Philadelphia Challenge Matches set for Lehigh
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Coming off a loss in 2024, the GAP team looks to get back on track in the 33rd Philadelphia Challenge Matches.
The annual Philadelphia Challenge Matches will head to Lehigh Country Club Wednesday, as the honorary team event tees off Oct. 8. It will take a year off from its usual location at Saucon Valley Country Club’s Grace Course.
The Matches pits two 12-man teams, including two senior contestants (55 years or older), from GAP and the Philadelphia PGA Section in concurrent individual and four-ball matches. Each match is worth one point. Ties are halved.
In the 2024 edition at Saucon Valley, GAP reclaimed the trophy by a score of 12.5-5.5. The Section currently leads the all-time series, 23–5 with four ties.
Robin McCool, a driving force and founder of the event, will lead Team GAP as honorary captain.
Take a look at Team GAP:
Charlie Barrickman, Radley Run Country Club
- First appearance
- T3: 121st Open Championship
- 14th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Steve Cerbara, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
- First Appearance
- 2nd: 42nd Middle-Amateur Championship
- Co-medalist: U.S. Open Local Qualifying
- 14th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Zak Drescher, Bent Creek Country Club
- First appearance
- T5: 123rd Joseph H. Patterson Cup Presented by Provident Bank
- T3: Silver Cross Award
- T6: 42nd Middle-Amateur Presented by NJM Insurance
- Round of 32: 125th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- 6th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Jeff Frazier, Carlisle Country Club
- Fifth appearance (2021-24)
- Won: 55th Senior Amateur
- Won: 18th Brewer Cup
- Won: Senior Silver Cross
- T3: 91st Francis B. Warner Cup
- 12th: 42nd Middle-Amateur presented by NJM Insurance
- 2nd: PAGA Senior Amateur
- Currently leads the Senior Player of the Year Standings
Chris Fieger, Sr., Heidelberg Country Club
- Second appearance (2024)
- T3: 55th Senior Amateur
- Round of 64: U.S. Senior Amateur
- Second: 91st Francis B. Warner Cup
- Currently third in the Senior Player of the Year Standings
Jack Irons, Medford Lakes Country Club
- Third appearance (2021, 2023)
- T11: 123rd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- Fifth: Silver Cross Award
- Round of 32: 125th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T5: 74th Delaware Amateur
- 14th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Patrick Isztwan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club
- First appearance
- Finalist: 125th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T15: 121st Open Championship
- Round of 16: PAGA R. Jay Sigel Match Play
- 7th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Scott Kalamar, Green Pond Country Club
- First appearance
- Fourth: 42nd Middle-Amateur by NJM Insurance
- Qualified: U.S. Open Final Qualifying
- T5: PAGA Dressler Memorial
- T19: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Mark Miller, Philadelphia Cricket Club
- Fourth appearance (2007, 2009, 2024)
- Round of 16: 125th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T9: 121st Open Championship
- Semifinalist: PAGA R. Jay Sigel Match Play
- 15th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Drue Nicholas, Galloway National Golf Club
- First appearance
- Won: 125th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- Won: 121st Open Championship
- Runner-up: 123rd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- Second: Silver Cross Award
- Qualified: U.S. Amateur
- Currently leads William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Joe Tigani, Fieldstone Golf Club
- First appearance
- Quarterfinalist: 125th BMW Philadelphia Amateur
- T9: 121st Open Championship
- 16th: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill Country Club
- Fifth appearance (2018, 2021-24)
- Won: 42nd Middle-Amateur presented by NJM Insurance
- T5: 123rd Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank
- 2nd: New Jersey Golf Amateur
- Qualified: U.S. Mid-Amateur
- Qualified: U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying
- Sixth: Silver Cross Award
- T7: New Jersey Golf Open
- T9: New Jersey Golf Middle-Amateur
- 3rd: William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Standings
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 130,000 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.
