#GAPMidAm: Round One Recap - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

May 26, 2021

#GAPMidAm: Round One Recap

Galloway’s Barron grabs R1 lead at 4 under

BUCKINGHAM, Pa.– Pete Barron’s first trip around Lookaway Golf Club was special. His second may yield something magical – another Major title.

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Barron, of Galloway National Golf Club, grabbed the Round One clubhouse lead in the 38th Middle-Amateur Championship at 4-under par and leads by two strokes. A one hour and 36 minute storm delay at 5:34 p.m. and another at 8:18 p.m. resulted in two groups remaining on the golf course. No remaining players are a threat to Barron’s lead.

The first round will resume at 7:30 a.m. Thursday with the final round to begin at 9 a.m. The leaders will start at approximately 1 p.m. The cut line score is firm at 78.

Barron never played Lookaway (par 72, 6,883 yards) prior to Wednesday. He is one round away from securing a second GAP Major, and a second Mid.-Am. Barron took the 2014 edition at Gulph Mills Golf Club in dramatic fashion with a birdie on the final hole.

“It was the first time I played the golf course, so I played it conservatively. I [was] just trying to hit a lot of long irons and hybrids [off the tee] to 150 or so in,” said Barron, 45, of Mays Landing, N.J. “I was aiming for the center of the greens and not getting too aggressive. I hit a bunch of quality shots today.”

An understatement from an understated Barron.

His round consisted of five birdies and one bogey, that being a three-putt. How good was his ball striking? He hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation.

“I hit balls for 20 minutes on Saturday [at Galloway] and found something,” said Barron. “I’m trying to stay wide [at the top] and keep my left arm straight. Sometimes I collapse it and don’t strike [the ball] as well. I felt like I was staying real wide and it’s helped the ball striking tremendously, so far.”

Barron stated his intentions immediately. On No. 1 (par 4, 376 yards), he drilled an 8-iron from 158 yards to four feet for birdie. Two pars followed before his lone bogey blemish. He three-putted from 35 feet on No. 4 (par 4, 362 yards). Two more pars ensued before a Barron birdie barrage on Nos. 7-9. On No. 7 (par 4, 397 yards), he lifted a gap wedge from 131 yards to 10 feet; on No. 8 (par 5, 542 yards), he ripped a 5-iron from 224 yards to 30 feet and two putted for a four; on No. 9 (par 4, 352 yards) his sand wedge from 115 yards stopped four feet from the cup.

Barron returned from the first weather delay with a 3½ foot birdie putt on No. 14 (par 4, 477 yards). Before the horn sounded to halt play, Barron knocked his 9-iron from 175 yards to that short distance.

Only four other players have won more than one Mid.-Am. title. David Brookreson (1986, 1988), Chris Lange (2005-06), Chip Lutz (1998, 2007) and Michael McDermott (2001, 2004, 2008, 2013).

Barron’s also found success outside of GAP. He’s won the 2016 Delaware State Golf Association (DSGA) Open; 2017 New Jersey State Golf Association Mid.-Amateur; 2018 DSGA Amateur Championship and 2020 DSGA Mid Open & Mid Amateur Championships.

In addition to that one GAP Mid.-Am. title, Barron finished as the 2013 runner-up, falling in a playoff.

What is it about the Mid.-Am. that brings out his best?

“Growing up usually I did better in match play more than stroke play. I guess I was more aggressive,” said Barron, the father of twin girls and a boy. “Now it’s more rely on the putter and short game. Hit the fairway and hit the green. Tomorrow, I’ll have the same game plan as today. Hit the long irons and hydrids [off the tee] and play to the 150-yard marker. Then hit the center of the green and make as many pars as I can.”

A group of six players stand at 2 under, including 2012 Middle-Amateur winner John Brennan of Philadelphia Cricket Club.

Jeff Osberg of Pine Valley Golf Club had a work conflict and was unable to defend his championship.

The inaugural Middle-Amateur Championship was held in 1984, three years after the United States Golf Association (USGA) created the U.S. Mid-Am as a formal championship for post-college amateurs. The Association followed suit with the USGA in creating a Mid.-Am., but initially differed in its administration of the tournament in a couple of respects.

The most obvious difference was the age requirement. Prior to 2001, the GAP Middle-Amateur was for players 30 years of age or older.

The Association’s Executive Committee reviewed and revised that age requirement in 2001 to match the USGA’s guidelines of 25 years of age or older for eligible players. Also, at that point, the Committee changed the format of the event to a two-day stroke play tournament (instead of a one-day medal play event) with a cut to the low 70 players and ties after the first round. Players must have a GAP/USGA Handicap Index of 7.0 or lower to be eligible to compete.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 300 Member Clubs and 80,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.

Round One 
Name, clubScores
Peter Barron, III, Galloway National Golf Club68
Andy Beittel, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club70
John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club70
Benjamin Feld, Green Valley Country Club70
Patrick Knott, Merion Golf Club70
Sean McMonagle, Tavistock Country Club70
Scott McNeil, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association70
Jamie Slonis, Tavistock Country Club70
Daniel Charen, LuLu Country Club71
Scott Ehrlich, Waynesborough Country Club71
Matthew Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club71
Scott Forrester, LuLu Country Club72
Ben Keyser, Woodcrest Country Club72
Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley Country Club72
Oscar Mestre, Overbrook Golf Club72
Gregor Orlando, Philadelphia Cricket Club72
Stewart Rickenbach, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club72
Dan Bernard, Aronimink Golf Club73
Michael R. Brown, Jr., LuLu Country Club73
Mark Czerniakowski, LuLu Country Club73
Brett Diakon, Commonwealth National Golf Club73
Billy Howard, Applebrook Golf Club73
Connor McNicholas, The 1912 Club73
Christopher Pitts, Tavistock Country Club73
John Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club74
Ben Cooley, Huntingdon Valley Country Club74
Ronan Culligan, Saucon Valley Country Club74
Cory Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club74
Glenn Smeraglio, LuLu Country Club74
Matt Teesdale, The 1912 Club74
Nicholas Vecellio, Moselem Springs Golf Club74
Jason Wilson, Olde Homestead Golf Club74
Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club75
Chris Binder, Riverwinds Golf Club75
Christopher Clauson, LuLu Country Club75
Kyle Ginty, Talamore Country Club75
Ryan McCarty, Huntingdon Valley Country Club75
Gwinyai Murahwa, North Hills Country Club75
John Perrine, Medford Village Country Club75
Jonathan Radick, Spring Mill Country Club75
John Samaha, Old York Road Country Club75
Sean Seese, Huntingdon Valley Country Club75
Domenick Trentalange, LuLu Country Club75
Michael Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club76
Brandon Dalinka, The Ridge at Back Brook76
Jimmy Finnerty, Radley Run Country Club76
Brian Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club76
John Lalley, Llanerch Country Club76
David Mecca, Wemberly Hills Golf Club76
Sam Pancoast, Radley Run Country Club76
Tony Peressini, Lookaway Golf Club76
Jim Sullivan, LuLu Country Club76
Drew Garis, North Hills Country Club77
Tom Grady, Radley Run Country Club77
Jeff Long, Riverton Country Club77
Lee Nonnemacher, Steel Club77
Cory Reighard, Brookside Country Club77
Sean Ryan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club77
Anthony Saltarelli, Philmont Country Club77
Luke Smith, Northampton Country Club77
Scott Storck, Philadelphia Cricket Club77
Matthew Toto, Woodcrest Country Club77
Lodie van Tonder, Sakima Country Club77
Robert Bechtold, Fieldstone Golf Club78
Andy Butler, Huntingdon Valley Country Club78
Andrew Carnevale, North Hills Country Club78
Jordan Cooper, Woodcrest Country Club78
Patrick Dougherty, Philadelphia Cricket Club78
Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club78
Chris Orlando, Paxon Hollow Country Club78
Michael Rogers, Overbrook Golf Club78
Paul Rogowicz, Yardley Country Club78
Sam Sherrill, Downingtown Country Club78
Addison West, Merion Golf Club78
Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club78
Failed to qualify 
Stephen Barry, Running Deer Golf Club79
Dan Brown, Llanerch Country Club79
Neil Gordon, Five Ponds Golf Club79
Bill Kane, Old York Road Country Club79
Brian Keane, Mercer Oaks Golf Course79
Daniel Rexon, Tavistock Country Club79
Joseph Rueter, Sandy Run Country Club79
Conrad Von Borsig, Philadelphia Cricket Club79
Rodney Anders, Indian Valley Country Club80
Dan Arison, Applebrook Golf Club80
Matthew Crescenzo, LuLu Country Club80
Zach Dilcher, Hartefeld National80
Mark Farley, The 1912 Club80
Kevin Genuardi, Cedarbrook Country Club80
Rob Good, Merion Golf Club80
Bryan Keeling, Spring Mill Country Club80
Nick Madden, LuLu Country Club80
Ryan McDonald, Philadelphia Cricket Club80
A.J. Skinner, Five Ponds Golf Club80
Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf Club80
Robert Streit, North Hills Country Club80
Josh Anderson, LedgeRock Golf Club81
Adam Armagost, Little Mill Country Club81
Kevin Cahill, Merion Golf Club81
Pat Curiale, Medford Village Country Club81
Mark Hill, Rolling Green Golf Club81
Matthew Krass, Radley Run Country Club81
Jimmy O’Connor, Penn Oaks Golf Club81
Kevin Turner, Llanerch Country Club81
Kyle Williams, Glen Oak Country Club81
Michael Zupi, LuLu Country Club81
Brandon Beatty, Jeffersonville Golf Club82
Ryan Delargey, Fieldstone Golf Club82
Wayne Lesage, Aronimink Golf Club82
Mark Wachter, DuPont Country Club82
Joe Zulli, Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia82
Brian Alling, Blue Bell Country Club83
Brian Fisher, Spring Ford Country Club83
Brendan Mahoney, Philadelphia Cricket Club83
Patrick Pasquariello, Philadelphia Country Club83
Josh Bennett, Running Deer Golf Club84
Jeff Gardiner, Hartefeld National84
Cory Meyer, Huntingdon Valley Country Club84
Drew Taylor, Huntingdon Valley Country Club84
Garrett Basalyga, Cedarbrook Country Club85
Kyle Dolby, Waynesborough Country Club85
Joshua Krumholz, Moselem Springs Golf Club85
Cole Clark, Mercer Oaks Golf Course86
Michael Reese, Eagle Rock Golf & Resort87
Tom DiCinti, Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association88
Phil Villari, Riverton Country Club88
Brandon Jackson, Wemberly Hills Golf Club89
Patrick Phillips, Spring Ford Country Club100
Cole Berman, Merion Golf ClubWD
Ed Brown, Loch Nairn Golf ClubWD
Joseph Eaton, Philadelphia Cricket ClubWD
John Hartzell, Shawnee Country ClubWD
Stephen Hudacek, Glenmaura National Golf ClubWD
Rob Johnson, Steel ClubWD
Andy Kerestesy, Running Deer Golf ClubWD
Bobby Kershner, Spring Ford Country ClubWD
Scott Lightbody, Spring Ford Country ClubWD
Scott McLaughlin, LuLu Country ClubWD
Johnny Murphy, The Shore ClubWD
Nick Orlando, The Shore ClubWD
Tucker Sandercock, Steel ClubWD
Jeffrey Swetland, Philadelphia Publinks Golf AssociationWD
Lou Tonon, Greate Bay Country ClubWD
WD – withdrawal 

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