#BMWPhillyAm: Day One

Peters, Vannucci share BMW Amateur Championship medalist prize

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GLADWYNE, Pa.– Troy Vannucci looks to make a bit of history. John Peters (pictured above) hopes to build on his recent history. On Monday, the two made Amateur Championship history. Peters and Vannucci added their names to the list of qualifying medalists.

The duo finished the 36-hole qualifier at Philadelphia Country Club (par 71, 6,827 yards)/Union League Liberty Hill (par 72, 7,247 yards) at 6-under 137. Peters, a Carlisle Country Club member, carded a 69 (PCC) and 68 (Liberty). Vannucci, representing Little Mill Country Club, went 70 (PCC)-67 (Liberty).

The 122^nd BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship established its own piece of history as well. The cutline of 2-over par is the lowest qualifying score in the event’s history. The previous mark of 5 over came in 2004 at Philadelphia Cricket Club (Militia Hill/Wissahickon). The low 32 players advanced to match play, which begins at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Defending Amateur Champion Conor McGrath of Huntingdon Valley Country Club missed the cut, finishing at 4 over. Vannucci is the No. 1 seed and Peters the No. 2 seed, based on a draw by lot.

“It’s an honor. I really love playing in the Philly Am to start the summer. This is one I really look forward to coming to each year. It’s always at a good spot and the field is strong. To be medalist is a great accomplishment for me,” said Peters, 19, of Carlisle, Pa., a rising Duke University sophomore. “I’m looking forward to match play and the rest of the week.”

Peters exploded onto the national golfing landscape a year ago at Merion Golf Club’s fabled East Course. On No. 18, he holed an 8-iron from 193 yards for eagle to stun the Ardmore property by capturing the Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur Championship by a stroke.

“It’s definitely a great accomplishment. That was big for my confidence. With that said, I had to reset a little bit and realize if I want to continue to improve there is more to golf than just one tournament, even though it so historic and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” said Peters. “I want to be more than just one day and one week. I have to do the right things every day. I have to practice the right things and practice smart. And believing in myself to continue to put good results together.”

Peters’ beliefs are only getting stronger. He ended his first collegiate season at Duke with a Top-10 finish in the Stitch Intercollegiate held at Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State, the last event of the year.

He made eight birdies and two bogeys over his 36 holes Monday. He finished with three birdies on his final four holes at Liberty Hill, taking a more aggressive approach knowing he was in the match-play field with a chance at medalist honors up for grabs.

“I want to build momentum for the rest of the week, and I feel like I did that with my second round at Liberty Hill,” said Peters.

Vannucci, 30, of Marlton, N.J., who caddied for cousin Michael Hyland when he took medalist honors in 2009 at Stonewall, is the hottest player in the tri-state area. He took the GAP Middle-Amateur Championship three weeks ago at Jericho National Golf Club. Last week, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Golf Association Middle-Amateur Championship.

Vannucci hopes to join Michael McDermott as the only player to win the Middle-Amateur and Philadelphia Amateur Championship, consecutively.

“The swing feels good. I know Philadelphia Country really well. I play in the DeBaufre Players Trophy (Philadelphia Country Club’s invitational) each year,” said Vannucci, who has won three of the last four editions. “My current form is good. I’m not getting ahead of myself. I’m just playing one shot at a time. I feel like I’ve been in some pressure situations to know how to calm the nerves and stick around.”

Vannucci is making his fifth appearance in the Amateur match play bracket. His longest run came last year at Cedarbrook Country Club with a trip to the quarterfinals. Peters, who is competing in his third Amateur, made match play for the first time last year. He fell in the Round of 16 to 2020 Amateur Champion Zach Barbin.

Vannucci’s round at Country was quiet with only two birdies and a bogey. At Liberty Hill, he went full Sesame Street, filling the card, with circles and squares. He had six birdies, one eagle and three bogeys. His eagle came on his finishing hole, No. 9 (par 5, 550 yards), when he laced a 3-iron from 217 yards to four feet, securing co-medalist standing.

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.