PHOENIXVILLE, Pa.– Jericho National’s Zachary Herr sends in a hole-in-one on the second hole (par 3, 143 yards) of his match with Jack Gregor of Huntingdon Valley CC to catapult himself into the finals of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 60th Junior-Junior Boys’ Championship Wednesday at Phoenixville CC (par 35, 2,696 yards).
“I wasn’t sure if it went in,” said the incoming eighth grader at Newtown Middle School. ” I saw [the ball] bounce once past the flagstick and spin back. Then I heard mom scream and I knew it went in.”
The 13-year-old took down Gregor with a 3&2 victory. Herr will now go up against Brendan Papariello of White Manor CC, who beat out Jonathan Liu of Commonwealth National GC, 2&1, to advance into the 18-hole final set for Thursday.
Herr got out to a fast start wining the first three holes of his match over Gregor. That included a birdie on the par 4 3rd hole (338 yards) immediately following his ace on the second hole.
“I had a lot of confidence and momentum after that,” said Herr of his mindset as he was about to tee off on No. 3 tee. “I just road [the momentum] as long as I could.”
Herr knocked a rescue club down the middle of the fairway leaving him 128 yards to the hole. From there he poked a pitching wedge hole-high 15-feet left of the flagstick and made the birdie putt to go to 3-up and never relinquish the lead.
Papariello also never trailed in his match against Liu, going 1-up on the 3rd hole eventually ending the match with a par on the par 5 8th hole (420 yards).
Herr and Papariello are set to tee off on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. for all the marbles in the final match of the championship flight.
“It’s more of a marathon rather than a sprint,” said Herr of playing an 18-hole final as opposed to a 9-hole match. “You’re not really forced to win quick, just kind of drag the match out.”
In the first flight semifinals, Alex Dupre of Rolling Green GC defeated Steven Altieri of Hopewell Valley GC, 1-up. Dupre now faces off against Reilly Erhardt of Trenton CC in the final for the first flight. Erhardt beat Harry Rosenberg, Jr., of Waynesborough CC, 2&1, to advance into Thursday’s first flight final.
Andrew Willner of White Manor CC goes up against W. Evan Thornton of Berkshire CC in the second flight final and Robert Firth, Jr., of Commonwealth National GC tees it up against Matthew Bastian, Jr., of Rolling Green GC to decide the third flight champion.
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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.
Results
Championship Flight
Quarterfinals
1. Zachary Herr, Jericho National GC def. 8. Jon Stewart, Honeybrook GC, 2-up.
5. Jack Gregor, Huntingdon Valley CC def. 4. Gallen, Sam, Berkshire CC, 3&2.
7. Jonathan Liu, Commonwealth National GC def. 2. David Pompey, CC of Scranton, 1-up.
6. Brendan Papariello, White Manor CC def. 3. Matthew Penza, Llanerch CC, 3&2.
Semifinals
1. Zachary Herr, Jericho National GC def. 5. Jack Gregor, Huntingdon Valley CC, 3&2.
6. Brendan Papariello, White Manor CC def. 7. Jonathan Liu, Commonwealth National GC, 2&1.
First Flight
Quarterfinals
1. Alex Dupre, Rolling Green GC def. 8. Nolan Dirienzi, Rolling Green GC, 4&2.
5.Steven Altieri, Hopewell Valley GC def. 4. Eric Stafford, Philadelphia Publinks GA, 4&3.
7. Reilly Erhardt, Trenton CC def. 2. Jesse Hunsicker, Five Ponds GC, 5&4.
6. Harry Rosenberg, Jr., Waynesborough CC def. 3. Jack Quirk, Huntingdon Valley CC, 1-up.
Semifinals
1. Alex Dupre, Rolling Green GC def. 5.Steven Altieri, Hopewell Valley GC, 1-up.
7. Reilly Erhardt, Trenton CC def. 6. Harry Rosenberg, Jr., Waynesborough CC, 2&1.
Second Flight
Quarterfinals
1. Joseph Rueter, Jr., Torresdale-Frankford CC def. 8. Jacob Klaus, Tavistock CC, 2-up.
5. Andrew Willner, White Manor CC def. 4. Mac Ryan, Overbrook GC, 4&2.
7. W. Evan Thornton, Berkshire CC def. 2. Connor Goodrich, Woodbury CC, 3&1.
6. Matthew Ade, Riverton CC def. 3. Drew Guarino, Burlington CC, 2&1.
Semifinals
5. Andrew Willner, White Manor CC def. 1. Joseph Rueter, Jr., Torresdale-Frankford CC, 4&3.
7. W. Evan Thornton, Berkshire CC def. 6. Matthew Ade, Riverton CC, 3&2.
Third Flight
Quarterfinals
1. Robert Firth, Jr., Commonwealth National GC def. 8. Peter Hayes, Philadelphia CC, 2&1.
4. Daniel Altieri, Hopewell Valley GC def. 5. Jake McGlone, Overbrook GC, 2&1.
7. Matthew Bastian, Jr., Rolling Green GC def. 2. Nicholas Familetti, Rolling Green GC, 2&1.
6. Kevin Kramarski, Riverton CC def. 3. Michael Carrigan, Chester Valley GC, 5&4.
Semifinals
1. Robert Firth, Jr., Commonwealth National def. 4. Daniel Altieri, Hopewell Valley GC, 10-holes.
7. Matthew Bastian, Jr., Rolling Green GC def. 6. Kevin Kramarski, Riverton CC, 1-up.
