Spring Ford CC’s Caruso captures Fall Net Championship at Hersey’s Mill

  WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Longtime GAP fixture and Spring Ford CC member Carmen Caruso avoided potentially disasterous situations and relied on tight approach shots to earn his first individual title on the Association circuit.

  The Gulph Mills, Pa. resident carded a 4-under-par 67 (net) to capture Monday’s Fall Net Championship at Hershey’s Mill GC (par 71, 6,178 yards). Caruso has competed in GAP tournaments for the past 15 years.

  “I didn’t think I had a chance, but I thought I played pretty well for me,” he said. “I thought that I might be competitive, and that’s all I really try to do. It’s kind of a surprise. I hit some bad shots, but made some good recoveries, and that’s what it’s all about.”

  Caruso constructed a sturdy back nine to ultimately nip the 99-player field. Three consecutive pars on Nos. 12 (par 5, 501 yards), 13 (par 4, 340 yards) and 14 (par 3, 180 yards) propelled the 72 year old. He smashed his GAP wedge 125 yards to six feet on No. 12. Caruso converted an uphill 12-footer on No. 13 after his second shot came up short of the green. He missed the green on No. 14 with a 7-iron, but chipped up to two feet.

  Caruso started to teeter on Nos. 15 (par 4, 356 yards) and 16 (par 4, 345 yards). He carded double bogeys on each.

  “I was trying to steer the ball off the tee and got myself in trouble,” he said.

  However, Caruso closed out with two sensational par saves. He missed the No. 17 (par 4, 388 yards) green with his approach, but ran a chip to within six feet of the drain and cleaned up the putt. Caruso stuck a wedge 60 yards to a foot on No. 18 (par 4, 409 yards).

  Harold Alwood, Jr. of Old York Road CC, William Jones of McCall G&CC and Mark Teson of Coatesville CC each carded respective 3-under-par 68s to place second.

  Consistent iron play carried Teson, of Coatesville, Pa., throughout his round.

  “My drives weren’t bad, either,” he added.

  Teson, 54, began his championship bid with two sound pars. On No. 1 (par 4, 345 yards), he laced his 7-iron 150 yards and executed an effective two-putt from 10 feet above the flagstick. The challenging par 5, 464-yard No. 2 saw Teson knocking his 3-wood more than 200 yards and three-putting from 20-feet. He fired a gross birdie on the par 3, 154-yard 7th hole after stopping a 6-iron at 10 feet.

  The consistency didn’t stop there. Teson, a 17 handicap, converted five consecutive pars at the outset of his inward tour. On the uphill par 4, 340-yard No. 13, his 9-iron traveled 130 yards and landed on the front edge of the green, leaving Teson primed for an efficient two-putt. He again two-putted, this time from 20-feet, on No. 14 (par 3, 180 yards) following a 6-iron tee shot that drifted right of the hole location.

  Teson has competed in the Association’s Winter Series events. He also participates in the Team Matches whenever he attains a spot on the Coatesville squad. Monday marked his first Fall Net Championship. He’ll forever remember it, needless to say.

  “It’s unbelievable. I haven’t really won anything in the GAP or anywhere else,” Teson said. “It’s pretty amazing.”

  Alwood, of Southampton, Pa., inked five straight pars on the scorecard to start the day.

  “I had a real good swing going today,” he said. “I missed a couple of birdie putts, but it worked out.”

  On No. 3 (par 3, 190 yards), a brave Alwood, 71, calculated a fierce wind and elected to hit driver off the tee. It flew to the top shelf of the putting surface, and Alwood issued a downhill two-putt combination. He whacked his 8-iron 130 yards on No. 4 (par 5, 481 yards) and two-putted from 20 feet. Alwood experienced a few stressful moments on his final nine holes. He pulled his 7-wood left on No. 14 (par 3, 180 yards) and dumped his second shot into the left greenside bunker. On No. 17 (par 4, 388 yards), Alwood pushed his drive, but found the middle of the green with his third shot. However, he three-putted to card a double bogey.

  “I have the handicap for it, so it happens,” Alwood, an 18 handicap, said.

  This was Alwood’s second appearance in the Fall Net Championship.

  “I haven’t played in too many of these (GAP) events, but I enjoyed it; I’ll be playing more,” he said.

  Course knowledge aided Jones, a 20 handicap, Monday.

  “I drove the ball fairly well and had some good trouble shots,” the Haverford, Pa. said. “I used to be a member here. I got very creative coming out of some trouble spots.”

  Jones, 67, registered a gross red-figure on No. 9 (par 4, 385 yards). He drilled his 5-iron 175 yards and executed a 10-footer.

  “That was the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” he said.

  The strenuous par 5, 501 yard 12th hole damaged Jones’ scorecard. He pushed his second shot, a 3-wood, out-of-bounds and went on to card a triple bogey. Jones uplifted his spirits by draining a spectacular 45-footer to save par on No. 17 (par 4, 388 yards). He hammered his 6-iron 175 yards and watched anxiously as his ensuing uphill putt tracked into the hole. Jones, a chemical engineer who retired earlier this year, hopes to now compete in the Fall Net Championship annually.Overall winner
Carmen Caruso, Spring Ford CC, 67

3-10 Handicap
1. Ralph Gariano, Commonwealth National GC, 69 
T2. Dino Dicamillo, Indian Valley CC, 71
Bill Smith, Sandy Run CC, 71
Low Senior
T1. Charles Caparo, Plymouth CC, 75
Ned Moore, Manufacturers G&CC, 75

11-13 Handicap
1. Scott Miller, Meadowlands CC, 71
2. Frank Andrusiewicz, Mercer Oaks GC, 72
T3. Brent Alwood, Five Ponds GC, 73
Greg Smith, Loch Nairn GC, 73
Low Senior
Art Blumenthal, Chester Valley GC, 73

14-17 Handicap
1. Mark Teson, Coatesville CC, 68
2. Tom Bell, Meadia Heights GC, 69
3. Bryce Johnson, Golf Course at Glen Mills, 71
Low Senior
Nick Pompo, Edgmont CC, 71

18 & Over Handicap
T1. Harold Alwood, Jr., Old York Road CC, 68
William Jones, McCall G&CC, 68
3. Loren Pearson, Old York Road CC, 69
Low Senior
James Leonard, Chester Valley GC, 72