McCall G&CC’s Neumann takes Fall Net in scorecard playoff

  HONEY BROOK, Pa.–Walt Neumann of McCall G&CC, a veteran of Golf Association of Philadelphia Net Championships, finally did it. A 10-year circuit veteran and perennial Net Championship contender, Neumann carded a net 4-under-par 66 on Monday at Honeybrook GC (par 70, 6,065 yards) and survived a scorecard playoff to take the 62^nd Fall Net Championship. Neumann, a 7 handicap, and Kip Barto of Heidelberg CC, an 8 handicap, both posted 66s, sending the duo to the USGA’s scorecard tiebreaking procedure, the back nine total. Neumann took the top prize posting a net 32 on the back nine compared to Barto’s 34.

  “I started to think about it on 16-17-18 but I told myself someone always goes real low and that calmed me down,” said Neumann, 43, of Upper Moreland, Pa. “I’ve played in at least one of these for 10 years. I like to play in these tournaments and I look forward to it.”

  Neumann, who finished with a gross score of 3-over-par 73 carded three birdies on the day, including a short one on No. 18 (par 4, 355 yards) that, unbeknownst to him at the time, clinched the victory. He hit his 56-degree wedge from 110 yards to two feet.

  “I told myself to stay aggressive,” said Neumann of his final birdie. “I wasn’t going to play safe.”

  Neumann, an 11-year veteran lineman at PECO, registered a 15-foot birdie on No. 7 (par 4, 336 yards) and another on No. 12 (par 5, 561 yards).

  Barto, 57, of Reading, Pa., carded a gross score of 74.

  “I figured it was a good score,” said Barto. “I didn’t have any idea what it would take to win this.”

  Barto has two birdies, both on the front nine, before closing out with a 4-over-par 39.

  Neumann had a 38 on the front before coming inward in even par.

  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.

Overall
Low Net
1. Walt Neumann, McCall G&CC, 66

Class A (CH 0-7)
1. Dennis Perna, Spring Ford CC, 72
1. Frank Petrecco, Yardley CC, 72
Senior Division
1. Bill Smith, Sandy Run CC, 73

Class B (CH 8-9)
1. Kip Barto, Heidelberg CC, 66
2. Robert Berenholz, White Manor CC, 68
Senior Division
1. Vincent Kraft, Lehigh CC, 74

Class C (CH 10-12)
1. Christian Flowers, Hershey’s Mill GC, 67
2. Mark Pfeffer, Hidden Creek GC, 68
Senior Division
1. Edward Witczak, Moorestown Field Club, 70

Class D (CH 13-and-over)
1. Scott Kim, White Manor CC, 68
2. David Kline, Honeybrook GC, 70
Senior Division
1. Robert Murray, McCall G&CC, 72