LEBANON, Pa. — David West isn’t wasting any time making himself known within GAP’s super-senior circles.
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At the 17th Francis B. Warner Cup Super Senior at Lebanon Country Club (par 72, 6,126 yards), the Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association member made a splash with a 2-under-par 70 to earn his first super-senior title. The Warner Super Senior marks West’s first super-senior event.
“[Winning] validates what I did all winter long,” West, 65, of Ocean View, Del., said. “It inspires me to keep [practicing] and looking forward to the next one.”
The Warner Cup Super Senior is split into two divisions not including the overall title: Super Senior (65 years of age or older) and Legends (70 years of age or older).
For the second year in a row, Overlook Golf Course’s Greg Osborne captured the Legends division with an even-par 72. He edged past Commonwealth National Golf Club’s Jim Gavaghan, by way of a USGA scorecard tiebreak, to finish solo second in the overall division.
West, who played in the day’s 9:30 a.m. group, went out in a bogey-free 33. His front nine was sweetened by a trio of birdies on Nos. 3-5.
On No. 3 (par 3, 112 yards), West stopped a pitching wedge just 6-feet away from the hole. On No. 4 (par 4, 370 yards) the same pitching wedge, this time from 119 yards, settled 6-feet away again. On No. 5 (par 4, 333 yards) West’s lob wedge from 55 yards stopped 15 feet away for a final red figure on the front side.
West held steady coming in. A birdie on No. 10 (par 5, 490 yards) came after his 3-wood approach from 240 yards found the green 40 feet from the hole. Two putts moved him to 4 under. Bogeys presented on Nos. 12 (par 3, 189 yards) and 18 (par 4, 380 yards) to bring West to his final number.
West was the only player in the field to manage an under-par score.
“I kept the ball below the hole. It looked like there were a lot of greens out there that had a lot of back to front,” West, a retired chemicals and packaging salesman, said. “If you got above the hole you were going to be putting very defensively, and I was not.”
With today’s victory, West’s name resides in both the senior and super-senior sections of GAP’s tournament history books. In 2023, West finished runner up in the Brewer Cup. A year prior, he captured the Delaware Senior Four-Ball Championship alongside partner Tom Finn of DuPont Country Club. In 2017, he earned medalist honors in the senior division of the Brewer Cup.
West also competes on the national level. His resume includes five U.S. Mid-Amateurs, a U.S. Senior Amateur and a U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. He hopes to qualify for another Mid-Am this year having earned a place in the field several times before.
It’s difficult for West to observe a clear development in his game throughout different stages of life. Getting better no matter the age is paramount to him.
“The ball doesn’t know who’s hitting it,” West said. “I was able to work indoors on a simulator quite a bit. When it’s cold, I try to utilize that. It helped me with a couple club changes.”
The most notable equipment change for West is switching from a blade putter to a mallet putter. During Wednesday’s round, he committed to using a claw grip for the first time. It’s safe to say the change paid off for him.
“I just started fooling around with it,” West said. “Anatomically, by the way the hand hangs, it just makes sense.”
Super-senior event eligibility means more opportunities for West to feed his competitive spirit. He recognizes that tournament golf is a test of whether or not his practice is paying off.
“When you play competitive golf, it’s a different mindset,” West said. “My focus is definitely a little sharper, and that’s why I will continue to play it.”
In addition to practicing and playing competitively, West has surrounded himself with other areas of golf in his retirement. For the past seven years, he’s served as a caddie at Applebrook Golf Club. Within the past two years, he’s helped out part time at COBRA Golf fitting days. On Wednesday, West will start another part-time role working outside operations at Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club.
“The people are great, it helps me exercise, and it keeps me around golf,” West said.
The next event on GAP’s Super-Senior schedule is the 20th Frank H. Chapman Memorial Cup Super Senior set for June 30 at White Manor Country Club.
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 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.
Overall | |
Name, club | Score |
David West, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 70 |
Gregory Osborne, Overlook Golf Course | 72 |
Jim Gavaghan, Commonwealth National Golf Club | 72 |
Drew Harmer, The Springhaven Club | 73 |
Don Donatoni, Hershey’s Mill Golf Club | 74 |
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club | 74 |
Tom White, Elmhurst Country Club | 74 |
David Caldwell, Golden Oaks Golf Club | 74 |
Don Johnson, Lebanon Country Club | 75 |
Chuck Tait, LedgeRock Golf Club | 75 |
David Cameron, Penn National Golf Club | 76 |
Jimmy Muller, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 76 |
Christopher Clauson, LuLu Country Club | 76 |
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club | 76 |
Jack Conway, Little Mill Country Club | 77 |
Joseph Weiscarger, Wyoming Valley Country Club | 77 |
Tom Hyland, Little Mill Country Club | 77 |
Bob Andrejko, StoneHedge Golf Assn. | 77 |
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club | 77 |
Kevin Sartell, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club | 77 |
Ed Short, Carlisle Country Club | 77 |
Mike Owsik, The 1912 Club | 77 |
Jon Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club | 77 |
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton | 78 |
Larry Borowsky, White Manor Country Club | 78 |
Brian Sexton, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 78 |
David Richards, Bent Creek Country Club | 78 |
Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club | 78 |
Craig Kliewer, Lebanon Country Club | 79 |
Byron Whitman, Berkshire Country Club | 79 |
Carmen Pascarella, DuPont Country Club | 79 |
Bob Gill, Fox Hill Country Club | 79 |
Doug Fedoryshyn, Applecross Country Club | 79 |
Steve Walczak, Wilmington Country Club | 79 |
Andy Lykon, Wedgewood Golf Course | 80 |
Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club | 80 |
Frank Polizzi, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | 80 |
Mike Farlling, Carlisle Country Club | 80 |
Richard Umani, Golf Course at Glen Mills | 81 |
Tim Holland, Pocono Farms Country Club | 81 |
Rick Everett, Clinton Country Club | 81 |
Chris Casperson, Indian Valley Country Club | 81 |
Bob Dorsey, Medford Lakes Country Club | 81 |
Larry Pritchard, Olde Homestead Golf Club | 82 |
William Chase, Valley Green Golf Course | 82 |
Bradley Gunnison, Country Club of Harrisburg | 82 |
William Bogle, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club | 82 |
Jack Sheehan, South Hills Golf Club | 82 |
Ed Kahn, Little Mill Country Club | 82 |
Brian Corbett, USGA/GAP GC | 82 |
Chris Smedley, Hartefeld National | 82 |
Vince Scarpetta, Jr., Nittany Country Club | 82 |
Christopher Terebesi, Golf Course at Glen Mills | 82 |
Joe Cordaro, Saucon Valley Country Club | 83 |
Richard Berry, Wyoming Valley Country Club | 83 |
Robert Dietrich, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 83 |
John Psillas, Waynesboro Country Club | 83 |
Thomas Korner, Allentown Municipal | 83 |
Joe Arrante, Newark Country Club | 83 |
Frank McGinty, Frosty Valley | 84 |
Joe Duhack, LuLu Country Club | 85 |
Kit Conner, Carlisle Country Club | 85 |
Craig Scott, Glen Brook Golf Club | 85 |
Keith Williamson, Range End Golf Club | 85 |
Edward Robson, Radnor Valley Country Club | 85 |
Elliot Sheftel, Lehigh Country Club | 85 |
J.R. Cattoni, Williamsport Country Club | 85 |
Chet Mosteller, Stonewall | 86 |
Thomas Lusto, USGA/GAP GC | 86 |
Alan Wagenschnur, Newark Country Club | 87 |
Brian Trymbiski, Doylestown Country Club | 87 |
Jim Mastromatteo, Overlook Golf Course | 87 |
Mark Prazniak, Coatesville Country Club | 87 |
Bob Beck, Lehigh Country Club | 88 |
Joseph Buglio, Ingleside Golf Club | 89 |
Buck Jones, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 91 |
Jeffrey Amrhein, Amateur Golf Society | 96 |
Peter Mimmo, North Hills Country Club | NC |
Super-Senior Flight (65-69) | |
David West, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 70 |
Jim Gavaghan, Commonwealth National Golf Club | 72 |
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club | 74 |
David Caldwell, Golden Oaks Golf Club | 74 |
Chuck Tait, LedgeRock Golf Club | 75 |
David Cameron, Penn National Golf Club | 76 |
Christopher Clauson, LuLu Country Club | 76 |
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club | 76 |
Jack Conway, Little Mill Country Club | 77 |
Joseph Weiscarger, Wyoming Valley Country Club | 77 |
Tom Hyland, Little Mill Country Club | 77 |
Bob Andrejko, StoneHedge Golf Assn. | 77 |
Kevin Sartell, Wild Quail Golf & Country Club | 77 |
Ed Short, Carlisle Country Club | 77 |
Jon Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club | 77 |
Michael Vassil, Country Club of Scranton | 78 |
Brian Sexton, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 78 |
David Richards, Bent Creek Country Club | 78 |
Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club | 78 |
Craig Kliewer, Lebanon Country Club | 79 |
Byron Whitman, Berkshire Country Club | 79 |
Carmen Pascarella, DuPont Country Club | 79 |
Bob Gill, Fox Hill Country Club | 79 |
Doug Fedoryshyn, Applecross Country Club | 79 |
Steve Walczak, Wilmington Country Club | 79 |
Andy Lykon, Wedgewood Golf Course | 80 |
Mike Farlling, Carlisle Country Club | 80 |
Tim Holland, Pocono Farms Country Club | 81 |
Rick Everett, Clinton Country Club | 81 |
Chris Casperson, Indian Valley Country Club | 81 |
Larry Pritchard, Olde Homestead Golf Club | 82 |
William Chase, Valley Green Golf Course | 82 |
William Bogle, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club | 82 |
Jack Sheehan, South Hills Golf Club | 82 |
Ed Kahn, Little Mill Country Club | 82 |
Brian Corbett, USGA/GAP GC | 82 |
Chris Smedley, Hartefeld National | 82 |
Christopher Terebesi, Golf Course at Glen Mills | 82 |
John Psillas, Waynesboro Country Club | 83 |
Joe Arrante, Newark Country Club | 83 |
Frank McGinty, Frosty Valley | 84 |
Joe Duhack, LuLu Country Club | 85 |
Kit Conner, Carlisle Country Club | 85 |
Keith Williamson, Range End Golf Club | 85 |
J.R. Cattoni, Williamsport Country Club | 85 |
Alan Wagenschnur, Newark Country Club | 87 |
Brian Trymbiski, Doylestown Country Club | 87 |
Mark Prazniak, Coatesville Country Club | 87 |
Bob Beck, Lehigh Country Club | 88 |
Joseph Buglio, Ingleside Golf Club | 89 |
Jeffrey Amrhein, Amateur Golf Society | 96 |
Legends Flight (70 years or older) | |
Gregory Osborne, Overlook Golf Course | 72 |
Drew Harmer, The Springhaven Club | 73 |
Don Donatoni, Hershey’s Mill Golf Club | 74 |
Tom White, Elmhurst Country Club | 74 |
Don Johnson, Lebanon Country Club | 75 |
Jimmy Muller, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 76 |
Rich Thon, The Springhaven Club | 77 |
Mike Owsik, The 1912 Club | 77 |
Larry Borowsky, White Manor Country Club | 78 |
Robin McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club | 80 |
Frank Polizzi, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | 80 |
Richard Umani, Golf Course at Glen Mills | 81 |
Bob Dorsey, Medford Lakes Country Club | 81 |
Bradley Gunnison, Country Club of Harrisburg | 82 |
Vince Scarpetta, Jr., Nittany Country Club | 82 |
Joe Cordaro, Saucon Valley Country Club | 83 |
Richard Berry, Wyoming Valley Country Club | 83 |
Robert Dietrich, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 83 |
Thomas Korner, Allentown Municipal | 83 |
Craig Scott, Glen Brook Golf Club | 85 |
Edward Robson, Radnor Valley Country Club | 85 |
Elliot Sheftel, Lehigh Country Club | 85 |
Chet Mosteller, Stonewall | 86 |
Thomas Lusto, USGA/GAP GC | 86 |
Jim Mastromatteo, Overlook Golf Course | 87 |
Buck Jones, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association | 91 |
Peter Mimmo, North Hills Country Club | NC |
NC – no card |