Doylestown’s Deibert ready to defend Amateur title

 PHILADELPHIA, Pa.–Clint Deibert of Doylestown CC already had his spot in the match play portion of the Amateur Championship secured by virtue of his victory a year ago. As the defending Amateur Champion, he automatically is seeded No. 1 when match play begins tomorrow at Torresdale-Frankford CC (par 70, 6,250 yards).

 In Tuesday’s qualifier for the 106^th Amateur Championship, Deibert provided ample warning to the field that his game is again in tip-top shape. The 24-year-old carded a two-round best 6-under-par 134 in qualifying held at both Torresdale-Frankford CC and Huntingdon Valley CC (Toomey/Flynn courses, par 70, 6,879 yards) to earn medalist honors.

  “I was going to play golf today anyway, so I might as well do it in a tournament and get a chance to see Torresdale-Frankford again,” said Deibert, who is looking to be the first repeat Amateur Champion since Chris Lange did so in 1993-94. “I actually had mixed emotions about playing today. I didn’t want to shoot 78 or 80 and embarrass myself.”

  Deibert then said with a smile, “I don’t know how good it was to use up all those birdies.”

  Deibert, who graduated from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in December, registered a total of nine birdies and three bogeys in carding a pair of 3-under-par 67s. In the morning at Huntingdon Valley CC, he posted four birdies and a bogey. He followed that up with five birdies and two bogeys in the second round and that could have even been better if not for an over-par number on No. 17 (par 3, 206 yards) and a three-foot birdie miss on the 18^th hole (par 4, 372 yards).

  “Every year [I play in the Amateur] I get better with my course management,” said Deibert of what tomorrow might hold. “You have to take advantage [of your good shots] and make birdies. You have to know when to get aggressive and when not to.”

  Deibert likely will turn professional this winter and head to Arizona for the Gateway Desert Series.

  He got a little taste of professional golf last week when he competed in the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at Canoe Brook CC and was paired with PGA Tour professional J.J. Henry. Although Deibert failed to advance into the U.S. Open Championship proper, he carded a 147 total (74-73), he said he learned a lot talking and watching Henry, who did advance.

  “You have to hit every iron within 10 feet,” said Deibert. “No matter if it’s a 4-iron or an 8-iron.”

  A total of 32 players, including Deibert, advanced into the match play portion of the tournament. The first round matches begin at 8 a.m. with second-round tee times to follow. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Thursday with the 36-hole final set for Saturday, June 17. All matches will be played at Torresdale-Frankford CC.

  In all, a field of 130 players began the day in search of being named the next Philadelphia Amateur Champion.

  A number of prominent figures in the Golf Association of Philadelphia qualified for match play, including Robert Galbreath, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley CC, the two-time reigning Junior Boys’ Champion; Brian Gillespie of St. Davids GC, the 2001 Amateur Champion; Billy Stewart of Llanerch CC, the 2003 Amateur Champion; Brian Rothaus of Philmont CC, the 1988 Amateur Champion, and Michael Tash of Tavistock CC, the 2003 Amateur Champion.

  The Amateur Championship Qualifier also serves as qualifying for the Open Championship and the initial two scores of the Silver Cross. Deibert was the low qualifier for the Open Championship as well and, obviously, currently leads the Silver Cross which dates back to 1902 and is awarded to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the qualifying rounds of the Amateur Championship and the two rounds of the Patterson Cup.

  A six player for five match play positions playoff determined seeds 28 through 32.

  Deibert opens with Brandon Detweiler of Lancaster CC.

  First-round leader Dan Walters of Meadia Heights GC and Stewart tied for second place in qualifying at 2-under-par 138 and are seeded second and third, respectively.