Villanova’s Arnold heads Amateur Championship Qualifier at French Creek GC

  ELVERSON, Pa.–Stephen Arnold of Yardley CC took home medallist honors Wednesday with a 1-under-par 70 at the Amateur Championship qualifier held at French Creek Golf Club (par 71, 6,487 yards).

  Arnold, 21, led a field of 147 players attempting to earn 52 of the 78 total qualifying spots for the Championship. Today’s qualifier was the last of the two Golf Association of Philadelphia qualifiers. The first was held on May 9 at Burlington Country Club.

  A senior out of Villanova University, Arnold carded four birdies and only three bogeys to qualify for his second Amateur Championship.

  Arnold felt the key to his round centered on accuracy off the tees.

  “I only missed two fairways today,” said Arnold of Langhorne, Pa. “I drove it very well and that helped me knock it in on almost every par 5.”

  Arnold would birdie three out of four par 5s during his sub-par round with birdies on No. 6 (par 5, 564 yards), No. 11 (par 5, 504 yards) and No. 16 (par 5, 518 yards).

  “Fortunately enough I hit good drives,” said the English major. “If you don’t hit the fairway out there, you can struggle to make par.”

  Arnold added that although he didn’t feel the course was too lengthy, he did say it presented certain difficulties.

  “It’s not that long but you have to drive it well,” Arnold said. “On some holes like 11, if you don’t hit the fairway you can just as easily get in trouble.”

  Arnold avoided those pitfalls to be one of only two competitors at even or under par.

  Brandon Detweiler, an 18 year-old from Veritas Academy, found himself 6-under par on the course’s four par 5 holes to finish with an even-par 71.

  Detweiler went the same route as Arnold with precise play off the tees.

  “I hit the driver well and kept it in play all day,” said Detweiler who qualifies for his second Amateur Championship. “That kept me out of trouble.”

  Both players will now join the 132-player field headed to the Amateur Championship on June 13-15 and 17 at Torresdale-Frankford Country Club and Huntington Valley Country Club.

  “I’m looking forward to playing in the Championship,” Arnold said. “Both those courses are good tests. It’s going to be fun playing out there.”