92nd Francis B. Warner Cup

Frazier finds second Warner

SKILLMAN, N.J. – Last year, Jeff Frazier added a special distinction next to his name in the GAP record books. After winning the Senior Amateur Championship at Berkshire Country Club, he became the third individual in GAP history to capture the GAP Senior Slam (Warner Cup, Chapman Cup, Brewer Cup and Senior Amateur).

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On Monday, he opened the 2026 GAP senior major season with the same recognizable grit.  Frazier, a Carlisle Country Club member, carded a 1-under-par 71 to take the 92nd Francis B. Warner Cup at Cherry Valley Country Club (par 72, 6,469 yards). It is his second Warner Cup title (2024). 

Frazier tied with Scott Storck of the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Storck was unable to attend the playoff. 

“I enjoy competition. It’s like a test,” Frazier, 61, of Mechanicsburg, Pa. said. “I just look to compete a little bit and get the butterflies in your stomach coming down the stretch. That’s kind of what I had today.”

Persistent winds held fast throughout the duration of play despite pleasant temperatures hovering in the 70s. 

During Monday’s conditions, the Rees Jones layout awarded ball control.  

“I hit some good shots and then I hit some not so good shots,” Frazier said. “The holes that were downwind, you really couldn’t stop it. Overall, I hit it well.”

Frazier’s ball-striking is something to behold. From the tee, he typically plays a low, penetrating ball into the fairway. He follows it up with a variety of high-flying approach shots that get him into scoring position. Both pillars of his game aided him Monday.

A clean outward nine featured nine, seemingly-stressless pars. His toughest play was getting up-and-down from 40 yards after an offline tee shot on No. 4 (par 4, 391 yards).

“I didn’t hit any really close,” Frazier said. “I either two putted or I chipped it within a couple feet. It seemed like every hole where I felt like I could attack, I just didn’t judge the wind right.”

After making the turn at even par, Frazier checked the leaderboard and knew he needed to find some red figures coming in. He got red, and some other colors as well.

Following a big drive on No. 10 (par 5, 507 yards), he hit a 6-iron from 159 to two feet for an easy eagle. Galing winds on No. 11 (par 3, 145 yards) resulted in an 8-iron finding the right greenside bunker resulting in a five. The same 8-iron led to a bogey on No. 12 (par 4, 370 yards). 

Frazier reeled things back in with a confident birdie stroke from 25 feet after steering a sand wedge from 105 yards on No. 13 (par 4, 350 yards). Frazier circled another figure on No. 16 (par 5, 460 yards) after his chip shot settled seven feet away after his 5-hybrid from 194 yards landed pin high left. His final birdie came on No. 17 (par 4, 406 yards) when the same sand wedge, this time from 110 yards, stopped four feet away. 

An awkward uphill lie in the fairway on No. 18 (par 4, 412 yards) resulted in Frazier’s approach landing in the left greenside bunker. He failed to get it up-and-in for par.

It’s no secret Frazier works hard to keep his game in shape. The three-time Senior Player of the Year award winner stays conditioned through lower-body strength training, stretching and cardio.

Having already played in a few events, he says his game is close to mid-season form. A decrease in professional responsibilities in his fintech career, which began last year, allowed more time for golf.

“It goes in spurts. I’m actually in a spurt where I’ve played a lot of days in a row and I was a little concerned,” Frazier said. “That’s too much. I’m ready for a couple days off.” 

Recent rounds include the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s George Dressler Memorial, where Frazier finished second in the senior division, and representing Carlisle in the BMW GAP Team Matches.

A couple days off might be attractive now, but Frazier has his eyes on a bigger prize. He’ll lay the groundwork in qualifying next month. 

“I had a taste of the U.S. Senior [Amateur] and that was incredible,” Frazier, who made the semifinals in 2022 said. “I really would like to get to that feeling again.”

He will attempt to qualify at Winters Run Golf Club in Bel Air, Md. 

“I’m gearing my schedule around preparing for that qualifier,” Frazier said. “If I do make it, I’m sure I’ll be gearing my schedule around trying to be in top form for that.”

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. It is the first Senior Major of the GAP tournament season.

To meet the needs of its members, GAP, in 2022, separated a Super-Senior Division from its traditional Warner Cup counterpart. The Warner Cup – Super Senior, set for May 26 at LuLu Country Club, will feature two divisions: 65 years of age or older (Super Senior) and 70 years of age or older (Legends).

Notes:

Kevin McClellan of Moselem Springs Golf Club made an ace on No. 8. He used an 8-iron. It is his third.

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 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.