15th Francis B. Warner Cup Super Senior

LuLu’s Irey rolls way to second Super-Senior Major

MEDFORD LAKES, N.J. – If Roc Irey ever wanted to create a golf instruction video series on putting, he wouldn’t have to think long about his tagline.

“Rolling the Rock like Roc” would not only teach you how to properly roll putts, but it would also teach golfers how to make putts from anywhere. 

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Irey, smoothly swinging his broomstick putter, was Roc-solid (pun intended) on the greens leading to his second Super-Senior Major. His sizzling round of 66 earned him the hardware Wednesday in the 15th Francis B. Warner Cup Super Senior at Medford Lakes Country Club (par 71, 6,044 yards).

The LuLu Country Club member won the 2018 Frank H. Chapman Cup Super Senior at Commonwealth National Golf Club and the 2008 Pennsylvania Senior Amateur at the Club at Nevillewood. His 66 is the lowest round to par in event history. 

Irey’s round was good enough for a four-shot victory over three-time champion Don Donatoni of White Manor Country Club.

In addition to the overall title, today’s competition was split into divisions: 65 years of age or older (Super-Senior) and 70 years of age or older (Legends). Brian Rothaus of Five Ponds Golf Club took the Super-Senior crown in a scorecard playoff over Ed Short of Carlisle Country Club at 74. Rick Umani of Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association took the Legends title with a 75.

“Ironically enough, my parents used to be members here back in the early 1980s,” Irey, 70, of Doylestown, Pa., said. “I’ve only played here once so I didn’t remember the course at all. I just wanted to keep the ball in front of me. The course was short enough and I had a ton of birdie looks. I could have shot three or four shots lower.”

Irey sprinted out of the gates with birdies on Nos. 1 (par 4, 359 yards) and 2 (par 4, 378 yards). He hit a 9-iron from 130 yards to three feet on the opener and rolled in a 10-footer on No. 2.

A pure 7-iron on No. 6 (par 3, 148 yards) left him 20 feet away. The result? The clang of the bottom of the cup.

A “bad bogey” from 70 yards on No. 7 (par 4, 321 yards) took some wind out of the proverbial sail. But a tap-in birdie on No. 9 (par 5, 500 yards) righted the ship as he made the turn in 3 under. 

After Irey splashed from the sand on No. 11 (par 3, 183 yards), he rolled in a clutch 12-footer for par. Nothing new. A 15-footer for birdie on No. 14 (par 5, 503 yards) got him to 4 under.

An ironclad 6-iron from 186 yards to five feet on No. 17 (par 4, 404 yards) got Irey to his magic number.

“I hit my irons extraordinarily well today,” Irey, who works in the insurance business, said.

Irey is no stranger to challenges. He successfully battled prostate cancer as well as countless knee and back surgeries over the years. He recently lost 53 pounds. 

“It wasn’t until the middle of last summer that I could swing normal,” Irey said. “Now I am just getting old.”

The second Super-Senior Major of the season comes in just 13 days. The 18th Chapman Cup Super Senior heads to Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester, Pa. on June 12. 

“It is always fun to compete,” Irey, last year’s Super-Senior medalist in the Brewer Cup, said. “Because if you play over time and try to tee it up, you want to play your best. You can hit it bad but you are still trying to score. Playing in these events for a long time you get to know all the players. At this point, if you don’t want to compete there’s something wrong.”

Francis B. Warner of Philadelphia Cricket Club served as GAP secretary-treasurer for 18 years. After his death in 1933, the Association started the Francis B. Warner Cup as an ongoing tribute in his memory. To meet the needs of its members, GAP, in 2022, separated a Super-Senior Division from its traditional Warner Cup counterpart.

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.