Brown, Cohan tied atop
95th Amateur Championship leaderboard
BETHLEHEM, Pa.–A pair of players from opposite ends of the commonwealth and with differing opening-round approaches share the top of the 95th State Amateur Championship leaderboard at Saucon Valley CC. Dave Brown of St. Clair CC and Adam Cohan of Talamore CC posted early and impressive 2-under-par 69s on a soggy Old Course (par 71, 6,885 yards) and hold a one-shot lead in the 127-player field.The second round begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. with a cut to the low 40 players and ties advancing into Wednesday. The third and final round also begins at 7:30 a.m. with players paired according to their two-day total.
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this drive on No. 2. |
Cohan, a fifth-year Georgia Tech senior from Narberth, Pa., and Brown, a 47-year-old businessman from Pittsburgh, capitalized on Saucon’s softened greens from the day’s prior rains.
"I only hit driver once. You couldn’t hit it far enough with the wet conditions for it to be worth it," said Cohan, 22, whose best finish in Amateur was a tied for fourth two years ago at Moselem Springs GC. "I tried to keep the ball in play and hit greens, but not be too aggressive because if you hit it in the wrong spots on the green, it would mean easy bogeys."
The strategy equated to four birdies, two bogeys and a lot of pars.
Starting his round on the back nine, Cohan birdied No. 12 (par 5, 600 yards) with a 9-iron from 147 yards to six inches; hit a pitching wedge on No. 14 (par 4, 410 yards) from the left trees to four feet; and drained a seven-footer straight up the hill on No. 15 (par 4, 335 yards) to move to 3 under in his first six holes. A poor drive right on No. 18 (par 4, 435 yards) resulted in Cohan’s lone front side bogey.
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Saucon Valley CC with caddie Patrick Lyons is in a log jam in fifth place. |
A right tee ball on No. 7 (par 4, 449 yards) undid that previous under-par figure and Cohan birdied the final two holes for a 69.
"I played here for the first time yesterday and the greens are really challenging," said Cohan. "I don’t think people will go too low. So I figured if I could post a score around par it would be good. Today it was soft and playing long and the greens were a little softer in spots, so that helped."
Brown, on the other hand, prefers to keep his driver active and in use whenever possible. He also said he doesn’t feel as comfortable putting on the bent greens on this side of the state.
His first round was his first look at the renovated old course.
"I’ve been hitting my driver a little bit better and as long as I can do that, I’ll be ok," said Brown. "The biggest adjustment for me is the greens on this side of the state. They are a little slower but the undulations here are about as severe as you can get. Adjusting is always difficult. It takes some time."
Brown, who also started on No. 10 (par 4, 330 yards), opened his round with back-to-back birdies.
He hit an 8-iron from 162 yards to 10 feet on his first hole before crushing a 6-iron on No. 11 (par 3, 177 yards) to two feet.
"I never saw the golf course before so ignorance was bliss I guess," said Brown.
Brown pushed his drive right on No. 13 (par 4, 432 yards) and recorded a bogey but rebounded on the next hole with a 140-yard, 9-iron to two feet for birdie. Another bogey on No. 15, when he hit it in three different bunkers on three straight shots, saw Brown make the turn at 1-under par.
Eight pars and a birdie, that being a 6-iron from 186 yards to eight feet on No. 2 (par 4, 463 yards) on the backside, watched Brown finish at 2 under.
NOTES–It could have been a Cohan, Cohan leaderboard had the younger Jason not received a two-stroke penalty on his final hole, No. 18, for hitting a wrong ball. At the time, Jason was 2 under par. Obviously a little rattled, he would make a triple bogey to finish at 1-over-par 72 … Defending Amateur champion Adam Hofmann of Fox Chapel GC carded a 76 and is tied for 55th … Greg Angelillo of Moselem Springs GC and Conrad Von Borsig of Concord CC are tied in third place with 1-under-par 70s. Angelillo, 38, of Hoboken, N.J., is in prime condition to make his first Amateur cut. The Bellewood GC qualifying medallist credited his caddie Eric Shillinger, the head pro at Moselem Springs GC, for coaching him around a course he’s never seen before. Von Borsig, 21, of Swarthmore, Pa., bogeyed his final hole to drop a shot to the field. The University of Virginia senior-to-be was 1-under par after nine holes. He registered two birdies and two bogeys to finish deadlocked with Angelillo … This is the first time Saucon Valley CC has hosted the Amateur Championship.
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Name, club |
Rd. 1 |
Total |
|
Adam Cohan, Talamore Country Club |
69 |
69 |
|
David Brown, St. Clair Country Club |
69 |
69 |
|
Conrad Von Borsig, Concord Country Club |
70 |
70 |
|
Gregg M. Angelillo, Moselem Springs Golf Club |
70 |
70 |
|
Matthew E. Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Colin P. Smith, Radley Run Country Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Kyle T. Davis, Philadelphia Publinks GA |
71 |
71 |
|
Arnie Cutrell, Greensburg Country Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Brian Belden, Jr., PGA Individual Member |
71 |
71 |
|
Christopher D Reedman, Makefield Highlands Golf Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Nathan Smith, Pinecrest Country Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Tyler Brewington, Huntsville Golf Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Jon Pratkanis, Kittanning Country Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Jeffrey L Griest, Waynesborough Country Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Brian P. Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club |
71 |
71 |
|
Jason Cohan, Talamore Country Club |
72 |
72 |
|
Mike Danner, Lu Lu Country Club |
72 |
72 |
|
Patrick Mitchell, Glenmaura National Golf Club |
72 |
72 |
|
Brandon Detweiler, Lancaster Country Club |
72 |
72 |
|
Cole Willcox, Philadelphia Country Club |
72 |
72 |
|
Mark D. McGowan, Saucon Valley Country Club |
72 |
72 |
|
Travis J Gahman, Philadelphia Publinks GA |
72 |
72 |
|
Andy Achenbach, RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve |
72 |
72 |
|
Frank S. Corrado, Jr., Jericho National Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
James D. Bohn, Bucknell Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Robert T Rohanna, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort |
73 |
73 |
|
Alan Skoritowski, Glen Oak Country Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Eric W. Williams, Honesdale Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Christian S. Davis, Glenmaura National Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Duncan M. Zeiders, Old York Road Country Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Daniel L Obremski, Hannastown Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Logan Terry, Plymouth Country Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Frank Fairman, Totteridge Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
Mark A. Endres, Overbrook Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
|
David DeNunzio, Latrobe Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Glenn Smeraglio, Yardley Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Robert B Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Christopher W. Ault, Yardley Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Gregor A. Orlando, The Kahkwa Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Christopher L Schultz, Squires Golf Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Mike Van Sickle, Treesdale Golf & Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Ryan P Castanet, Hickory Heights Golf Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Doug Stadler, Treesdale Golf & Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Stephen Dressel, St. Davids Golf Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Gary D. Daniels, Saucon Valley Country Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Jimmy Markovitz, The Club at Nevillewood |
74 |
74 |
|
James Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club |
74 |
74 |
|
Kevin R. Melnick, Jr., Plymouth Country Club |
75 |
75 |
|
Jeff Daniels, Dauphin Highlands Golf Course |
75 |
75 |
|
Zak Drescher, Lancaster Country Club |
75 |
75 |
|
Philip J. Bartholomew, Yardley Country Club |
75 |
75 |
|
Brendan M Borst, Hickory Heights Golf Club |
75 |
75 |
|
Ronald DeNunzio, Latrobe Country Club |
76 |
76 |
|
James K Kieserman, Talamore Country Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Patrick D. Ross, PGA Individual Member |
76 |
76 |
|
Kevin Huntington, Penn Oaks Golf Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Nathan Sutherland, Golden Oaks Golf Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Corey Gast, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Scott V. Carney, Commonwealth National Golf Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Sean Brannan, Sunnehanna Country Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Mark D. Miller, Yardley Country Club |
76 |
76 |
|
R. Scott Pugh, Lykens Valley Golf Course |
76 |
76 |
|
Michael J. Vassil, Country Club of Scranton |
76 |
76 |
|
David J Blichar, Blue Ridge Country Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Robert G. Dziak, Spring Ford Country Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Adam Hofmann, Fox Chapel Golf Club |
76 |
76 |
|
Zach Smith, Doylestown Country Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Joe Corsi, Hannastown Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Ryan J Gelrod, Commonwealth National Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
James M. Gardas, Honesdale Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Nicolas Milito, Hannastown Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Matt Moot, Windber Country Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Matthew Rebitch, Hannastown Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Kevin T Haag, Deer Run Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Robin S. McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Thomas E. Timby, Jr., Bucks County Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Cory M. Siegfried, Philadelphia Country Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Nelson A Hargrove, Merion Golf Club |
77 |
77 |
|
Chris G. Esbenshade, Lancaster Host Golf Resort |
78 |
78 |
|
James J Bryan, Latrobe Country Club |
78 |
78 |
|
James G Rattigan, Schuylkill Country Club |
78 |
78 |
|
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club |
78 |
78 |
|
Jason Wilson, Allentown Municipal G C |
78 |
78 |
|
Alex Urrea, The Club at Nevillewood |
78 |
78 |
|
Dan Brown, Pine Meadows Golf Complex |
78 |
78 |
|
Thomas A. Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club |
78 |
78 |
|
Michael Heidler, Spring Ford Country Club |
78 |
78 |
|
Robert L. Robertson, Sunnybrook Golf Club |
78 |
78 |
|
John Horutz, Glenmaura National Golf Club |
78 |
78 |
|
Chad A. Bricker, Waynesboro Country Club |
78 |
78 |
|
Thomas Hyland, Moselem Springs Country Club |
79 |
79 |
|
Greg Verde, Spring Ford Country Club |
79 |
79 |
|
Alex D Pompey, Country Club of Scranton |
79 |
79 |
|
Dakota J Brown, Stonehedge Golf Club |
79 |
79 |
|
Jon E Thomas, Pittsburgh Field Club |
79 |
79 |
|
Nathan C Fry, PGA Individual Member |
79 |
79 |
|
Mike Owsik, Plymouth Country Club |
79 |
79 |
|
Chance W. Miller, Meadia Heights Golf Club |
79 |
79 |
|
Chuck a Nettles, Rolling Hills Country Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Scott W McCool, Saucon Valley Country Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Ruelle W. Wolfe III, Chambersburg Country Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Brian C Creghan, Plymouth Country Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Charles P Scalzott, Talamore Country Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Kevin Busteed, Talamore Country Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Jeff Hudson, Allentown Municipal G C |
80 |
80 |
|
Chris Kallmeyer, Philadelphia Cricket Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Connor Coldwater, Glenmaura National Golf Club |
80 |
80 |
|
Jim Simmons, Whitford Country Club |
81 |
81 |
|
Zachary P. Prowant, Williamsport Country Club |
81 |
81 |
|
Marc G Bianchi, Philadelphia Cricket Club |
81 |
81 |
|
Michael D Turner, Cranberry Highlands Golf Course |
81 |
81 |
|
Blayze DiPasquale, Jericho National Golf Club |
82 |
82 |
|
John W. Robinson, Commonwealth National Golf Club |
82 |
82 |
|
Jake Lebowitz, Philmont Country Club |
82 |
82 |
|
Christopher Gebhard, Lebanon Country Club |
83 |
83 |
|
Sean D Ryan, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
83 |
83 |
|
Scott R. Klee, Indian Valley Country Club |
83 |
83 |
|
Mark C. Yost, Penn National Golf Club |
83 |
83 |
|
Adam D. Puskar, Riverview Country Club |
83 |
83 |
|
Drew Panebianco, Talamore Country Club |
84 |
84 |
|
Tom Davis, Saucon Valley Country Club |
84 |
84 |
|
Steve R. Crain, PGA Individual Member |
84 |
84 |
|
David Derminio, Saucon Valley Country Club |
84 |
84 |
|
Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club |
85 |
85 |
|
Ken Matt, Talamore Country Club |
DQ |
DQ |
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DQ-disqualification |
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