2026 GAP Middle-Amateur Qualifying: Five Ponds

Acierno, McGuckin and Vecellio co-medal in Middle-Amateur Qualifying

WARMINSTER, Pa. — LuLu Country Club’s P.J. Acierno, Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Marty McGuckin and Moselem Springs Golf Club’s Nick Vecellio shared medalist honors with 1-over-par 72s to medal in GAP Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifying Saturday at Five Ponds Golf Club (par 71, 6,541 yards).

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The trio earned one of 19 qualifying spots plus ties available. The 43rd Middle-Amateur Championship, presented by Parx Casino, will take place May 20-21 at Jeffersonville Golf Club in Norristown, Pa. It will be the first time a public facility will host a GAP Major.

The cut line at Five Ponds stopped at 77 with 27 players successfully qualifying 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.

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 140,000 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.