Mixed Foursomes: Yardley

Commonwealth squad wins another Mixed Foursomes at Yardley

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YARDLEY, Pa. – The Commonwealth National Golf Club duo of John Alterman and Karen Siegel did it again.

After winning the 2nd Mixed Foursomes Championship at Overbrook Golf Club, the sizzling squad seized the crown again Thursday at Yardley Country Club (par 73, 6,096 yards). Alterman and Siegel signed for a card of 5-under 68, besting a full field of 38 teams. That 5-under number is the lowest score in relation to par in the event’s history.

Taking the Net Division was the mother-son duo of Kim (West Shore Country Club) and David (Hershey Country Club) Herbst at 5-under 68 Net. The Herbsts won the Gross title in the inaugural Mixed Foursomes in 2019 at Concord Country Club.

Starting on Yardley’s par-6, 471-yard 13th hole, the good vibes were flowing early and often for the Commonwealthers. On the 13th, it was eagle for the team after Alterman’s utility club from 220 yards out nestled to 10 feet and Siegel rolled in the putt.

Four straight birdies would follow. On No. 14 (par 5, 405 yards), it was a two-putt birdie from 30 feet. A deuce on No. 15 (par 3, 149 yards) came after Alterman’s 9-iron off the tee came to rest 12 feet away and Siegel drained the testing putt. Another dropped on No. 16 (par 4, 262 yards) in result of Siegel’s wedge approach to five feet, followed by an Alterman birdie putt. Now that’s how you start a golf tournament.

“It was a great start. We knew we had a really hot start, but we weren’t checking [the leaderboard]. We just knew we were playing well,” said Alterman, 61, of New Hope, Pa.

“I didn’t know until we gave our scores after 10, and the scorers said, ‘5 under at the turn? You guys are in the lead!’,” said Siegel, 58, of Maple Glen Pa. “There were a bunch of good teams out here. A lot of good players warming up and on the range. So we just kept playing our game.”

Eight-straight pars would cool down the hot stretch, but it wouldn’t matter in the long run. Another birdie was jarred on No. 7 (par 5, 538 yards). Despite a bogey on par-4, 370-yard 11th, the champions turned in the winning card at 5 under.

Alterman and Siegel have been teeing it up together in team formats for the past 21 years. Today, they became the first duo to win the Mixed Foursomes twice, setting the low mark in the four-year history of the event.

“We just know each other’s game so well. We don’t even have to think about it really anymore [after playing together for 21 years],” said Alterman.

“And it helps that we’re good putters, too,” said Siegel.

In an effort to further promote women’s golf, GAP created a Mixed Foursomes Championship in 2019. The event’s format is selective drive/alternate shot. Open to one female and one male golfer teams who are 19 years of age and who have 36.0 handicap index or less. Only one player from each two-person team must be a member of a Member Club with a GAP handicap.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 300 Member Clubs and 100,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.