Fieldstone’s Rucinski medals in 118th #BMWPhillyAm Qualifier - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Jun 12, 2018

Fieldstone’s Rucinski medals in 118th #BMWPhillyAm Qualifier

LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa.–Ryan Rucinski and Golf Association of Philadelphia Championships haven’t mixed well in years past. When asked why, the Wilmington University standout shrugged his shoulders. He had no answers.

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In Tuesday’s 118th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship Qualifier, Rucinski took a giant step in erasing prior consternations.

  The long-hitting Wilmington University rising senior secured medalist honors with a 36-hole total of 141, 2 under. Rucinski carded matching 1-under pars at each site: Green Valley Country Club (par 71, 6,766 yards) and Whitemarsh Valley Country Club (par 72, 6,789 yards). He was the only player in the field of 133 to break par.

  Rucinski faces No. 32 seed Marc Mandel of Philadelphia Cricket Club at 7:30 a.m. Mandel outlasted clubmate John Brennan to be the final player to advance in an 11-for-8 playoff for the last qualifying positions. The cutline fell at 149, 6 over. Whitemarsh Valley is the Championship site for all matches. Rounds 1 & 2 take place Wednesday. The quarterfinals and semifinals begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The 36-hole Final starts at 7 a.m. Saturday.

  “It’s nice to come here where I feel I should play well and to finally do it,” said Rucinski, 21, of Wilmington, Del. “I have no idea why I haven’t played well in [GAP] stuff before because I know all the courses. It’s just random. That’s just how golf is. It comes sometimes and leaves sometimes. It finally came during this tournament. It stunk to continuously see my name down [near the bottom of the scoreboard] when I can obviously compete with them.”

  Last year, Rucinski missed the cut in the Open Championship and Patterson Cup. In his only other Amateur appearance, the 2016 #BMWPhillyAm at Merion Golf Club, Rucinski, you guessed it, missed the match play cut. He did medal in an Amateur pre-qualifier that year to get to the Championship Proper. Adding to Rucinski’s GAP dismay has been his Delaware State Golf Association Major success. He’s placed second in the 2016 DSGA Amateur and second in the 2015 DSGA Open. In 2013, he won the Junior Championship.

  Matthew Finger of DuPont Country Club posted a second-round 4-under 68 in the afternoon, the day’s best at Whitemarsh Valley, to leap into the No. 2 seed. Defending #BMWPhillyAm Champion Gregor Orlando of Philadelphia Cricket Club tied for third in qualifying. He is the No. 3 seed and will face No. 30 Michael R. Brown, Jr. of Lu Lu Country Club.

  “The last time the Amateur was at Whitemarsh [in 2008] I played well here. I really see the reads on the [greens] on this course well,” said Finger. “I like where my game is at. It is good right now. I expect to win [matches]. I expect to keep making birdies.”

  Rucinski’s matching 1-under scores were similar in result only.

  In the morning at Whitemarsh Valley, Rucinski struggled to find his mojo. He hit only seven greens in regulation but used a wonderful short game to save strokes. His crowning moment came on No. 18 (par 4, 462 yards) – his ninth hole – when he chipped in from the left rough for a birdie three. He lifted his 58-degree wedge from 20 feet out and watched the ball trickle into the cup on its last roll. Rucinski finished the round with four birdies and three bogeys.

  In the afternoon at Green Valley, Rucinski said he put himself in better position off the tee. He registered 11 greens in regulation but still didn’t see many birdie putts drop. He opened his afternoon 18 the same as his WVCC experience earlier, par-birdie-birdie-par-bogey. He, however, finished with 13 straight pars.

  “I really didn’t have my ‘A Game’ at all. My swing didn’t feel that great but I kind of found something and relied on my short game today,” said Rucinski. “I wanted to make it to match play this year. I worked with what I had and got the ball in the hole. That’s something I’ve worked on with my coach John Dunigan on the last couple of years – accepting the challenges of not playing well and getting it in the hole.”

  Rucinski comes to the Amateur fresh off an appearance as an individual in the NCAA Division II Men’s Championship, plus Ping All-Region Division II team honors.

  He tied for 63rd at Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals.

  Four former BMW Philadelphia Amateur Champions advanced to match play. Orlando (2017), Jeff Osberg (2014) of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Scott Ehrlich (2004) of White Manor Country Club and James Sullivan, Jr. (1999) of Lu Lu Country Club.

NOTES–This is the 15th time Whitemarsh Valley has hosted the Amateur Championship, the most of all-time … Whitemarsh Valley is the home of J. Wood Platt, for whom the Amateur Championship Trophy is named. Platt won a record seven Amateur titles from 1920-42.

Golf Association of Philadelphia
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 260 Full Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.

Qualifiers
Name, club R1-R2-Total
Ryan Rucinski, Fieldstone Golf Club 71WV-70GV–141
Matthew Finger, DuPont Country Club 75GV-68WV–143
Matthew Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club 73GV-71WV–144
Gregor Orlando, Philadelphia Cricket Club 71GV-73WV–144
John Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club 75WV-70GV–145
Danny Harcourt, Mercer Oaks Golf Course 72WV-73GV–145
Marty McGuckin, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve 71GV-74WV–145
Jeff Osberg, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 72GV-73WV–145
Ryan Tall, Spring Ford Country Club 72WV-73GV–145
Campbell Wolf, Carlisle Country Club 72WV-73GV–145
Peter Barron, III, Greate Bay Country Club 71GV-75WV–146
Michael Davis, Aronimink Golf Club 72GV-74WV–146
Scott Ehrlich, White Manor Country Club 75GV-71WV–146
Ben Feld, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 75GV-71WV–146
David Herbst, West Shore Country Club 72WV-74GV–146
Dylan Stein, Mercer Oaks Golf Course 71GV-75WV–146
James Sullivan, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club 75WV-71GV–146
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club 71GV-75WV–146
Austin Barbin, GAP Junior eClub 75WV-72GV–147
Marco Nieto, Glenmaura National Golf Club 80WV-67GV–147
Jeremy Wall, Manasquan River Golf Club 72WV-75GV–147
Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 71GV-77WV–148
Connor McNicholas, Lu Lu Country Club 72WV-76GV–148
Michael Moffat, Lu Lu Country Club 73GV-75WV–148
Michael R. Brown, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club 76GV-73WV–149
Aaron Fricke, Lancaster Country Club 77GV-72WV–149
Alex Golland, Spring Ford Country Club 75GV-74WV–149
Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club 75WV-74GV–149
Alex Pillar, CC at Woodloch Springs 78WV-71GV–149
John Samaha, Old York Road Country Club 73GV-76WV–149
Patrick Sheehan, Talamore Country Club 74WV-75GV–149
T.J. Summers, Commonwealth National Golf Club 74WV-75GV–149
Failed to qualify
Peter Bradbeer, Merion Golf Club 75GV-74WV–149
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club 77WV-72GV–149
Michael Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club 74GV-75WV–149
Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club 75WV-75GV–150
Brandon Dalinka, The Ridge at Back Brook 78WV-72GV–150
Rodney James, Five Ponds Golf Club 76GV-74WV–150
Andrew Kotler, Cherry Valley Country Club 80WV-70GV–150
Scott McLaughlin, Lu Lu Country Club 74WV-76GV–150
Jack Melville, Lu Lu Country Club 73GV-77WV–150
Sean Seese, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 77WV-73GV–150
Max Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club 72WV-78GV–150
Michael Stamberger, Manasquan River Golf Club 73GV-77WV–150
Thomas E. Timby, Jr., The Bucks Club 76GV-74WV–150
Conrad Von Borsig, Philadelphia Cricket Club 78WV-72GV–150
Cole Berman, Philadelphia Cricket Club 72GV-79WV–151
Carey Bina, Radnor Valley Country Club 77GV-74WV–151
Brendan Borst, Philadelphia Cricket Club 76WV-75GV–151
Evan Brown, Hartefeld National 76WV-75GV–151
Lukas Clark, Jericho National Golf Club 76GV-75WV–151
David Hicks, The Shore Club 76WV-75GV–151
Steve Oh, Philadelphia Cricket Club 78WV-73GV–151
Jarred Texter, Conestoga Country Club 78GV-73WV–151
Ambrose Abbracciamento, Jericho National Golf Club 77GV-75WV–152
Zachary Falone, Sakima Country Club 81WV-71GV–152
John Foley, Raven’s Claw Golf Club 78WV-74GV–152
Connor Goodrich, Merchantville Country Club 75GV-77WV–152
Vincent Kwon, Little Mill Country Club 75WV-77GV–152
David Liotta, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club 73WV-79GV–152
Gary McCabe, Jr., RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve 74WV-78GV–152
Edward McCrossen, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club 78GV-74WV–152
Anthony Sebastianelli, Glen Oak Country Club 72WV-80GV–152
Benjamin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 79WV-73GV–152
Robert Bechtold, Fieldstone Golf Club 77GV-76WV–153
Benjamin Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 73WV-80GV–153
Brian Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 77WV-76GV–153
Michael McDermott, Merion Golf Club 73GV-80WV–153
Conor McGrath, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 76GV-77WV–153
Christopher Thude, Union League Golf Club at Torresdale 72WV-81GV–153
P.J. Acierno, Lu Lu Country Club 74GV-80WV–154
Brian Fischer, Commonwealth National Golf Club 78GV-76WV–154
Brian Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club 81WV-73GV–154
James Gillespie, Little Mill Country Club 73GV-81WV–154
Zachary Juhasz, Northampton Country Club 80WV-74GV–154
Kevin Kramarski, Riverton Country Club 77WV-77GV–154
Blaine Lafferty, Little Mill Country Club 79WV-75GV–154
Matt Long, Glen Brook Golf Club 74GV-80WV–154
David Powers, CC at Woodloch Springs 77WV-77GV–154
Jack Wallace, Burlington Country Club 80GV-74WV–154
Brendan Bacskai, Applebrook Golf Club 78WV-77GV–155
Charlie Baker, Gulph Mills Golf Club 82WV-73GV–155
Zachary Barbin, Loch Nairn Golf Club 77WV-78GV–155
Patrick Knott, Merion Golf Club 79GV-76WV–155
Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club 76WV-79GV–155
Michael O’Brien, Bala Golf Club 77GV-78WV–155
Sam Soeth, The ACE Club 78GV-77WV–155
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club 80WV-75GV–155
Steve Cerbara, Jericho National Golf Club 77GV-79WV–156
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club 79GV-77WV–156
William Howard, V, Applebrook Golf Club 77WV-79GV–156
John Lalley, Llanerch Country Club 81WV-75GV–156
Tyler McGarry, Fox Hill Country Club 76GV-80WV–156
Benjamin Pochet, Spring Ford Country Club 80WV-76GV–156
Reed Winkler, Hartefeld National 78WV-78GV–156
Dawson Anders, Indian Valley Country Club 76GV-81WV–157
Anthony Barr, Blue Bell Country Club 77WV-80GV–157
Tyler Canfield, Downingtown Country Club 85WV-72GV–157
Matthew Gaffney, Little Mill Country Club 78WV-79GV–157
Tom Grady, Radley Run Country Club 76GV-81WV–157
Frankie McVeigh, Llanerch Country Club 80GV-77WV–157
Joshua Ryan, GAP Junior eClub 77WV-80GV–157
Sumeet Arora, Honeybrook Golf Club 80WV-78GV–158
Mark Benevento, Jr., Greate Bay Country Club 83WV-75GV–158
Matthew Davis, Aronimink Golf Club 75GV-83WV–158
Robert Firth, Jr., North Hills Country Club 81GV-77WV–158
Nick Maff, Northampton Country Club 79WV-79GV–158
Warren Rozelle, Country Club of Scranton 78GV-80WV–158
Adam Warner, Tavistock Country Club 80WV-78GV–158
Adam Bracy, Rancocas Golf Club 81WV-78GV–159
Charlie Cowles, III, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club 78GV-81WV–159
Dwight Diorio, Rolling Green Golf Club 82GV-77WV–159
Chris Killiany, Elkview Country Club 85WV-74GV–159
Robert Moratti, Merchantville Country Club 83GV-76WV–159
Ron Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club 82WV-77GV–159
Glenn Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club 86WV-73GV–159
Jack Sullivan, The Shore Club 84WV-75GV–159
Patrick Welsh, Makefield Highlands Golf Club 80GV-79WV–159
Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club 76GV-84WV–160
Carlos Fullerton, Brookside CC of Allentown 77GV-83WV–160
Joe Kerrigan, Jr., Llanerch Country Club 84WV-76GV–160
Nikita Romanov, GAP Junior eClub 76GV-84WV–160
Robert Savarese, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club 79WV-81GV–160
Ryan Cass, Merchantville Country Club 74GV-88WV–162
Liam Hart, Spring Mill Country Club 81GV-81WV–162
Jeffrey Romines, Philadelphia Publinks GA 76GV-86WV–162
Dan Brown, Llanerch Country Club 79GV-84WV–163
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club 84GV-80WV–164
Larry Martone, Stonewall 87WV-80GV–167
Bill Murray, Stone Harbor Golf Club 84WV-86GV–170
Michael Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club 76GV-95WV–171
Sean Torpey, Commonwealth National Golf Club 86GV-86WV–172
Brock Kovach, LedgeRock Golf Club WD
Denotes site: GV-Green Valley; WV-Whitemarsh Valley
WD-withdrawal

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