Running Deer duo Ayars, Kerestesy battles to Four-Ball title - The Golf Association of Philadelphia

Aug 27, 2018

Running Deer duo Ayars, Kerestesy battles to Four-Ball title

Aug. 27, 2018

SKILLMAN, N.J. — Five teams fighting in a sudden-death playoff, featuring furnacing playing temperatures, for the Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship title.

Scorecards | History |

  That’s how it all played out Monday at a searing Cherry Valley Country Club (par 72, 6,287 yards). For a single team out of a packed field of 61, the enduring day was all worth it.

  Running Deer Golf Club’s Dan Ayars jarred a seven-foot birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 330 yards), the fifth playoff hole, to emerge victorious alongside clubmate Andy Kerestesy in the 47th Four-Ball rendition, a better-ball of partners event.

  “Boy, that was fun,” said Ayars walking off the winning green. “But now we need to go home.”

  The challenging day hosted a multitude of fantastic rounds posted in both the morning and afternoon waves.

  The first Four-Ball group out, Little Mill Country Club’s Vince Kwon and Bradley Roberts, posted an impressive 10-under 62 to grab the morning clubhouse lead. That mark wouldn’t, by any means, go unmatched in the second wave. First came Concord Country Club’s Jim Allen and Larry Benedetto, followed by the team of Yardley Country Club’s John Buliga and Coatesville Country Club’s David Kimbley, and eventually Lebanon Country Club’s John Digiacomo and Alan Kliewer.

  Ayars and Kerestesy were the final of five 10 unders to make their way in to the huddled scoring table. The champion’s 18 was a bit of a roller coaster ride, including peak moments (three eagles, six birdies) and lows (two bogeys).

  “[Andy] played incredible out there today. I played well, too. The course and flagsticks really seemed to just fit our eye and games,” said Ayars. “Those eagles were the key, though.”

  “Those really got us going. They kickstarted us,” said Kerestesy, 36, of Vineland, N.J. “We knew after the two back-to-back eagles on Nos. 9 (par 5, 515 yards) and 10 (par 5, 485 yards) that we had a legit chance of winning this.”

  The up-and-down round ended on Cherry Valley’s finisher (par 4, 380 yards), where the duo had a chance to win in regulation. Kerestesy rolled a tremendous birdie putt from 25 feet out, but the ball snuck around the back lip instead of dropping.

  “I really thought that one was in the bottom of the cup,” he said.

  Soon after, a five-team playoff began on No. 1 amidst the setting sun. Five approach shots landed within 12 feet there. Only two of those birdies looks went down: a three-footer by Ayars and five-footer by Roberts. The playoff was cut to just two dueling duos.

  On the par-3, 185-yard 2nd, Kerestesy found tree trouble right but played a beautiful chip that rolled to three feet. Kwon, finding the green right, rolled a 40-foot birdie putt to the same distance. Both players missed the short looks, shaking their heads in disbelief.

  Next came No. 3 (par 5, 488 yards), where Kerestesy’s two-putt 4 was matched by a 30-foot birdie bomb by Ayars. More missed opportunities arrived on No. 4 (par 4, 375 yards), with two-putt pars being recorded for both teams. The playoff headed back to where it all began.

  All four players enlisted their drivers off the tee, leaving minimal, wedge approach shots in. Ayars found himself with a tough lie on the right downslope, but tossed a wedge onto the front of the putting surface, letting it roll out to seven feet. After both Little Mill looks failed to drop, the stage was set. Ayars stepped up and drained his third birdie on No. 1, this time for the win.

  “I had two tap-in birdies there, and then that seven footer to clinch it. I loved that hole, obviously,” said Ayars, 41, of Millville, N.J. “I was really nervous on the first tee at the beginning, teeing off in front of all those guys, but I played it so well.”

  The former PGA apprentice was playing in his first competitive amateur tournament since regaining his status a month ago. It was a big return to the amateur game, and one that will keep him coming back for more.

  “I was in the PGA program when I was younger, but then stepped away from the game. I still played casually, but when I joined Running Deer three years ago, I started to want to play again,” said Ayars. “There’s so much talent at the club now, plus it’s close to my house. We’ve got some good players there. I’m just happy to have my status back so I can play in these events.”

  Kerestesy says bringing home a title to Running Deer is what he is most excited about.

   “We’re thrilled to have gotten a trophy, especially after how tough of a day it was. It was a battle,” said Kerestesy. “It’s going to be really fun to bring home a trophy to the club and the guys.”

  “Seriously, my phones already buzzing in my pocket,” said Ayars.

  NOTE: Buliga holed out with an 8-iron on No. 10 (par 5, 485 yards) for an albatross. His ball landed fiercely in the cup on the fly, leaving a damaged lip. GAP officials came to the cup’s rescue soon after.

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 260 Member Clubs and 75,000 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.

Gross
Name, club Score
*Dan Ayars/Andy Kerestesy, Running Deer Golf Club 62
*Alan Kliewer/John Digiacomo, Lebanon Country Club 62
*Bradley Roberts/Vincent Kwon, Little Mill Country Club 62
*Larry Benedetto/Jim Allen, Concord Country Club 62
*John Buliga/David Kimbley, Yardley Country Club/Coatesville Country Club 62
Edward Erickson/Paul Rogowicz, Makefield Highlands Golf Club/Yardley Country Club 64
Will Young/James Kyle, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club 64
Mark Czerniakowski/Scott Forrester, Lu Lu Country Club 66
Bob Dumont/Jerry Haftmann, Llanerch Country Club/Rolling Green Golf Club 66
Michael Decker/Jim Schulz, Jr., Mercer Oaks Golf Course/Old York CC at Chesterfield 66
Dan Smith/Thorne Ranieri, The Springhaven Club/Rolling Green Golf Club 66
Andrew Strock/Michael Minter, Trenton Country Club/Makefield Highlands Golf Club 67
Sean Torpey/T.J. Summers, Commonwealth National Golf Club 67
Mark Wachter/Michael Brown, Jr., DuPont Country Club/Lu Lu Country Club 68
John Simone/Neil Gordon, Philmont Country Club/Five Ponds Golf Club 68
Ray Pyontek/Mark Sobolewski, Mercer Oaks Golf Course 68
Bill Burke/John Dugan, Sea Oaks Golf Club 68
Joe Zulli/Kevin Maguire, Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia 68
Mike Cavanaugh/Trey Watts, Jericho National Golf Club 68
Andrew Abrams/Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club 68
Wayne Bartolacci/Charles Dowds, III, Lu Lu Country Club/Applebrook Golf Club 68
Greg Galtere/Tom Walker, Reading Country Club 69
Beau Guarino/Michael O’Keefe, Valleybrook Country Club/Laurel Creek Country Club 69
Walt Danker/Timothy Gaughan, Jericho National Golf Club 70
David Levine/John Cyb, Makefield Highlands Golf Club 70
Daniel McManamon/Charles McDermott, Makefield Highlands Golf Club 71
Brad Cornforth/Joe Spitaleri, Loch Nairn Golf Club/Inniscrone Golf Club 71
Alexander Maguire, Sr./Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club 71
George Ackerman/Robert Carrier, Lookaway Golf Club 71
Thomas Covello/Joseph Boyle, Sandy Run Country Club 72
Matthew Boyer/Kevin Koch, Spring Ford Country Club 72
Jeff Hanson/Frank Ferrese, Merchantville Country Club/Tavistock Country Club 72
Anthony Dent/Ed Ciel, Medford Lakes Country Club 72
Robert Curry/Charles Carlson, Jr., North Hills Country Club 73
Brian Kreamer/Lars Beck, Bala Golf Club 73
Scott Hynes/Bob Lindenberger, Jericho National Golf Club 73
Gil Golding/Mark Lawlor, Commonwealth National Golf Club 73
Andrew Dietz/Pat Curiale, Laurel Creek Country Club/Medford Village Country Club 74
Peter Pagano, Jr./Vincent Cedrone, Penn Oaks Golf Club 74
Nicholas Angiulo/Dave Vizzini, Deerwood Country Club 75
Gershom Spengler/David Leonardis, Jack Frost National 75
Robert Dziak/Shane Dooley, Bellewood Country Club/Applecross Country Club 75
Michael Dwyer/Chris Buoni, Medford Village Country Club 76
Bill Watts/Thomas Gramlich, Medford Lakes Country Club 76
Chip Kern/Timothy Eutsler, Huntsville Golf Club/Moselem Springs Golf Club 76
Charles Johnson/Ronald White, Jericho National Golf Club 77
Mark Smedley/John Monday, Applebrook Golf Club/Chester Valley Golf Club 77
Bill Kowals/Dan Burns, Cherry Valley Country Club 77
Mitch Friedman/Matthew Weyand, Yardley Country Club 77
Justin Caple/Bob Zegel, Phoenixville Country Club 78
David Dorey/Dino Stathis, Tavistock Country Club/Metedeconk National Golf Club 78
Dan Farragut/Gary Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club 78
David Meschel/Jamie Evans, Yardley Country Club 78
George Crouse/Michael Vogt, Ramblewood Country Club 79
Anthony Bonasera/David Fournier, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club 79
Todd Luft/John Bucci, Sandy Run Country Club 80
Jian Zhang/Adrian Terranova, Inniscrone Golf Club/Hartefeld National 81
Alan Roy/Stanley Panasewicz, Cherry Valley Country Club 81
Roland Thomas, Jr./James Reger, McCall Golf & Country Club/The Springhaven Club 82
Andre Ferber/Kenneth Wortley, Radnor Valley Country Club/Bala Golf Club 83
Thomas Weinman/Michael Penso, Rancocas Golf Club/Metedeconk National Golf Club 84
Gary Roberts/Rick Studer, Lu Lu Country Club WD
Net
Name, club Score
Bob Dumont/Jerry Haftmann, Llanerch Country Club/Rolling Green Golf Club 56
Alan Kliewer/John Digiacomo, Lebanon Country Club 59
Edward Erickson/Paul Rogowicz, Makefield Highlands Golf Club/Yardley Country Club 60
Peter Pagano, Jr./Vincent Cedrone, Penn Oaks Golf Club 60
Dan Smith/Thorne Ranieri, The Springhaven Club/Rolling Green Golf Club 60
Larry Benedetto/Jim Allen, Concord Country Club 61
Michael Decker/Jim Schulz, Jr., Mercer Oaks Golf Course/Old York CC at Chesterfield 61
John Buliga/David Kimbley, Yardley Country Club/Coatesville Country Club 61
Bradley Roberts/Vincent Kwon, Little Mill Country Club 62
Chip Kern/Timothy Eutsler, Huntsville Golf Club/Moselem Springs Golf Club 62
Dan Ayars/Andy Kerestesy, Running Deer Golf Club 62
George Ackerman/Robert Carrier, Lookaway Golf Club 62
Michael Dwyer/Chris Buoni, Medford Village Country Club 63
Ray Pyontek/Mark Sobolewski, Mercer Oaks Golf Course 63
Anthony Dent/Ed Ciel, Medford Lakes Country Club 63
Greg Galtere/Tom Walker, Reading Country Club 63
Mike Cavanaugh/Trey Watts, Jericho National Golf Club 63
Will Young/James Kyle, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club 63
Thomas Covello/Joseph Boyle, Sandy Run Country Club 64
Daniel McManamon/Charles McDermott, Makefield Highlands Golf Club 64
Andrew Strock/Michael Minter, Trenton Country Club/Makefield Highlands Golf Club 64
Walt Danker/Timothy Gaughan, Jericho National Golf Club 64
Justin Caple/Bob Zegel, Phoenixville Country Club 64
Bill Watts/Thomas Gramlich, Medford Lakes Country Club 64
Gil Golding/Mark Lawlor, Commonwealth National Golf Club 64
Charles Johnson/Ronald White, Jericho National Golf Club 65
Robert Curry/Charles Carlson, Jr., North Hills Country Club 65
Joe Zulli/Kevin Maguire, Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia 65
David Meschel/Jamie Evans, Yardley Country Club 65
Scott Hynes/Bob Lindenberger, Jericho National Golf Club 65
Bill Kowals/Dan Burns, Cherry Valley Country Club 65
Mitch Friedman/Matthew Weyand, Yardley Country Club 65
John Simone/Neil Gordon, Philmont Country Club/Five Ponds Golf Club 66
Mark Czerniakowski/Scott Forrester, Lu Lu Country Club 66
Bill Burke/John Dugan, Sea Oaks Golf Club 66
Andrew Abrams/Steve Meyer, Rolling Green Golf Club 66
Wayne Bartolacci/Charles Dowds, III, Lu Lu Country Club/Applebrook Golf Club 66
Matthew Boyer/Kevin Koch, Spring Ford Country Club 67
Jeff Hanson/Frank Ferrese, Merchantville Country Club/Tavistock Country Club 67
Brad Cornforth/Joe Spitaleri, Loch Nairn Golf Club/Inniscrone Golf Club 67
Sean Torpey/T.J. Summers, Commonwealth National Golf Club 67
Beau Guarino/Michael O’Keefe, Valleybrook Country Club/Laurel Creek Country Club 67
Todd Luft/John Bucci, Sandy Run Country Club 67
Anthony Bonasera/David Fournier, Hopewell Valley Golf & Country Club 67
Brian Kreamer/Lars Beck, Bala Golf Club 68
Dan Farragut/Gary Yeager, Philadelphia Cricket Club 68
Thomas Weinman/Michael Penso, Rancocas Golf Club/Metedeconk National Golf Club 68
Jian Zhang/Adrian Terranova, Inniscrone Golf Club/Hartefeld National 68
Mark Wachter/Michael Brown, Jr., DuPont Country Club/Lu Lu Country Club 69
Andrew Dietz/Pat Curiale, Laurel Creek Country Club/Medford Village Country Club 69
Roland Thomas, Jr./James Reger, McCall Golf & Country Club/The Springhaven Club 69
David Levine/John Cyb, Makefield Highlands Golf Club 69
Gershom Spengler/David Leonardis, Jack Frost National 69
Alexander Maguire, Sr./Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club 69
Nicholas Angiulo/Dave Vizzini, Deerwood Country Club 70
Andre Ferber/Kenneth Wortley, Radnor Valley Country Club/Bala Golf Club 71
George Crouse/Michael Vogt, Ramblewood Country Club 71
David Dorey/Dino Stathis, Tavistock Country Club/Metedeconk National Golf Club 71
Mark Smedley/John Monday, Applebrook Golf Club/Chester Valley Golf Club 71
Alan Roy/Stanley Panasewicz, Cherry Valley Country Club 72
Robert Dziak/Shane Dooley, Bellewood Country Club/Applecross Country Club 73
Gary Roberts/Rick Studer, Lu Lu Country Club WD
*-decided in five-hole, sudden-death playoff
WD-withdrawal

Share This: