PVGC’s Osberg earns top seed in 119th #BMWPhillyAm

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When it comes to contending in GAP Majors, Jeff Osberg seems to always be near the top.

On Tuesday at Stonewall in the 119^th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship Qualifier, the dependable Osberg secured medalist honors with a 36-hole total of 138 (2-under par). He posted a pair of 69s on a day in which scoring was a challenge with steady winds throughout the morning and early afternoon – first on the North Course (par 70, 6,679 yards) and then the Old Course (par 70, 6,620 yards).

He was the lone player under par. Osberg is the top seed in the 32-player match play bracket.

The cut line fell at 10-over-par 150 with a six-for-two playoff.  Will Mirams of Shawnee Country Club and Carey Bina of Radnor Valley Country Club advanced as the No. 31 and No. 32 seeds, respectively.

Osberg, the 2014 BMW Philadelphia Amateur Champion, faces Bina at 7:30 a.m. on No. 1.

Zachary Barbin of Loch Nairn Golf Club and Andrew Cornish of RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve tied for second in qualifying. The two posted 1-over 141 totals. By way of a blind draw, Cornish is the No. 2 seed; Barbin is the No. 3 seed.

“It’s a long day. I kept the ball in front on me. I was definitely happy with how I finished,” said Osberg, 34 of Bryn Mawr, Pa., who also took Amateur medalist honors in 2015. “Being medalist is great but there’s still a very long week ahead. On a day like today with the 36 holes, experience really helps. Just staying patient. It’s a lot of golf. Not getting too down on yourself when something doesn’t go right. And not getting too high on yourself when it’s going well. An even keel is important.”

Osberg and his typical subdued demeanor registered a total of 11 birdies, seven bogeys and a double bogey in 36 holes. He birdied five of the six par 5s.

This was Osberg’s first competitive round at either of Stonewall’s courses. However, he is not without some local knowledge. Close to his childhood home in Chester Springs, Pa., Osberg caddied at Stonewall as a teenager. He also has played recreationally at the club from time-to-time.

“[The golf course] really requires you to think. The greens are small and extremely undulated. It fits somebody that hits it straight off the tee but also has a lot of control with their irons. That really fits the strength of my game,” said Osberg.

Osberg, out of Pine Valley Golf Club, has found great success in recent years. He’s won every GAP Major as well as two William Hyndman, III Player of the Year awards (2015-16). Last month, he held the lead in the Middle-Amateur Championship at Rolling Green Golf Club with nine holes to go. A victory would have completed the career Grand Slam (Amateur, Open Championship, Patterson Cup.)

Instead, he watched Will Davenport of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club swoop by for the win.

“I played 27 holes pretty much flawless,” said Osberg. “In the [final] nine I hit two bad shots and had five three-putts. But I played fantastic at Rolling Green. I kind of let it slip away with a bad putter but that happens. I didn’t really think too much after it. I really had a ton of confidence coming in here. I had a ton of confidence the day after.”

Barbin, 20, of Elkton, Md., is a rising junior at Liberty University. He helped his team qualify for the NCAA Division Golf Championships, where it finished tied for 20^th. This is Barbin’s second Amateur Championship and first time advancing to match play.

Cornish, 20, of Pottstown, Pa., is a rising senior at Penn State Berks. This is Cornish’s first Amateur appearance.

As always, both the public and media are welcome to attend.

Aside from offering live scoring on its website, GAP will provide BMW Philadelphia Amateur updates via its social media outlets. Follow @GAofPhilly on Twitter and Instagram. Watch live broadcasts via Periscope.

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 274 Full Member Clubs and 75,000 individual members are spread across the Eastern half of Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.