HAVERTOWN, Pa.–A pair of maturing collegians kept their emotions in check and golf balls on task en route to the top of the 121st Joseph H. Patterson Cup, presented by Provident Bank, first-round leaderboard. Austin Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, a Liberty University fifth-year senior, and Logan Paczewski of Huntsville Golf Club, a Rutgers University sophomore, each posted 5-under-par 66s Wednesday at Llanerch Country Club (par 71, 6,727 yards).
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Both are in search of a first GAP Major title.
Both spoke about the ability to keep an active mind calm and nerves steady as they navigated an unexpectedly windy, and testing, Llanerch in championship conditions. Matt Mattare of Saucon Valley Country Club, a two-time GAP Major winner, and Nelson Hargrove of Merion Golf Club, a former BMW Philadelphia Amateur finalist, are tied for third at 3 under.
Barbin, Paczewski and Mattare start their final round at 9:10 a.m. off of No. 1. Due to expected storms slated to hit the area tomorrow afternoon, tee times will be split between Nos. 1 and 10. Traditionally, all players start on the first hole.
The cut line for the Patterson Cup fell at 3 over with 66 players moving on to Day 2.
Barbin and Paczewski have the physical tools. They are long-hitters with deft touch around the greens. The scorecards tell that part the story. Barbin made eight birdies and three bogeys. Paczewski had seven birdies and two bogeys. Both, though, were happier with their mental approach that produced the physical results.
“My goal today was to be really positive,” said Barbin, 22, of Elkton, Md. “On the first tee, I kind of struggled in the past with having doubts and being negative. Everyone kind of goes through phases like that. So the entire day today, I was trying to be positive. I wanted to have a very positive mentality with the last thought in my head being where do I want the ball to be.”
Add in a renewed confidence with the driver courtesy of a Fujikura Ventus Black 7 shaft, and Barbin’s game is sharp.
He noted he hit only two poor drives: On No. 16 (par 5, 505 yards), when he found the left trees but still made birdie, and on No. 6 (par 4, 420 yards), where he made bogey. Every part of the game was good.
Starting his round on No. 10 (par 4, 446 yards), Barbin lifted a 60-degree wedge from 82 yards to 15 feet for birdie and on No. 13 (par 4, 308 yards), he drove it to 10 yards short of the green and chipped up tight for another bird. A three-putt temporarily derailed Barbin on No. 14 (par 4, 467 yards), before he carded red figures on Nos. 15 (par 4, 321 yard) and 16 (par 5, 505 yards). A bogey on No. 17 (par 3, 155 yards) saw Barbin turn in 3 under.
On the front side, Barbin birdied three of his first five holes: Nos. 2 (par 4, 442 yards), 3 (par 4, 467 yards) and 5 (par 5, 554 yards), all of the tap-in variety. His birdie putt distances: a foot, three feet and a foot.
Barbin bogeyed the aforementioned sixth, but responded on No. 7 (par 4, 386 yards) when he clipped a 60-degree wedge from 85 yards to two feet.
“You know, it’s kind of like I was saying, the mental side again,” said Barbin, 2019 Junior Player of the Year. “I was just thinking about the next shot and trying to hit the best possible shot possible each time.”
Barbin has good vibes at Llanerch.
Last year, Barbin finished sixth in the Pennsylvania Amateur Championship that was held here.
Paczewski, on the other hand, was getting his first look at Llanerch.
“It’s awesome. I love all the character to the course,” said Paczewski, 19, of Dallas, Pa. “A lot of really unique hills and a lot of really great bunkers. The greens are perfect. It’s a great track.”
He made the turn in 2 under courtesy of four birdies and two bogeys before closing with a clean back nine. Paczewski birdied Nos. 12 (par 3, 178 yards), 15 and 17 and registered all pars on the other six holes. On No. 12, he hit a “bullet cut” 6-iron to five feet; on No. 15, he knocked a short chip to three feet and then on No. 17 dripped in a 10-foot birdie after his 9-iron found the green.
Good tempo. Better temperament.
“You got to keep calm out there, level-headed,” said Paczewski. “I’ve done a much better job this summer at that. Especially for me that’s a big part. I can’t get emotional out there because when I get emotional you use all your energy.”
About Provident Bank
Provident Bank, a community-oriented financial institution offering “Commitment you can count on” since 1839, is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $13.78 billion as of March 31, 2023. With $10.30 billion in deposits, Provident Bank provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey, as well as Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Nassau and Queens Counties in New York. The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company and insurance services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Provident Protection Plus, Inc. For more information about Provident Bank, visit www.provident.bank or join the conversations on Facebook (ProvidentBank) and Twitter (@ProvidentBank).
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.
Name, club | Score |
Logan Paczewski, Huntsville Golf Club | 66 |
Austin Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club | 66 |
Matthew Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club | 68 |
Nelson Hargrove, Merion Golf Club | 68 |
Jeff Osberg, Pine Valley Golf Club | 69 |
Drue Nicholas, Galloway National Golf Club | 69 |
Ryan Tall, LuLu Country Club | 69 |
Kevin Lydon, LuLu Country Club | 70 |
Zak Drescher, Bent Creek Country Club | 70 |
Evan Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club | 70 |
Michael R. Brown, Jr., LuLu Country Club | 70 |
Michael Crowley, Briarwood Golf Club | 70 |
Steve Passalacqua, Greate Bay Country Club | 70 |
Liam Hart, Spring Mill Country Club | 71 |
Christian Matt, Cedarbrook Country Club | 71 |
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 71 |
Conor McGrath, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 71 |
Patrick Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 71 |
Ben Keyser, Legacy Club at Woodcrest | 71 |
Matthew Homer, Wilmington Country Club | 72 |
John Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club | 72 |
Benjamin Feld, Green Valley Country Club | 72 |
Connor Bennink, RiverCrest GC & Preserve | 72 |
Joshua Ryan, The 1912 Club | 72 |
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club | 72 |
Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf Club | 72 |
William Pabst, Elmhurst Country Club | 72 |
Jake Maddaloni, Aronimink Golf Club | 72 |
Ben Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 73 |
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 73 |
John Lalley, Llanerch Country Club | 73 |
Brandon Wilson, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club | 73 |
Peter Garno, Merion Golf Club | 73 |
Andy Butler, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 73 |
Rij Patel, Country Club of York | 73 |
Zachary Falone, Running Deer Golf Club | 73 |
Brian Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 73 |
Jack Irons, Little Mill Country Club | 73 |
Addison Owens, USGA/GAP GC | 73 |
Robert Olseski, Applebrook Golf Club | 73 |
Richard Riva, LuLu Country Club | 73 |
Win Thomas, USGA/GAP GC | 73 |
Scott McNeil, The 1912 Club | 73 |
Zack Amole, French Creek Golf Club | 73 |
David Mecca, Glen Oak Country Club | 74 |
Alexander Kim, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 74 |
Matt Dolinsky, Honeybrook Golf Club | 74 |
Andrew Keeling, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club | 74 |
David Kim, LuLu Country Club | 74 |
Kevin Kramarski, Moorestown Field Club | 74 |
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club | 74 |
Gregor Orlando, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 74 |
Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 74 |
Sean Flanigan, Sakima Country Club | 74 |
Stewart Rickenbach, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 74 |
Nathan Guertler, Merion Golf Club | 74 |
Max Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club | 74 |
Greg Howson, St. Davids Golf Club | 74 |
Charles Young, Briarwood Golf Club | 74 |
Chris Lawler, Riverton Country Club | 74 |
Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club | 74 |
Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club | 74 |
Stephen Scott, Legacy Club at Woodcrest | 74 |
Caleb Taylor, USGA/GAP GC | 74 |
Peyton Mussina, Williamsport Country Club | 74 |
Nicholas Orlando, Llanerch Country Club | 74 |
Failed to qualify | |
Brock Kovach, LedgeRock Golf Club | 75 |
Jalen Griffin, Five Ponds Golf Club | 75 |
Jon Rudisill, Little Mill Country Club | 75 |
Thomas Larkin, USGA/GAP GC | 75 |
Jack Melville, LuLu Country Club | 75 |
Jack Wallace, Riverton Country Club | 75 |
Zach Dilcher, Hartefeld National | 75 |
Joseph Tigani, Fieldstone Golf Club | 75 |
Matthew Zerfass, Brookside CC of Allentown | 75 |
Ryan Barnett, Aronimink Golf Club | 75 |
J.T. Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 75 |
Ross Pilliod, LuLu Country Club | 75 |
Roy Anderson, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club | 75 |
D.J. Pinciotti, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 76 |
Jackson Debusschere, The Springhaven Club | 76 |
Nikita Romanov, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club | 76 |
Cael Ropietski, Huntsville Golf Club | 76 |
R.J. Wren, LuLu Country Club | 76 |
Daniel Rudershausen, Bidermann Golf Club | 76 |
Greg Sadowski, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 76 |
Brendan Bacskai, Applebrook Golf Club | 76 |
Jimmy Kramarski, Moorestown Field Club | 76 |
Gerald Haftmann, Rolling Green Golf Club | 76 |
Kevin O’Brien, Cedarbrook Country Club | 77 |
Morgan Lofland, Phoenixville Country Club | 77 |
Ian Masenheimer, Lehigh Country Club | 77 |
Ryan Cass, Hidden Creek Golf Club | 77 |
Matthew Bastian, Rolling Green Golf Club | 77 |
Nick Ciocca, Aronimink Golf Club | 78 |
Hayden Moffat, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 78 |
Bryan Keeling, Spring Mill Country Club | 78 |
Jon Rusk, LuLu Country Club | 78 |
Ryan Richardson, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 78 |
John Meyers, Makefield Highlands Golf Club | 78 |
Tylor Love, Legacy Club at Woodcrest | 78 |
Marc Fillari, Pennsauken Country Club | 78 |
Geoffrey Cooper, North Hills Country Club | 78 |
Nathan Fry, Green Pond Country Club | 78 |
Philip Mortell, Honeybrook Golf Club | 78 |
Jake Hanzel, Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia | 78 |
Quinn Hamilton, Country Club of Scranton | 78 |
Johnny Murphy, The Shore Club | 79 |
Eric Carlidge, North Hills Country Club | 79 |
Matt Gaffney, Medford Village Country Club | 79 |
Bank Apinyawuttikul, USGA/GAP GC | 79 |
Alex Seelig, Reading Country Club | 79 |
Kevin Lafond, Blue Bell Country Club | 79 |
Matt O’Donnell, Merchantville Country Club | 80 |
Connor Vanin, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 80 |
John Stevenson, LuLu Country Club | 80 |
Anthony Cordaro, Saucon Valley Country Club | 80 |
Dave Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | 80 |
Michael Olson, Pennsauken Country Club | 80 |
Tommy Ditullio, Manasquan River Golf Club | 80 |
Keller Mulhern, Whitford Country Club | 80 |
Pete Moran, French Creek Golf Club | 80 |
Stephen Barry, Running Deer Golf Club | 80 |
Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club | 80 |
Greg Berdini, Scotland Run Golf Club | 81 |
Michael Boden, Aronimink Golf Club | 81 |
Xiong Da, USGA/GAP GC | 81 |
Matt Crilley, Steel Club | 81 |
Voltaire Escalona, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 81 |
Luke Fagley, LedgeRock Golf Club | 82 |
Brian Degnan, Rolling Green Golf Club | 82 |
Kevin Kornuszko, Spring Mill Country Club | 82 |
Jake Fazio, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 83 |
Marshall Kain, Overbrook Golf Club | 83 |
Sebastian Botero, North Hills Country Club | 83 |
Nick Ostash, Five Ponds Golf Club | 84 |
Matthew McCaffery, USGA/GAP GC | 85 |
Daniel Wu, Bluestone Country Club | 85 |
David Hertgen, Springdale Golf Club | 85 |
James Gillespie, Wedgwood Country Club | 85 |
Tony Ball, French Creek Golf Club | 86 |
Nick Hano, LuLu Country Club | 88 |
Justin Spaeth, Cedarbrook Country Club | 89 |
Jack Dare, Riverton Country Club | 89 |