Overbrook’s Mestre, Thompson light up Senior Four-Ball Stroke Play

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — Need an ideal example of the meaning of “team”? Look no further than Overbrook Golf Club members Oscar Mestre and Raymond Thompson. They are virtually a living definition at this point, with a plethora of trophies to prove it.

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  Mestre and Thompson won 13 Golf Association of Philadelphia Team Championships together, pairing up in most of those title runs between 1981 and their latest in 2012. They added to their team, and Overbrook’s, trophy cabinets again on Thursday.

  Despite a lightning delay that lasted almost two hours, including a strike that landed within feet of the scoring area, the pair prevailed for their first title in the event, firing a 7-under 64 to top a field of 49 Senior teams at Laurel Creek Country Club (par 71, 6,449 yards).

  “We know each other’s game. Our chemistry is great out there,” said Mestre, 57, of Berwyn, Pa. “In the Team Championships, we would usually partner up. We’ve got experience together, definitely.”

  Nine birdies on the card ended up being the deciding factor for Mestre and Thompson, who finished third in last year’s championship at LedgeRock Golf Club.

  “I did the best driving I’ve ever done. I drove the cart really well today,” said Mestre, the Secretary of the GAP Executive Committee. “Ray just really had it going today. There were other players out there that were trying to steal him from me [as a partner].”

  Thompson jarred seven birdies overall. His five red numbers on the front – on Nos. 1 (par 4, 490 yards), 4 (par 4, 391 yards), 5 (par 5, 489 yards), 6 (par 4, 420 yards) and 9 (par 5, 526 yards) – gave his team an impressive 5-under total heading to Laurel Creek’s second side.

  “Most of those birdies, they weren’t close looks. I definitely made some longer putts today to get them. I was rolling the ball well,” said Thompson, 65, of Drexel Hill, Pa.

  Thompson says his birdie on No. 5 stood out, mostly because of a “really good hybrid approach” after a perfect drive lead to a 25-foot two putt for the 4.   However, the GAP Senior stalwart did it all alone. Mestre rolled in two birdies of his own, first on No. 8 (par 4, 316 yards), where his lob-wedge approach led to a 15-foot conversion, followed by “the shortest birdie putt of the day” on No. 17 (par 3, 197 yards).

  The back nine hosted less birdies but more drama. Play was suspended at 5:25 p.m. when Mestre and Thompson were on the 18th (par 4, 407 yards), teeing up as the horn sounded.   “We were ready to go, tees in the ground. We were ready to sprint up that last hole,” said Mestre.

  “When we came in here with the guys during the delay, they were really getting on us, saying ‘They’re going to cancel this, guys. You guys are going to have to play 18 all over again.’,” said Thompson.

  The golf gods cooperated, allowing the eventual champs enough time to complete their round, which bettered last year’s champions Glenn Smeraglio of Lu Lu Country Club and Thomas Bartolacci, Jr. of Huntingdon Valley Country Club by four strokes.

  “I’m glad we got it done today,” said Mestre. “I didn’t have any birdies left in me [if we had to come back tomorrow], but I know Ray did.”

Super-Senior Division
They’ve done it again. Three times, to be exact.

  White Manor Country Club’s Don Donatoni, the reigning four-time Super-Senior Player of the Year, and good friend Carl Everett of Merion Golf Club claimed their third straight title in the Super-Senior Division.

  The formidable duo fired a 6-under 65 to win the title from tees playing 5,963 yards. They bettered a field by three strokes that hosted 29 total Super-Senior teams.

  It took a minute for the realization that they had won three consecutive trophies sink in. Everett asked Donatoni after the round, “Is it really three in a row? Wow.”

  “We don’t have to communicate a lot out there. It’s like we know what’s going on in each other’s mind,” said Donatoni, 69, of Malvern, Pa. “It’s get up, hit it, go find it and put it in the hole, and it’s just worked out for us lately.”

  Fresh coming off qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur this week at LedgeRock Golf Club, Donatoni was still feeling it Thursday.

  Donatoni drained three birdies on the front, on Nos. 3 (par 3, 132 yards) , 5 (par 5, 446 yards) and 9 (par 5 495 yards), while Everett drilled a 25-foot putt from the front fringe to   card a red number on No. 8 (par 4, 305 yards). Two more birdies fell on the back nine to get them to -6.

  Unlike the Senior champions, Donatoni and Everett were a little more pessimistic about the rain delay. Donatoni wouldn’t have been around for a Friday restart, as his son, A.J. is set to be married this weekend.

  “I was concerned because I knew how well Don had played today, and I couldn’t bare thinking that he wouldn’t be able to come back and finish it off,” said Everett, 70, of Harleysville, Pa. “I’m thrilled we were able to get this in.”

Golf Association of Philadelphia
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 151 Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.