Kennett's Keeling goes low in #GAPMidAm - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

May 22, 2019

Kennett’s Keeling goes low in #GAPMidAm

Andrew Keeling said he’s “just a guy who loves golf.” An unassuming young soul who calls Kennett Square Golf & Country Club home and visits the course daily to work on his game.

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Spurred on by a reliable driver and clutch putter, the 27-year-old GAP newcomer stunned the 36th Middle-Amateur Championship field at Rolling Green Golf Club (par 70, 6,780 yards) by carding the lowest opening-round score in the event’s history, a 5-under-par 65. That record-setting performance gives the Kennett Square, Pa. resident a two-stroke advantage heading into Thursday’s second and final round.

With possible inclement weather, there will be a two-tee start beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Will Davenport of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, in his first Mid.-Am, and Jeff Osberg of Pine Valley Golf Club are tied in second place at 3 under.

The final grouping of Keeling, Davenport and Osberg begins on No. 1 at 9:20 a.m.

The cut line fell at 9 over with 72 players advancing.

Defending champion Michael Hyland of Little Mill Country Club carded a 2-over 72 and is tied for ninth. This was Hyland’s first competitive event since lumbar discectomy surgery on March 15.

“I’m just a guy who loves golf [and] had a record day for myself,” said Keeling of posting his lowest career score. “My goal was to get a Top 15. I thought it was out there. The course is playing to my strong suits with me putting well. I think I hit every fairway with my driver today, so when you have that and a wedge in, it shouldn’t be all that tough.”

Keeling, who made the cut in last year’s Mid.-Am. on the number, stated his intentions early and often.

He started the day on No. 1 (par 4, 417 yards) by jarring a 50-degree wedge from 120 yards for an eagle two. He added a second red figure on No. 5 (par 4, 418 yards) with a 10-foot birdie and then, on No. 7 (par 5, 520 yards), knocked a 5-iron from 200 yards onto the green before eventually converting a five-footer for birdie. He turned in 4 under.

On the challenging No. 10 (par 3, 237 yards), Keeling drained a six-foot par save to keep his round going before adding to his total on No. 11 (par 4, 431 yards). He rapped a 54-degree wedge from 115 yards to 20 feet and made the putt to go 5 under.

His lone blemish came soon thereafter on No. 14 (par 3, 203 yards) when he missed the green short and made bogey but he responded a few holes later on the reachable No. 17 (par 5, 501 yards) when Keeling launched a 6-iron from 190 yards to 40 feet and two-putted for birdie.

“My driver is usually my strong point and I usually struggle with the short game stuff,” said Keeling. “I’ve tried to spend more time putting this year. My ball striking has kind of stayed where it’s been for a long time, but my putting has really come around. I’ve been working on distance control a lot this year and it’s really paying off well with the wedges.”

Keeling missed four greens in his round. He made two sand saves and got up-and-down three out of four times, the lone miss coming on the aforementioned 14th.

Davenport, 26, of Philadelphia, Pa., just completed his first year in The Wharton School MBA Program. The Palm City, Fla. native made a birdie and eagle in his final five holes to shoot up the leaderboard. Finishing on the front nine, Davenport drained a 30-foot eagle on No. 7 to get to 3 under.

Osberg, a two-time William Hyndman, III Player of the Year, is a Middle-Amateur victory short of completing the career grand slam. He thrusted himself into the fray with three straight birdies on Nos. 15-17. On No. 15 (par 4, 380 yards), he knocked a 9-iron from 135 yards to four feet for birdie; on No. 16 (par 3, 162 yards), clipped an 8-iron that stopped just a roll or two shy of going in; and on No. 17, ripped a 6-iron from 195 yards to 50 feet and two putted for birdie.

“Obviously I want to win all of them,” said Osberg, 34, of Bryn Mawr, Pa. “It’s extremely important for me to play well in this event and hopefully today put me in contention for tomorrow.”

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 274 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.

Name, clubScore
Andrew Keeling, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club65
William Davenport, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club67
Jeff Osberg, Pine Valley Golf Club67
Stephen Dressel, St. Davids Golf Club70
Ben Feld, Green Valley Country Club70
Gregor Orlando, Philadelphia Cricket Club70
Andy Beittel, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club71
Matthew Finger, DuPont Country Club71
Michael Hyland, Little Mill Country Club72
Bryan Keeling, Spring Mill Country Club72
Matthew Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club72
Michael McDermott, Merion Golf Club72
Zach Arsenault, Little Mill Country Club73
Scott Ehrlich, Waynesborough Country Club73
Scott Forrester, Lu Lu Country Club73
Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley Country Club73
David Shields, Flourtown Country Club73
Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club73
Ashley Brasfield, Rolling Green Golf Club74
William Jeremiah, Bidermann Golf Club74
Marc Mandel, Philadelphia Cricket Club74
Sean McMonagle, Tavistock Country Club74
Steve Skurla, White Manor Country Club74
Thomas Timby, Jr., Mercer Oaks Golf Course74
Stephen Barry, Running Deer Golf Club75
Dwight Diorio, Rolling Green Golf Club75
Joseph Fabrizio, Jr., Aronimink Golf Club75
Brian McDermott, Llanerch Country Club75
Scott McNeil, Bala Golf Club75
Rich Owsik, Rolling Green Golf Club75
Glenn Smeraglio, Lu Lu Country Club75
Jason Troutman, Frosty Valley75
Jason Wilson, Philadelphia Publinks GA75
Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club76
Robert Bechtold, Fieldstone Golf Club76
Brendan Borst, Philadelphia Cricket Club76
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club76
Michael Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club76
Geoffrey Cooper, North Hills Country Club76
Matthew Crescenzo, Philmont Country Club76
Chris Esbenshade, Bent Creek Country Club76
John Lalley, Llanerch Country Club76
John Samaha, Old York Road Country Club76
Sean Seese, Huntingdon Valley Country Club76
Garrett Basalyga, Cedarbrook Country Club77
Daniel Charen, Makefield Highlands Golf Club77
Marc Fillari, Pennsauken Country Club77
Thomas Gramigna, Tavistock Country Club77
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club77
Michael Moffat, Lu Lu Country Club77
Kevin O’Brien, Cedarbrook Country Club77
Regan Papariello, St. Davids Golf Club77
James Sullivan, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club77
Lodie Van Tonder, Sakima Country Club77
Todd Vonderheid, Huntsville Golf Club77
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club77
Scott Bergson, Little Mill Country Club78
Daniel Feeney, Philadelphia Cricket Club78
Scott McLaughlin, Lu Lu Country Club78
Benjamin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club78
Conrad Von Borsig, Philadelphia Cricket Club78
Brandon Capone, Mercer Oaks Golf Course79
Benjamin Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club79
Brandon Dalinka, The Ridge at Back Brook79
Andy Kerestesy, Running Deer Golf Club79
Keith Matt, Talamore Country Club79
Kevin McDermott, Llanerch Country Club79
Rand Mendez, Fieldstone Golf Club79
Philip Potter, Radley Run Country Club79
Rich Pruchnik, Downingtown Country Club79
Cory Reighard, Llanerch Country Club79
Samuel Sherrill, Downingtown Country Club79
Connor Vanin, Philadelphia Publinks GA79
Failed to qualify
Gregg Angelillo, Moselem Springs Golf Club80
Mark Czerniakowski, Lu Lu Country Club80
Gary Daniels, Applebrook Golf Club80
James Gardas, Glenmaura National Golf Club80
Eddie Johnson, Llanerch Country Club80
Chris Lange, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club80
Brendan May, North Hills Country Club80
James O’Connor, Penn Oaks Golf Club80
Michael Stamberger, Manasquan River Golf Club80
Scott Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club80
Michael Tash, The Springhaven Club80
Jarred Texter, Conestoga Country Club80
David Waxman, Little Mill Country Club80
Adam Bracy, Tavistock Country Club81
Doug Fedoryshyn, Concord Country Club81
Carlo Fitti, Llanerch Country Club81
Mark Lowrie, Rolling Green Golf Club81
Brandon Murdock, Llanerch Country Club81
James Berenato, Llanerch Country Club82
William Breskman, Rolling Green Golf Club82
Luis Diaz, Rancocas Golf Club82
Zach Dilcher, Hartefeld National82
Shawn Lavin, Rolling Green Golf Club82
Nick Madden, Lu Lu Country Club82
Michael Olson, Medford Village Country Club82
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club82
Ryan Barnett, The ACE Club83
Todd Baron, Philadelphia Publinks GA83
David Blichar, Olde Homestead Golf Club83
Neil Gordon, Five Ponds Golf Club83
Ryan O’Donnell, Rolling Green Golf Club83
Jh Park, Blue Bell Country Club83
Cory Calvert, Country Club of Scranton84
Robert Harrington, Merion Golf Club84
Jonathan Radick, Spring Mill Country Club84
Joe Zulli, Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia84
Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club85
Brett Cybulski, Merchantville Country Club85
Doug Gordon, Rolling Green Golf Club85
Taylor Kellogg, Philadelphia Cricket Club85
Chris Meares, Running Deer Golf Club85
Steve Oh, Philadelphia Publinks GA85
Michael Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club85
Joseph Russo, Laurel Creek Country Club85
Joe April, Waynesborough Country Club86
Kenneth Matt, Talamore Country Club86
David West, Philadelphia Publinks GA86
Dan Ayars, Running Deer Golf Club87
Dan Rudershausen, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club87
James Gillespie, Little Mill Country Club88
Dan Close, Woodcrest Country Club89
Brett Wallace, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club89
Rick James, Doylestown Country Club90
Francis Nattle, Philadelphia Publinks GA91
Kyle Pritchard, Olde Homestead Golf Club92
Clay Davidson, West Shore Country ClubNC
Tom Grady, Radley Run Country ClubWD
Philip Mortell, III, Honeybrook Golf ClubWD
Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf ClubWD
Richard Umani, Honeybrook Golf ClubWD
NC-no card; WD-withdrawal

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