SKILLMAN, N.J. – Gary Daniels and Charles Dowds, III of Applebrook GC blazed Cherry Valley CC (par 72, 6,323 yards) to the tune of a 3-under-par 141 and triumphed in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s second Senior 27-Hole Challenge Tuesday.
Two phenomenal chip shots in the aggregate portion of the event seemed to cement the duo’s status as victors. Daniels, of Malvern, Pa., chipped in for eagle from the back of the No. 3 (par 5, 490 yards). Dowds did his best to match his partner’s feat by chipping in for birdie after his 8-iron sailed 45 yards to the front of the green. The Glenside, Pa. resident also fired a birdie on the par 4, 338-yard No. 5 after sticking his pitching wedge 110 yards to five feet.
“We were consistent through all three formats,” Dowds, 55, said. “We were never really in trouble.”
Although Daniels and Dowds shot 1 over in the opening selective drive/alternate shot portion of the event, the duo surged in the better ball of partners format by registering four birdies and two bogeys. Daniels, 55, converted a side-hill 20-footer on No. 18 (par 4, 400 yards).
“That was probably the best of the birdies,” Dowds said. “It was a good putt.”
Tuesday marked a competitive change for the Applebrook GC members. Daniels and Dowds typically play golf against one another throughout the season.
“It was a little different today,” Dowds said. “We’re both at Applebrook, so we play there all of the time.”
Daniels and Dowds met 40 years ago cutting grass at Sandy Run CC.
“We’ve been friends for that long,” Dowds said. “We play a lot of golf.”
Daniels continued his winning ways Tuesday. He captured Applebrook’s Club Championship this past weekend.
“I’m just glad to get on the train,” Dowds said.
In the Super Senior division, Herbert Gordon of Doylestown CC and Robert Schiller of Old York Road CC carded a 9-over-par 155 to win their flight by a stroke.
The Senior 27-Hole Challenge replaced the Senior Net Championship on the tournament schedule. An event for players 55 years of age and older, the Senior 27-Hole Challenge is a gross event consisting of three nine-hole stipulated rounds in three different formats: better ball of partners, aggregate and selective drive – alternate shot. The tournament is open to seniors with a USGA Handicap Index of 7.0 or lower. Super-Seniors must have a USGA Handicap Index of 12.0 or less.
| Championship | |
| Name, club | Scores |
| Gary Daniels/Charles Dowds, III, Applebrook GC | 37-34-70=141 |
| Stan Zabytko/Michael Sofranko, Loch Nairn GC/Wyncote GC | 36-36-72=144 |
| Vince Yost/Richard Green, Cedarbrook CC | 40-33-74=147 |
| Richard Schmidt/John Williams, Cherry Valley CC | 35-38-77=150 |
| Joseph Milutis/Gordon Bennett, Northampton CC | 36-40-75=151 |
| Thomas Stitt/Dave Schindler, Northampton CC | 39-36-78=153 |
| William Gordon/Stuart Shears, Wilmington CC | 33-40-82=155 |
| Tom Meyers/Alan Van Horn, Green Valley CC/Lu Lu CC | 37-38-80=155 |
| Paul Koelling/Mike Miklinevich, Greate Bay CC | 40-38-77=155 |
| Edward Roberts/Jim Barton, Manufacturers G&CC | 42-35-78=155 |
| John Patton/Patrick O’Kane, Links GC/Pine Hill GC | 44-37-77=158 |
| Ken Gaskill/Jon Mabry, Philadelphia Publinks GA/Moorestown Field Club | 41-38-81=160 |
| Bud MacAvoy/Fred Banta, Running Deer GC | 41-39-85=165 |
| Super Senior | |
| Name, club | Scores |
| Robert Schiller/Herbert Gordon, Old York Road CC/Doylestown CC | 39-35-81=155 |
| Peter Stanley/Clay von Seldeneck, Sunnybrook GC | 38-38-82=158 |
| Louis Pace/James Callaghan, Medford Village CC/Rolling Green GC | 38-37-83=158 |
| Joe Wolos/Bill Weinfeld, JC Melrose CC | 42-34-84=160 |
| Burt Ford/Chuck Baker, Cherry Valley CC | 44-37-80=161 |
| Joseph Maxwell/Curt Fromal, Hartefeld National/The Springhaven Club | 40-38-85=163 |
| John Ayres/David Jordan, Woodbury CC | 43-36-85=164 |
| Thomas Huder/Robert Deacon, II, Merchantville CC | 51-37-83=171 |
| Formats (in order): Selective Drive-Alternate Shot; Better-Ball; Aggregate |
