123rd #BMWPhillyAm: Qualifying

Vannucci medals for second consecutive year

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HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – For only the 12^th time in BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship history, there is a repeat medalist. Troy Vannucci of Little Mill Country Club added his name to that exclusive list finishing the two rounds of Qualifying at 7-under 135. Vannucci posted a scintillating 65 at Huntingdon Valley Country Club Tuesday, finishing his final 14 holes when play resumed. Monday afternoon storms paused Qualifying. Vannucci began yesterday at the second qualifying site, Lookaway Golf Club, where he posted a 2-under 70. He started today on No. 14 – he was playing the back nine first – with a tap-in birdie. Right before the horn sounded yesterday at 3:11 p.m., Vannucci stopped a pitching wedge from 133 yards at two feet. He restarted with a three in-hand.

Christian Bartolacci of Jericho National Golf Club, 2001-02, was the last to earn back-to-back medalists honors. In all, 10 players have accomplished the feat. R. Jay Sigel holds the record with four in a row from 1972-75.

Last year, Vannucci and John Peters of Carlisle Country Club shared medalist honors at Philadelphia Country Club at 6 under.

“Every time I play here [Huntingdon Valley’s course] is different. I’ve played it baked out. I’ve played it soft. I feel like I kind of figured out accepting stuff around here,” Vannucci, who fell to eventual 2022 champion Michael R. Brown, Jr. in the quarterfinals a year ago, said. “Not everything has to be perfect. You can use the slopes to your advantage.”

Vannucci, 31, of Marlton, N.J. carded six birdies and a bogey at HVCC. He noted three of those red figures came on substantially lengthy putts. He made a 30-footer, a 50-footer and a 60-footer.

Vannucci faces Patrick Isztwan of Huntingdon Valley Country Club in the Round of 32.

The cutline for match play fell at 5 over.

There was a 10-player for nine qualifying positions playoff.

BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship

Originating in 1897, the Amateur Championship is GAP’s premiere individual event. Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Albert H. Smith captured the first Amateur Championship by defeating J.D. Winsor of Merion Cricket Club in 37 holes. The event’s format switched to medal play in 1938. J. Wood Platt went on to win two consecutive Amateurs under that format. His brother William “Zimmer” Platt earned the 1940 title at Philadelphia Cricket Club by being the only competitor to finish all 72 holes. The event’s format reverted back to match play in 1941. The Amateur Championship wasn’t contested from 1943-45 because of World War II. Overall, 34 courses have hosted the Amateur.

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.

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