Meisenzahl takes Amateur Championship Qualifier medalist honors

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.–Mike Meisenzahl’s opening qualifying round in the 111th Amateur Championship was moving comfortably along at Manufacturers G&CC – he was even par thru six holes on Tuesday – when it became that day. In a flash, the round went from mundane to extraordinary as Meisenzahl carded a spectacular 5-under 66. Pretty sensational considering it was his first-ever trip to Manufacturers G&CC. Difficult afternoon conditions, occasional rain, wind and the grind of a 36-hole qualifier, slowed the 23-year-old down at North Hills CC (1-over 72), but it didn’t stop Meisenzahl from earning medalist honors and the No. 1 match play seed. He finished the two rounds of the Amateur Championship Qualifier at 4-under-par 138, two shots clear of second-place finishers Robert Galbreath, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley CC and Matt Mattare of Saucon Valley CC.

  “I have nothing other to say than it feels great,” said Meisenzahl, a Medford, N.J. resident. “I talked a lot with my dad that I just wanted to get a good number in the house. My goal was even par. I made a couple good up-and-downs early and then the putter got hot. All of a sudden I started hitting it real close and giving myself opportunities for birdie. I left myself almost the easiest birdie putt on every green.”

  The match play portion of the Amateur Championship begins Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. Meisenzahl will face the last survivor of an eight-player-for-seven-qualifying-positions playoff which begins at 7 a.m.

  A recent James Madison University graduate, Meisenzahl opened his round at Manufacturers G&CC (par 71, 6,587 yards) with six successive pars before that happened and he registered four birdies and an eagle in the next six-hole stretch.

  On No. 7 (par 5, 503 yards), he knocked his hydrid from 240 yards out on the green about 30 feet away and two putted for birdie; on No. 8 (par 3, 105 yards), the iconic drop hole, he stuffed a gap wedge to a foot; on No. 9 (par 5, 472 yards), he hit a 200-yard, 4-iron to 10 feet and drained the eagle try; on No. 11 (par 3, 175 yards), he ripped a 6-iron to 20 feet and holed the ensuing putt; and on No. 12 (par 5, 519 yards), he knocked a hybrid on from 225 yards to 20 feet and two putted.

  Meisenzahl moved to 7 under after draining a smooth 18-foot left-to-right slider on No. 15 (par 5, 540 yards), but got in trouble on the final hole with a poor tee shot and ensuing three putt, his final two-foot bogey effort spinning around the entire hole.

  At North Hills CC (par 71, 6,505 yards), Meisenzahl’s round wasn’t nearly as exciting.

  Starting on the back nine, he registered one birdie and one bogey. One more bogey coming in, on No. 4 (par 5, 620 yards), resulted in a 1-over 72.

  The Amateur Championship Qualifier also serves as the first two rounds of the Silver Cross Award. The Silver Cross is awarded to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the qualifying rounds of the Amateur Championship and the Patterson Cup.

  Last year, Meisenzahl lost the Silver Cross to Jeff Osberg of Llanerch CC by a stroke.

  “The Silver Cross means everything,” said Meisenzahl. “I think the Silver Cross means more to me than any single tournament. Winning the Silver Cross probably makes you the best golfer in the area. It proves you are the most consistent golfer over the course of the tournament schedule.”

  Galbreath, 20, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., and Mattare, 25, of Bethlehem, Pa., both finished at 2 under. Galbreath opened with a 68 at Manufacturers and finished with a 72 at North Hills. Mattare started with a 69 at Manufacturers and ended with a 71 at North Hills. 

  “Coming out I figured if I could make a few birdies early, that makes your day that much easier,” said Galbreath. “I was lucky I was in that position.”

NOTES–James Kania, Jr. of Overbrook GC pulled a Fred Couples of yesteryear on Manufacturers G&CC’s fourth hole (par 3, 184 yards). Kania, the 2009 Amateur runner-up, shanked his 8-iron drive out of bounds but re-teed and jarred his next shot for an improbable 3. “Right after I hit it I said just go in,” said Kania, 22, of Haverford, Pa. “It jumped up right and past the hole and spun back in.” Kania is still in search of his first regulation ace. Kania finished his two rounds with a 148 total … Kyle Sterbinsky of Yardley CC, the youngest competitor in the field at age 14 advanced into match play. Sterbinsky posted a 74 at North Hills CC in the morning and a 1-over 72 at Manufacturers G&CC in the afternoon for a 146 total. A recent graduate of Greynun Academy in Yardley, Pa., this was Sterbinsky’s first Amateur experience. “I just wanted to make the cut,” said Sterbinsky, who noted he putted well all day. Sterbinsky will either attend Holy Ghost Prep or the Peddie School next fall … Last year’s champion, Justin Martinson of Hartefeld National turned professional in late May and, therefore, is ineligible to defend his title.