Yardley CC’s Charen takes the Christman Cup for his first GAP victory

 BUCKINGHAM, Pa.– It was a day of firsts for Daniel Charen of Yardley CC. The 17-year-old was first to tee off, part of the first group in the clubhouse and, most notably, in first place to take the 7^th Christman Cup at Lookaway GC (par 72, 6,684 yards).

  Playing in only his third GAP event, the senior from Neshaminy High School would fire a field low, two-round score of 145 (74-71), passing the 29-player field by three strokes.

  And although his inexperience would show its face during his final round, Charen would hold on to win the championship.

  When asked if he was nervous, an ecstatic Charen put it simply.

  “Yes,” he emphatically said. “I felt the nerves, knowing that I was now 4-under on the back nine.”

  In second place after his first round score of 74, Charen finished the front nine of his second round 1-over par. A score he felt would not win him the championship.

  “I knew I didn’t shoot myself out of the tournament in the first round, but I just knew that after a 1-over front nine, I had to do something special on the back,” Charen said.

  That something special came quickly, as he would birdie No. 10 (par 4, 341 yards) and No. 11 (par 3, 182 yards) just before he found what he needed on No.13 (par 5, 512 yards) with an eagle.

  Charen would lace his drive nearly 300 yards down the left side of the fairway leaving him about 215 yards to the pin. He choked up on his rescue wood and stuck his shot on the left edge of the hole within nine feet, only to putt out from there.

  Charen’s nerves would quickly take over, as the young man from Langhorne, Pa., would string together three consecutive bogeys on Nos. 14 (par 4, 447 yards), 15 (par 3, 170 yards) and 16 (par 4, 384 yards), before he regained control with a birdie on No. 17 (Par 5, 523 yards).

  The Bucks County resident would finish the back nine 2-under-par and emerge victorious with a strong short game at his side.

  “It feels good to win,” said an elated Charen. “I put in so much time in on my short game, that it’s nice to see the hard work pay off.”

  Bobby Arthur of Tavistock CC took the Harry Hammond Award by three strokes over Charen and Robert Galbreath, Jr. of Philmont CC.

  The Christman Cup also serves as the final two rounds for the Harry Hammond Award. The Harry Hammond is given to the player with the lowest aggregate score in the qualifying round of the Junior Boys’ Championship and the two rounds of the Christman Cup.

  With their wins, both Arthur and Charen have been invited to play in the Williamson Cup in Syracuse, N.Y. on August 14-15.