Galbraith takes Warner Cup (Net)

  DOWNINGTOWN, Pa.– Donald Galbraith of Stonewall defeated a field of 57 players at the Francis B. Warner Cup (Net) on Tuesday at Downingtown Country Club (par 72, 6,008 yards).

  Galbraith, 59, would card a 3-under-par 33 on the back nine to finish the day with a 65 (net).

  He would end his round on a torrid pace birding four of the last five holes; No. 14 (par 4, 351 yards), No. 15 (par 3, 131 yards), No.16 (par 5, 495 yards) and No. 18 (par 5, 501 yards). However, his day did not begin in the same fashion.

  “The greens looked slow but they putted fast,” said Galbraith of his difficulties during the first half of his round. “The green’s subtle breaks killed me. I had a really tough time getting my speed right on the front nine.”

  When it was all said and done, his performance on the back nine would prove to be quite a turnaround from his 6-over-par 42 on the front.

  Galbraith commented that once he finally got the green speeds down, things worked out all right. A statement that obviously proved to be true on the last five holes.

  It was during that five-hole stretch that Galbraith birdied No. 16 when he hit a wedge from 61 yards out to within two inches behind the cup.

  In addition to his improvement on reading the greens, he also attributed the difference between his front and back nine scores to a change in his mindset.

  “I just started to feel confident with my wedges and my short game,” said the resident of Malven, Pa.

  Michael Connor, 58, of Whitemarsh Valley CC was the next closest player with a score of 69 (net).

  “I really drove the ball pretty well all day,” he commented. “I think I hit all but two fairways.”

  Connor would birdie in two back-to-back sets, helping him keep his momentum through the turn when he birdied No. 8 (par 5, 478 yards), No. 9 (par 4, 345 yards), No.12 (par 3, 139 yards) and No. 13 (par 5, 467 yards).

Results
Net
Overall
1. Donald Galbraith, Stonewall 65
2. Michael Connor, Whitemarsh Valley CC 69
3. James Wiley, Lu Lu CC 70

7-12 Handicap
Net
1. Andrew Hamilton, The Springhaven Club 72
Gross
1. Robert King, Whitemarsh Valley CC 80

13-15 Handicap
Net
1. Mike Kyle, Bala GC 71
1. Terry Radcliffe, Lancaster CC 71
Gross
1. Jay Scattergood, Heidelberg CC 85

16+ Handicap
Net
1. William Taylor, The Springhaven Club (Net) 70
Gross
1. Thomas Laudenslager, Hershey’s Mill GC 89