Super Powers: Woodloch’s own tops #BMWPhillyAm Qualifier

HAWLEY, Pa. — Country Club at Woodloch Spring’s David Powers flashed a mighty super power of his own Wednesday at his home course (par 72, 6,521 yards), topping the first of four BMW Philadelphia Amateur Qualifiers.

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  Powers, a Saint Peter’s University sophomore and recent individual winner of the Villanova Wildcat Invitational, fired a blazing 2-under 70 to earn medalist honors over a field of 12 #BMWPhillyAm hopefuls.

The field’s cut line stopped at 3-over 75. Woodloch’s Alex Pillar and Elkview Country Club’s Chris Killiany were the other players who claimed the available spots.

The Championship proper is set for June 12-14 and 16 at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. Players will compete in stroke-play qualifying on June 12 (one round each at Whitemarsh Valley and Green Valley Country Club) to determine the 32-player, match-play bracket.

“It’s really hard to break par here. I don’t often do it, especially in a tournament setting at my home course. Today was my first GAP event and overall it was just a perfect day for me,” said Powers, a resident of Glen Spey, N.Y.

The day’s low round didn’t take long to get into the red category. Powers pulled a 3-hybrid off the tee on No. 3 (par 5, 558 yards), so a 4-iron punch out was played as his second. Powers then pured a wedge from 62 yards out, landing it to 15 feet followed by a well-executed birdie conversion. A bogey blemish on No. 4 (par 3, 167 yards) brought him back to even, which he would eventually make the turn at.

“To be honest, I was kind of frustrated on the front nine that I didn’t shoot lower. I had a good amount of birdie looks that just didn’t fall early,” said Powers, 19. “I figured I had to turn it up on the back nine.”

That he did.

On No. 12 (par 4, 346 yards, a mammoth drive left him with just 47 yards in. A short wedge nestled up to three feet, leading to a tap-in 3. Powers jotted down nothing but pars after that, until he stepped up to No. 17 (par 3, 135 yards).

“I hit a smooth 8-iron off the tee there and it wasn’t the greatest shot – just on the front of the green. The hole was all the way in the back. I was able to make the putt from 70 feet. It was very, very long,” he said.

Powers, who is serving his second season at Woodloch as a golf cart attendant, knows the track inside-and-out. In fact, he made a victory lap around the front nine immediately after the medal-earning round in order to get some more work in.

The commitment to the game has been paying off as of late, as evidenced by Powers’ individual title in the Wildcat Invitational at White Manor Country Club, where he posted a two-shot victory thanks to rounds of 68 and 70 (-4).

“That was huge for me and my confidence. It was our first major tournament of the spring season, so it was great to get that accomplishment,” he said. “It was big for my career and game moving forward.”

Looking ahead, Powers will look to keep the ball rolling as he is now set to appear in his first GAP Major.

“I figured, ‘Why not?’ when I saw the [BMW Philadelphia Amateur] Qualifier was being held at my home club. It’s great to advance and I’m ready to get down to Whitemarsh and check it out,” said Powers.

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 or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 200 Full Member Clubs and 70,000 individual members are spread across Eastern Pennsylvania and parts of 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.