Ray Thompson keeps family tradition alive; triumphs in Warner (Gross)

  HOPEWELL, N.J.–For the third consecutive year, a member of the Thompson family has captured the Francis B. Warner Cup.

  This time, Raymond Thompson of Overbrook GC will have his name engraved on the trophy. The Drexel Hill, Pa. resident carded a 1-under-par 71 to win the 75th Francis B. Warner Cup at Hopewell Valley GC (par 72, 6,577 yards) Thursday. Thompson also took the title in 2007, and last year, his brother Andy, also of Overbrook GC, edged Neil McDermott of Llanerch CC in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff to emerge as the victor.

 “It’s nice to keep the Thompson name on the trophy,” Raymond Thompson, 57, said. “My game has been back and forth all year. I’m starting to feel like it’s coming around. I can’t complain.”

  Thompson, the 2007 Senior Player of the Year, felt that his ball-striking contributed to his success on a slick course.

  “I was driving the ball really good,” he said. “I drove the ball in the fairway, which I thought was key around here. My irons were halfway decent. I made some good putts. I missed a couple that I thought I should make, and I made a couple that I didn’t think I should make.”

  After making the turn at 1-over-par 37, Thompson turned it up by firing birdies on Nos. 11 (par 4, 400 yards) and 17 (par 3, 200 yards). He also registered an eagle on No. 16 (par 5, 491 yards) by knocking his hybrid to about seven feet and making the ensuing putt.

  On No. 17, Thompson’s hybrid proved critical again as he knocked it to about 30 feet and drained the ensuing birdie putt.

  “Those two holes (Nos. 16 and 17) did the deal for me,” he said. “I knew 74 was low, so I figured anything around even or under was going to have a good shot at (winning) it.”

  Lee Cook of Laurel Creek CC registered a 1-over-par 73 to place second. Scattered showers and cool temperatures didn’t seem to fry the Moorestown, N.J. resident, who played consistently throughout the day.

  “I never hit it out of play,” Cook said. “I didn’t short-sight anything. I kept it in front of me. I hit a lot of greens, and when I missed a green, I kept it five feet in front of me.”

  Cook, 60, also felt that his short game contributed to his success.

  “Surprisingly for me, I rolled it in from five feet, which is not my game,” he said. “I use a long putter for a reason.”

  And Cook’s final key to a strong outing?

  “A comfortable pairing,” he said, referring to tee-mates John Emmel, Jr. of Philadelphia Publinks GA and Michael Nilon of Philadelphia CC. “That makes a difference. We were just out there having fun.”

  Cook fired birdies on Nos. 9 (par 3, 126 yards), 13 (par 3, 175 yards) and 16 (par 5, 491 yards). His smooth 8-iron landed about two feet short of the flagstick on No. 9, and Cook made the ensuing birdie putt.

  On No. 13, Cook knocked a 5-iron to about 12 feet and made the putt. His tee shot on No. 16 landed within the right tree-line, but Cook rebounded by hitting a 5-iron to 100 yards and carding a birdie.

  “It wasn’t a miracle. It was a routine golf shot,” Cook said.

   Super Senior

  Jay Kocher of Wilmington CC carded a 3-over-par 75 to win the Super-Senior flight.

  “I had a lot of one putts,” the Hockessen, Del. resident said. “I saved a ton of pars with one putts. That’s basically it.”

  Kocher, 67, posted birdies on Nos. 2 and 18 (par 5, 550 yards). Standing 200 yards away from the flagstick on No. 2 (par 4, 352 yards) Kocher knocked a hybrid to about six feet and made the ensuing birdie putt.