George Dressler Pennsylvania State Public Links Championship
Dauphin Highlands Golf Course
May 16, 2004
The first round of the 65th George Dressler Pennsylvania State Amateur Public Links Championship was held today on the beautiful sun-filled Dauphin Highlands Golf Course in Harrisburg, PA. The Public Links is open to all male amateur golfers residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and who have, since January 1st of the current year, been bona fide public course players, with up-to-date USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 16.0. There were 50 entries received this year with 48 players teeing off in the first round. Players range in age from 15 to 70.
Chris Kovaly of Dillsburg took advantage of soft conditions to take the early lead with a first round 71. Kovaly, playing in the first group of the day, started his round with back-to-back birdies and added a third on the par-5 fifth hole to go out in 33. But three bogeys on the back nine to go along with his fourth birdie of the day put him at one under for his round.
The 8:40a.m. group combined to shoot 1-under for the day with Jim Bohn of Lewisburg shooting even-par 72, Richard Mottura of Vandergrift firing a 71, and Nate Reck of Mountville also shooting 72. Bohn was the 2002 Pennsylvania Middle Amateur champion as well as runner-up in last year's Pennsylvania Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Scranton. He also advanced to the sectional round of U.S. Open qualifying last week at his home course of Bucknell Country Club.
Greg Adams of Palmyra, playing in the final group, joined the leaders at one-under par 71. His steady round included three birdies and two bogies. Jud Gemmill of East Petersburg and Chuck Britton of Dillsburg also recorded even-par 72's to finish one back of the leaders.
Tomorrow's final round will begin at 7:30a.m. with the leaders teeing off last at 10:00a.m. Fifteen players will start the day within four strokes of first round leaders Kovaly, Mottura, and Adams.
First Round Leaderboard
Chris Kovaly, Dillsburg, Pa., 33-38--71
Richard Mottura, Vandergrift, Pa., 34-37--71
Greg Adams, Palmyra, Pa., 37-34--71
Nate M. Reck, Mountville, Pa., 35-37--72
James Bohn, Lewisburg, Pa., 36-36--72
Jud Gemmill, East Petersburg, Pa., 37-35--72
Chuck Britton, Dillsburg, Pa., 36-36--72
Scott Stoltz, Harrisburg, Pa., 36-37--73
Brady Ruffner, Freeport, Pa., 36-37--73
Rob Barnes, York, Pa., 37-36--73
Christopher Allan, Jr., West Chester, Pa., 37-37--74
Craig Costik, Middletown, Pa., 39-35--74
Jerry Harvey, Hummelstown, Pa., 39-35--74
Richard Brewbacker, Marysville, Pa., 37-38--75
Kevin Haag, Hummelstown, Pa., 37-38--75
Benjamin Smith, Lancaster, Pa., 38-37--75
Brent L. Will, Lemoyne, Pa., 36-39--75
Richard E. Piger, III, Orefield, Pa., 37-38--75
Byron Whitman, Birdsboro, Pa., 40-36--76
Alan R. Kline, Jr., Lewisburg, Pa., 38-38--76
J. Andy Ranieri, Harrisburg, Pa., 37-40--77
Robert Fritz, Collegeville, Pa., 38-39--77
Brian J. Fisher, Norrstown, Pa., 37-40--77
Scott Kuhnle, Downingtown, Pa., 38-39--77
Michael J. Madar, Maytown, Pa., 38-39--77
Darren Riddle, Harrisburg, Pa., 38-40--78
David C. Sirolly, Hershey, Pa., 39-39--78
Mark A. Searer, Thompsontown, Pa., 39-39--78
Michael Beskid, Harrisburg, Pa., 36-42--78
Michael Schmidt, Jr., Palmyra, Pa., 41-37--78
Jim Pierami, Etters, Pa., 41-38--79
Nicholas Saggers, West Chester, Pa., 37-42--79
Mike Paukovits, Nazareth, Pa., 38-41--79
Phil D'Amato, Harrisburg, Pa., 38-42--80
Kyle McCandless, Landisville, Pa., 39-41--80
Rich Nuse, Morgantown, Pa., 40-40--80
Michael Trymbiski, Chalfont, Pa., 40-41--81
Dan O'Callaghan, Oreland, Pa., 41-40--81
Ken Waldron, Sarver, Pa., 41-41--82
Ryan Moran, Hershey, Pa., 40-42--82
Frank W. Schnee, Robesonia, Pa., 42-40--82
Henry Wadsworth, Warrington, Pa., 39-44--83
Thomas Will, II, Erie, Pa., 41-44--85
Douglas Graby, Harrisburg, Pa., 45-41--86
Michael Grove, Oxford, Pa., 45-43--88
Tom Prestia, Easton, Pa., 48-41--89
Ron Hershey, Denver, Pa., 46-44--90
Matthew E. McGuire, Malvern, Pa., 48-44--92
Matthew J. Mattia, Devon, Pa., WD-WD--WD
Steve Brenner, Lancaster, Pa., DQ-DQ--DQ