HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – It was an ace of a day for Brian Creghan of Plymouth CC.
Creghan, medallist in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Junior Boys’ Championship, not only won two matches convincingly to move into Thursday’s semifinals, he aced the 146-yard, par 3 11th hole in the process Wednesday at Philmont CC (South, par 70, 5,921 yards).
The ace came in his afternoon, 4&3, win over Richard Marabella of Whitemarsh CC. “I was astounded,” he said. It was his first ace, and first eagle, ever.
One-over-par for the day, he had dispatched Nathan Sutherland of Berkshire CC, 6&4, in the first round.
Creghan, 16, a 4-handicapper from Radnor, Pa., will face tough competition on Thursday, being joined in the semifinals by James Kania, Jr., of Overbrook GC, Jeff Griest of Waynesborough CC, and Robert Galbreath of Huntingdon Valley CC.
Creghan will play Kania and Grietz will play Galbreath beginning at 7:30 a.m. The Championship match is scheduled for noon.
Kania defeated Austin Anthony of Philadelphia Cricket Club, 4&2, and Eric Schmehl of Moorestown FC, 3&1.
Griest beat Craig Tallent of Merion GC, 6&5, and Billy McCrossan of The Springhaven Club, 2&1.
Galbreath, who turned 13 on June 14, won two matches by wide margins, beating Ryan Beck of Old York Road CC, 6&4, and Steve Dressel of Spring Ford CC, 4&2.
Creghan said the only championship he’s ever won was a Junior Tour competition two years ago at Wyncote GC. Asked how he felt moving into the semifinals against the area’s top juniors, he said, “Great, I guess, but I’ve never done this before.”
He said putting was key to both wins, particularly in the afternoon. “I made just about everything I looked at. They just went into the hole.”
McCrossan, one of the area’s top amateurs, escaped in the first round after being 3-down after 12 to Matt Pesci of Yardley CC. He turned it up to win five of six holes for a 2-up victory.
But in the afternoon, the long-driving Grietz was even par through 17 holes with five birdies to win, 2&1.
First round
1. Brian Creghan, Plymouth CC, d. 16. Nathan Sutherland, BerkshireCC, 6&4
8. Richard Marabella, Whitemarsh Valley CC, d. 9. Christopher Allen, Jr., Downingtown CC, 19 holes
13. Eric Schmehl, Moorestown FC, d. 4. Greg Forster, Sandy Run CC, 1-up
12. James Kania, Jr., Overbrook GC, d. 12. Austin Anthony, Philadelphia Cricket Club, 4&2
2. Jeff Griest, Waynesborough CC, d. 15. Craig Tallent, Merion GC, 6&5
7. Billy McCrossan, The Springhaven Club, d. 10. Matthew Pesci, Yardley CC, 2-up
3. Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley CC, d. 14. Ryan Beck, Old York Road CC, 6&4
6. Steve Dressel, Spring Ford CC, d. 11. Dan Gallagher, Riverton CC, 6&4
Second round
Creghan d. Marabella, 4&3
Kania d. Schmehl, 3&1
Griest d. McCrossan, 2&1
Galbreath d. Dressel, 4&2
