Radley’s Melton tops compact Open Championship leaderboard - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Jul 18, 2018

Radley’s Melton tops compact Open Championship leaderboard

July 18, 2018

 WAYNE, Pa.–Brett Melton has been a Philadelphia Section PGA revelation since coming to the area early last year.

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  He was the 2017 Omega Player of the Year and registered the lowest scoring average in the section in addition to recording a handful of victories.

  This year has been more of the same. He has three wins and again leads the Section POY standings.

  Melton, the first assistant at Radley Run Country Club, now finds himself on the cusp of joining Philadelphia’s golfing elite.

  Melton carded a 4-under-par 66 at St. Davids Golf Club to grab the first-round lead in the 114th Open Championship at St. Davids Golf Club (par 70, 6,531 yards).

  The Open is the third oldest championship in the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Only the BMW Philadelphia Amateur (118) and Patterson Cup (116) are older.

  The 44-year-old resident of Coatesville, Pa. posted a clean card – four birdies and 14 pars – against the deepest field in Philadelphia golf.

  A total of 133 players competed – 89 amateurs and 44 professionals.

  The cut line fell at 3 over with 70 players advancing to the second and final day.

  “If you are playing, I always feel like I’m trying to play to win or to play as good as possibly can,” said Melton, who won the Indiana State Open twice. “[I try] to do my thing and if it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough. I just do the best I can and see where it falls.”

  Melton, despite not seeing St. Davids until the day before, and that was only eight holes worth, grew up in French Lick, Ind., on a Donald Ross designed course.

  “Donald Ross courses are [all] similar,” said Melton whose wife Dawn is from Plymouth Meeting, Pa. “They have a certain look and feel. You can kind of see where to hit the ball and what he gives you.”

  What Melton took on Wednesday was solid ball striking and steady putting.

  He hit 14 greens in regulation and made a couple nice par savers to keep his round, which started on the back nine, intact. He cited up-and-downs on Nos. 12 (par 4, 454 yards) and 3 (par 4, 349 yards) after a couple of errant blows required one putts.

  Melton birdied No. 11 (par 5, 543 yards) when almost reaching the green in two. He converted an eight-footer for 4; No. 16 (par 5, 504 yards) after hitting his second shot – a 5-iron from 195 yards – to six feet and two putted; and No. 18 (par 4, 394 yards) thanks to a sand wedge from 111 yards that stopped six feet from the cup.

  He added a final birdie on No. 8 (par 5, 490 yards) when he roped a 5-iron from 194 yards that stopped against the back collar of the green. He eventually drained a five-footer for birdie.

  Melton was a five-time Indiana Section PGA Player of the Year.

  “I shot 76 last week at Huntingdon Valley. I didn’t see 66 coming today but I got it going and started hitting it well,” said Melton.

  Melton’s margin for error will be razor-thin tomorrow.

  There are 24 players within four strokes of the lead. There is a trio in second place, one shot back – Radnor Valley Country Club professional George Forster; amateur Jeff Osberg of Huntingdon Valley Country Club and David Quinn, a teaching professional at Philmont Country Club.

  Osberg (2016) and Quinn (2006) are former Open Champions. Forster’s best Open finish was a fourth-place showing. He did that in 2000 and 2015.

  Osberg was a question mark for the tournament. He cracked a rib when he slipped going to retrieve his son’s toy from the Huntingdon Valley Country Club kiddie pool in mid-May and landed against the concrete side. Osberg has swung a club once since. And that was Saturday on the HVCC range.

  Though Osberg, 34, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., said his rib wasn’t a factor, he did say his chronic back problem reared its head again.

  “[Back] flare-ups happen now and again,” said Osberg.

  Forster, 62, of Blue Bell, Pa. said it was only the third time in competition he’s kept a clean scorecard. He made three birdies and 15 pars. He was recognized as a Philadelphia PGA Playing Legend in 2015.

  Quinn, 52, of Marlton, N.J., hit 17 greens in regulation. He made four birdies and one bogey.

  “My goal coming into today was to play safe golf, especially, being a two-round tournament,” said Quinn, also recognized as a Philadelphia PGA Playing Legend.

  Defending Open champion Matt Mattare of Saucon Valley Country Club carded an even-par 70.

NOTES–An amateur has won the last nine Open Championships … the 2017 low professionals were Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Country Club and Tony Perla of LedgeRock Golf Club. Bergstol is tied for sixth place at 1-under par; Perla is in a tie for 16th at even par.

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 Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across 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.

Name, club Score
Brett Melton, Radley Run Country Club 66
George Forster, Radnor Valley Country Club 67
(a) Jeff Osberg, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 67
David Quinn, Philmont Country Club 67
Alexander Knoll, Bethlehem Golf Club 68
Zac Oakley, Waynesborough Country Club 68
(a) Peter Barron, III, Greate Bay Country Club 69
Brian Bergstol, Shawnee Country Club 69
(a) Stephen Dressel, St. Davids Golf Club 69
(a) Matthew Finger, DuPont Country Club 69
(a) Vincent Kwon, Little Mill Country Club 69
David Pagett, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club 69
(a) Richard Riva, Bent Creek Country Club 69
Billy Stewart, The ACE Club 69
(a) Jeremy Wall, Manasquan River Golf Club 69
(a) Cole Berman, Philadelphia Cricket Club 70
(a) John Buliga, Yardley Country Club 70
(a) Blaine Lafferty, Little Mill Country Club 70
(a) Matthew Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club 70
David McNabb, Applebrook Golf Club 70
(a) Alex Mulrooney, DuPont Country Club 70
Tony Perla, LedgeRock Golf Club 70
(a) Ryan Rucinski, Fieldstone Golf Club 70
(a) Sean Seese, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 70
(a) Max Siegfried, Aronimink Golf Club 70
(a) Christopher Ault, Yardley Country Club 71
(a) Steve Cerbara, Jericho National Golf Club 71
(a) Ben Feld, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 71
Michael Ferguson, Philadelphia Cricket Club 71
(a) John Foley, Raven’s Claw Golf Club 71
(a) Brock Kovach, LedgeRock Golf Club 71
Chris Krueger, Kings Creek 71
Michael Little, Lookaway Golf Club 71
John Pillar, Sr., CC at Woodloch Springs 71
(a) Kevin Sarlo, Jr., Burlington Country Club 71
(a) Benjamin Smith, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 71
(a) Brian Todaro, Rolling Green Golf Club 71
(a) Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club 71
(a) Parker Wine, Radley Run Country Club 71
John Allen, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 72
(a) John Barone, Glenmaura National Golf Club 72
(a) Christopher Cerminaro, Glenmaura National Golf Club 72
(a) Luis Diaz, Rancocas Golf Club 72
(a) Zachary Falone, Sakima Country Club 72
Mike Furey, Mahoning Valley Country Club 72
(a) Ryan Gelrod, Philadelphia Cricket Club 72
Zack Kempa, Chester Valley Golf Club 72
(a) Kevin Kramarski, Riverton Country Club 72
Ryan Lagergren, Stonewall 72
Corey McAlarney, Squires Golf Club 72
(a) Regan Papariello, St. Davids Golf Club 72
Brendon Post, PGA 72
(a) Erik Reisner, The ACE Club 72
(a) John Samaha, Old York Road Country Club 72
Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford Country Club 72
(a) Conrad Von Borsig, Philadelphia Cricket Club 72
(a) Jason Wilson, Philadelphia Publinks GA 72
Christopher Dymek, Manasquan River Golf Club 73
(a) Luke Fayocavitz, Glen Oak Country Club 73
(a) Carlos Fullerton, Brookside CC of Allentown 73
Terry Hatch, Hickory Valley Golf Club 73
(a) Kyle Henofer, Indian Valley Country Club 73
(a) Bryan Keeling, Spring Mill Country Club 73
Greg Matthias, Tavistock Country Club 73
(a) Michael McDermott, Merion Golf Club 73
(a) Michael Moffat, Lu Lu Country Club 73
Anthony Napoletano, Golf Course at Glen Mills 73
(a) Benjamin Pochet, Spring Ford Country Club 73
(a) Steve Skurla, White Manor Country Club 73
(a) Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club 73
Failed to qualify
(a) Ambrose Abbracciamento, Jericho National Golf Club 74
Trevor Bensel, Overbrook Golf Club 74
(a) Michael Davis, Aronimink Golf Club 74
(a) Dominic Digiacomo, Greate Bay Country Club 74
Robert Hennefer, Indian Spring Country Club 74
Terry Hertzog, Country Club of York 74
Stuart Ingraham, MGOLF Driving Range & Learning Facility 74
Dean Kandle, St. Davids Golf Club 74
(a) Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 74
Tom Michaels, Berkshire Country Club 74
(a) Jonathan Radick, Spring Mill Country Club 74
(a) Ryan Tall, Spring Ford Country Club 74
(a) Michael Thomas, Scranton Municipal Golf Course 74
(a) Oliver White, Stonewall 74
(a) Peter Bradbeer, Merion Golf Club 75
(a) Michael R. Brown, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club 75
Gregory Farrow, Deerwood Country Club 75
(a) Brian Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club 75
(a) Matt Keim, Brookside Country Club 75
Joseph Kogelman, GOLFTEC Moorestown 75
(a) Gary McCabe, Jr., RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve 75
Kevin Nicholson, White Manor Country Club 75
John Spina, Philadelphia Cricket Club 75
Bill Walker, Riverton Country Club 75
(a) R.J. Wren, LedgeRock Golf Club 75
(a) Rodney Anders, Indian Valley Country Club 76
(a) Stephen Barry, Running Deer Golf Club 76
(a) Cole Berger, White Manor Country Club 76
(a) John Brennan, Philadelphia Cricket Club 76
(a) Lukas Clark, Jericho National Golf Club 76
Matthew Episcopo, Pine Valley Golf Club 76
Jakob Gerney, Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia 76
(a) Eddie Johnson, Llanerch Country Club 76
Eric Keeler, Gulph Mills Golf Club 76
Richie Krebs, Briarwood Golf Club 76
(a) Keith Matt, Talamore Country Club 76
(a) Paul Mauer, Stonewall 76
(a) Jack Melville, Lu Lu Country Club 76
(a) Wills Montgomery, Bala Golf Club 76
Michael Paukovits, St. Davids Golf Club 76
(a) P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club 76
(a) Zachary Barbin, Loch Nairn Golf Club 77
(a) Mark Coassolo, Brookside CC of Allentown 77
William Sautter, Philadelphia Cricket Club 77
(a) Grant Skyllas, LedgeRock Golf Club 77
(a) Griffin Smith, Jericho National Golf Club 77
(a) Ronald Yanoski, III, Glen Oak Country Club 77
(a) Dawson Anders, Indian Valley Country Club 78
(a) Brett Brenner, Green Valley Country Club 78
(a) Ryan Cass, Merchantville Country Club 78
(a) Jack Habeeb, Country Club of Scranton 78
(a) Ron Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club 78
(a) P.J. Acierno, Lu Lu Country Club 79
(a) Matthew Balcer, Bensalem Township Country Club 79
(a) Hayden Greer, Laurel Creek Country Club 79
Curtis Kirkpatrick, Indian Spring Country Club 79
(a) David West, Philadelphia Publinks GA 79
(a) William Howard, V, Applebrook Golf Club 81
(a) Jack Wallace, Burlington Country Club 82
(a) Thomas Lewis, Commonwealth National Golf Club 88
(a) Dan Close, Woodcrest Country Club NC
(a) Ron Nattle, Jr., Philadelphia Publinks GA WD
Mark Sheftic, Merion Golf Club WD
(a)-denotes amateur
NC-no card; WD-withdrawal

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