Irons stays hot with Tournament of Champions – East win at Cherry Valley
After medaling as partners in a U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying event Tuesday, Little Mill Country Clubbers Jack Irons and Troy Vannucci battled it out for the top prize Thursday in the Tournament of Champions – East.
Irons turned in a bogey-free card of 5-under 67 to take the Men’s Amateur Division at Cherry Valley Country Club. Vannucci finished one stroke back at 4-under 68.
In the Men’s Senior Division, Riverton Country Club’s Michael O’Hara (8-over 80) prevailed on the second playoff hole for the win.
Phillip Heckler of Greate Bay Country Club took the Super-Senior Division with a 9-over 81.
In the Women’s Amateur Division, it was Mercer Oaks Golf Course’s Kelly Platt taking the crown with a 12-over 84.
Bidermann Golf Club’s Mary-Harding Cist fired a 17-over 89 for the Women’s Senior Division title.
Given its geographical expansion, GAP regionalized the Tournament of Champions to accommodate more participants in 2021. It also added two divisions: Women’s and Women’s Senior. Club champions received a “golden ticket” to the events.
The Tournament of Champions began in 1962 in memory of Larry Malmed. GAP became sole administrator in 1984 after Al Porter, the tournament’s coordinator, retired because of an illness. GAP added a Men’s Senior Division in 1992, and a Men’s Super-Senior Division in 2015.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, 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 330 Member Clubs and 90,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
