WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Greg Smith has made a proven name for himself on the GAP Net circuit. As the seven-straight Amateur Net Player of the Year, he’s carved out a spot at the top.
Monday at Radley Run Country Club, Smith, of the home club, added to the trophy case. He fired a gross score of 5-over 77 to earn overall honors in the Tee it Forward – Fall Net Championship at ravishing Radley Run Country Club.
Playing from the front Men’s Red tees (par 72, 5,645 yards), Smith collected 43 Stableford Net points to top a loaded leaderboard of 46 title hopefuls.
Five net birdies total helped skyrocket Smith to the top when all was said and done. Three eagles — including one hole out — didn’t hurt, either.
Smith, a Radley Run veteran, had never holed out for eagle before on home turf. That changed today on No. 17 (par 4, 307 yards) when a 9-iron was lifted into the sky, rolled up and dunked.
“We didn’t know it until we got up there. I actually thought it rolled up and behind the hole,” said Smith, 55, of Kennett Square, Pa. “When we got up there, the guys said it went in. That was the first time I’ve had an eagle on a par 4 here, so it was really cool.”
Smith had circled today’s date on his calendar at the beginning of 2019. Whenever GAP comes through Radley Run with an event, Smith said he would be there.
“I haven’t played in the Fall or Spring Net Championships in the past, but once I saw it was here, I had to play,” said Smith. “It was a great event.”
With the Association growing its territory, and in result absorbing more playing talent around the region, Smith says his win is even more special.
“There are even more players, which means more competition. You’ve got guys coming in from all corners of the region now,” said the champion. “You’ve got guys posting high [Stableford] scores from everywhere. I thought 36 was solid, and the rest was cake, but I’m glad it worked out for me today.”
It’s anyone’s ball game in the Fall Net Championship, as proven by Smith’s sparkling victory round on home turf.
Women’s Division
In the biggest Women’s Division in the Fall Net’s history, 14 players battled it out for the top spot. When all was said and done, it was Flourtown Country Club’s Alison Kellock taking the crown.
Kellock, who earlier this season took home the Sprint Net Championship trophy, posted 41 Stableford points for the victory. Two gross birdies propelled her to the top position.
Kellock’s Spring Net and Fall Net wins are quite different. In the Spring Net at Heidelberg Country Club, Kellock didn’t face a single other competitor — she won the trophy by default. At Radley, Kellock faced a full field featuring lots of competition.
“This was obviously a little more exciting. There was a lot of nice competition today,” said Kellock, 53, of Oreland, Pa. “I was so excited to see the [tee sheet] before I got here. It’s so great to see so many women interested and playing in GAP events. They are so well run, and I hope it continues to grow.”
The Tee It Forward — Fall Net Championship, formerly known as the Second Handicap, is open to players 18 years of age and older with handicap index less than 36.0. The event began in 1946. The Golf Association of Philadelphia adopted the Tee It Forward parameters and changed the scoring format to net Stableford in 2012.
Men’s Overall | |
Name, club | Stableford |
Greg Smith, Radley Run Country Club | 43 |
Jian Zhang, Loch Nairn Golf Club | 42 |
Joseph DeAngelis, Jericho National Golf Club | 41 |
Michael Mannon, Phoenixville Country Club | 41 |
William Erskine, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 40 |
Gerry McCloy, Flourtown Country Club | 40 |
William Choy, Flourtown Country Club | 39 |
Dan Kessler, Inniscrone Golf Club | 38 |
Jason Marie, Five Ponds Golf Club | 38 |
Tom Rowinski, Skippack Golf Club at Evansburg State Park | 38 |
James Barton, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 37 |
Hank Collins, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 37 |
Ed Huston, Applecross Country Club | 36 |
John O’Rourke, McCall Golf Club | 36 |
Alex Wisniewski, White Clay Creek Country Club | 36 |
John Fitzpatrick, Five Ponds Golf Club | 35 |
John Paris, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 35 |
Scott Dichter, Meadia Heights Golf Club | 34 |
Michael Lazor, Five Ponds Golf Club | 34 |
Steve Poorman, Inniscrone Golf Club | 34 |
Timothy Joyce, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 33 |
Michael Benninghoff, Coatesville Country Club | 32 |
Mick Dunphy, Flourtown Country Club | 32 |
Tom Watterson, Loch Nairn Golf Club | 32 |
David Kearney, Lehigh Country Club | 31 |
John Siegrist, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 30 |
Roland Thomas, Jr., McCall Golf Club | 30 |
Timothy Horan, Radley Run Country Club | 29 |
Matthew Miller, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club | 29 |
Andrew Repetto, Cobbs Creek Golf Club | 29 |
Allan Shannon, Makefield Highlands Golf Club | 29 |
W. Frank Skilton, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 29 |
Francis Adams, McCall Golf Club | 28 |
Ned Moore, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 28 |
Matt Peters, Five Ponds Golf Club | 28 |
Joseph Templin, LedgeRock Golf Club | 28 |
Richard Bourassa, McCall Golf Club | 27 |
John Kivitz, McCall Golf Club | 27 |
John Puskar, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club | 27 |
Edward Osciak, Jr., Loch Nairn Golf Club | 26 |
Christopher Benner, Buck Hill Golf Club | 25 |
Mike Monterosso, Flourtown Country Club | 24 |
John VanDame, Jr., Talamore Country Club | 24 |
Jason Lutz, Gilbertsville Golf Club | DQ |
Stephen Zirnheld, Valley Country Club | WD |
Women’s Overall | |
Alison Kellock, Flourtown Country Club | 41 |
Jan Stouffer, Saucon Valley Country Club | 40 |
Sam Morrow, Saucon Valley Country Club | 38 |
Marybeth Baldwin, Philadelphia Country Club | 37 |
Tish Lawson, Talamore Country Club | 36 |
Tracey MacGown, Saucon Valley Country Club | 33 |
Muffy McCabe, Philadelphia Country Club | 33 |
Mary Conway, French Creek Golf Club | 32 |
Josie Anthony, White Manor Country Club | 30 |
Jane Ludlow, Talamore Country Club | 29 |
Barbora Maralikova, Honeybrook Golf Club | 29 |
Mary McNamara, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | 29 |
Sarah Reese, French Creek Golf Club | 28 |
Eleanor Harbaugh, Saucon Valley Country Club | 22 |
Men’s Flight 1 | |
Gerry McCloy, Flourtown Country Club | 40 |
William Choy, Flourtown Country Club | 39 |
Dan Kessler, Inniscrone Golf Club | 38 |
Tom Rowinski, Skippack Golf Club at Evansburg State Park | 38 |
David Kearney, Lehigh Country Club | 31 |
Roland Thomas, Jr., McCall Golf Club | 30 |
Matt Peters, Five Ponds Golf Club | 28 |
Joseph Templin, LedgeRock Golf Club | 28 |
John Kivitz, McCall Golf Club | 27 |
John Puskar, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club | 27 |
Christopher Benner, Buck Hill Golf Club | 25 |
John VanDame, Jr., Talamore Country Club | 24 |
Men’s Flight 2 | |
Greg Smith, Radley Run Country Club | 43 |
Jian Zhang, Loch Nairn Golf Club | 42 |
Joseph DeAngelis, Jericho National Golf Club | 41 |
Michael Mannon, Phoenixville Country Club | 41 |
Jason Marie, Five Ponds Golf Club | 38 |
James Barton, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 37 |
Alex Wisniewski, White Clay Creek Country Club | 36 |
John Fitzpatrick, Five Ponds Golf Club | 35 |
Michael Lazor, Five Ponds Golf Club | 34 |
Steve Poorman, Inniscrone Golf Club | 34 |
Matthew Miller, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club | 29 |
Mike Monterosso, Flourtown Country Club | 24 |
Men’s Flight 3 | |
William Erskine, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 40 |
John O’Rourke, McCall Golf Club | 36 |
John Paris, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 35 |
Scott Dichter, Meadia Heights Golf Club | 34 |
Mick Dunphy, Flourtown Country Club | 32 |
John Siegrist, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 30 |
Andrew Repetto, Cobbs Creek Golf Club | 29 |
W. Frank Skilton, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 29 |
Francis Adams, McCall Golf Club | 28 |
Ned Moore, Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club | 28 |
Richard Bourassa, McCall Golf Club | 27 |
Men’s Flight 4 | |
Hank Collins, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 37 |
Ed Huston, Applecross Country Club | 36 |
Timothy Joyce, Philadelphia Publinks GA | 33 |
Michael Benninghoff, Coatesville Country Club | 32 |
Tom Watterson, Loch Nairn Golf Club | 32 |
Timothy Horan, Radley Run Country Club | 29 |
Allan Shannon, Makefield Highlands Golf Club | 29 |
Edward Osciak, Jr., Loch Nairn Golf Club | 26 |
Jason Lutz, Gilbertsville Golf Club | DQ |
Stephen Zirnheld, Valley Country Club | WD |
Women’s Flight 1 | |
Alison Kellock, Flourtown Country Club | 41 |
Tish Lawson, Talamore Country Club | 36 |
Tracey MacGown, Saucon Valley Country Club | 33 |
Muffy McCabe, Philadelphia Country Club | 33 |
Josie Anthony, White Manor Country Club | 30 |
Barbora Maralikova, Honeybrook Golf Club | 29 |
Eleanor Harbaugh, Saucon Valley Country Club | 22 |
Women’s Flight 2 | |
Jan Stouffer, Saucon Valley Country Club | 40 |
Sam Morrow, Saucon Valley Country Club | 38 |
Marybeth Baldwin, Philadelphia Country Club | 37 |
Mary Conway, French Creek Golf Club | 32 |
Jane Ludlow, Talamore Country Club | 29 |
Mary McNamara, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club | 29 |
Sarah Reese, French Creek Golf Club | 28 |
WD – withdrawal; DQ – disqualification |