Taraschi, Verrecchio head Amateur Championship Qualifier at Burlington CC

 MT. HOLLY, N.J. – David Taraschi, of Laurel Creek CC, and Nick Verrecchio, of Rolling Green GC, secured co-medallist honors with an even-par 70 at the Amateur Championship qualifier held at Burlington Country Club (par 70, 6,584 yards). The two finished atop a field of 74 players attempting to earn 26 of the 78 total qualifying spots for the Amateur Championship.

  Taraschi, 18, and Verrecchio, 28, led the pack Tuesday in the first of two Golf Association of Philadelphia Amateur Championship qualifiers. The second will be held at French Creek Country Club on May 17.

  Taraschi, a four-year letterman at Haddonfield Memorial High School, registered five birdies and as many bogeys, while Verrecchio, of Havertown, Pa., carded three birdies, one bogey and a double-bogey on No. 18 (par 4, 315 yards).

  Taraschi, who has played Burlington CC at the high-school level, said his past experience with the course helped him today

  “The fact that I’ve played the course three times before, I think really helped me choose my clubs and know where to place it in the fairway,” said the high-school senior.

  He started off with a birdie right out of the gate on hole No. 1 (par 4, 422 yards). Taraschi hit his drive down the middle, took a gap-wedge from about 105 yards out and hit it within a couple of inches of the cup.

  “That started my round off in the right direction for the day,” Taraschi said.

  Verrecchio faired just as well with his accurate play off the tees on what he described as a “tight course.”

  “I drove the ball pretty well today,” Verrecchio stated. “I only missed two fairways.”

  Verrecchio, who has played in only one other tournament in the past five years, said his best shot of the round came when he birdied No.16 (par 4, 420 yards).

  “I hit a 9-iron from about 150 yards out, into the wind, to within 20 feet of the pin,” he said. “I was just hoping to qualify.”

  He did just that as he led the field along with co-leader Taraschi.

  “This was the first time I tried to qualify for the Amateur,” Taraschi said. “It felt good to get out there, play well and get in.”

  Jack Wallace (Burlington CC) was the next closest qualifier with a score of 73, followed by Kevin Kelly (Philadelphia CC) who carded a 74. Seven players tied for fifth with a score of 75.

  The cut-line settled on 79, with a five-man playoff competing for the final qualifying position.

  The 2006 Amateur Championship will be held on June 13-15 and 17 at Torresdale-Frankford Country Club and Huntingdon Valley Country Club.

  Clint Deibert, of Doylestown CC, won last year’s Amateur Championship title at Cedarbrook CC.