U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying: Lehigh

Fieger, Sr., Daniels share medal

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Rare feats were accomplished by co-medalists Chris Fieger, Sr. and Gary Daniels during U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying administered by GAP at Lehigh Country Club (par 70, 6,617 yards) Monday. The pair turned in cards of 1-under-par 69 to share medalist honors.

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During U.S. Senior Am Qualifying a year ago, Fieger, a Heidelberg Country Club member, carded a round of 69 to earn medalist honors at Kennett Square Golf & Country Club. Repeating this year is something special. 

“I get up for this tournament,” Fieger, Sr., 61, of Denver, Pa., said. “Being able to play in the U.S. Senior Am is like being a tour player for a week. It’s a lot of fun.”

Daniels, a founding member of Applebrook Golf Club who captured his first super-senior victory in the 17th Brewer Cup just 11 days ago, proved he is still a competitive force with his senior counterparts by capturing his share of the medal at Lehigh.

“There’s probably not a lot of guys doing that,” Daniels, 70, of Berwyn, Pa., said. “Robin [McCool] and I were laughing because this might be our last try, but I guess I can still do it and I’ll keep trying until I don’t think I can do it.” 

A total of six qualifying positions were available. Glenn Stephenson of Chester, N.J. carded a 1-over-par 71 to earn a spot in regulation. Dave Scialabba of Oyster Bay, N.Y., Jamie Slonis of Sewell, N.J. and Chris Smedley of Kennett Square, Pa., survived a 4-for-3 playoff for the final qualifying positions. The trio made bogeys on No. 18 (par 4, 433 yards), the second playoff hole, to advance.  

The 69th U.S. Senior Amateur will take place at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn. Aug. 24-29. 

The keys to Fieger’s success were consistent ball striking and solid drives. 

The three-time GAP Senior Amateur Champion (2019-20, 22) started on Lehigh’s back nine where he went out in 3-under 32. On No. 11 (par 5, 508 yards), he two putted after his 6-iron from 193 yards settled 40 feet away. On No. 13 (par 3, 186 yards) the same six iron, this time from 186 yards, stopped four feet from the hole for another birdie. He carded another red figure on No. 15 (par 4, 393 yards), after his gap wedge from 117 yards stopped 12 feet from the hole. 

Moving to the front side, for his back nine, Fieger’s 4-iron landed eight feet from the hole for a birdie on No. 3 (par 3, 204 yards). His final red figure came on No. 6 (par 5, 563 yards) via a two putt from 30 feet following a 3-hybrid from 240 yards.

This summer, Fieger made an important addition to his robust trophy collection. In June he carded rounds of 69 and 70 to capture the 72nd Lancaster Country Golf Association (LANCO) Amateur Championship presented by Trout CPA.

“I finally got that one, it’s been eluding me for a long time,” Fieger said. “I’ve had a lot of Top 5s in that tournament, it was nice to finally win it.” 

The U.S. Senior Amateur, which he’s played in three times (2019, 2021, 2023), is the next title Fieger has his eye on. 

“Everything’s gotta go right for you to win,” Fieger said. “I’ve gotten into match play every time [I’ve played]. I lost in extra holes [of the round of 64] the first year, and I lost in the second round in both of the next two years.”  

Daniels, aided by his length off the tee and his abilities to hit greens in regulation and convert putts, gave him his share of the hardware. 

“I hit 15 greens in regulation, so I hit the ball beautifully,” Daniels said. “I really rolled the ball well. My speed was good all day.”

The 1985 GAP Middle-Amateur Champion began his round on Lehigh’s front nine and managed an even-par 35. Coming in, he made birdies on Nos. 11 and 14 (par 4, 325 yards). On the former, he selected a 6-iron as his second shot and laid up to 78 yards. From there, he spun a sand wedge to four feet. On the latter, he knocked down the same sand wedge from 83 yards to eight feet for another red number. 

Age hasn’t dulled Daniels’ competitive edge.

“I’m still hitting it far enough, but today was a long golf course,” Daniels, who says he’s played in four U.S. Mid-Ams, two British Mid-Ams and one British Am said.

Add a trip to the U.S. Senior Am to Daniels’ schedule of competitive events. Right now, he’s focused on the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Senior Amateur Championship at Llanerch Country Club and GAP’s Super-Senior Amateur at North Hills Country Club.

A mentality developed during the Brewer Cup has remained a conscious part of Daniels’ game. 

“I have to take a deep breath before every swing, soft hands on the club and a slow and wide back swing,” Daniels said. “I have to watch the back of the ball when I putt.” 

Smedley, a Hartefeld National member, is excited to qualify for his first USGA event. Health scares, including fighting prostate cancer in 2019-20, has made competitive golf difficult for the 65 year old. 

“I was looking forward to coming up and playing this golf course. I played the [Pennsylvania Golf Association] Mid-Am here a few years ago and shot 69, so I was hopeful that some of that might stick with me,” Smedley, a Kennett Square, Pa. resident, said. “I didn’t have the greatest driving data in the world, but I had a lot of good irons and the short game came through a lot.”

To get to his number, Smedley carded birdies on Nos. 8 (par 4, 380 yards) and 10 (par 4, 428 yards). For his first red figure, he stopped a 7-iron from 165 yards to 30 feet. For his final, his 8-iron from 165 yards hit the stick and settled 8 feet from the hole. 

“It’s been tough, I was actually playing some of my better golf right before [I was diagnosed],” Smedley said. “I haven’t really fared that well in tournaments as of late, so I’m pretty happy. I’m very much looking forward to playing in a USGA event.” 

Slonis, 55, qualifies for his U.S. Senior in his first year of eligibility. In the early 2000s, he played in four U.S. Mid-Ams. Now he looks to make a name for himself on the national stage. 

“I knew that something around par or one or two over would be a good score, especially with greens kind of quicker today,” Slonis, the 2001 Joseph H. Patterson Cup champion, said. “It’s a course that sets up well. You have to be able to do everything, [and] keep it below the hole.” 

Birdies presented on the Tavistock Country Club member’s card on three occasions. On No. 5 (par 4, 412 yards) he canned a 20-footer following a pitching wedge from 134 yards. On No. 8 his pitching wedge from 142 yards settled 25 feet away. His final red number came on No. 10 when his gap wedge from 122 yards stuck 3 feet away. 

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 organization’s 340 Member Clubs and 110,000 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.