Moselem’s Angelillo tops Paterson Cup Qualifier

 MT. LAUREL, NJ – Gregg Angelillo of Moselem Springs GC used a steady and accurate game off the tees to card a 1-under-par 70 and top the 94-player field attempting to qualify at Laurel Creek CC (par 71, 6,793 yards) Tuesday for the 106^th Joseph H. Patterson Cup.

  Angelillo’s field-low round earned him medallist honors at the first of two qualifiers used to help determine the field for the championship set for Aug. 14 at Waynesborough CC and St. Davids GC. The second and final qualifier will be held on July 25 at Brookside CC.

  “I just wanted to keep it in play,” said the Hoboken, N.J. resident, who joined 22 others who qualified for the championship Tuesday. “My goal was to not take chances. I wanted to keep it in the fairways, get the ball inside 150 [yards] and just see what happened.”

  Angelillo elected to use the more accurate 3-wood and irons off the tee and rarely took out the driver. And when the 38-year old did bring out the big stick it almost cost him as his drive didn’t quite get past the fescue on the par 5 15^th hole (521 yards).

  “I didn’t cut the corner enough so I landed in one of those tough fescue lies,” he said. “I had to chunk it out, hit a 3-iron to about 25 feet and then made that putt for par when I could have been staring at a 7 real easy.”

  Angelillo’s goal was obviously to advance into the championship proper, but Tuesday’s qualifying effort came with a little more meaning to him as he struggled in last year’s championship held at his home track.

  “I just wanted to get back into the Patterson Cup, especially since I had a tough time last year when it was at my home course,” he said. “I hope I can just continue the momentum.”

  But ironically, it’s the momentum Angelillo chooses to put out of his mind.

  “I’m just not even thinking about it,” he said of his recent play. “I just count the holes and eventually I’ll finish and count the score when I’m done. I’m just trying to keep it simple.”

  Michael McDermott of Merion GC carded nine birdies in his final round to win the Joseph H. Patterson Cup last year which was split between Moselem Springs GC (par 70, 6,790 yards) and Berkleigh CC (par 70, 6,250 yards). The reigning Amateur Champion (2008), three-time Middle-Amateur Champion (2001, ’04, ‘08) and two-time Silver Cross Award winner (2003, ‘07) took the 36-hole championship with a 6-under-par 136 (70-66).

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  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 56,000 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.