HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – The final four is set for Thursday as Huntingdon Valley CC’s own Robert Galbreath, Jr., advanced to face Ben Feld of Blue Bell CC, while Vince Boyle of JC Melrose CC will take on Russel Hartung of Doylestown CC in the semifinals of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 94th Junior Boys’ Championship at Huntingdon ValleyCC (par 70, 6,568 yards).
Galbreath, a three-time Junior Boys’ Champion, took down Christopher DeLuca of Lookaway GC, 5&3, in the round of 16 before besting Edward McCrossen, Jr., of Whitemarsh Valley CC in the quarterfinals, 4&3.
“I feel great to have had the opportunity to play my home golf course in front of some of my friends and family and have fun,” said Galbreath, who admitted to some difficulties in his first match before straightening things out in the afternoon. “Good steady play was the answer for me in the afternoon today.”
While Galbreath continued his quest for his record fourth title, Feld, a relative unknown as a first-time competitor in a GAP event, continued his strong play. The GAP rookie beat out Jack Rosenberg of Waynesborough CC, 2&1, in the morning before topping Sam Lerner of Woodcrest CC, 6&4, in the quarterfinals.
“I was looking to play golf competitively and I figured this tournament was a good place to start,” said Feld, a soon-to-be high school senior at Germantown Academy. “Especially since there are so many good junior golfers in the area.”
Feld, a former AAU basketball player and part-time golfer as recent as two years ago, aspires to play collegiate golf so he needed to add some competitive individual golf experience to his resume.
“At the beginning of the summer, my instructor [Mike Dynda] and I sat down to map out what tournaments I should play in,” said Feld, who has been a student of Dynda for the past three years. “Mike told me that the GAP had the best competition out there so that’s why I signed up.”
Gaining some sudden-death golf experience was Boyle, as he needed 20 holes to take out James Tallent of Merion GC before he was able to advance into tomorrow’s semifinal after a solid, 4&2, victory over Greg Jarmas of Philadelphia Publinks GA in the quarterfinals.
Hartung, the current Junior Player of the Year points leader, beat Tommy Shin of Laurel Creek CC, 4&2, before pulling a semi-upset over medallist and No. 2 seed Michael Kania of Overbrook GC with a, 2-up, win.
“After playing here for the first time yesterday I learned that you have to really play the ball 10 yards in front of the hole to even have a chance of it stopping on the green,” Hartung said. “So I did that a lot today and had a bunch of shots that were a lot closer and I also putted better.”
Feld will add another notch to his competitive golf experience as he aims to stop Galbreath from making history Thursday.
“I’m just glad to be out there tomorrow in the semifinals,” Feld said. “I’m excited and just looking forward to being competitive with [Galbreath].”
“I’m a little nervous so I’m just going to hang loose until I tee it up tomorrow,” said Galbreath of his chance at history. “It’s a double edge sword to try and win at your home club. You get the pressure but you also get the good breaks and you know what to do in certain situations out there.”
In the First Flight of Junior Boys’ Championship, Jerry Temple, Jr. of Cavaliers CC beat Scott McCool of Saucon Valley CC, 2&1, to advance into the semifinal match with Patrick Welsh of Huntingdon Valley. Welsh took down Michael Johnson of Talamore CC, 6&5, to advance.
In the other semifinal, Mike Amole of Talamore CC will face off against Julian Dorey of Tavistock CC. Amole bested Connor McNicholas of Commonwealth National GC, 4&3, while Dorey took down Benjamin Cooley of Lu Lu CC, 2&1, to advance.
Thursday’s semifinal matches begin at 8 a.m. with the final match set to tee off at 12:30 p.m.
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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 136 Member Clubs and 56,000 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.
Championship Flight Results
Round of 16
1. Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley CC def. 16.Christopher DeLuca, Lookaway GC, 5&3
9. Edward McCrossen, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley CC def. 8. Christopher Prechtl, Five Ponds GC, 19 holes
4. Ben Feld,Blue Bell CC def. 13. Jack Rosenberg, Waynesborough CC, 2&1
5. Sam Lerner, Woodcrest CC def. 12. Ted Brennan, Philadelphia CC, 4&2
2. Michael Kania, Overbrook GC def. 15. Pierce Dever, Jericho National GC, 7&5
7. Russell Hartung, Doylestown CC def. 10. Tommy Shin, Laurel Creek CC, 4&2
3. Vince Boyle, JC Melrose CC def. 14. James Tallent, Merion GC, 20 holes
6. Greg Jarmas, Philadelphia Publinks GA def. 11. James Braunsberg, Blue Bell CC, 4&2
Quarterfinals
1. Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley CC def. Edward McCrossen, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley CC, 4&3
4. Ben Feld, Blue Bell CC def. Sam Lerner, Woodcrest CC, 6&4
7. Russell Hartung, Doylestown CC def. 2. Michael Kania, Overbrook GC, 2-up
3. Vince Boyle, JC Melrose CC def. 6. Greg Jarmas, Philadelphia Publinks GA, 4&2
