Overbrook’s Ray Thompson leads 41st Senior Amateur at 3-under 69 - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Sep 27, 2011

Overbrook’s Ray Thompson leads 41st Senior Amateur at 3-under 69

EXTON, Pa.–Raymond Thompson’s playing calendar didn’t originally include the 41st Senior Amateur Championship. The scheduled dates (Sept. 6-7) abutted the U.S. Senior Amateur and Thompson was focused on the National Championship. However, when torrential rains forced the GAP Senior to move to this week, Thompson fit the organization’s prestigious elder Championship onto his docket.

  Thompson, the 2007 GAP Senior Amateur victor, not surprisingly, made the most of the date change. He carded a smooth 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday at Whitford Country Club (par 72, 6,549 yards) to lead the Senior Division by a three shots. Chip Lutz of LedgeRock GC stands alone in second at even-par 72.

How good was Thompson’s play? Soft conditions and thick rough put the field’s scoring average at 80.3 strokes.

  “The U.S. Senior is a hard thing to get to so I thought I would take my chances and gear up for that,” said the 59-year-old Thompson. “I figured I would have had another chance to play in [the GAP Senior], hopefully.”

  Thompson’s opportunity may have been newfound, but his game was very vintage.

  The 2007 Senior Player of the Year birdied No. 1 (par 4, 375 yards) with an 8-iron from 147 yards to 10 feet before falling back to even after missing a short par putt on No. 3 (par 4, 416 yards). Thompson responded to the aforementioned bogey with consecutive birdie putts to move into red figures for good. He drained a 15 footer on No. 5 (par 3, 135 yards) after his wedge found the putting surface and did the same on No. 6 (par 4, 398 yards) when he knocked an 8-iron from 150 yards to 15 feet. He turned out in 2-under par.

  “I was feeling good. It’s always nice to get the first nine under your belt,” said Thompson.

  He moved to 3 under with a spectacular greenside bunker blast to 2½ feet on No. 12 (par 5, 496 yards) but gave that stroke back two holes later with a three putt bogey on No. 14 (par 4, 362 yards). Thompson extended that advantage on the next two holes when he hit a short wedge shot for his third shot to a foot on No. 16 (par 5, 530 yards) and dropped a 5-iron to 10 feet and made birdie on No. 17 (par 3, 182 yards). Thompson dropped a shot on No. 18 (par 4, 376 yards), “his nemesis of a hole,” when his tee ball hit the right side trees.

  And on tomorrow?

  “I’m just trying to freewheel it,” said Thompson of Drexel Hill, Pa. “If I shoot 80, I shoot 80. I’m not going to worry about it. I’m going to have fun. I’m tired of grinding it out. This game is supposed to be fun.”

  Defending champion Chris Lange, also of Overbrook GC, shot a 3-over 75.

  The Senior Amateur also serves as the final two rounds of the Senior Silver Cross. Thompson, who entered the day a shot back, leads Michael Quinn of Edgemont Country Club by four shots.

Super-Senior Division
  It’s been a slow road back to normalcy for John Rowe of Whitemarsh Valley CC. He was treated for prostate cancer eight months ago and has slowly battled to gain his strength back ever since. A fine first-round score of 1-over 73 proves Rowe is doing more than just OK. He leads the Super-Senior Division by two strokes over perennial leaderboard occupant Charles McClaskey of Back Creek Golf Club.

  “I could have scored better but I’m happy with my score,” said Rowe, 65, of Philadelphia, Pa. “I’m just coming back to my strength.”

  Rowe opened his round with five straight pars but registered bogeys on Nos.15 and 16 to make the turn at 2-over and looking for some traction. He found it immediately on the frontside with three consecutive birdies.

  He lofted a gap wedge on No. 1 (par 4, 353 yards) to 10 feet; rocketed a 4-iron on No. 2 (par 3, 172 yards) to five feet and then smacked a fantastic 6-iron on No. 3 (par 4, 386 yards) to two feet. A couple of missed greens in regulation resulted in bogeys on No. 4 (par 5, 470 yards) and No. 7 (par 4, 365 yards).

  “I will do the best I can and hopefully continue to make some putts tomorrow,” said Rowe.

  The Senior Amateur also serves as the final two rounds of the Super-Senior Silver Cross. McClaskey holds a commanding double-digit lead.

Overall
Name, club Score
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club 69
Chip Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club 72
Francis McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club 73
Wally Swiger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 73
Gary Daniels, Aronimink Golf Club 74
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club 74
Christopher Lange, Overbrook Golf Club 75
Charles Jones, Blue Bell Country Club 75
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club 75
William Lawler, Fox Hill Country Club 75
Jim Macallister, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club 76
Michael Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club 76
Wayne Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club 76
Andy Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club 76
Tom DiCinti, Links Golf Club 76
Allen Padovano, Yardley Country Club 77
Anthony Kondracki, Fox Hill Country Club 77
Bennett Meyer, Philmont Country Club 77
Christopher Clauson, Downingtown Country Club 77
John Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club 77
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club 77
Bob Majczan, Lookaway Golf Club 78
Robert Wagner, Merion Golf Club 78
Tom Borsello, White Clay Creek Country Club 78
Alan Van Horn, Sandy Run Country Club 78
Richard Krauss, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club 78
Robert Ockenfuss, Indian Valley Country Club 78
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club 79
Jim Tutelman, Green Valley Country Club 79
Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club 79
Michael Harms, Philadelphia Publinks GA 79
Roc Irey, Lookaway Golf Club 79
Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club 79
Thomas Greenwood, Old York CC at Chesterfield 79
Tim Simmons, Limekiln Golf Club 79
Michael Dougherty, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 79
Michael Rose, Meadowlands Country Club 79
Rick Bunn, McCall Golf & Country Club 79
Brian Sexton, Seaview Resort & Spa 80
Dan Farragut, Philadelphia Cricket Club 80
Kevin McGrain, Mercer Oaks Golf Course 80
Michael Berger, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club 80
Mike Owsik, Philadelphia Publinks GA 80
David Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 80
Don Donatoni, White Manor Country Club 80
Arthur Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club 81
Drew Panebianco, Talamore Country Club 81
Charles McDowell, Wilmington Country Club 81
Patrick Renshaw, Medford Village Country Club 81
David Cimino, Middletown Country Club 82
Joseph Major, Brookside Country Club 82
James Goldstein, Commonwealth National Golf Club 82
Robert Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club 82
Thomas Mallouk, Ph.D., Lookaway Golf Club 82
Brian Nelson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 83
Mark Quigley, Lu Lu Country Club 83
Paul Cornely, Philadelphia Publinks GA 83
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club 83
Mark Leaman, Honeybrook Golf Club 84
Rick Gaydos, Sakima Country Club 84
Michael Nilon, Philadelphia Country Club 84
Archie Struthers, Greate Bay Country Club 85
Dave O’Brien, Cedarbrook Country Club 85
George Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club 85
George Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 85
Joe Culley, The Springhaven Club 85
Mike Miklinevich, Greate Bay Country Club 85
Pete Widdoes, Loch Nairn Golf Club 85
Terry Law, Yardley Country Club 85
Dave Jacobson, JC Melrose Country Club 86
Jon Mabry, Moorestown Field Club 86
Matthew Bellis, Commonwealth National Golf Club 86
Frank Petrecco, Yardley Country Club 87
Steve Wells, Moorestown Field Club 90
Jon Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club 92
Thomas Mairone, Philadelphia Publinks GA 93
Joseph Dollinger, Lu Lu Country Club 95
Jack O’Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club NS
Rob Cook, DuPont Country Club NS
Laurence Hirsh, Philadelphia Cricket Club WD
Ages 55-59
Name, club Score
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club 69
Chip Lutz, LedgeRock Golf Club 72
Gary Daniels, Aronimink Golf Club 74
Christopher Lange, Overbrook Golf Club 75
Jim Macallister, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club 76
Michael Moser, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club 76
Wayne Bartolacci, Jericho National Golf Club 76
Allen Padovano, Yardley Country Club 77
Anthony Kondracki, Fox Hill Country Club 77
Bennett Meyer, Philmont Country Club 77
Christopher Clauson, Downingtown Country Club 77
John Gonsior, Limekiln Golf Club 77
Bob Majczan, Lookaway Golf Club 78
Robert Wagner, Merion Golf Club 78
Tom Borsello, White Clay Creek Country Club 78
Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds Golf Club 79
Jim Tutelman, Green Valley Country Club 79
Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club 79
Michael Harms, Philadelphia Publinks GA 79
Roc Irey, Lookaway Golf Club 79
Scott Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club 79
Thomas Greenwood, Old York CC at Chesterfield 79
Tim Simmons, Limekiln Golf Club 79
Brian Sexton, Seaview Resort & Spa 80
Dan Farragut, Philadelphia Cricket Club 80
Kevin McGrain, Mercer Oaks Golf Course 80
Michael Berger, Kennett Square Golf & Country Club 80
Mike Owsik, Philadelphia Publinks GA 80
Arthur Kania, Jr., Merion Golf Club 81
Drew Panebianco, Talamore Country Club 81
David Cimino, Middletown Country Club 82
Joseph Major, Brookside Country Club 82
Brian Nelson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 83
Mark Quigley, Lu Lu Country Club 83
Paul Cornely, Philadelphia Publinks GA 83
Mark Leaman, Honeybrook Golf Club 84
Rick Gaydos, Sakima Country Club 84
Archie Struthers, Greate Bay Country Club 85
Dave O’Brien, Cedarbrook Country Club 85
George Carr, Philadelphia Cricket Club 85
George Henninger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 85
Joe Culley, The Springhaven Club 85
Mike Miklinevich, Greate Bay Country Club 85
Pete Widdoes, Loch Nairn Golf Club 85
Steve Wells, Moorestown Field Club 90
Jon Stein, McCall Golf & Country Club 92
Joseph Dollinger, Lu Lu Country Club 95
Jack O’Hara, Cedarbrook Country Club NS
Rob Cook, DuPont Country Club NS
Laurence Hirsh, Philadelphia Cricket Club WD
Ages 60 and over
Name, club Score
Francis McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club 73
Wally Swiger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 73
Michael Quinn, Edgmont Country Club 74
Charles Jones, Blue Bell Country Club 75
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club 75
William Lawler, Fox Hill Country Club 75
Andy Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club 76
Tom DiCinti, Links Golf Club 76
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club 77
Alan Van Horn, Sandy Run Country Club 78
Richard Krauss, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club 78
Robert Ockenfuss, Indian Valley Country Club 78
Michael Dougherty, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 79
Michael Rose, Meadowlands Country Club 79
Rick Bunn, McCall Golf & Country Club 79
David Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club 80
Don Donatoni, White Manor Country Club 80
Charles McDowell, Wilmington Country Club 81
Patrick Renshaw, Medford Village Country Club 81
James Goldstein, Commonwealth National Golf Club 82
Robert Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club 82
Thomas Mallouk, Ph.D., Lookaway Golf Club 82
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club 83
Michael Nilon, Philadelphia Country Club 84
Terry Law, Yardley Country Club 85
Dave Jacobson, JC Melrose Country Club 86
Jon Mabry, Moorestown Field Club 86
Matthew Bellis, Commonwealth National Golf Club 86
Frank Petrecco, Yardley Country Club 87
Thomas Mairone, Philadelphia Publinks GA 93
Super Senior
Name, club Score
John Rowe, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club 73
Charles McClaskey, Back Creek Golf Club 75
James Robertson, Saucon Valley Country Club 76
Richard Smith, Philadelphia Country Club 78
Bill Weinfeld, JC Melrose Country Club 79
O. Gordon Brewer, Jr., Pine Valley Golf Club 79
Terry Fair, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve 80
Gregory Gaul, Merion Golf Club 81
David Jordan, Sakima Country Club 82
Jay Howson, Jr., St. Davids Golf Club 82
Ken Gaskill, Rancocas Golf Club 82
Michael Civitello, Chester Valley Golf Club 83
Clay Hamlin, III, Merion Golf Club 84
Herbert Gordon, Doylestown Country Club 84
John Snyder, Waynesborough Country Club 84
Joseph McLane, JC Melrose Country Club 84
Thomas O’Rourke, Chester Valley Golf Club 84
Curt Fromal, The Springhaven Club 85
Ronald Brunner, Overbrook Golf Club 85
Bob Huffman, Middletown Country Club 86
John Owens, M.D., Tavistock Country Club 86
Michael Sofranko, Loch Nairn Golf Club 86
John Siegrist, Philadelphia Publinks GA 87
Frank Kunze, Spring Ford Country Club 88
Warren Deakins, Philadelphia Country Club 88
John Paul, Philadelphia Publinks GA 89
Joseph Virdone, Philadelphia Country Club 89
Joseph Maxwell, Hartefeld National 93
Robert Bower, Merion Golf Club DQ
Louis Degennaro, Country Club of Scranton NS
George McLaughlin, Commonwealth National Golf Club WD
James Haynie, Lu Lu Country Club WD
DQ-disqualification; NS-no show; WD-withdrawal

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