McFadden, Sawyer, Thompson brothers triumph in Senior 4-Man Team

BLUE BELL, Pa. – Overbrook GC’s Frank McFadden, Andy and Ray Thompson, along with Terry Sawyer of Commonwealth National GC, scorched Meadowlands CC (par 71, 6,141 yards) Tuesday to the tune of a 13-under-par 129 to take the 20th Senior Four Man Team.

   “Terry played great. He had five birdies,” McFadden said. “And Andy played great. He had four birdies. And sluggo and myself, we had two a-piece.”

   The team agreed that overall, proficient putting propelled them to a remarkable round. On the treacherous, dogleg No. 15 (par 4, 403 yards), Andy Thompson was the only team member who reached the green after he blasted a hybrid under the trees to about 25-feet. He drained the ensuing birdie putt. Sawyer also carded a birdie after punching his pitching wedge to about 22-feet.

   The four didn’t board the bogey train all day.

   “That was big for us,” Ray Thompson, who won this year’s Warner Cup, said.

   Andy Thompson was a last-minute addition to the team. Doug Fraser of Greate Bay CC injured his back, so McFadden asked Andy Thompson to replace him.

   “Doug hurt his back, and now he’s gone forever,” McFadden said jokingly.

   The substitution didn’t adversely affect the team, and neither did the steady rain Tuesday.

   “It really didn’t,” Sawyer said. “Andy and I had to use a lot more clubs than we normally do.”

   “Today was a lot of fun. It’s great when you get it going,” Ray Thompson added.

   Reigning Senior Four-Man Team champions Donald Ashley, Michael Nilon, Mark Shuman and Richard Smith fell short in their quest for a three-peat. The squad struggled on the front nine, but leveled out to finish with an even-par 142.

   Meadowlands CC’s Alan Gelamn, Aaron Shatzman, Stuart Weiss and Harold Zucker won the Net Division of the Senior Four-Man Team with an 11-under-par 131 (net).