Overbrook GC’s Kerschner tops Patterson Cup Qualifier (Brookside)

  POTTSTOWN, Pa.–Ted Kerschner of Overbrook GC birdied three of his first five holes to cruise to a 3-under-par 69 on Friday at Brookside CC (par 72, 6,699 yards) and top the 144-player field attempting to qualify for the 106^th Joseph H. Patterson Cup.

  Kerschner’s field-low round earned him medallist honors at this, the final of two qualifiers, administered by the Golf Association of Philadelphia to determine the field for the championship set for Aug. 14 at Waynesborough CC and St. Davids GC. A total of 40 players qualified. The cut line number was 76.

 The upcoming Radnor High School senior, starting on the 10^th hole, opened his round par-birdie-birdie-par-birdie.

  On No. 11 (par 5, 545 yards), Kerschner rocketed a 6-iron to just short of the green before chipping up to 15 feet and sinking the putt; on No. 12 (par 4, 407 yards) he stopped a pitching wedge from 120 yards to three feet; and then on No. 14 (par 4, 393 yards) smashed a driver then 9-iron (from 140 yards) to 12 feet. Four straight pars watched Kerschner make the turn at 3-under 33.

  He registered his first bogey on No. 1 (par 4, 368 yards) after dumping his approach in the greenside bunker but rallied with birdies on No. 3 (par 3, 187 yards) and another on No. 6 (par 5, 475 yards) to get to 4 under. On the sixth hole, he smashed a 7-iron from 180 yards to 20 feet before just leaving his eagle try short yet in the heart of the jar. A wayward drive on No. 9 (par 4, 350 yards) into the left trees resulted in his second and final bogey.

  “I really haven’t done anything all summer, so this is a good thing,” said Kerschner, who also competes in the Association’s Junior events. “It’s been a bad year up until here.”

  William Hoese of Links GC rode his White Hot Odyssey putter to a second-place finish and first berth in an Association Major.

  The 18-year-old needed only 29 putts to register a 2-under-par 70.

  “I say I’m usually better with irons than on the greens,” said Hoese, who is heading to Rutgers University in the fall, although he noted that golf might not be on his agenda. “For some reason today I could see the putts.”

  Hoese opened with a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 368 yards) when he dropped an 8-iron to 10 feet before recording a smashing eagle three on No. 5 (par 5, 475 yards). He knocked a 165-yard, 7-iron to five feet. The rest of his front nine scorecard was all pars.

  On the backside, Hoese and his putter continued some good work. He made a birdie (par 4, 407 yards) slam dunk 30 footer from the right side as well as a couple of testy par savers before dropping a pair of strokes with bogeys on No. 14 (par 4, 393 yards) and No. 17 (par 3, 190 yards).

  At last year’s Joseph H. Patterson Cup, Michael McDermott of Merion GC carded nine birdies in his final round at Berkleigh CC (par 70, 6,250 yards), Moselem Springs GC (par 70, 6,790 yards) served as the second site, en route to the title. The reigning Amateur Champion (2008), three-time Middle-Amateur Champion (2001, ’04, ‘08) and two-time Silver Cross Award winner (2003, ‘07) took the 36-hole championship with a 6-under-par 136 (70-66).

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  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 136 Member Clubs and 56,000 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.