Von Borsig leads GAP Amateur/Open Pre-Qualifier

MARLTON, NJ.–Conrad Von Borsig, 17, of Concord CC carded a steady, bogey-free 2-under-par 69 Wednesday at Little Mill CC (par 71, 6,773 yards) to lead a field of 34 pre-qualifiers for the Golf Association’s 105^th Amateur Championship.

  Von Borsig, out early in the morning, birdied the par-4, 436-yard No. 3 and the par-3, 206-yard No. 8, then cruised home with 10 consecutive pars to finish four shots ahead of his closest competitors in the 89-player field.

  Brian Owens of Gulph Mills GC and Michael O’Keefe of the host club, Little Mill CC, each fired 2-over-par 73s.

  A second pre-qualifying event for the Amateur, with 43 spots available, will be held May 18 at Berkleigh CC.

  They will join the Little Mill contingent and 55 exempt players, based on previous performance, in attempting to qualify for 32 match play spots in the Open at Cedarbrook and Green Valley CCs on Tuesday, June 14.

  Last year’s Amateur champion, Scott Ehrlich of Meadowlands CC, who would have been ceded No. 1 for match play this year, turned professional, leaving all 32 spots open for qualifiers.

  Match play will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, June 15-16, at Cedarbrook CC, with the final set for Saturday, June 18.

  In concurrent pre-qualifying at Little Mill for the GAP’s 101^st Open Championship, Sean Clifford of Ashbourne CC led the field with a 76, followed by Christopher Ault of Spring Mill CC and Steven Walczak of Wilmington CC, each with 78s.

  The 2005 Open will be played July 20 at Aronimink GC.