McDermott survives a scare from Lange for Mid-Am title - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

May 27, 2004

McDermott survives a scare from Lange for Mid-Am title

Day One results

 KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.-Chris Lange of Overbrook GC has already secured his status as one of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s greats. Over the past five years, Michael McDermott of Llanerch CC has clearly been the dominant force in Delaware Valley golf.

  On Thursday at Gulph Mills GC, old and new went head-to-head in the final round of the Middle-Amateur Championship, the Association’s first Major of the season, for the title.

  Taking advantage of his scary length, McDermott registered a birdie on the uphill par 5, 18th hole (430 yards) for a closing round 70 and the 21st Middle-Amateur Championship crown. McDermott finished at 3-under-par for the 36 holes. Lange, who carded a magnificent 5-under-par 66 in the second round, ended up a stroke back.

  William McGuinness of Tavistock CC, Rich Pruchnik of West Chester G&CC and Glenn Smeraglio of Yardley CC tied for third at even par.

  It was McDermott’s second Middle-Amateur Championship. Lange, a three-time Amateur Champion and Patterson Cup Champion, was searching for his first.

  “With no disrespect to anyone, Chris [Lange’s] tournament record speaks for itself. You would be hard pressed to find someone who’s done better that last [three decades],” said McDermott of dueling with Lange. “Guys like him and Jay Sigel are and were great players for a long time. Hopefully I can keep going as long as they have [and did].”

  Over the last five years, McDermott has earned three William Hyndman, III Player of the Year trophies, a Silver Cross, and, now, two Middle-Amateur titles.

  On Thursday, McDermott just kept his round going. He carded a 1-under-par 34 on the front side with two birdies – on No. 3 (par 4, 422 yards) and No. 5 (par 4, 397 yards) – and a bogey (on No. 9, par 4, 351 yards). His birdie on the third hole calmed his nerves. McDermott’s car failed to start this morning and he arrived at the golf course only 15 minutes prior to his tee time.

  Solid play tee to green, and a consistent putter, something that eluded him at last year’s Middle-Amateur, helped McDermott stride along.

  One bogey (No. 14, par 3, 188 yards) and a final birdie on No. 18 sealed the victory.

  McDermott’s two bogeys came on the only two holes in which he missed the green in regulation.

  Lange, who started 1½ hours ahead of McDermott, applied the pressure, via the scoreboard, from the get go.

  The 50-year-old resident of Bryn Mawr, Pa., carded front-side birdies on No. 4 (par 3, 116 yards), No. 6 (par 3, 176 yards) and No. 7 (par par 5, 470 yards). More red figures on No. 12 (par 5, 519 yards), No 13 (par 4, 403 yards) and No. 18 (par 5, 430 yards) – following his lone bogey on the par 3, 17th (211 yards) – resulted in a sterling 66. Lange said it was all about the putter. Three of his six birdies were from 15 feet and out. He recorded just 31 putts on the day.

  “In a two-day tournament the better player has a better chance to win,” said Lange. “I’m happy with the way I played. It was all about my putter.”

  The Middle-Amateur Championship is open to players 25 or older who have a handicap index of 7.0 or less.

  This is the third year the event is 36 holes. From its inception in 1984 through 2000, it had been just a one-day, 18-hole test.

  A total of 71 players made the cut from the initial field of 132.

PosName, club12Score
1Michael P. McDermott, Llanerch Country Club6970139-3
2Christopher J. Lange, Overbrook Golf Club7466140-2
T3Glenn Smeraglio, Yardley Country Club7270142Even
T3Rich Pruchnik, West Chester Golf & Country Club7468142Even
T3William J. McGuinness, Tavistock Country Club7171142Even
T6Douglas G. Zelner, Coatesville Country Club7172143+1
T6Gui Costin, Merion Golf Club7073143+1
T8Kevin P. Kelly, Philadelphia Cricket Club7272144+2
T8Roc Irey, Cedarbrook Country Club7470144+2
T10Gerard F. Ascolese, North Hills Country Club7471145+3
T10Paul J. Rogowicz, Yardley Country Club7372145+3
T10Oscar L. Mestre, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club7273145+3
T13David West, Whitford Country Club7274146+4
T13John W. Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club7175146+4
T13Chip Lutz, Berkshire Country Club7472146+4
T16Thomas J. Gramigna, Tavistock Country Club7374147+5
T16Michael Rose, Ashbourne Country Club7374147+5
T16Robert P. Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club7374147+5
T16David T. Smith, Doylestown Country Club7572147+5
T20Douglas Schroer, St. Davids Golf Club7771148+6
T20Steven P. Walczak, Wilmington Country Club7276148+6
T20Keith A. Matt, Lu Lu Country Club7672148+6
T20Brian R. Owens, Gulph Mills Golf Club7474148+6
T24Dan J. Pinciotti Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club7475149+7
T24Gary E. Daniels, Aronimink Golf Club7574149+7
T24Tom Borsello, Fieldstone Golf Club7178149+7
T24Drew Panebianco, Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club7673149+7
T24P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club7079149+7
T24Thomas Finn, Christiana Country Club7574149+7
T30Frank S. Polizzi, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club7773150+8
T30Burton McHugh, Sunnybrook Golf Club7575150+8
T30Steve J. Owens, Wildwood Golf & Country Club7575150+8
T30Brian Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club7575150+8
T30James M. Winner, Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club7674150+8
T35Brian P. Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club7477151+9
T35Raymond B. Slawecki, Spring Ford Country Club7675151+9
T35Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club7477151+9
T35Lynn T. Kilduff, Huntsville Golf Club7576151+9
T35Michael Moffat, Commonwealth National Golf Club7576151+9
T35Robert G. Dziak, Spring Ford Country Club7576151+9
T41James R. White, Philadelphia Cricket Club7577152+10
T41Tom DiCinti, Little Mill Country Club7676152+10
T41Greg M. O’Connor, Huntingdon Valley Country Club7379152+10
T44D. Drew Siok, Tavistock Country Club7479153+11
T44Frank S. Corrado Jr, Jericho National Golf Club7677153+11
T44Bryan McClaskey, Merchantville Country Club7380153+11
T44Warren Smith, Fieldstone Golf Club7677153+11
T44Bill Boyle, Metedeconk National Golf Club7281153+11
T44Sean Coyle, Llanerch Country Club7281153+11
T50Miguel Biamon, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club7678154+12
T50Wayne Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club7678154+12
T52Mark Kosko, Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa7778155+13
T52Christopher M. Missett, Philadelphia Country Club7778155+13
T52Patrick G. Dougherty, Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club7382155+13
T52Robert Gill, Fox Hill Country Club7679155+13
T52Richard E. Umani, Philadelphia Pub Links Golf Assoc7481155+13
T57Byron Whitman, Philadelphia Pub Links Golf Assoc7482156+14
T57Douglas E. Gregor, Huntingdon Valley Country Club7779156+14
T57Mark Douglas, Spring Ford Country Club7779156+14
T57Santo Lafoca, Huntsville Golf Club7581156+14
T61Andrew Achenbach, Lu Lu Country Club7681157+15
T61Chris Esbenshade, Stone Harbor Golf Club7582157+15
T61John Y. Howson, Jr., St. Davids Golf Club7780157+15
T61Kevin M. Scanlon, Stonewall7780157+15
65Robert Savarese, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club7682158+16
T66Edmund C. Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club7683159+17
T66Michael Dougherty, Huntingdon Valley Country Club7782159+17
T68Tom Piersanti, Radley Run Country Club7783160+18
T68Robert E. Lodovici, Little Mill Country Club7783160+18
T68Kevin DeHaven, Hopewell Valley Golf Club7585160+18
71Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club70DQDQ

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