McFadden, tourney namesake top Brewer Cup field

  HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa.–O. Gordon Brewer, Jr. of Pine Valley GC is a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur Champion and veteran of 42 USGA Championships. He’s captured Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Championship titles (1967, 1976), a GAP Senior Amateur Championship crown (1997) and a Senior Player of the Year (1997) as well as countless invitational titles.

  The pressure of competing in those events, though, paled in contrast to the emotions Brewer felt on Tuesday at Huntingdon Valley CC (Toomey/Flynn courses). Competing in the inaugural Brewer Cup, the tournament’s namesake posted an impressive 3-over-par 73 en route to medalist honors in the Super-Senior Division (par 70, 6,212 yards). Brewer will be the top seed heading into tomorrow’s eight-player Super-Senior match play draw which begins at 9 a.m. The cut line fell at 79 with a three-for-one playoff.

 “I obviously wanted to [make the cut]. I just went out and did my best. If I did [make the cut] I did, if I didn’t [make the cut] I didn’t. At times my game’s been good but it hasn’t been as consistent as I would like it to be.”

  Brewer posted nine-hole scores of 37-36. His 37 included four bogeys and two birdies. His back 36 was a touch less adventurous with two bogeys and a birdie.

  Brewer is a seven-time Huntingdon Valley club champion.

  In the Senior Division (par 70, 6,543 yards), Frank McFadden of Overbrook GC carded a magnificent 3-under-par 67. McFadden recorded five birdies in his first 16 holes before finishing bogey-bogey.

  McFadden carded the day’s best round with strong iron play and timely putting. His birdie barrage included: on No. 4 (par 4, 344 yards) knocking a Lob Wedge from 85 yards to eight feet; on No. 5 (par 3, 151 yards) hitting an 8-iron to 10 feet; on No. 11 (par 4, 365 yards) lofting a Lob Wedge from 90 yards to 20 feet; on No. 13 (par 3, 171 yards) launching a 7-iron to five feet and on No. 15 (par 5, 550 yards) drilling a 6-iron from 183 yards to two feet.

  “I hit the ball solid all day. I hit 16 of 18 greens,” said McFadden. “This is obviously a great event honoring a world class amateur in Gordon.”

  The cut line for the Senior Division fell at 75.

  The Brewer Cup was open to Senior players with a handicap index of 7.0 or less and Super Seniors with an index of 12.0 or less.

  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 136 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.