DOYLESTOWN, Pa.–Mike Dougherty, a two-handicapper from Huntingdon Valley CC, carded a 1-over-par 73 to take medallist honors in the second of two Middle-Amateur Championship qualifiers on Thursday at Doylestown Country Club (par 72, 6,516 yards).
Forty-nine players qualified, completing the field of 132 players for the 21st Middle Amateur Championship, the first major of the season, set for May 26-27 at Gulph Mills GC.
Thirty-three players, led by Joe Russo of Running Deer GC, who carded an even-par 70, qualified on May 6 at Burlington CC. Fifty players were exempt from qualifying based on previous performance. The Mid-Am is for players 25 years of age and older who have a handicap index of 7.0 or lower.
In taking medallist honors, Dougherty, 54, hit 16 greens, eight on both the front and back, but putted “terribly” on the front nine, carding one birdie and four bogeys for a 3-over 39. But he “hit it close” and putted well on the back nine, carding birdies on 11, 15 and 16 against a lone bogey on 12, for a 2-under 34.
Dougherty said he was “very proud” of his round, after taking considerable time off from competitive golf in the last couple of years to spend more time with his family.
“But I’m going to play in as many GAP tournaments as I can this year, and I’ll be a senior in July,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to playing in the senior events.”
At Gulph Mills, Rob Savarese of Philadelphia Cricket Club will defend his Mid-Am title over 36 holes. Last year, he shot two-under- par (69-71–140) over the Wissahickon Course at his home club to edge Bill McGuinness of Tavistock by two strokes.
