Mestre takes Middle-Amateur Championship

| Day One Results |

MALVERN, PA-Oscar Mestre, Jr. of Overbrook GC carded a final round score of 1-under-par 69 on Thursday to finish with a 1-over total of 141 (72-69) to capture the Golf Association of Philadelphia Middle-Amateur Championship at Chester Valley GC (par 70, 6,511 yards).

Mestre, 42, of Berwyn, was the only player in the second and final round to break par.

Glenn Smeraglio of Yardley CC finished second with a 3-over-par total of 143 (72-71) and Michael Domenick of Phoenixville CC (74-70) and Thomas Soares of Berkleigh CC (73-71) tied for third with 4-over par 144s.

“I was thinking on the drive over here that if you can win this tournament with this new format – two days and 36 holes – it would be something to be really proud of,” said Mestre. “I said I had to shoot a 69 to give myself a chance.” He did just that.

Heading to No. 15 (par 3, 170 yards), Mestre and Smeraglio, playing a group apart, had separated themselves from the pack. However, Smeraglio, 2-under at that point, three putted for double bogey, while Mestre, in the trailing group, saved par with a 10-foot putt.

“I hit a five iron and it just released to the back of the green,” said Smeraglio, 42, of Newtown about No. 15. “I chipped it to four feet above, and then missed a 1 1/2 footer for bogey.”

The key to Mestre’s round came early. He made par savers on No. 2 (par 5, 560 yards) and No. 3 (par 4, 338 yards) from the right bunkers on each hole. He then birdied No. 4 (par 4, 378 yards) from 10 feet below the hole. A bogey on No. 5 (par 3, 170 yards) and a birdie on No. 7 (par 3, 192 yards) helped Mestre make the turn in a 1-under-par 34.

“To have a chance I really wanted to get under par early,” said Mestre. “Those two par savers really kept the round going.”

Mestre was a little up and down on the back nine, recording bogeys on No. 10 (par 3, 197) and No. 12 (par 4, 435 yards) and birdies on No. 11 (par 4, 457 yards) and No. 13 (par 4, 441 yards).

But five pars on his final five holes earned him his first Golf Association of Philadelphia title.

Domenick, 47, of Phoenixville recorded his best finish in a Middle-Amateur since falling in a playoff to Carl Everett of Merion GC for the title in 1993. The third-place finish was also Soares, 41, of Macungie, top Mid-Am placing.

“I thought 142 or 143 would be in the hunt,” said Domenick. “I was 7 over for the tournament after No. 8, but birdied three of the next four to get back in it.”

Domenick birdied No. 9 (par 4, 371 yards), No. 10 (par 3, 197 yards) and No. 12 (par 4, 435 yards) to finish in the tie for third.

Day One co-leader William McGuinness of Tavistock CC carded a final round 75 to finish in a fifth-place tie at 145. Ed Anton of Woodbury CC, who shared the lead with McGuinness, posted a 78 to finish tied for 18th at 148.

A total of 74 players survived the cut from day one. The cut line fell at 77.

The top 20 players and ties are exempt for next year’s Middle-Amateur.

This was only the second year the Middle-Amateur format has encompassed two days and 36 holes. Prior to 2001, the Mid-Am was a one-day, 18-hole event.

This was also just the second year players 25 years of age and older were allowed to participate. Prior to last season, players had to be 30 years of age and older.