Mitchells, Quirks share F/S (Younger) Junior title; Civitellas take Junior-Junior Flight

*Junior Division scorecards
*Junior-Junior Division scorecards
*History
*Photo Gallery

BLUE BELL, Pa.–A tie atop the Father-Son (Younger) Junior Division (Ages 14-17) produced a desirable result for all parties involved on Thursday at Blue Bell Country Club (par 71, 6,347 yards). Reigning champions Davis and Randy Mitchell of Wilmington Country Club closed with a flourish for a 1-under 70 finish to successfully defend their title. Jack and John Quirk of Huntingdon Valley Country Club have eyed the Father-Son prize for awhile and finally scaled the championship summit with a steady score, also, of 1-under 70. It is the first time the event has crowned co-champions. The event format is selective-drive, alternate-shot.

  Despite carding identical scores, the teams crossed the finish line via two very distinctive routes. The Quirks negotiated what can be a trying Blue Bell relatively stress free, carding two birdies and a bogey with very little issues throughout. The Mitchells turned their front nine at 2-over par, but finished with a flurry, recording three birdies in the final seven holes to forge a tie. In fact, the Mitchells came inches shy of a second consecutive solo first with near misses on putts at Nos. 17 and 18.

  “We fought back after a rough start. That was good to see,” said 16-year-old Davis Mitchell. “We just missed on a few putts. We had a great time. It’s always a joy to play with my dad. There aren’t many events like this. ”

  The Quirks, of Glenside, Pa., who have become perennial contenders in this event, came closest in 2010 when they ironically finished second to the Mitchells, of Wilmington, Del., in the Junior-Junior Division. The pair entered today with high hopes, especially considering Jack entered fresh off a strong performance at Junior Boys’ Championship where he advanced to match play.

  Starting on the back nine, Jack continued to swing with confidence. He knocked a long drive and then chip from 30 yards to 15 feet on No. 14 (par 5, 491 yards) where John drained the birdie putt. On the other back nine par 5, No. 17 (475 yards), Jack struck again when he launched a 6-iron from 193 yards to 50 feet to reach the green in two. The duo two putted for another birdie. They made the turn at 2 under.

  Everything was all quiet on the front side, their back nine, until No. 6 (par 3, 165 yards) where a Jack 7-iron found the green but a three putt from 25 feet gave a shot back.

  A nice par save on No. 8 (par 4, 410 yards) after the pair’s drive found the rough was the only closing scare. John made a clutch six-footer for par.

  “We were hoping to win because we are usually around the number. We were hoping to crack it,” said Jack, 17, a senior to be at La Salle High School.

  Added John, 48, “It is pretty special to win a GAP event. We’ve been trying for a lot of years. It means a lot. It’s pretty sweet.”

  Randy Mitchell birdied No. 1 (par 4, 318 yards) with a 15-footer to get the defending champs rolling but a missed green and three putt on No. 2 (par 4, 433 yards) resulted in double bogey and put the pair behind the eight ball. After a 4 on the par 5, 505-yard No. 7 to draw even, Davis ripped a 3-wood on No. 9 (par 5, 530 yards) that clipped the cart path and bounced out of bounds. The two would card a seven.

  “We knew we were still in it,” said Randy about a 2-over front. “We just had to make some birdies.”

  That’s exactly what they did.

  Randy lasered a 3-iron on No. 12 (par 3, 174 yards) to two feet for a tap-in birdie. On No. 14, they were greenside in two, but just off the putting surface. Davis rolled a lengthy effort through the fringe to a foot. That brought the pair to No. 17 a shot back of the Quirks. Davis ripped a 7-iron from 188 yards to 12 feet where Randy left the effort for eagle a foot short. The birdie put the Mitchells into a tie. On the closing hole, and knowing what was at stake, Randy lifted a 7-iron from 134 yards into the wind to eight feet. Davis’ birdie roll just stayed on the high side.

  “I’m not upset at all,” said Randy, 53, “What more can you ask for. This was great.”

Junior-Junior Division
  It was almost the day that wasn’t for the Civitellas, Matthew and Matthew, Jr., of Waynesborough Country Club, winners of the Junior-Junior Division at Blue Bell Country Club (par 71, 5,840 yards).

  Dad injured a finger early in the morning and traffic en route almost saw the two miss their tee time.

   “We didn’t expect anything this year. I didn’t expect to make the tee time,” said Matt of the duo’s car ride mindset. “We said we were probably going to shoot 100 today anyway if we didn’t make it.”

  The day was a bit better than that. The two finished at 2-under 69.

  Matt almost drove the green on No. 1 (par 4, 318 yards) before Matt, Jr. chipped up to six feet. Matt drained the birdie try. The anxiety caught up to the duo on No. 2 (par 4, 390 yards), but with nerves steadied Matt lifted an 8-iron from 160 yards to 10 feet on No. 4 (par 4, 370 yards) for a Matt, Jr. successful birdie putt. The two turned in 1 under.

  A bogey on No. 10 (par 3, 147 yards) quelled momentum briefly before three birdies in the next seven holes sealed victory.

  Matt dropped a 7-iron from 145 yards on No. 12 (par 3) to four feet; Matt, Jr., knocked a second shot 7-iron onto the green on No. 14 (par 5, 470 yards) for a two-putt birdie and then on No. 17 (par 5, 459 yards) Matt, Jr., lifted an 8-iron from 140 yards to 10 feet for an eventual tap-in four 4.

Golf Association of Philadelphia
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 150 Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.