Tyler, Jr., Whitman duo take 48th Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play

  PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Seasoned better-ball partners Fred Tyler, Jr., and Bill Whitman of Moselem Springs GC and Berkshire CC, respectively, recorded a 4-under-par 64 (gross) to win the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s 48^th Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play at a tight and short Bala GC (par 68, 5,322 yards) Tuesday.

  The five-time Pennsylvania State Senior Better-Ball Champions edged a field of 82 two-man teams by carding four birdies on hole Nos. 3 (par 4, 323 yards), 7 (par 4, 395 yards), 15 (par 4, 320 yards) and 17 (par 4, 291 yards).

 But right out of the gate, things did not start the way the team envisioned as Tyler knocked his tee shot out of bounds on their first hole (No. 10, par 5, 489 yards) and Whitman airmailed the green on his approach. Whitman pitched back up but was over 25 feet from the hole. From there all the 74-year-old did was make a long snaking putt for par.

  “That got us going,” Tyler said of his partner’s par save. “From then on, we really didn’t get into trouble.”

  To which Tyler quickly answered, “Well it went in and that made me happy.”

  The two would not card a bogey the entire day and shared the load with two birdies each.

  Immediate GAP Past President Neil McDermott of Llanerch CC and Carl Everett of Merion GC tied Michael McCorriston and Richard White, both of Jericho National GC, for second place with 3-under-par 65s.

  “The challenge here today, particularly in the afternoon, was that the wind really came up and was swirling,” said McDermott, who, with his partner, carded five birdies and two bogeys on the day. “The greens here are very small, so when you’re facing that kind of wind it presents an interesting challenge. So we were very happy to finish the way we did.”

  McCorriston and White turned in a complete team effort carding a 4-under-par back nine.

  “We took our turns,” said White of his partner who came through when he needed to. “We both had double [bogeys] but not at the same time.”

  The tandem of Alan Van Horn and Brian Bezark of Lu Lu CC took the net division with a score of 57 (net).

  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 135 Member Clubs and 60,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.

  Results
  Gross
  Overall
  1. Fred Tyler, Jr./William Whitman, Moselem Springs GC/Berkshire CC 64
  T2. Neil McDermott/Carl Everettt, Llanerch CC/Merion GC 65
  T2. Michael McCorriston/Richard White, Jericho National GC 65

  Net
  Overall
  1. Alan Van Horn/Brian Bezark, Lu Lu CC 57
  T2. Ted Turner/William Englesbe, Pine Hill GC 58
  T2. Steven Owens/John Owens, Ashbourne GC/Philadelphia Publinks GA 58