Overbrook makes it 3 straight Philadelphia Team titles

 BRYN MAWR, Pa.–Overbrook Golf Club defended both its home course and Philadelphia Team Championship title on Monday.

  Behind a string of dominant singles performances, Overbrook cruised to its third straight Team Championship and record 17th overall. Overbrook (28.5 points) defeated rivals Commonwealth National Golf Club (14.5); Philadelphia Cricket Club (17) and Tavistock Country Club (12).

  Overbrook holds 15 solo Team titles — three clear of Huntingdon Valley Country Club – and two shared crowns: with Atlantic City Country Club in 1989 and Yardley Country Club in 1996.

  “When we got in the queue four years ago to host this event, we wondered if we would still be able to compete health and ability-wise when the date of 2012 finally came around,” said Overbrook captain Oscar Mestre. “Fast forwarding to today, it appears that the veterans age and experience wise still can play and our youth are more than ready to be the new leaders. But honestly, three or four years ago, and as recently as the qualifier a month ago, there were no guarantees that we would even qualify for the final we were to host.”

  Of Overbrook’s eight-man team, five are 50 years of age or older. Mestre is the youngest of that group at age 52; Chris Lange is next at 57 followed by Ray Thompson at 60. Frank McFadden is 62 years old and Andy Thompson is the veteran of the group at 63. The three youngsters are: Chris Lange, Jr. at 28 with James Kania, Jr. at 23 and the youngest being Michael Kania at age 21.

  Overbrook’s lead after the morning foursomes session by just a point.

  “After the morning, I was nervous,” said Mestre. “I knew we were presented an opportunity we didn’t want to blow. When it was over last night, I was physically and emotionally exhausted.”