Cael Ropietski of the host club and Harvey Young of Australia advanced in U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying administered by GAP at a rainy Huntsville Golf Club (par 72, 6,847 yards) Thursday.
| Scoring portal |
Ropietski, 16, of Harveys Lake, Pa., carded a 2-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors. Young filed a 1-under-par 71 to advance.
The U.S. Junior Amateur will take place July 25-30 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore.
“It feels great. To qualify at my home club was very exciting,” Ropietski, a PA Cyber Charter School student, said. “I just knew where to miss it here. My putting wasn’t great today, at least on the front nine. But I was able to putt really well on the back nine, which helped.”
Ropietski, who won the Boys’ Division in the GAP/AGA Junior Tournament of Champions a year ago, birdied two of his last three holes to rise above the cut. On No. 16 (par 4, 391 yards), he hit a pitching wedge 145 yards to 15 feet. Sensing he needed a par at worse on No. 18 (par 4, 438 yards), Ropietski did one better. His drive, though struck well, ran into the right rough. Ropietski punched a 9-iron from 155 yards to 20 feet.
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.
| Qualifiers | |
| Name, city, state | Score |
| Cael Ropietski, Harveys Lake, Pa. | 70 |
| Harvey Young, Australia | 71 |
| Alternates (in order) | |
| *Scott Hughes, Ambler, Pa. | 72 |
| *Joshua Ryan, Norristown, Pa. | 72 |
| Failed to qualify | |
| Tyler Debusschere, Wallingford, Pa. | 73 |
| Ajeet Bagga, Blue Bell, Pa. | 74 |
| Jeffrey Homer, Wilmington, Del. | 74 |
| Keller Mulhern, Exton, Pa. | 74 |
| Evan Barbin, Elkton, Md. | 75 |
| Jack Davis, Newtown Square, Pa. | 75 |
| John Hiller, New York, N.Y. | 75 |
| Michael Lugiano, Jackson Township, Pa. | 75 |
| Eli Ropietski, Harveys Lake, Pa. | 75 |
| Benjamin Siriboury, Clarksville, Md. | 75 |
| Thomas Finn, Locust Valley, N.Y. | 76 |
| Logan Paczewski, Dallas, Pa. | 76 |
| Hunter Po, San Diego, Calif. | 76 |
| Matthew Zerfass, Macungie, Pa. | 76 |
| Nathan Guertler, Merchantville, N.J. | 77 |
| Michael Maslanka, Taylor, Pa. | 77 |
| Derek McGlaughlin, Elizabethtown, Pa. | 77 |
| Darren Nolan, Glenside, Pa. | 77 |
| Matt Moloney, Vienna, Va. | 78 |
| Evan Eichenlaub, Bethlehem, Pa. | 79 |
| Nick Werner, Wilkes Barre, Pa. | 79 |
| Ryan D’Ariano, West Chester, Pa. | 80 |
| Kevin Lafond, Blue Bell, Pa. | 82 |
| Christian Matt, Springhouse, Pa. | 82 |
| Owen Blazick, Mountaintoo, Pa. | 84 |
| Andrew Davenport, Haverford, Pa. | 84 |
| Matthew Homer, Wilmington, Del. | 84 |
| Benjamin Saggers, West Chester, Pa. | 85 |
| Camilo Marin Raga, Columbia | 86 |
| Matthew Dietl, Glenmoore, Pa. | 88 |
| Jack Homer, Wilmington, Del. | 88 |
| Ryan Hsieh, West Chester, Pa. | 89 |
| Cade Kelleher, Clarks Summit, Pa. | 89 |
| Alex Nemo, Bryn Mawr, Pa. | NS |
| Gavin Girard, East Setauket, N.Y. | WD |
| Isaiah Marseille, Linden, N.J. | WD |
| Lucas Steinmetz, Gilbertsville, Pa. | WD |
| * – determined in playoff | |
| NS – no show; WD – withdrawal |
