Berkshire CC’s Sutherland opens
Amateur Championship with 63
VERONA, Pa.–Nathan Sutherland of Berkshire CC equaled the Longue Vue Club (par 70, 6,633 yards) course record on Monday, with a 7-under-par 63 in the opening round of the 94th Amateur Championship. The 18-year-old Sutherland matched the mark set by Bob Ford, a close friend and the longtime Oakmont CC professional, in 1999.
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Sutherland, who also plays out of Oakmont CC, blistered the 123-player field with six birdies, an eagle and a bogey. He went out in 2-under-par 34 and came home in 5-under 29. He holds a three-shot advantage over Adam Hofmann of Fox Chapel GC and a four-shot lead on Cody Kersey of Pine Meadows Golf Complex and one of the local favorites, Nathan Smith, the 2002 Amateur Champion who is a member at both Pinecrest CC and Wildwood GC. Defending titleholder Chad Bricker of Waynesboro CC finished at 5-over-par 75. Another popular local player and Longue Vue Club member, Sean Knapp, is at even-par 70. In all, 10 players posted under-par scores.
The second round begins at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow with a cut to the low 40 players and ties for Wednesday’s third and final round. All media and spectators are welcomed.
"I’ve been close all summer to [finding my game]," said Sutherland, a recent graduate of Holy Name High School in Reading, Pa. "I knew if I stayed patient, it would come. My tempo today was perfect. Hopefully it sticks with me for a little bit."
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A 6-iron to eight feet on No. 12 (par 3, 188 yards) and a fortuitous punch wedge out of the right side trees on No. 13 (par 4, 334 yards) to 15 feet equated to two more birdies and pushed Sutherland to 4 under. On the par 5, 15th hole (540 yards), he laced another 5-wood, this time from 250 yards, to eight feet for eagle before closing out the impressive display on No. 17 (par 4, 470 yards). On that hole, Sutherland hit driver and then a 9-iron from 150 yards to five feet. He had a 12-footer birdie chance on No. 18 (par 4, 471 yards), but watched it just slide past.
"You can’t win it in the first round but you can shoot yourself out of it," said Sutherland, a resident of Wyomissing, Pa. And for tomorrow? "You have to stay aggressive. There is a lot of golf left."
Hofmann, 18, of Pittsburgh, Pa., carded a 66.
The Fox Chapel High School graduate cited his approach as the key to his success.
"I try to have a focus for the round and have that focus for every shot," said Hofmann. "I try to have a clear plan for every shot. I executive that plan in my mind first and then physically. I was 10 out of 10 on mostly every shot today."
A short birdie on No. 2 (par 4, 390 yards) and a bogey on No. 4 (par 5, 553 yards), after a poor drive, left Hofmann even. However, the Vanderbilt University-bound freshman found his groove with a nice two-putt par on the difficult 5th hole and an eight-foot birdie conversion on No. 6 (par 4, 390 yards) that propelled him into red figures. Hofmann continued his charge with a smooth up-and-down from the greenside bunker on No. 8; a nice lob wedge from 50 yards on No. 13 (par 4, 334 yards) to three feet and an 8-iron from 158 yards to kick-in range on the final hole.
"It’s nice to be up here [near the top of the leaderboard] after the first round," said Hofmann. "I really executed well today."
|
Name, club |
Front 9 |
Back 9 |
Total |
|
Nathan Sutherland, Berkshire Country Club |
34 |
29 |
63 |
|
Adam Hofmann, Fox Chapel Golf Club |
34 |
32 |
66 |
|
Cody Kersey, Pine Meadows Golf Complex |
36 |
31 |
67 |
|
Nathan Smith, Pinecrest Country Club |
34 |
33 |
67 |
|
Arnie Cutrell, Totteridge Golf Club |
34 |
34 |
68 |
|
Brian Bergstol, Great Bear Golf & Country Club |
34 |
34 |
68 |
|
Timothy Moynihan, Willowbrook Country Club |
34 |
34 |
68 |
|
Scott Phillis, The Country Club |
34 |
35 |
69 |
|
Stephen Arnold, Yardley Country Club |
34 |
35 |
69 |
|
Travis Howe, Corey Creek Golf Club |
33 |
36 |
69 |
|
David Brown, St. Clair Country Club |
35 |
35 |
70 |
|
David DeNunzio, Latrobe Country Club |
35 |
35 |
70 |
|
Frank Fairman, Totteridge Golf Club |
32 |
38 |
70 |
|
Robert Rohanna, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort |
38 |
32 |
70 |
|
Sean Knapp, Longue Vue Club |
36 |
34 |
70 |
|
Timothy Hager, Lookaway Golf Club |
35 |
35 |
70 |
|
Adam Cohan, The ACE Club |
34 |
37 |
71 |
|
Chris Gallagher, Penn Oaks Golf Club |
35 |
36 |
71 |
|
Conrad Von Borsig, Concord Country Club |
36 |
35 |
71 |
|
John Brennan, Spring Ford Country Club |
37 |
34 |
71 |
|
Les Neilly, Edgewood Country Club |
37 |
34 |
71 |
|
Zachary Drescher, Conestoga Country Club |
35 |
36 |
71 |
|
Brian Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club |
37 |
35 |
72 |
|
Cole Willcox, Philadelphia Country Club |
34 |
38 |
72 |
|
Daniel Obremski, Hannastown Golf Club |
38 |
34 |
72 |
|
John Popeck, The Club at Nevillewood |
36 |
36 |
72 |
|
Jon Merriott, PGA Individual Member |
38 |
34 |
72 |
|
Matthew Rebitch, Hannastown Golf Club |
37 |
35 |
72 |
|
Michael J. Gross, Glenmaura National Golf Club |
36 |
36 |
72 |
|
Artie Fink, Jr., Sinking Valley Country Club |
37 |
36 |
73 |
|
Bennett Boyer, Country Club of Harrisburg |
39 |
34 |
73 |
|
Brett Diakon, Commonwealth National Golf Club |
38 |
35 |
73 |
|
Brixton Albert, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
36 |
37 |
73 |
|
Cameron Peterson, PGA Individual Member |
38 |
35 |
73 |
|
Chad Warmbein, Rolling Hills Country Club |
37 |
36 |
73 |
|
Christopher Schultz, Schuylkill Country Club |
38 |
35 |
73 |
|
James Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club |
36 |
37 |
73 |
|
Jarred Texter, Lancaster Country Club |
39 |
34 |
73 |
|
John Sweeney, Lancaster Country Club |
36 |
37 |
73 |
|
Mike Van Sickle, Treesdale Golf & Country Club |
36 |
37 |
73 |
|
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club |
37 |
36 |
73 |
|
Ronald DeNunzio, Latrobe Country Club |
38 |
35 |
73 |
|
Brian P. Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club |
37 |
37 |
74 |
|
Chase Duncan, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
38 |
36 |
74 |
|
Clayton Rotz, Chambersburg Country Club |
38 |
36 |
74 |
|
Darryn DeShong, Majestic Ridge CC |
40 |
34 |
74 |
|
Donald Thomas, Edgewood Country Club |
38 |
36 |
74 |
|
Gregor Orlando, The Kahkwa Club |
39 |
35 |
74 |
|
James Bohn, Bucknell Golf Club |
38 |
36 |
74 |
|
Jason Cohan, The ACE Club |
38 |
36 |
74 |
|
Kevin McCarthy, Hannastown Golf Club |
36 |
38 |
74 |
|
Matthew E. Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club |
36 |
38 |
74 |
|
Mike Serensits, Willow Brook Golf Course |
37 |
37 |
74 |
|
Patrick Serfass, Susquehanna Valley Country Club |
36 |
38 |
74 |
|
R. Scott Pugh, Blue Ridge Country Club |
39 |
35 |
74 |
|
William Miller, St. Clair Country Club |
38 |
36 |
74 |
|
Brian Belden, Jr., Brookside C.C. of Allentown |
38 |
37 |
75 |
|
Chad Bricker, Waynesboro Country Club |
39 |
36 |
75 |
|
Daniel Charen, Yardley Country Club |
38 |
37 |
75 |
|
David Figura, Woodstone Golf Club |
38 |
37 |
75 |
|
Eric Fonner, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
38 |
37 |
75 |
|
Kevin R. Melnick, Jr., Plymouth Country Club |
41 |
34 |
75 |
|
Kyle Davis, Inniscrone Golf Club |
39 |
36 |
75 |
|
Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club |
41 |
34 |
75 |
|
Michael McDermott, Merion Golf Club |
41 |
34 |
75 |
|
Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
37 |
38 |
75 |
|
Ryan Gelrod, Commonwealth National Golf Club |
38 |
37 |
75 |
|
Stephen Dressel, Spring Ford Country Club |
35 |
40 |
75 |
|
Brendan Borst, Hickory Heights Golf Club |
40 |
36 |
76 |
|
Dominic Schiavone, The ACE Club |
37 |
39 |
76 |
|
Donald Dubyak, Hannastown Golf Club |
37 |
39 |
76 |
|
Doug Marcincin, Northampton Country Club |
39 |
37 |
76 |
|
Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club |
38 |
38 |
76 |
|
James Bryan, Latrobe Country Club |
39 |
37 |
76 |
|
Jim Rattigan, Schuylkill Country Club |
39 |
37 |
76 |
|
Jimmy Markovitz, The Club at Nevillewood |
38 |
38 |
76 |
|
Ken Matt, Commonwealth National Golf Club |
39 |
37 |
76 |
|
Mark D. Miller, Yardley Country Club |
40 |
36 |
76 |
|
Robert Voltz, St. Jude Golf Club |
41 |
35 |
76 |
|
Tyler Brewington, Mill Race Golf Course |
40 |
36 |
76 |
|
Aaron Williams, Willowbrook Country Club |
37 |
40 |
77 |
|
Andrew Rickard, The ACE Club |
40 |
37 |
77 |
|
Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club |
40 |
37 |
77 |
|
Kevin Farrell, Country Club of Harrisburg |
41 |
36 |
77 |
|
Philip Bartholomew, Yardley Country Club |
39 |
38 |
77 |
|
Zach Smith, Doylestown Country Club |
41 |
36 |
77 |
|
Doug Stadler, Treesdale Golf & Country Club |
40 |
38 |
78 |
|
Jacob Pleczkowski, Saucon Valley Country Club |
40 |
38 |
78 |
|
James M. Gardas, Honesdale Golf Club |
44 |
34 |
78 |
|
Jason Loehrs, Philadelphia Publinks GA |
37 |
41 |
78 |
|
John Michael Pelet, Wyncote Golf Club |
40 |
38 |
78 |
|
John Rodney, Diamond Run Golf Club |
39 |
39 |
78 |
|
Jonathan Pepe, Youghiogheny Country Club |
42 |
36 |
78 |
|
Sasha Bozic, Honesdale Golf Club |
43 |
35 |
78 |
|
Drew Panebianco, Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club |
40 |
39 |
79 |
|
Gregg A. Hostetter, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
40 |
39 |
79 |
|
Kevin Reiber, Penn National Golf Club |
40 |
39 |
79 |
|
Mark Yost, Penn National Golf Club |
42 |
37 |
79 |
|
Matt M. Dolinsky, Honeybrook Golf Club |
41 |
38 |
79 |
|
Rick Bojalad, First Tee of Greater Pittsburgh Golf Club |
41 |
38 |
79 |
|
Alexander Maguire, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club |
41 |
39 |
80 |
|
Barry Erenrich, The Club at Nevillewood |
40 |
40 |
80 |
|
Don Erickson, III, Indiana Country Club |
39 |
41 |
80 |
|
Edward H. Knoll, Deer Run Golf Club |
41 |
39 |
80 |
|
Justin Masters, Glen Oak Country Club |
39 |
41 |
80 |
|
Mark Coassolo, Berkleigh Country Club |
40 |
40 |
80 |
|
Mike Lintelman, Sewickley Heights Golf Club |
43 |
37 |
80 |
|
Russell West, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
39 |
41 |
80 |
|
Sean Hirschler, Glen Oak Country Club |
42 |
38 |
80 |
|
Nicholas Bellisario, Rolling Green Golf Club |
44 |
37 |
81 |
|
Brock Christine, Susquehanna Valley Country Club |
43 |
39 |
82 |
|
Chris G. Esbenshade, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
45 |
37 |
82 |
|
Glenn Smeraglio, Yardley Country Club |
43 |
39 |
82 |
|
Jeffrey Griest, Waynesborough Country Club |
42 |
40 |
82 |
|
Shane Miller, Hannastown Golf Club |
40 |
42 |
82 |
|
Stanley Namola, Seven Oaks Country Club |
43 |
39 |
82 |
|
Frank Milsak, Montour Heights Country Club |
44 |
40 |
84 |
|
Matt Ehrlich, Meadowlands Country Club |
45 |
40 |
85 |
|
Ross Pringle, Cross Creek Resort |
44 |
42 |
86 |
|
Adam Layden, Culbertson Hills Golf Resort |
46 |
41 |
87 |
|
Jason Barkley, Huntsville Golf Club |
46 |
41 |
87 |
|
David Gedris, Churchill Valley Country Club |
50 |
38 |
88 |
|
Bill Gropp, McCall Golf & Country Club |
45 |
45 |
90 |
|
Alan Borowsky, White Manor Country Club |
WD |
WD |
WD |
|
Arthur Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club |
WD |
WD |
WD |
|
Christian Breed, Waynesboro Country Club |
WD |
WD |
WD |
|
Jordan Wycoff, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
WD |
WD |
WD |
|
WD-withdrawal |
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