Walsh tops Tournament of Champions

 LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa. – P. Chet Walsh of Philadelphia CC took the 51^st running of the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Tournament of Champions at The ACE Club (par 72, 6,873 yards) Friday with a 1-under-par 71.

  Walsh, who lost in a playoff in last year’s contest at Coatesville CC, said he shanked his tee ball on No. 14 (par 3, 183 yards) and carded four bogeys. But he still managed to card five birdies on the day good for the win over the 103-player field.

  “I redeemed myself today,” said Walsh. “It’s great [to win] especially after losing in a three-hole playoff last year.”

  Walsh came on strong after last season’s result with birdies on hole Nos. 1 (par 4, 367 yards), 4 (par 3, 145 yards), 6 (par 3, 185 yards), 17 (par 4, 381 yards) and 18 (par 5, 558 yards) today.

  “I’m happy I finished strong,” said Walsh who raced right over to tee it up at the Flynn Cup at Bala GC immediately after he finished up at The ACE. “It’s a nice way to finish the year.”

  Howard Lazarus of Radnor Valley CC took the Senior flight with a 3-under par 69.

  “I missed one shot the entire day,” said Lazarus of his approach shot on No. 18 (par 5, 542 yards). “But I still managed to get it up-and-down to save par.

  “It was a beautiful day on a beautiful course,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Notes:
  Open to current Member Club amateur champions, senior amateur champions and previous winners, the Tournament of Champions was initiated in 1962 in memory of Larry Malmed. The Association then accepted the event in 1984 after Al Porter, the tournament’s coordinator, was forced to retire due to illness. The Association also added a senior division in 1992.

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Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 136 Member Clubs and 56,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.