Lookaway’s Warren repeats at Caddie Tournament

ARDMORE, Pa. – Gary Warren, Jr., a 5-year caddie out of Lookaway GC, registered five birdies en route to a repeat performance to grab the 18-20 year-old division of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 62^nd Caddie Tournament at Merion Golf Club’s West Course (par 70, 5,913 yards) Monday.

  Warren, a junior at Penn State University, carded an even-par 70 to win his flight and have the field-low round of the event. He won his flight in last year’s contest with a 3-over-par 74 at St. Annes Club, Back Creek Course.

  “It’s nice to win it again,” Warren said. “I really had no expectations coming into this. And to shoot 70, I can’t be disappointed with that.”

  Michael Gallagher of Chester Valley Golf Club grabbed the 21 to 26 year-old flight with a 3-over-par 73 that included fantastic tap-in birdie on the par 3 17^th (141 yards) hole just after the hour-long weather delay.

  “The rain delay really softened the greens up and I was able to spin it back with a choked-up pitching wedge,” said the Emory University senior. “I thought it was going in.”

  Charles Bisbano of Aronimink GC took the 27 to 44 year-old flight with a 6-over-par 76.

  Andrew Hill of Meadowlands CC and Jack Lukens of Lookaway GC, took the 17 and under and 45 and older divisions, respectively.

  Lukens also took his flight for the second consecutive year, this time with a 6-over-par 76 that included birdies on hole Nos. 6 (par 3, 119 yards), 11 (par 4, 405 yards) and 16 (par 5, 467 yards).

  Thirty-seven member clubs from the Golf Association of Philadelphia sent their caddies to compete in the event on Monday, with five players coming out on top of their respective age divisions.

  Warren, an engineering major, rode his solid iron play to top the field.

  “I hit a lot of good iron shots today,” said Warren, who managed to card birdies on three of the par 3s. “The biggest thing was to hit it close and give myself opportunities to make birdie and I did.”

  But even when he missed the green in regulation, Warren’s short game bailed him out, as was the case on the par 4 18^th hole (350 yards) when he chipped in for birdie.

  Warren, who played his front nine (which was the actually back nine) at even par, sent his 70-yard approach shot from the left rough through the green and onto the right collar. From there he chipped in for birdie to preserve his even par front nine which was matched by his even-par final nine.

  Originating in 1928, the first Caddie tournament was held at Whitemarsh Valley CC. This year’s Tournament presented a field of 130 players.

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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 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
17 and Under
Jonathan Burns, Philmont CC, 78
Andrew Hill, Meadowlands CC, 83
Andrew Pierson, Tavistock CC, 83

18 to 20 years
Gary Warren, Jr., Lookaway Golf Club, 70
Michael Heidler, Spring Ford Country Club, 74
Teddy Kenney, The ACE Club, 76

21 to 26 years
William Gallagher, Chester Valley Golf Club, 73
Albert Aldana, Philadelphia Country Club, 76
Daniel McFalls, Applebrook Golf Club, 78
Zachary Serabian, Meadowlands Country Club, 78

27 to 44 years
Charles Bisbano, Aronimink GC, 76
Ellis Chandler, Aronimink GC, 77
Michael Mariani, Philadelphia CC, 77

45 and older
Jack Lukens, Lookaway Golf Club, 76
Tom Zaccanini, The Springhaven Club, 78
Robert Clark, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club, 79