Whitford CC’s Meyer, Smith win Deeg Sezna Four-Ball

 AVONDALE, Pa.-Eric Meyer and Matt Smith of Whitford CC captured the Deeg Sezna Four-Ball title Tuesday by carding a stellar 9-under-par 63 at Hartefeld National (par 72, 6,172 yards).

  “Matt hit every fairway. He was real solid off the tee,” Meyer, of Downingtown, Pa., said of his partner. “He took a lot of pressure off me so I could support him with solid pars.”

  Meyer, though, set the tone of the duo’s round early by tapping in for birdie on No. 1 (par 5, 505 yards). He struck his 8-iron from 150 yards out to a foot. Birdies re-emerged three holes later as Smith, who carded a 6-under-par 66 on his own ball, went back-to-back-to-back.

  On No. 4 (par 4, 392 yards), Smith, of Chester Springs, Pa., pierced his 9-iron from 130 yards uphill to six feet in front of the flagstick. On the par 5, 507-yard fifth hole, he knocked a rescue 200 yards and two-putted for birdie. Smith stayed hot on No. 6 (par 3, 174 yards) after sticking his 6-iron to a foot.

  “I was really aggressive with my irons because [Meyer] was already on the green,” Smith, 19, said.

  Another birdie opportunity came on No. 7 (par 4, 333 yards), but the duo “didn’t execute” after each found the green in two strokes apiece. Smith, a soon-to-be sophomore at John Logan College in Illinois, missed a 10-footer for birdie on No. 9 (par 3, 156 yards).

  “We came through at 5 under feeling like we could’ve been 6 or 7 under easily,” Meyer, 47, said.

  Nevertheless, the pair didn’t let missed birdie chances hamper their confidence. They collectively registered birdies on three of their last nine holes to finish at 9 under.

  “We hit some pretty close shots,” Meyer, who carded a 4-under-par 68 on his own ball, said.

  “We had a lot of knock-in birdies,” Smith added.

  This is the first time that Meyer and Smith paired up to compete in the Deeg Sezna.

  “He’s caddied for me a couple of times. I’ve played with him a couple of times,” Meyer said. “I respect what a nice gentleman he is.”

  The friendship between Meyer and Smith fit the tournament’s theme.

  “It’s all about mentoring, and I feel that the way he approaches the game with his nice, calm demeanor on the course helps me out because sometimes I’m a little volatile,” Meyer said. “I really enjoy playing with him.”

  Bobby Arthur, Jr. of Tavistock CC and Bryan Marvin of Old York Road CC carded an 8-under-par 64 to place second. Marvin made six consecutive birdies and shot 4-under-par 68 on his own ball.

  Doug and Jack Gregor, an uncle/nephew team from Huntingdon Valley CC, shot a 2-under-par 70 to top the Junior-Junior division of the event for the second straight year. The duo didn’t board the bogey train once.

  “We both played well,” Doug, of Phoenixville, Pa., said.

  Jack fired a birdie on No. 12 (par 4, 324 yards) after punching his pitching wedge 105 yards to seven feet. Douglas drained a four-footer for birdie on No. 13 (par 5, 507 yards) after striking his wedge about 30 yards.

  “We’re going to keep playing as long as he keeps inviting me back,” Doug said.

  The tournament, which celebrates the mentorship of the older generation for its younger counterparts, is named in honor of Davis “Deeg” Sezna, Jr., who lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001 in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.

  Deeg, an avid golfer long a mentor to his younger brothers Teddy and Willy, and a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics, was in his sixth day of work on the 104th floor of the South Tower when the terrorists struck.

  To memorialize his name, GAP and his father, Davis Sezna, Sr., established the Deeg Sezna Four-Ball, pairing a junior player and an older amateur in a better ball competition, with a minimum age difference of 10 years and the stipulation that the younger player be 21 or younger.

  The goal is to give experienced golfers quality time with the next generation, and vice versa. The age range was 10 to 72.

Overall
Gross: Eric Meyer and Matt Smith, Whitford CC, 63
Net: C.J. and Dan Van Ostenbridge, Spring Ford CC, 60
Junior-Junior
Gross: Douglas and Jack Gregor, Huntingdon Valley CC, 70
Net: Nolan and Ron Dirienzi, Rolling Green GC, 62
Championship Flight (0-7 handicap)
Gross: Anthony List, Jr. and Austin List, Llanerch CC and Merion GC, 67
Net: Bryan Marvin and Bobby Arthur, Jr., Old York Road CC and Tavistock CC, 61
First Flight (8-14 handicap)
Gross: Tim Ungrady and Alexander Penza, Edgmont CC and Llanerch CC, 67
Net: Andrew Abrams and Eric Balavan, Rolling Green GC and Five Ponds GC, 62
Second Flight (15 and over handicap)
Gross: Jeffrey Pelesh and Daniel O’Shea, Edgmont CC and Llanerch CC, 71
Net: Jeffrey Waldron and Chris Szal, Jr., Torresdale-Frankford CC, 61