BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Blue Bell Country Club’s James Braunsberg and Applebrook Golf Club’s Robert Olseski each carded even-par 71s to share medalist honors in GAP Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifying Friday at Green Pond Country Club (par 71, 6,384 yards).
Braunsberg, 33, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., and Olseski, 29, of Wayne, Pa., grabbed two of 17 qualifying positions and ties available for the Championship proper. The 41st Middle-Amateur Championship, presented by NJM Insurance Group, will take place May 21-22 at Riverton Country Club in Cinnaminson, N.J.
Before day’s end, the co-medalists each carded three birdies against a bogey and a double bogey to share the top spot. The cutline stopped at 6-over-par 77. A total of 25 players qualified for the Championship proper.
The Middle-Amateur is open to males 25 years of age or older with a GAP Handicap Index of 5.0 or less.
A William Hyndman, III Player of the Year points event, the Middle-Amateur started in 1984, three years after the USGA created the U.S. Mid-Amateur as a formal championship for post-college amateurs. GAP followed suit with the USGA in creating a Middle-Amateur, but initially varied in its administration of the tournament in a couple of respects.
The most obvious difference was the age requirement. Prior to 2001, the GAP Middle-Amateur was only available to players 30 years of age or older.
The GAP Executive Committee reviewed and revised that age requirement in 2001 to match the USGA’s guidelines of 25 years of age or older for eligible players.
Notes:
Mid-Am Qualifying at Green Pond was originally scheduled for April 12. It was postponed due to weather.
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 125,000 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.
NJM Insurance Group
Founded in 1913, NJM is among the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading property and casualty insurers. One of the Company’s core values is to support the communities it’s privileged to serve, a value exercised through year-round employee volunteer efforts at local nonprofits and a formal corporate giving program. NJM operates in a mutual fashion for the exclusive benefit of its policyholders and is consistently recognized for its award-winning customer service, superior claims handling, and overall customer satisfaction. NJM’s personal insurance products are available direct to consumers in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Company also works with a preferred network of independent agents to deliver business insurance in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Visit njm.com to learn more.
Qualifiers | |
Name, club | Score |
Robert Olseski, Applebrook Golf Club | 71 |
James Braunsberg, Blue Bell Country Club | 71 |
Nathan Fry, Green Pond Country Club | 72 |
Nicholas Vecellio, Moselem Springs Golf Club | 72 |
Stephen Wentz, Makefield Highlands Golf Club | 72 |
David Palumbo, USGA/GAP GC | 73 |
Sam Martini, Woodstone Country Club and Lodge | 73 |
Johnny Mallozzi, Talamore Country Club | 75 |
Kyle Pritchard, Green Pond Country Club | 75 |
Jim Sullivan, Jr., LuLu Country Club | 75 |
Ryan Orcutt, Green Pond Country Club | 76 |
Nicola Cerilli, Indian Valley Country Club | 76 |
Brandon Capone, Mercer Oaks Golf Course | 76 |
Cody Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 76 |
Cory Calvert, Country Club of Scranton | 76 |
Robert Linepensel, Green Pond Country Club | 76 |
Jack Quirk, Sandy Run Country Club | 77 |
Scott Forrester, LuLu Country Club | 77 |
Jim Boburka, Green Pond Country Club | 77 |
Matt Crilley, Steel Club | 77 |
Connor Vanin, DuPont Country Club | 77 |
Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club | 77 |
Ryan Wolbach, Brookside Country Club | 77 |
Mitchell Racosky, Makefield Highlands Golf Club | 77 |
Tristan Hochman, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | 77 |
Alternates (in order) | |
Zach Mueller, Five Ponds Golf Club | 78 |
Luke Smith, Makefield Highlands Golf Club | 78 |
Billy Reube, Huntingdon Valley Country Club | 78 |
Mitch Stead, Chester Valley Golf Club | 78 |
Brooks Cass, Tavistock Country Club | 78 |
John Meyers, Green Pond Country Club | 78 |
Failed to qualify | |
Elliot Fink, Schuylkill Country Club | 78 |
Andy Frank, USGA/GAP GC | 79 |
Thomas Ferguson, St. Davids Golf Club | 79 |
Kevin Rossi, Green Pond Country Club | 79 |
Christian Haldeman, Saucon Valley Country Club | 79 |
Josh Evans, Blue Bell Country Club | 79 |
Michael Anastasia, USGA/GAP GC | 80 |
Tyler Sweeney, Allentown Municipal | 80 |
Sam Spuhler, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 80 |
Michael Hrbek, USGA/GAP GC | 81 |
Jack Hirsh, The 1912 Club | 81 |
Kevin Anderson, Riverton Country Club | 81 |
Justin Howe, Applecross Country Club | 81 |
John Gilbert, USGA/GAP GC | 82 |
Pete Moran, French Creek Golf Club | 82 |
Andy Beittel, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 83 |
Jim Maru, Northampton Country Club | 83 |
Michael Ashcraft, Steel Club | 84 |
Travis Jett, Bluestone Country Club | 84 |
Mac Roedel, Jericho National Golf Club | 84 |
David Blair, Mercer Oaks Golf Course | 84 |
Richard Wade, John F. Byrne Golf Club | 85 |
Jeremy Walker, USGA/GAP GC | 85 |
Rob Good, Merion Golf Club | 85 |
Daniel Rieger, Sunnybrook Golf Club | 85 |
Matthew Quirk, Sunnybrook Golf Club | 85 |
Mark McGill, Saucon Valley Country Club | 85 |
Greg Wasserson, Green Valley Country Club | 85 |
Robert Streit, North Hills Country Club | 86 |
Corey Betham, St. Davids Golf Club | 86 |
Casey Sottanella, USGA/GAP GC | 87 |
Adam Bracy, Tavistock Country Club | 87 |
Patrick Hohlfeld, USGA/GAP GC | 88 |
Matt Malinowski, Trenton Country Club | 88 |
Jerry Newell, Fieldstone Golf Club | 89 |
Blaine Lafferty, Little Mill Country Club | 89 |
Shawn Gallagher, Commonwealth National Golf Club | 90 |
John Burnes, Philadelphia Cricket Club | 91 |
Alex Deering, USGA/GAP GC | 94 |
Nick Lilley, Northampton Valley Country Club | 95 |
Peter Witonsky, Chester Valley Golf Club | WD |
Michael Nechetsky, Green Pond Country Club | NC |
David Hertgen, Springdale Golf Club | NC |
Greg Heisen, Skytop Lodge | NS |