A few days after the world’s best golfers leave Merion Golf Club and the U.S. Open behind, the area’s top amateurs head to Aronimink Golf Club for the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s most prestigious and rigorous tournament.
The 113th Amateur Championship, the crown jewel of the organization’s tournament calendar, is set for June 18-20 & 22 at the venerable Newtown Square, Pa. club. St. Davids Golf Club will also be used for qualifying.
This is just the seventh time Aronimink will host. The last time was 1994.
A field of 133 players will via for 32 available match play spots. To do so, contestants must advance through a 36-hole stroke play qualifier on the first day — 18 at Aronimink and 18 at St. David Golf Club (qualifying site only). A sudden-death playoff will take place to break any ties for the final spots.
First and second-round matches are set for June 19. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held June 20. The final two competitors will face off in a 36-hole final on Saturday, June 22.
The Amateur is seven days later this year than its traditional Father’s Day week calendar spot due to the U.S. Open.
“I think there are going to be a lot of local players revved up with the [U.S.] Open just completed,” said Merion Golf Club’s Michael McDermott, 38, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., who won his fourth Middle-Amateur Championship last month. “Personally, I’m excited. If I drive the ball OK Aronimink is a good golf course for me. You take it 18 holes a time. You can shoot lights out but then you start over.”
There will be no repeat winner in this year’s Amateur.
Defending champion Brian Colbert of White Manor Country Club has moved out of the area and will not return.
Last year’s runner-up Greg Jarmas, then out of Philadelphia Publinks GA but now out of Overbrook Golf Club, is back, however, and enters after a successful Junior year at Princeton University. Jarmas won the individual Ivy League title.
“Last year was kind of a surprise but this year I feel much better about my game,” said Jarmas, 21, of Wynnewood, Pa. “I’ve been hitting the ball better than I ever have. I’m more comfortable with my long game. I like old classic courses. They seem to fit my eye and game well.”
When the Amateur visited Aronimink in 1994, Chris Lange of Overbrook defeated David Brookreson of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, 4&3. Other past Amateur winners at Aronimink were J. Wood Platt of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in 1924; George Rowbotham of Llanerch Country Club in 1948; John Dyniewski of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club in 1955; Robert Beirne of Riverton Country Club in 1964 and Raymond Thompson of Overbrook Golf Club in 1972.
Past Amateur winners in the field are: P.J. Bartholomew (2007), Brian Gillespie (2001), Michael Hyland (2000, 2011), McDermott (2008), Michael Tash (2003), Conrad Von Borsig (2009).
In addition to determining the match play field, the Amateur Championship Qualifier also serves as first two rounds of the Silver Cross Award.
Both the public and media are welcome to attend.
Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 143 Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
