Sullivan, Winkler cap #BMWPhillyAm Qualifier at Wild Quail

June 2, 2018

WYOMING, Del. — Jack Sullivan didn’t register a three-putt. Reed Winkler didn’t miss a fairway.

| Scorecards | Photo gallery | History |

Both players did, however, card respective 2-under-par 70s to share medalist honors in a BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship Qualifier at Wild Quail Golf & Country Club (par 72, 6,591 yards) Saturday. Sullivan and Winkler led a field of 42 players hoping to earn one of 12 available spots and ties for the Championship proper. The cut line stopped at 74 by day’s end.

  The 118th BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship will take place June 12-14 & 16 at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club.

  The co-medalists used a bit of back-nine sizzle to share the top spot. Winkler, playing three groups ahead of Sullivan, fired three birdies against a bogey. The Hartefeld National member hit a gap wedge 120 yards to seven feet on No. 12 (par 4, 316 yards). He tapped into course experience for red figures on a pair of par 5s. Knowing No. 15 (par 5, 520 yards) is gettable given a cut-drive over the trees, Winkler did just that. He then powered a 4-iron 225 yards to 25 feet and two putted. On No. 18 (par 5, 510 yards), Winkler elected to lay up, knocking a 60-degree wedge 50 yards to two feet.

  “I played a couple of high school tournaments here and a couple of other Junior events at the course, so I have a lot of knowledge of the course. It helped a lot,” Winkler, 20, of Wilmington, Del., said. “Knowing where to hit the ball is definitely an advantage. If you can keep it in the fairway, you can post a good number.”

  Sullivan, a member of The Shore Club, used an eagle on the 15th hole to join Winkler atop the leaderboard. Standing 215 yards from the flagstick, he walloped a 5-iron, uphill, upwind, to two feet for eagle. Sullivan, 17, of Petersburg, N.J., birdied No. 13 (par 3, 192 yards) after stopping a 6-iron at 10 feet. A pushed 9-iron on the next hole (par 4, 442 yards) translated into his lone inward bogey.

  Whereas Winkler used course knowledge to his advantage Saturday, Sullivan, a senior at Ocean City High School, leaned on dad and caddie Patrick. Self-faith played a role in his performance as well.

  “I played in a U.S. Open (Local) Qualifier at Hidden Creek (Golf Club) and shot 74 with a triple bogey to miss the cut by two, so I was pretty confident coming into this,” Sullivan said. “I feel like my game’s ready. Colleges haven’t gotten a hold of me, so I thought I’d give [the BMW Philadelphia Amateur] a shot.”

  Both Sullivan and Winkler, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University majoring in sports marketing, will make their BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship debuts in 10 days.

  “A lot of my teammates are playing in it. It’s good to keep the competitive golf mojo going,” Winkler said. “It’s great to play in competitive events and prepare myself for the next season.”

  “I’ll try to play well, try to make match play and just see how far I can go,” Sullivan added. “Hopefully I get a lot of birdies.”

  The BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship is the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s premier event. Participants must first advance through a one day, 36-hole stroke play qualifier to gain one of 32 available match play positions. Those who qualify for match play must advance through four matches in two days to reach the Amateur Final, which is typically held on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. The winner receives the J. Wood Platt Trophy; its namesake holds a record-seven Amateur Championship titles.

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 153 Full Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. 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.