Wilson tops #GAPMidAm Qual. at Olde Homestead

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NEW TRIPOLI, Pa. – Olde met new Saturday in the first Qualifying event of #TheNewGAPGolf era.

Philadelphia Publinks GA’s Jason Wilson – a veteran of the region’s amateur circuit – emerged as the medalist in a GAP Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifier at Olde Homestead Golf Club (par 72, 6,617 yards). The event’s lone red number, Wilson’s 1-under par 71, led a field of 67 hopefuls vying for a ticket to the championship proper to be played May 22-23 at Rolling Green Golf Club.

The cut line stopped at 5-over 77 on the day.

Wilson’s day started shaky with two consecutive bogeys to begin the round, but soon leveled out with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8. On the par 4, 329-yard 7th, Wilson wielded hybrid off the tee and then stuck a wedge approach from 110 yards to two feet for a birdie tap-in. Another wedge on the par 5, 550-yard 8th, from the same 110-yard mark, nestled up to six feet to get Wilson back to even for his round.

“That was a real good way to kind of close things out and get things back to where I needed them to be,” said Wilson, 45, of Orefield, Pa. “I’m glad I was able to get back on track there, even though I knew I had a lot of golf left to play.”

On No. 12 (par 5, 521 yards), Wilson got things going again after he pured driver and 3-wood shots, leaving his ball just off the front of the green. His chip shot rolled up to within tap-in range, generating an easy 4. Last but not least, a 55-foot birdie bomb on No. 15 (par 4, 364 yards) served as the final of four red figures on the medalist’s card.

“With all the wind out there, especially on the final three holes, I was happy with the [71] today. I’ve played in many tournaments here, being from the area, and I know this golf course. The mindset was to come out here and qualify, and I’m glad I got the job done,” he said.

Wilson, the 2017 Pennsylvania Middle-Amateur Champion at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, sported a fresh Masters polo in honor of the championship’s moving day. Wilson spent Thursday at Augusta National for the first round of play, and drove back Friday to get in some tournament golf of his own. Little did he know, a top honor was waiting for his own golf game.

“It was mind-blowing to be there. It was just unbelievable,” said Wilson, owner of a billboard company. “After seeing those guys play and being at Augusta, all I wanted to do was come back and play golf. It gave me the itch, and now, I’m just happy to be playing well and, really, that it’s golf season again.”

Another reason to be happy: Wilson now heads to Rolling Green – a course he’s more than friendly with – with medal momentum.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 273 Full Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.