Appleget, DiMarco in Open playoff

 PINE VALLEY, N.J.-John Appleget, a teaching pro at Blue Heron Pines GC, and John DiMarco, an assistant professional at Laurel Creek CC, will need one more day to determine the 2002 Philadelphia Open champion.

  In front of 1,900 spectators, each player carded 4-over-par 144s at Pine Valley Golf Club (par 70, 6,656 yards) on Monday and will return to decide the Open Championship on Tuesday in an 18-hole playoff beginning at 7:30 a.m. The format remains stroke play. If the duo remains tied after 18 holes, a sudden-death playoff will immediately follow.

  Though Pine Valley opened its gates to Open spectators for the first time since 1941, patrons will not be allowed on the course on Tuesday.

  “If I had to play against anybody it would be John DiMarco. He’s a great player and a fine gentleman,” said the soft-spoken Appleget, 37 of Dorothy, N.J. “To win this tournament, at a place like Pine Valley, would be the biggest victory of my career.”

  “Winning this would be right there with my New Jersey Open championship and qualifying for the U.S. Open,” said DiMarco, 40, of Moorestown, N.J. “It’s great to just be in contention.”

  Amateur Christopher Lange, a member of both Overbrook GC and Pine Valley GC, and Terry Hatch, a pro from Mountain Valley GC, finished in a tie for third at 5-over-par 145. Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford CC finished at 6 over to round out the top five.

  DiMarco started the earliest of the leaders, posting his afternoon 73 first. He carded a 71 in the morning, totaling four birdies and eight bogeys on the day. 

  Safely in, and with the wind picking up ever so slightly, DiMarco found himself the clubhouse leader, though, at the time, tied with Appleget, Lange and Steinmetz at 4 over.

  Steinmetz, who started on No. 9, suffered bogeys on No. 5 (par 3, 232 yards) and a three putt from 10 feet on No. 6 (par 4, 388 yards), however, to dampen his chances. 

  Lange, who fell in a playoff in 1992 to Frank Dobbs, found trouble with drives on No. 16 (par 4, 447 yards) and No. 18 (par 4, 434 yards). Both resulted in bogeys and eliminated any chance for the title.

  That left Appleget. With a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for the win, he left it a foot or so short.

  “I drove the ball real well,” said Appleget. “I missed one fairway all day. Pine Valley is a course that has really withstood time and equipment. You have to hit a lot 

of delicate shots into certain sections of the greens to give yourself a chance. I think our games fit this course well.”

  Appleget almost eliminated himself from contention in his morning round with a shaky putter. Starting on No. 9 (par 4, 427 yards), he bogeyed four of his first eight holes. A birdie on No. 3 (par 3, 181 yards) righted the ship and Appleget finished with a 73 after another birdie and bogey. In the afternoon, he carded three birdies and four bogeys for a 71.

  This marked the return of the Open to Pine Valley GC for the first time since 1941. It was also played at what many publications rank as the top course in the world.

  The winner tomorrow will collect the largest payout in Philadelphia Open history, $7,035. The second-place finisher will take home, $5,925.

  Complete results follow: