Bernstein, Willcox survive grueling playoff for Hussey title - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Jul 11, 2005

Bernstein, Willcox survive grueling playoff for Hussey title

 SPRINGFIELD, Pa.–Cole Willcox of Philadelphia CC birdied the fourth extra hole to help he and partner Jason Bernstein of White Manor CC defeat Eric Chipin of Philmont CC and Robert Galbreath, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley CC in the most dramatic finish in the 20-year history of the Francis X. Hussey Memorial Tournament on Monday at Rolling Green GC (par 71, 6,267 yards). The four holes marked the better-ball tournament’s longest playoff rotation. In regulation, the twosomes wrote another historical chapter of sorts when paired in the same 9:20 a.m. group, each carded tournament record 8-under-par 63s to force the sudden-death session.

 Added Galbreath, 14, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., “When [Eric and I] looked at the pairings before the tournament, I told him that if we could beat [Cole and Jason] we’d have a chance to win. It doesn’t get much better then those two.”

  All day, both teams seemingly thrived on their fellow competitor’s fantastic play.

  On the front side, Chipin and Galbreath made the turn in 4-under-par 32 while Bernstein and Willcox registered three birdies for a 3-under-par 33. Galbreath birdied No. 11 (par 4, 403 yards) and Bernstein answered on No. 12 (par 4, 333 yards) to keep the two teams just a stroke apart.

  That’s when the double-dose of cheers and fist pumps began.

  On the short par 5, 17th hole (460 yards), Willcox, 17, Berwyn, Pa., a senior to-be at Malvern Prep, ripped a 6-iron from 180 yards to four feet for eagle. Galbreath, who found some trouble off the tee and was left with a 44-yard pitch shot over the greenside bunker for his third shot, drained his eight-foot birdie chance.

  “Walking down 17, I said to Cole how about an eagle-eagle finish and maybe we’ll win it,” said Bernstein. “He told me not to get ahead ourselves.”

  The teams headed to No. 18, a dogleg right par 5 measuring 492 yards, tied at 6-under par. On the final hole, Bernstein found himself in the front fringe 45 feet shy of the hole with Galbreath eyeing a 20-foot downhill eagle putt.

  Bernstein, the qualifying medallist at the Junior Boys’ Championship a week ago, started the final-hole craziness by sinking his eagle chance first. The putt, an uphill breaker, put the finishing touches on an inward nine 5-under-par 30.

  Galbreath, faced with a testy putt to tie, responded by finding the center of the cup. Galbreath, who repeated as the Junior Boys’ Champion last week and his partner, finished with a 4-under-par 31 on the backside.

  “That was one of the best putts I’ve ever hit under pressure,” said Galbreath. “My partner had the same putt from just an inch or some behind me and made it. I just had to hit it on the same line with the correct amount of speed.”

  Chipin, 15, lives in Pennington, N.J.

  In the playoff, a rotation of No. 1 and 18, the two teams halved the first three playoff holes with a par, birdie and par. Galbreath made a superb up-and-down for four from about 75 yards on the first extra hole to keep his team’s hopes alive and both teams never had legitimate looks at the victory over the next two holes.

  Playing No. 18 for the third time in the afternoon, Willcox knocked an 8-iron from 164 yards to the front fringe. He chipped up to three feet. Chipin, whose drive found a divot in the middle of the fairway, knocked a 6-iron from 178 yards just over. He failed to get up and down for birdie.

Junior-Junior Division (13-and-under)
  Ian Bellah of Radnor Valley CC and Austin List of Merion GC carded a 1-over-par 36 (par 35, 2,698 yards) to capture the Junior-Junior Division of the Francis X. Hussey Memorial Tournament by six strokes.

  The Junior-Junior Division competes over nine noles.

  Bellah and List carded three birdies and four bogeys.*****
  The Hussey is named in honor of the former Rolling Green GC junior member.

  Francis suffered with congenital heart disease and passed away in December of 1983 while undergoing major heart surgery. He was 13 years old when he died. Francis was a student in the Haverford Township School system, an avid sports fan and an active junior member at Rolling Green. His courage in the face of his illness was a great inspiration to all who knew him.

Junior
Name Club Out In Total
*Bernstein, Jason / Willcox, Cole White Manor CC / Philadelphia CC 33 30 63
Galbreath, Jr., Robert / Chipin, Eric Huntingdon Valley CC / Philmont CC 32 31 63
Fischer, Erik / Valutas, Reed Merion GC / Overbrook GC 35 31 66
Kania, Michael / Welsh, Patrick Overbrook GC / Huntingdon Valley CC 33 35 68
Deakins, Scott / Creghan, Brian St. Davids GC / Plymouth CC 33 35 68
Schmehl, Eric / Schmehl, Andrew Moorestown Field Club 36 33 69
Rexon, Daniel / Anzaldo, Phillip Tavistock CC 35 34 69
Bartholomew, Philip / Trentalange, Domenick Yardley CC / Torresdale-Frankford CC 36 35 71
Radick, Erik / Radick, Jonathan Spring Mill CC 36 35 71
Wilson, Tim / Anthony, Austin Philadelphia CC / Philadelphia Cricket Club 35 36 71
Smith, Matt / Francis, Andrew Honeybrook GC 38 34 72
Van Ostenbridge, Matt / Ferguson, Tommy Spring Ford CC / Merion GC 37 35 72
Shotzbarger, Bill / Muller, Alexander Torresdale-Frankford CC / Manufacturers G&CC 36 36 72
Forster, Greg / Perla, Tony Sandy Run CC / Olde York CC 36 36 72
Baker, Matt / Hirschler, Sean Stone Hedge / Glen Oak CC 36 36 72
Brailsford, Christian / Rush, Michael Talamore at Oak Terrace CC 41 32 73
Walsh, Greg / Dolby, Jr., Kent Philadelphia CC / Waynesborough CC 41 32 73
Gross, Michael / Kahn, Jason Glenmaura National GC / Commonwealth National GC 37 36 73
Villari, Jr., Phillip F. / Guarino, Beau Riverton CC / Burlington CC 37 36 73
Frey, Stephen / Huntington, Kevin Whitford CC / Penn Oaks GC 36 37 73
Bellisario, Nicholas / Broll, Steven Rolling Green GC / Aronimink GC 40 34 74
Lansinger, Peter / Wilson, Josh St. Davids GC / Radnor Valley CC 40 34 74
Johnston, A. James / Tallent, James Merion GC 2 39 35 74
Hall, J.D. / Hargrove, Nelson Merion GC 38 36 74
Crowley, Will / Endres, Mark St. Davids GC/ Overbrook GC 38 36 74
Rusk, Justin / Glennie, Jon Yardley CC 2 37 37 74
Donatoni, A.J. / Wygant, Eric White Manor CC / Concord CC 39 36 75
Thorn, Erik / Meyers, Jimmy Medford Village CC / Tavistock CC 38 37 75
Southerland, Carson / Harrigan, Michael Laurel Creek CC / Moorestown Field Club 38 37 75
DeLuca, Nicholas / Brown, Adam Lookaway GC / Yardley CC 37 38 75
Owsik, Jeffrey / Love, Tyler Plymouth CC / Philadelphia Publinks GA 37 38 75
Arthur, Bobby / Barnette, Johnny Tavistock CC / Unattached 36 39 75
DeLuca, Christopher / Gunsel, Christopher Lookaway GC / Spring Mill CC 36 39 75
Bernard, Joe / Bernard, Daniel Aronimink GC 36 39 75
Lewis, Joey / Finley, Andrew Aronimink GC / The Springhaven Club 39 38 77
Pesci, Matthew / Dansbury, Kevin Yardley CC 38 39 77
Gahman, Travis / Flaherty, Sean Macoby Run GC / Indian Valley CC 38 39 77
Carroll, Ryan / Regan, Matt Chester Valley GC / Honeybrook GC 42 36 78
Verde, Steven / Lindberg, Thomas Spring Ford CC / St. Davids GC 40 38 78
Meyer, Tedd / Rothaus, Zach Philmont CC 41 38 79
Pokorny, James / Cooke, Shane Unattached / Llanerch CC 40 39 79
Schaft, Eric / Shelton, John Sandy Run CC / Unattached 39 41 80
Uretsky, Adam / Lorenzetti, JD Linwood CC / Hidden Creek GC 42 40 82
Givens, Billy / Dougherty, Steve Woodbury CC / Running Deer GC 42 41 83
Manwaring, Michael / Kiss, Greg Philadelphia Cricket Club 40 43 83
Jardine, Jr., John / Robertson, Craig Llanerch CC 47 39 86
Knowles, Patrick / McGovern, Matt Sandy Run CC / Northampton CC 43 43 86
Palmer, John / Carrigan, Brian Chester Valley GC 47 40 87
Applegate, Chris / Dever, Pierce Trenton CC 45 42 87
Fulginiti, Frank / Petsis, Alex Trenton CC 2 48 40 88
Thompson, Adam / Walsh, Brian Green Valley CC / Llanerch CC 48 42 90
O’Shea, Daniel / Gropp, Matthew Llanerch CC / Unattached 51 48 99
Russell, Jeff / Gibson, Kyle Llanerch CC / Philadelphia Publinks GA 53 49 102
Junior-Junior
Name Club Total
List, Austin W. / Bellah, Ian Merion GC / Radnor Valley CC 36
Isaacman, Mike / White, Oliver Talamore at Oak Terrace CC / Manufacturers G&CC 42
Calamaro, Drew / Dilcher, Zachary Rolling Green GC / Inniscrone GC 43
Liebert, Cameron / Kacergis, Jim Edgmont CC / Applebrook GC 45
Brennan, Ted / Dorey, Julian Philadelphia CC / Tavistock CC 46
Godshalk, Tim / Chawaga, Michael Whitford CC / Chester Valley GC 47
Loeber, III, Jack / O’Brien, Conner Wedgwood CC 50
Dougherty, Morgan / Pronzato, Michael Huntingdon Valley CC / Unattached 56
Markward, Dutch / Mazaleski, Tim North Hills CC 59
Hussey, Nick / Staats, Corey Lu Lu CC / Cedarbrook CC 71
*won in playoff

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