McCall’s McCabe magnificent in Spring Net win at The Springhaven Club

  WALLINGFORD, Pa. – As Thursday’s temperatures escalated into 100-degree territory, so did William McCabe, Jr.’s round at The Springhaven Club (par 70, 6,181 yards).

  The McCall G&CC member rode a 6 under (net) on the back nine to victory in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Spring Net Championship. All signs may have indicated a cooler environment, but the setting was far from spring-like. However, McCabe, of Springfield, Pa., shook off early struggles, kept his cool and carded a 6-under-par 64 (net).

  “My game just got more consistent on the back,” he said. “It feels good to put up a good round. I haven’t played as good as that back nine – to catch a couple of breaks like that. I kept a positive attitude. ”

  Birdies on Nos. 13 (par 3, 178 yards) and 16 (par 3, 129 yards) sparked McCabe. On the first, his 4-hybrid went astray and landed behind the right greenside bunker. McCabe, who captured both the Spring and Fall Net in 2006, then jarred his chip shot.

  “It had a good break and rolled right into the hole,” the 64-year-old said. “The green breaks away from you, so I was just trying to get it on and take my chances. I lucked out.”

  A “good bounce” on No. 16 left McCabe five-feet from the flagstick. His 8-iron hit the slope and ran just left of the hole location. McCabe closed his championship campaign with two sound pars. After negotiating the dogleg right par 4, 356-yard 17th hole with his drive, McCabe knocked his 7-iron 138 yards into the right greenside bunker.

  “I don’t why I was aiming at the pin because it was a sucker pin,” McCabe said. “If it would have been left, where I should’ve been aiming, it would have hit on the green. But I got lucky and got up-and-down out of the bunker.”

  On No. 18 (par 4, 370 yards), McCabe drilled his pitching wedge 110 yards to the center of the green and two-putted. The end was quite a departure from the beginning. A wayward tee shot on No. 3 (par 3, 139 yards) resulted in a double bogey. On the par 4, 400-yard No. 4, McCabe saw his 4-hybrid settle near a chain-linked fence on the right. He blocked his next shot into the bunker and went on to card a double bogey.

  “I thought I was starting to come loose,” McCabe said. “Neither one of them were strong holes.”

  The Spring Net Championship, formerly known as the First Handicap Tournament, is open to players 18 years of age and older with handicap index less than 36.0. The event began in 1946.