Burton, Emich tandem take Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play

WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Dan Burton and Barry Emich of Bent Creek CC lead from wire-to-wire to take the 49^th running of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play at Hershey’s Mill GC (par 71, 6,261 yards) Thursday.

  Burton, the GAP’s President, and Emich teamed up to card a 4-under-par 67 to top the 176-player field with a balanced attack that included three birdies by each player.

  “We played great, except for No. 9 and 18 where we made bogey,” Burton said. “Other than that we were both in it on almost every hole, and that’s what really counts.”

  The Bent creek pair carded their first birdie of the day when Burton sent the team into red numbers on the par 4 4^th hole (492 yards).

  “We finally got a birdie on the board there which was nice,” he said.

  With each player in contention to score low on virtually every hole, the team headed to the back nine at 2-under par when Emich sent in a birdie of his own on the par 5 12^th hole (496 yards). After knocking a Pitching Wedge to 10 feet left of the hole, Emich sent in the putt to bring the team to 3-under for the day.

  “I think that 90-percent of the time we were both there, in it together,” Emich said. “That was it for us today.”

  “That’s really the key in a better-ball event, that you both are in it,” Burton said.

  Although each player kept it in play and gave each other a reasonable shot a birdie at almost every turn, the duo did not shy away from aggressive play at the tight West Chester track.

  As if ignoring the narrow tree-lined fairways, Burton and Emich elected to hit driver most of the time even though a 3-wood, iron or hybrid would have been the safer play.

  “I think I hit 3-wood only a couple times off the tee,” Burton said. “This is just a nice day of golf, so I just said what the heck, I’ll hit driver and have a good time.”

  Added his partner Emich, “The big thing here was to keep it in play and we did.”

  Peter Roberts of Olde York CC and partner Andy Piskun of Metedeconk National GC carded a net 61 to take the net division of the event. The pair managed to card a birdie (gross) on the par 3 7^th hole (163 yards) and finished the day with gross total of 75.

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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.