122nd Patterson Cup: Round One

Vannucci finds form, leads Patterson after Round One

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Troy Vannucci’s search has ended.

A return to last season’s William Hyndman, III Player of the Year (POY) form is here.

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Vannucci, fresh off a Top 5 finish in the New Jersey State Golf Association Open Championship a week ago, kept the good vibes going. The diminutive right-hander opened the 122^nd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank Wednesday at Concord Country Club (par 70, 6,845 yards) with a smooth, bogey-free 6-under 64. A shaky weather forecast for Thursday put Vannucci in green-light mode. He finished with four birdies in his final six holes.

Good friend and three-time POY Michael R. Brown, Jr. of LuLu Country Club, who played in the same grouping with Vannucci, stands alone in second at 5 under.

“Looking at the forecast you never know with Mother Nature. You kind of almost got a sense that today [was] the day to get after it,” said Vannucci, 32, of Little Mill Country Club and Marlton, N.J. “I mean it’s all or nothing. Right out the gate the lines were very tight. We were going after a lot of pins. We were not plodding [our] way around.”

Overnight rains softened the course, affording the morning wave conducive scoring conditions.

Vannucci and Brown, Jr. took full advantage.

Of the Top 12 leaderboard scores, eight were recorded in the morning session.

Afternoon winds toughened conditions.

New this year, GAP expanded the Joseph H. Patterson Cup from 36 to 54 holes. It is listed on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and eligible for points.

The field of 144 players was cut to the low 40 scores and ties after Round One.

The cutline fell at 2 over with 44 players advancing.

For Rounds Two and Three, players will be paired in twosomes. There will be no repairing before the final round.

Round Two begins at 7:30 a.m.

The Patterson Cup serves as the final rounds of the Silver Cross Award. The Silver Cross is presented to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the qualifying rounds of the BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship and the three rounds of the Joseph H. Patterson Cup. This will be the first year the Silver Cross encompasses five rounds. Patrick Isztwan of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, the Amateur medalist, leads by three strokes after three rounds.

Defending Patterson Cup champion Logan Paczewski of Huntsville Golf Club missed the cut at 7 over.

Vannucci’s top GAP tournament finish this year is a tie for 12^th in the GAP Open.

In last week’s NJSGA Open, Vannucci said he finally found his tempo.

“I’m just trying to get back into form. Hopefully it continues,” said Vannucci. “Tempo. Just not trying to kill the ball. Stay in tempo. Just stick to my guns. I’m not a bomber. Ball control.”

Vannucci hit 14 of 18 greens and 12 of 14 fairways.

On Nos. 6 (par 5, 585 yards) and 9 (par 4, 413 yards), Vannucci drained a pair of eight footers for birdie before turning up the heat.

“I was feeling good. But when you make the turn that’s when the brute of the course comes around,” said Vannucci. “If you can play the next four holes in even par, you can get at the last couple of holes.”

Vannucci did one better. On No. 13 (par 4, 434 yards), he knocked a pitching wedge from 127 yards to inches.

“That was a bonus,” he said.

And true to his word, he took advantage of the final holes, too.

On No. 15 (par 3, 140 yards), he rolled in a 20-footer for two. On No. 16 (par 5, 600 yards), Vannucci stopped in the left greenside rough in two after ripping a 3-wood 285 yards. He chipped up and made a six-footer. On No. 17 (par 4, 405 yards), Vannucci made it three birdies in three holes when he lofted a 9-iron from 137 yards to four feet.

He did find the fairway bunker on No. 18 (par 4, 480 yards), but lasered a 7-iron from 167 yards and two-putted from 40-feet right of the flag to save par.

“I feel like I’m in good form. Last year, everything was off of momentum. I finished well and just kept the momentum going. This year I haven’t really had any momentum. A day like this give you momentum and keeps it going,” said Vannucci, who is in search of his first Patterson Cup title.

Brown matched Vannucci’s six birdies, but had a bogey blemish on No. 13. His lone miscue.

Brown won the 2018 Patterson Cup and lost in a playoff for the 2022 title.

“I was a little unsure of my game. I had no real reason to think I was going to shoot 5 under today,” said Brown, 51, of Maple Shade, N.J. “I guess I had in mind that today could be the only day of play. Troy and I were back and forth and he played unbelievably. I was just trying to keep in mind that today could be the entire golf tournament.”

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 110,000 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.

Provident Bank

Founded in Jersey City in 1839, Provident Bank is the oldest community-focused financial institution based in New Jersey and is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS). With assets of $24.08 billion as of June 30, 2024, Provident Bank offers a wide range of customized financial solutions for businesses and consumers with an exceptional customer experience delivered through its convenient network of 140 branches across New Jersey and parts of New York and Pennsylvania, via mobile and online banking, and from its customer contact center. 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. To learn more about Provident Bank, go to www.provident.bank or call our customer contact center at 800-448-7768.