CNGC’s Robinson pars first playoff hole to take Marston Cup

  FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.–John Robinson of Commonwealth National GC registered a par on the first playoff hole to edge Jim Simmons of Stonewall for the inaugural Marston Cup title on Wednesday at Manufacturers G&CC (par 71, 6,589 yards). Both players carded 1-under-par 70s in a swirling wind.

  The Marston Cup honors Max Marston, who in 1923 was virtually unstoppable through a series of club, state, national and international events. The Marston Cup is limited to players 45 to 54 years of age with a 10.0 Handicap Index or less. A field of 127 players competed.

  In the playoff, Robinson made a nice up and down from the left side of the green on No. 10 (par 4, 425 yards), the first playoff hole. Simmons blocked his drive right into the trees and chipped out. His 12-foot par chance just missed below the hole.

  The victory reestablishes Robinson, of sorts, back amongst the tops of Golf Association of Philadelphia circles. Robinson, 47, a late-bloomer to the GAP circuit, built a reputation for toughness and a deft putter. He was an Amateur finalist in 2002, and a member of both the 2002-03 Mason-Dixon Matches teams and 2003-04 Compher Cup Matches teams. The last two years have been a serious struggle, however, for the ultra-competitive Robinson.

  “Once you get to that [top] level you want to stay there and play well,” said Robinson, a resident of North Wales, Pa. “The young kids keep raising the bar and you have to keep getting better with them. It’s been really frustrating.”

  Robinson carded three birdies, two bogeys and two magnificent pars to equal Simmons after 18 holes.

  Robinson drained a 25-foot par saver on the first hole (par 4, 374 yards) and recorded another spectacular four on No. 18 (par 4, 397 yards) after finding the trees on the left side. In between, he got up-and-down from the greenside bunker on No. 9 (par 5, 474 yards) for a birdie and an even-par 35 front side, made a nice 10-foot breaker on No. 12 (par 5, 512 yards) for a four and knocked a 60-degree wedge to seven feet on No. 15 (par 5, 551 yards) for birdie. A bogey on No. 17 (par 4, 384 yards) after a bad drive and that par save on No. 18 put Robinson in at 1-under-par 35 on the back and overall.

  Simmons, 45, of Chester Springs, Pa., opened with a 1-under-par 34 on the front nine – he nailed a 12-foot birdie on No. 2 (par 4, 396 yards) and recorded eight other pars. Another birdie on No. 12 moved him to 2-under par overall before a double bogey on No. 13 (par 3, 222 yards), after he blocked his tee shot into the

  right trees, offset his first 12 holes of work. Simmons responded with four pars and a birdie (on No. 17, par 4, 384 yards).

  “It’s gratifying to put together a good round against the top players in Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey,” said Simmons. “It’s a good feeling.”

Max Marston
  For four months in the summer of 1923, Marston was America’s best amateur golfer. Between mid-May and mid-September, Marston was virtually unstoppable through a series of club, state, national and international events.

  It began with the Walker Cup Matches where Marston won two matches as the Americans successfully retained the Cup. Marston returned home to capture the Patterson Cup and Amateur Championship in successive weeks and, in doing so, earned the Silver Cross Award. In July, he took the Pennsylvania Amateur title and finished as the low amateur in the Philadelphia Open.

  In September, Marston traveled to Floosmoor Country Club outside Chicago for the U.S. Amateur. He rallied in the second round to defeat tournament favorite Bob Jones, 2&1, before knocking off Francis Ouimet in the semifinals. He stopped defending champion Jess Sweetser in the final on the 38^th hole.

  In that four month span, he also captured the Merion Cricket Club championship and Pine Valley GC’s Crump Cup.