Fieldstone’s Rucinski medals in 118th #BMWPhillyAm Qualifier

LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa.–Ryan Rucinski and Golf Association of Philadelphia Championships haven’t mixed well in years past. When asked why, the Wilmington University standout shrugged his shoulders. He had no answers.

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In Tuesday’s 118th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship Qualifier, Rucinski took a giant step in erasing prior consternations.

  The long-hitting Wilmington University rising senior secured medalist honors with a 36-hole total of 141, 2 under. Rucinski carded matching 1-under pars at each site: Green Valley Country Club (par 71, 6,766 yards) and Whitemarsh Valley Country Club (par 72, 6,789 yards). He was the only player in the field of 133 to break par.

  Rucinski faces No. 32 seed Marc Mandel of Philadelphia Cricket Club at 7:30 a.m. Mandel outlasted clubmate John Brennan to be the final player to advance in an 11-for-8 playoff for the last qualifying positions. The cutline fell at 149, 6 over. Whitemarsh Valley is the Championship site for all matches. Rounds 1 & 2 take place Wednesday. The quarterfinals and semifinals begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The 36-hole Final starts at 7 a.m. Saturday.

  “It’s nice to come here where I feel I should play well and to finally do it,” said Rucinski, 21, of Wilmington, Del. “I have no idea why I haven’t played well in [GAP] stuff before because I know all the courses. It’s just random. That’s just how golf is. It comes sometimes and leaves sometimes. It finally came during this tournament. It stunk to continuously see my name down [near the bottom of the scoreboard] when I can obviously compete with them.”

  Last year, Rucinski missed the cut in the Open Championship and Patterson Cup. In his only other Amateur appearance, the 2016 #BMWPhillyAm at Merion Golf Club, Rucinski, you guessed it, missed the match play cut. He did medal in an Amateur pre-qualifier that year to get to the Championship Proper. Adding to Rucinski’s GAP dismay has been his Delaware State Golf Association Major success. He’s placed second in the 2016 DSGA Amateur and second in the 2015 DSGA Open. In 2013, he won the Junior Championship.

  Matthew Finger of DuPont Country Club posted a second-round 4-under 68 in the afternoon, the day’s best at Whitemarsh Valley, to leap into the No. 2 seed. Defending #BMWPhillyAm Champion Gregor Orlando of Philadelphia Cricket Club tied for third in qualifying. He is the No. 3 seed and will face No. 30 Michael R. Brown, Jr. of Lu Lu Country Club.

  “The last time the Amateur was at Whitemarsh [in 2008] I played well here. I really see the reads on the [greens] on this course well,” said Finger. “I like where my game is at. It is good right now. I expect to win [matches]. I expect to keep making birdies.”

  Rucinski’s matching 1-under scores were similar in result only.

  In the morning at Whitemarsh Valley, Rucinski struggled to find his mojo. He hit only seven greens in regulation but used a wonderful short game to save strokes. His crowning moment came on No. 18 (par 4, 462 yards) – his ninth hole – when he chipped in from the left rough for a birdie three. He lifted his 58-degree wedge from 20 feet out and watched the ball trickle into the cup on its last roll. Rucinski finished the round with four birdies and three bogeys.

  In the afternoon at Green Valley, Rucinski said he put himself in better position off the tee. He registered 11 greens in regulation but still didn’t see many birdie putts drop. He opened his afternoon 18 the same as his WVCC experience earlier, par-birdie-birdie-par-bogey. He, however, finished with 13 straight pars.

  “I really didn’t have my ‘A Game’ at all. My swing didn’t feel that great but I kind of found something and relied on my short game today,” said Rucinski. “I wanted to make it to match play this year. I worked with what I had and got the ball in the hole. That’s something I’ve worked on with my coach John Dunigan on the last couple of years – accepting the challenges of not playing well and getting it in the hole.”

  Rucinski comes to the Amateur fresh off an appearance as an individual in the NCAA Division II Men’s Championship, plus Ping All-Region Division II team honors.

  He tied for 63rd at Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals.

  Four former BMW Philadelphia Amateur Champions advanced to match play. Orlando (2017), Jeff Osberg (2014) of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Scott Ehrlich (2004) of White Manor Country Club and James Sullivan, Jr. (1999) of Lu Lu Country Club.

NOTES–This is the 15th time Whitemarsh Valley has hosted the Amateur Championship, the most of all-time … Whitemarsh Valley is the home of J. Wood Platt, for whom the Amateur Championship Trophy is named. Platt won a record seven Amateur titles from 1920-42.

Golf Association of Philadelphia
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 260 Full Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.