Hyland takes medallist honors in return to Philly Amateur; defending champion McDermott seeded No. 8

 ELVERSON, Pa.–Michael Hyland of Little Mill CC didn’t miss a beat in his return to the Philadelphia golf scene and spectacular Stonewall. Hyland, winner of the 2000 Amateur Championship at the Elverson, Pa., venue, carded a 1-under-par 139 on Stonewall’s two courses (Old, par 70, 6,579 yards/North, par 70, 6,690 yards) to take the 109th Amateur Championship medallist honors. Hyland, who turned professional shortly after winning the 2000 title and returned to the Amateur ranks in 2005, posted Monday’s lone sub-par total.

  This was his first Philadelphia Amateur since regaining his Amateur status.

  Hyland will be seeded No. 1 for the first round of match play which begins tomorrow at 8 a.m. First- and second-round matches will be competed on Tuesday at Stonewall’s Old Course. The quarterfinals and semifinals are set for Wednesday. The 36-hole final begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

  Reigning Amateur Champion Michael McDermott of Merion GC, who finished runner-up to Hyland for the 2000 title, qualified as the eighth seed. Last year’s runner-up, Cole Willcox of Philadelphia CC, is the No. 3 seed.

  Doug Marcincin of Northampton CC took the final match play position in a seven-man-for-one-spot playoff at 150 with a birdie on No. 9 (par 3, 183 yards).

  “I had great vibes coming in,” said Hyland of his return to Stonewall. “[Groupmate Michael McDermott and I] reminisced all day long about [the 2000 final]. The pairing today really helped me out.”

  Hyland opened his return foray at the Old Course with a level-par 70. He even birdied his first hole, No. 1 (par 5, 528 yards), when he chipped his approach to five feet. Another birdie on No. 5 (par 3, 179 yards), a 9-iron to 20 feet, continued his storybook beginning, before bogeys on No. 6 (par 4, 430 yards) and No. 8 (par 4, 425 yards) watched Hyland make the turn in a level 35. A bogey on No. 14 (par 4, 392 yards) from a blocked wedge and a birdie on No. 18 (par 4, 440 yards) with a sand wedge from 120 yards put Hyland in a tied for fifth at even par after 18 holes.

  On the North Course, Hyland’s second 18, he again opened with a birdie. Starting on No. 10 (par 4, 355 yards), he lofted a sand wedge from 120 yards to three feet. This was Hyland’s second time seeing the North Course. Yesterday was his first. The North Course was built in 2003.

  Hyland drained a 10 footer on No. 12 (par 4, 360 yards) after finding fairway and green before encountering his first hiccup, a bogey, on the treacherous 13th (par 3, 215 yards).

  “I’m trying not to make any double bogeys at that point,” said Hyland, who has qualified for the last two U.S. Middle-Amateurs. “I was taking the water out of play.”

  Four consecutive pars followed before Hyland found some more red figures when he hit a second shot, 4-iron on No. 18 (par 5, 522 yards) to 25 feet for an eagle try. He tapped in for birdie a shot later.

  Starting his final nine, No. 1 (par 4, 415 yards), Hyland’s driver sent two balls into the right fescue. He failed to find the first and carded a triple bogey seven before it was over. 

  “I’m thinking it could be a train wreck at that point,” said Hyland. 

  It wasn’t. He reached the up-and-then-downhill No. 3 (par 5, 472 yards) in two and tapped in for birdie. Three shots later on No. 4 (par 45, 429 yards) Hyland added another red figure. He hit a gap wedge from 120 yards to two feet for the tap-in birdie.

  Hyland would finish it out with five pars.

  “I’m totally excited about tomorrow,” said the 30-year-old Hyland, whose primary residence is Toledo, Ohio. “The key out here is to hit fairways. I think I hit two poor drives today.”

  Hyland cited the venue as the reason for his return to the Amateur Championship.

  Michael Kania of Overbrook GC and Haverford, Pa., 18, grabbed the No. 2 seed with an even-par 140. Kania carded a 1-under-par 69 at the Old Course in the morning before following that up with a 1-over-par 71 at the North Course.

  “I just wanted to play good solid golf and get into match play,” said Kania.

  This is only Kania’s second Amateur Championship. He failed to make match play in 2007.

  Michael’s older brother James, Jr., also advanced into match play. He qualified as the 11th seed after finishing at 3-over-par 143.

  Both will play for the University of Kentucky next year where Michael will be a freshman and James a junior.

  NOTES–This is only the second time Stonewall has hosted the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s most prestigious Amateur event. In 2000, Chester Valley GC served as the second qualifying site.