Doylestown CC’s Smith heads SRCC Patterson Cup Qualifier

ORELAND, Pa. – Zach Smith of Doylestown CC fired a 3-under-par 69 to head the Joseph H. Patterson Cup Qualifier Wednesday at Sandy Run CC (par 72, 6,631 yards).

“I played pretty well and didn’t make many bogeys which is always a plus,” said Smith, a sophomore-to-be on the Saint Joseph’s University golf team. “I was hitting my wedges well and hit a lot of them real close.”

  Even when the 19-year-old from New Britain, Pa., didn’t have a wedge in his hands, his mid-iron game came through. Such was the case on No. 3 (par 4, 448 yards) when he struck a 7-iron from roughly 170 yards out to within 10 feet short of the hole. From there Smith made the uphill, left-to-right slider for birdie.

  “I’ve been playing and putting pretty well as of late,” said Smith, who carded four birdies and only one bogey on the day. “It all came together today.”

  Robertson, who made par on the first playoff hole to defeat J.R. Fasy of Wilmington CC for the 23rd Jock MacKenzie Memorial just last week at the same club, started his day with a birdie on the first hole (par 4, 348 yards) before carding three more birdies and as many bogeys.

  “I had my speed down a lot better today than I did for the Jock [MacKenzie Memorial],” said Robertson. “I birdied the first hole and when I do that I feel pretty confident.”

  Added Robertson of Wednesday’s round at Sandy Run CC, “It was like a repeat of the Jock, I got up-and-down from everywhere.”

 “I’m looking forward to playing Moselem Springs again,” Panebianco said. “I had a good round out there in the [Pennsylvania State Amateur] followed by a really bad round, so I’m anxious to get back there again for [the Patterson Cup]. It’s always a good test and always a grueling day.”

  Yenser, who admitted to some early nerves, resides near the Patterson Cup sites in Birdsboro, Pa., and said he looks forward to playing near his home.

  “I love Moselem Springs,” Yenser said. “It’s one of my favorite courses and I’ve played very well at Berkleigh in the past. I’m excited to have a chance up there.”

  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 135 Member Clubs and 60,000 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.