Saucon Valley CC’s Daniels takes Frank H. Chapman Memorial (Gross)

 GLADWYNE, Pa.–Gary Daniels of Saucon Valley CC formally carved his name back into the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s senior circuit Thursday by capturing the Frank H. Chapman Memorial (Gross) at Philadelphia CC (par 71, 6,597 yards).

   Hecarded a 1-under-par 70 to best the 148-player field. The Center Valley, Pa., resident returned to competitive golf in 2008 after a three-year hiatus.

   “It’s a culmination of a lot of work and a lot of help from other people,” Daniels said. “I’ve been working on my game, and to be among the great players of the GAP and to win this tournament is a real honor. It’s shown me that I’ve been able to persevere through dealing with nerves and bad shots. It’s been a long time since I’ve been playing half-decent.”

   Business priorities had kept Daniels, 59, away from the sport.

   “When you start to get back into it at the age I am, it’s not that easy,” he said. “Last year was a tough year for me because my confidence wasn’t there. Now I’m starting to see things click a little bit better, and I’m starting to play pretty good. It feels nice.”

   Daniels registered five birdies on the day. After chipping in on No. 2 (par 4, 342 yards), he accounted for a slight wind and drove his 4-wood about 207 yards to the back of the green on No. 6 (par 5, 492 yards). Daniels then two-putted for birdie.

   Another Daniels’ birdie came on No. 7 (par 3, 193 yards) after his smooth 4-iron landed a foot from the flagstick. From the fairway on No. 17 (par 4, 435 yards), Daniels’ drilled his 6-iron from 163 yards out to about 12 feet and drained the ensuing birdie putt.

   Daniels didn’t allow a tough three-putt for bogey on No. 13 (par 4, 365 yards) shellshock his round.

   “I bounced back from that, which gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.

   Matthew Bellis of Commonwealth National GC and Francis McFadden of Overbrook GC each carded an even-par 71. Bellis, of Ambler, Pa., entered No. 14 (par 4, 435 yards) at 2 under but bogeyed the hole as his 15-footer for par drifted past the cup. He nuked his 5-wood off the tee on the uphill, par 3 15th hole (215 yards), chipped onto the green and missed a 10-footer for par.

   “I gagged it coming in here. I hung in, though,” he said. “I got it up-and-down a lot. It was just a good, solid round.”

   On his final hole, Bellis, 60, had an opportunity to enter the clubhouse with a subpar score. He punched an 8-iron about 137 yards uphill into the wind on No. 18 (par 4, 371 yards), but his ensuing 18-footer for birdie swung on the edge of the cup. Earlier in the round, Bellis registered birdies on Nos. 1 (par 4, 320 yards), 7 (par 3, 193 yards), 9 (par 4, 404 yards) and 13 (par 4, 365 yards). He stuck a 60-degree wedge over 50 yards and drained a 15-footer on No. 1. His 5-wood put Bellis on the fringe of the No. 7, but Bellis sank the ensuing birdie putt.

   On No. 9, he stuck his approach 8-iron to about 15 feet, and on No. 13, Bellis drained a 10-footer for birdie after his 9-iron traveled 130 yards and rested on the green.

   “I’m very pleased,” Bellis said. “When it’s warm, it helps. I haven’t really been playing well this year. It’s been a tough year for me physically.”

   McFadden, 59, ignited to a quick start by firing a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 320 yards). Although his drive settled in the bunker, McFadden, of Newtown Square, Pa., chipped up to about 10 feet and converted his birdie try. His 3-wood fell short of the green on No. 3 (par 5, 531 yards), but McFadden chipped up to about eight feet and drained his birdie putt.

   “I hit the ball good and I putted pretty good,” he said. “I hit all of my four and 5-footers, which is good for me. It was pretty steady, uneventful round.”

   McFadden had two birdie opportunities down the stretch. He struck his 7-iron 165 yards to about eight feet on No. 17 (par 4, 435 yards), but missed the ensuing birdie putt. He drilled a wedge 128 yards onto the green on No. 18 (par 4, 371 yards), but didn’t convert a 6-footer for birdie.

   “That was painful,” McFadden said.

   McFadden attributed such a strong round to his experience on the track.

   “This is maybe my favorite course in the city of Philadelphia. It’s a wonderful day-in, day-out golf course. It’s always in good shape. It’s fun.”

   In the Super-Senior Division, Jay Howson, Jr. of St. Davids GC earned flight honors by defeating O. Gordon Brewer, Jr. of Pine Valley GC in a sudden-death playoff. Both players finished deadlocked at 2-over-par 73. On the first playoff hole (No. 10), Howson escaped the bunker and then chipped up to about two feet from the flagstick.

   “It’s always nice to win,” Howson, who the the Super-Senior Division of the Brewer Cup a few weeks ago, said. “It’s a great opportunity for competition that is sponsored by the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Just being a part of it is great.”