. 9 (par 4, 352 yards), a driver and pitching wedge from 45 yards stopped 20 feet from the cup. The next shot found the bottom of the jar. On No. 10 (par 4, 308 yards), Shattuck ratcheted up the heat on a hot and humid afternoon when he ripped 3-wood to the greenside rough and dropped the ensuing four footer.

With two holes remaining, Wolf and Shattuck were the last pair standing. Shattuck a stroke ahead.

Wolf, in the group ahead of Shattuck, played No. 17 (par 5, 520 yards) first and two-putted from 90 feet for birdie to force a tie atop the leaderboard. Shattuck responded in kind, though. He knocked a 5-iron from 220 yards to approximately 60 feet. He converted the ensuing three-footer for birdie to regain the advantage.

“I was just trying to play pretty boring golf to be honest,” said Wolf, 24, of Mechanicsburg, Pa. “I think that was kind of the plan this entire week. Just go out there and be competent with what I was trying to do. I was just a bit slow yesterday so unfortunately I was a little far behind. I started out great today and it’s awesome I was able to get this close.”

Wolf made a run into the championship picture with an early stretch similar to Shattuck’s.

He birdied No. 1 (par 4, 379 yards) and then added red figures on holes Nos. 3 thru 6 to lap a number of contenders. The highlight a 40-foot birdie on No. 6 (par 3, 201 yards).

“There’s a lot of good names on that [John J. McDermott] trophy, and to be in that company feels great,” said Shattuck. It feels really nice to win this one.”

The Open is GAP’s third oldest championship. The Amateur is 123 years old. The Joseph H. Patterson Cup is 121.

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 340 Member Clubs and 100,000 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.