Bartolacci makes it two for two; tops U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier

 BLUE BELL, Pa. – Thomas Bartolacci of Washington Crossing, Pa., qualified for his second U.S. Senior Amateur in as many years Monday after topping the local qualifier for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship run by the Golf Association of Philadelphia.

  Bartolacci bested the 78-player field by firing a 6-under-par 66 at Cedarbrook CC (par 72, 6,780 yards) after carding an eagle and a ridiculous seven birdies on the day.

  The 57-year-old will be joined by Walker Cup Captain George “Buddy” Marucci, Jr., of Villanova, Pa., Richard Umani of West Chester, Pa., and Matthew Bellis of Ambler, Pa., in the Championship set for Sept. 20 – 25 at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

  “It was just one of those things where I got hot today,” said Bartolacci. “I just hit the ball close most of the day and was out of the choke range.”

 But Bartolacci must have gotten “hot” in the parking lot because his solid play showed up right away on the 10^th tee (par 5, 536 yards), his first hole of the day.

  The Washington Crossing, Pa., resident hit a perfect drive off the tee and knocked his rescue club from 235 yards out onto a sloping green only 10 feet below the hole. He then made the uphill putt to start his day with an eagle.

  “It was a good start,” said Bartolacci, who continued his stellar play with a 30-footer for birdie on the par 4, 385-yard 11^th hole to fall to 3-under after two holes. He finished his front nine in 3-under and did the same on the back to clear the field by a full three strokes.

  “I’m ecstatic,” said an overjoyed Bartolacci. “[Today’s round] was a once a year, maybe even a once-in-a-lifetime score for me, especially under these circumstances.”

  Bartolacci’s second consecutive trip to the national championship came with his long-time friend, Terry Sawyer, on the bag in both occasions, a fact not overlooked by Bartolacci.

  “I’m two for two with ‘Saws’ on the bag, so I can’t even [complain] about him for caddie error this time,” joked Bartolacci about making the Championship with Sawyer at his side. “Having Saws on the bag and playing with the guys I played with today made it pretty cool. They we all very supportive.”

Notes:
  The inaugural USGA Senior Amateur was held in 1955 at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. The event, for those who are 55 or older on or before the day the championship begins, is open to those with a USGA Handicap Index of 7.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

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  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 136 Member Clubs and 56,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.