HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa.-Ray Thompson of Overbrook GC isn’t a stranger in Golf Association of Philadelphia circles. He’s a former Amateur Champion (1972) and tournament regular from the 1970s. However, Thompson turned professional for a stint back then, and, most recently, business obligations have kept him in the office and out of Association events.
Thompson has renewed his focus lately, though, tuning up his game with an eye on qualifying for an U.S. Senior Open in the near future (He has failed to qualify in his initial three tries).
The 52-year-old resident of Springfield (Delaware County), Pa., carded a 1-over-par 71 on the North Course of Philmont Country Club on Friday to capture his first Tournament of Champions title. Thompson finished a stroke clear of home course favorite Brian Rothaus (72). Michael Domenick of Phoenixville CC placed third at 4-over-par 74.
“This is big for me,” said Thompson. “I’ve been working on my game for the last 1½ years and am starting to get competitive again.”
The Tournament of Champions is open to all current club champions and past event champions. Thompson became eligible for the TOC after he captured his seventh Overbrook GC club title earlier this year.
Today, Thompson posted a solid 2-under-par 33 on the front nine. He registered birdies on No. 3 (par 3, 155 yards), No. 6 (par 4, 372 yards) and No. 8 (par 3, 130 yards) to start in a flurry. On the sixth, he dropped a 9-iron to two feet. On the eighth hole, Thompson sank a smooth 15 footer.
Thompson did post three bogeys on the back nine – recording over par scores on No. 12 (par 5, 491 yards), No. 13 (par 4, 350 yards) and No. 16 (par 4, 451 yards) – to finish 3-over-par on the back nine and 1-over-par 71 overall.
Just advancing to the Tournament of Champions is an accomplishment for any golfer from Overbrook GC. The club features top tournament players Chris Lange, Brad McFadden, Frank McFadden, Oscar Mestre, Jr. and Andy Thompson (Ray’s brother), to name a few.
“That battle is as hard as any to win,” said Thompson.
Senior Amateur
James Sherratt of Old York Road CC carded a 3-over-par 73 to take the Senior Amateur Division championship (North Course, par 70, 6,221 yards).
Sherratt posted two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the front side for a 2-over-par 37. He finished the back nine with two bogeys and a birdie and a 1-over 36.
This was Sherratt’s first Tournament of Champions Senior Amateur crown.
“I never thought it was possible,” said Sherratt, 65, of nMontgomeryville, Pa. “This is the biggest tournament I’ve ever won. I’m just thrilled and happy I played well.”
Sherratt said he putted as well as he has all year. “I missed only one putt inside of eight feet.”
Sherratt qualified for the event by capturing his third senior club championship at the end of August.
| Amateur Division | ||||
| Pos. | Name, club | Front 9 | Back 9 | Total |
| 1 | Raymond Thompson, Overbrook GC | 33 | 38 | 71 |
| 2 | Brian Rothaus, Philmont CC | 36 | 36 | 72 |
| 3 | Michael Domenick, Phoenixville CC | 38 | 36 | 74 |
| T4 | Gary Daniels, Applebrook GC | 41 | 34 | 75 |
| T4 | Michael Rose, Ashbourne CC | 39 | 36 | 75 |
| T6 | Brian Myers, Old York Road CC | 38 | 38 | 76 |
| T6 | Robert Bechtold, Deerfield G&TC | 38 | 38 | 76 |
| T8 | Douglas Zelner, Coatesville CC | 38 | 39 | 77 |
| T8 | James Meyers, Tavistock CC | 39 | 38 | 77 |
| T8 | James Ward, Reading CC | 39 | 38 | 77 |
| T8 | Jim Gavaghan, Torresdale-Frankford CC | 37 | 40 | 77 |
| T8 | John Brennan, Spring Ford CC | 36 | 41 | 77 |
| T8 | Thomas Finn, Penn Oaks GC | 39 | 38 | 77 |
| 14 | Brian Owens, Gulph Mills GC | 40 | 38 | 78 |
| T15 | Shane Gunning, Silver Creek CC | 37 | 42 | 79 |
| T15 | Tony Lepre, Galloway National GC | 41 | 38 | 79 |
| T17 | David West, Whitford CC | 42 | 38 | 80 |
| T17 | John Robinson, Commonwealth National GC | 41 | 39 | 80 |
| T19 | Billy McCrossan, The Springhaven Club | 40 | 41 | 81 |
| T19 | Patrick O’Brien, North Hills CC | 42 | 39 | 81 |
| T19 | Robert Gill, Fox Hill CC | 42 | 39 | 81 |
| T19 | Santo Lafoca, Huntsville GC | 38 | 43 | 81 |
| T23 | Brandon Detweiler, Lancaster CC | 45 | 37 | 82 |
| T23 | Leonard Barber, Greenacres CC | 43 | 39 | 82 |
| T23 | Ralph Cetrulo, III, Brandywine CC | 41 | 41 | 82 |
| T26 | Peter Mimmo, Melrose CC | 40 | 43 | 83 |
| T26 | Tom Piersanti, Radley Run CC | 39 | 44 | 83 |
| 28 | Bill Murray, Merchantville CC | 39 | 45 | 84 |
| T29 | Chris Wallin, Indian Valley CC | 44 | 41 | 85 |
| T29 | Thomas Oxenfeld, Coatesville CC | 46 | 39 | 85 |
| 31 | Richard Bunn, Sr., McCall G&CC | 43 | 44 | 87 |
| 32 | Tom Mastroni, Sandy Run CC | 45 | 43 | 88 |
| T33 | Jody Campbell, Links GC | 44 | 45 | 89 |
| T33 | Scott Shore, Aronimink GC | 43 | 46 | 89 |
| 35 | Mike Carney, Ashbourne CC | 46 | 44 | 90 |
| T36 | Brian Dix, Deerwood CC | 48 | 43 | 91 |
| T36 | Kenneth Goodman, Bucks County CC | 43 | 48 | 91 |
| 38 | Richard Mennies, French Creek GC | 45 | 47 | 92 |
| T39 | Jack Glacken, Bala GC | 47 | 47 | 94 |
| T39 | Robert McFalls, Hersheys Mill GC | 44 | 50 | 94 |
| T41 | Jesse Soslow, Radnor Valley CC | WD | WD | WD |
| T41 | Mark Rubincam, GC at Glen Mills | WD | WD | WD |
| T41 | William Fasy, Inniscrone GC | WD | WD | WD |
| Senior Division | ||||
| 1 | James Sherratt, Old York Road CC | 37 | 36 | 73 |
| 2 | Neil McDermott, Llanerch CC | 37 | 38 | 75 |
| 3 | John Rowe, Whitemarsh Valley CC | 40 | 37 | 77 |
| T4 | Chuck Willkins, Little Mill CC | 38 | 40 | 78 |
| T4 | William Lawler, Fox Hill CC | 42 | 36 | 78 |
| 6 | Edward Pappas, Rolling Green GC | 41 | 38 | 79 |
| T7 | Clifford Kenneck, Radley Run CC | 44 | 36 | 80 |
| T7 | David Scott, Silver Creek CC | 41 | 39 | 80 |
| T7 | Don Neill, Talamore at Oak Terrace CC | 41 | 39 | 80 |
| T7 | Jack Holland, Whitford CC | 43 | 37 | 80 |
| T11 | John Foore, Brookside CC | 40 | 41 | 81 |
| T11 | Robert Harris, Blue Bell CC | 40 | 41 | 81 |
| T13 | Ken Gaskill, Philadelphia Publinks | 42 | 40 | 82 |
| T13 | Richard Smith, Philadelphia CC | 43 | 39 | 82 |
| T13 | Tim Moore, Brandywine CC | 43 | 39 | 82 |
| T16 | Larry Paster, Philmont CC | 42 | 41 | 83 |
| T16 | Robert Freudenheim, Radnor Valley CC | 40 | 43 | 83 |
| T18 | Jack Modzelewski, Hopewell Valley GC | 43 | 42 | 85 |
| T18 | Richard Bourassa, McCall G&CC | 42 | 43 | 85 |
| T18 | Steve Smith, Links GC | 45 | 40 | 85 |
| T21 | Ben Sack, Edgmont CC | 43 | 43 | 86 |
| T21 | Philip Dodd, Hersheys Mill GC | 41 | 45 | 86 |
| T23 | J. Thomas Rush, Riverton CC | 43 | 44 | 87 |
| T23 | J. Wendell Outhous, St. Davids GC | 43 | 44 | 87 |
| T23 | John Sperone, Downingtown CC | 46 | 41 | 87 |
| T26 | Dominic Marziani, Torresdale-Frankford CC | 45 | 44 | 89 |
| T26 | Murray Felzer, White Manor CC | 46 | 43 | 89 |
| T28 | George Becker, Jr., Doylestown CC | 47 | 44 | 91 |
| T28 | Hal Ruff, Moorestown Field Club | 48 | 43 | 91 |
| T28 | John Owens, Hidden Creek GC | 44 | 47 | 91 |
| T28 | Terrence Beck, Berkleigh CC | 45 | 46 | 91 |
| 32 | Herbert Gordon, Doylestown CC | 47 | 45 | 92 |
| 33 | Vernon Kelly, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club | 44 | 49 | 93 |
| 34 | Albert Andreola, Merchantville CC | 43 | 51 | 94 |
| 35 | John Minchin, McCall G&CC | WD | WD | WD |
| WD-withdrawal |
