40th GAP/AGA Senior Coal Scuttle

Huntsville wins 40th Senior Coal Scuttle

EXETER, Pa. — Bill Lydick joined Fox Hill Country Club earlier this year. The relationship remains in a honeymoon phase, if Wednesday is any indication.

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At Fox Hill (par 71, 6,268 yards), Lydick, representing his first home in Huntsville Golf Club, carded a 1-under-par 70 to earn individual medalist honors in the 40^th GAP/AGA Senior Coal Scuttle Championship. His performance led Huntsville to victory in the treasured team event. Huntsville filed a 17-over-par 301 to prevail by a stroke over two-time defending champion Fox Hill.

The low four of five scores count toward the team total. George Steinmetz (73), Marty Wilbur (78), Santo Lafoca (80) and Matt Cuddy (81) rounded out the Huntsville contingent.

Huntsville previously won the Senior Coal Scuttle Championship in 2018. As a result of its victory, Huntsville earns the right to host next year’s affair.

“We don’t know how many more opportunities we’ll get at this,” Lydick, 60, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., said. “I felt pretty good. I had two good rounds last week at Huntsville. I shot 71-73. I took off Monday and only played nine holes Tuesday, so I felt I was ready for today.”

Lydick’s start suggested otherwise. He bogeyed two of his first three holes: a missed green on No. 2 (par 4, 416 yards), a three putt from 12 feet on No. 3 (par 3, 186 yards).

“From there, I never missed another green, and I made three birdies,” Lydick said.

Yes indeed. All courtesy of a clutch 50-degree wedge, too. He hit it from 117 yards to four feet on No. 5 (par 4, 393 yards), 104 yards to 20 feet on No, 8 (par 4, 397 yards) and 108 yards to four inches on No. 16 (par 4, 354 yards).

That newfound Fox Hill familiarity helped, right?

“Yes. However, I have eight rounds at Fox Hill this year, but that’s enough here,” Lydick said.

Like Lydick, Steinmetz added a second club home that proved advantageous Wednesday. He joined Huntsville a year ago (Steinmetz spent 1994-2004 there as well). He immediately found camaraderie.

“I enjoy the guys at Huntsville,” Steinmetz, 61, of Malvern, Pa., said. “I played in their senior club championship and men’s club championship, and they asked me to be a part of the team. I jumped at the chance.”

Steinmetz, whose first home is Spring Ford Country Club, spent the past two days competing in the 71^st GAP/DSGA Senior Amateur at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club. He finished in 12^th place.

Wild Quail, by the way, is some 200 miles from Fox Hill. A lot of driving for man driven to help Huntsville strike Scuttle gold.

“This is awesome,” Steinmetz said once the victory became official.

“What an upset this was,” Lydick added. “A couple of nobodies from Dallas, Pa. My mantra at Huntsville is I’m the worst player at the club.”

The best player for the club Wednesday.

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 Association’s 330 Member Clubs and 90,000 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.