Philadelphia Challenge Matches set for Saucon’s Grace
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Coming off a win in 2023, the GAP team looks to keep the momentum going in the 32nd Philadelphia Challenge Matches.
The annual Philadelphia Challenge Matches returns to Saucon Valley Country Club Tuesday, as the honorary team event tees off Oct. 15 on the glamorous Grace course.
The Matches pits two 12-man teams, including two senior contestants (55 years or older), from GAP and the Philadelphia Section of the PGA in concurrent individual and four-ball matches. Each match is worth one point. Ties are halved.
In the 2023 edition at Saucon Valley, GAP reclaimed the trophy by a score of 10.5-7.5. The Section currently leads the all-time series, 22–5 with four ties.
Robin McCool, a driving force and founder of the event, will lead Team GAP as honorary captain at his home club.
Take a look at Team GAP:
Michael R. Brown, Jr., LuLu Country Club
- 10th appearance (2008-11, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021-22)
- T4: 122nd Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- Quarterfinalist: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T4: Silver Cross
- T3: PAGA George Dressler Memorial
- T3: NJSGA Mid-Amateur
Andy Butler, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
- Second appearance (2023)
- Round of 16: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- Qualified: U.S. Mid-Amateur
- T6: Silver Cross
- T16: 122nd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- T16: 41st Middle-Amateur presented by NJM Insurance
Chris Fieger, Sr., Heidelberg Country Club
- First appearance
- Won: 54th Senior Amateur
- Won: Senior Silver Cross
- Qualified: U.S. Senior Amateur
- Second: PAGA Senior Match Play
- T2: PAGA Senior Amateur
Jeff Frazier, Carlisle Country Club
- Fourth appearance (2021-23)
- T2: 54th Senior Amateur
- Won: Senior Silver Cross
- Won: 90th Francis B. Warner Cup
- Won: 19th Frank H. Chapman Memorial
- T33: U.S. Senior Amateur
- Won: PAGA Senior Amateur
- Quarterfinalist: 17th Brewer Cup
- T2: PAGA Senior Open
- T16: 41st Middle-Amateur presented by NJM Insurance
Aaron Fricke, LuLu Country Club
- Second appearance (2014)
- Finalist: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- Qualified: U.S. Mid-Amateur
Jake Haberstumpf, Saucon Valley Country Club
- First appearance
- Semifinalist: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T4: 73rd Delaware Amateur
Billy Howard, Applebrook Golf Club
- First appearance
- T4: 120th Open Championship
John Lalley, Llanerch Country Club
- First appearance
- Round of 16: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T5: 41st Middle-Amateur by NJM Insurance
- Qualified: U.S. Mid-Amateur
Mark Miller, Philadelphia Cricket Club
- Third appearance (2007, 2009)
- Semifinalist: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T6: Silver Cross
Jon Rusk, LuLu Country Club
- First appearance
- Won: 120th Open Championship
- T2: 41st Middle-Amateur presented by NJM Insurance
- Second: PAGA Amateur
- Round of 32: 124th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T11: 122nd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- T9: Silver Cross
- Qualified: U.S. Senior Amateur
Ryan Tall, LuLu Country Club
- First appearance
- T4: 120th Open Championship
- 10th: 122nd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club
- Fifth appearance (2018, 2021-23)
- Won: 122nd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- T4: NJSGA Open
- T12: 120th Open Championship
- T6: NJSGA Amateur
- T5: NJSGA Mid-Amateur
- T16: 41st Middle-Amateur presented by NJM Insurance
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 345 Member Clubs and 110,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
