Galbreath now faces Jimmy Johnston of Merion GC in the Final Four while Robert Robertson of Philadelphia Cricket Club goes up against Joe Bernard of RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve.
Galbreath, the 2005 and 2006 Junior Player of the Year, goes for his third Jr. Championship in four years after an unexpected early exit to Kevin Ignatuk of Penn Oaks GC in last year’s championship prevented him from pulling off the three-peat.
Should he win Thursday, Galbreath would be only the second player in GAP’s Junior Program history to win the event three times. Meredith M. Jack of Merion Cricket Club won three consecutive Junior titles from 1914-16.
Galbreath handled his first opponent in much the same fashion as his last, with insurmountable quick leads that allowed him eventually to advance to the Final Four.
“I just tried to get off to a good start in both of my matches,” said the 16-year-old from Huntingdon Valley, Pa. “It was pedal to the metal in this weather where I tried to play as many holes as quickly as I could. I just tried to block [the heat] out and focus on golf.”
“You just have to try in match play to get off to a good start and hope for the snowball effect and go from there,” he said.
In the First Flight Final Four, Andrew Lawson of Hershey’s Mill GC goes up against Zach Emery of White Manor CC and Peter Eiler of Commonwealth National GC faces Kent Dolby, Jr. of Waynesborough CC.
The First Flight matches begin at 7:30 a.m. while the Championship Flight matches commence at 7:45 a.m.
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 135 Member Clubs and 60,000 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.
Results
Round of 16
16. Bobby Arthur, Tavistock CC, d. 1. Kevin Melnick, Jr., Plymouth CC, 4&3
8. Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley CC, d.9. Vinny Alessi, Penn Oaks GC, 7&5
13. Jimmy Johnston, Merion GC, d.4. Paul Kovalcheck, Lu Lu CC, 5&4
12. J.D. Hall, Merion GC, d.5. Michael Kania, Overbrook GC, 3&2
15. Joe Bernard, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, d. 2. Russell Hartung, Doylestown CC, By Default
7. J.R. Fasy, Wilmington CC, d.10. James Bea, Spring Mill CC, 1-up
3. Robert Robertson, Philadelphia Cricket Club, d.14. Kevin Genuardi, Cedarbrook CC, 3&2
11. Warren Taylor, Yardley CC, d.6. Eric Spiller, Woodcrest CC, 4&3
Round of 8
8. Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley CC, d. 16. Bobby Arthur, Tavistock CC, 6&4
13. Jimmy Johnston, Merion GC, d. 12. J.D. Hall, Merion GC, 1-up
15. Joe Bernard, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, d. 7. J.R. Fasy, Wilmington CC, 6&4
3. Robert Robertson, Philadelphia Cricket Club, d.11. Warren Taylor, Yardley CC, 3&2
