James Gardas, Eric Williams capture
state Better-Ball Championship
HAWLEY, Pa.–Eric Williams of Honesdale, Pa., and James Gardas of Hawley, Pa., carded a final-round 68 to finish at 5-under par and capture the 19th Better-Ball Championship at Woodloch Springs (par 72, 6,554 yards) on Thursday. It was the first State Better-Ball title for the duo, but back-to-back team victories. The pair won the Anthracite Golf Association’s Better-Ball Championship two weeks ago.Williams and Gardas entered the final round two strokes back of co-leaders Adam and Jason Cohan of Wayne, Pa., and George Troutman of New Cumberland, Pa., and Ed Knoll of Etters, Pa. Those two duos carded 3-under-par 69s in the first round on Wednesday.
The Cohan brothers would eventually finish tied for second after a final-round 72 with Greg Ulp of Camp Hill, Pa., and Jeff Ernst of Carlisle, Pa. Both teams finished at 3-under par. The Troutman/Knoll team carded a second-round 75 and dropped into a tie for seventh.
“We had very high expectations coming into this event, not only due to winning two weeks ago, but this is pretty much our home course,” said Gardas. Both play out of Honesdale Golf Club but Gardas has been the general manager at Woodloch for five years and has been working at the club for 15 years. “We just had to go out there and play golf.”
Gardas and Williams have done well in the state better-ball over the past few years. They lost in a playoff in 2006 and finished ninth a last May.
“Six-under par was our goal going into the final round,” said Gardas, “because we knew how good the Cohans were. We also knew that it only takes one bad hole on this course to either get a few strokes back or totally give it away.”
That seemed to be the case on the front side.
Williams and Gardas carded a birdie on the 499-yard, par 5, 7th hole, while both Jason and Adam Cohan put their drives out of bounds and scrambled to a double-bogey seven.
“The course played a lot faster today with it being very windy both days,” said Gardas. “We really look forward to this event every year. It’s great to win it when it’s in your backyard.”
The Better-Ball Championship heads to Huntingdon Valley Country Club, in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., next year.
|
Name |
Club |
Rnd 1 |
Rnd 2 |
Total |
|
Williams, Eric W. / Gardas, James M. |
Honesdale Golf Club |
71 |
68 |
139 |
|
Ulp, Gregory / Ernst, Jeff |
Country Club of Harrisburg |
73 |
68 |
141 |
|
Cohan, Adam / Cohan, Jason |
Talamore Country Club |
69 |
72 |
141 |
|
Kline, Jr., Alan R. / Bohn, James D. |
Bucknell Golf Club |
73 |
69 |
142 |
|
Strohl, David / Blichar, David J |
Moselem Springs Golf Club |
70 |
72 |
142 |
|
Ross, Patrick D. / Nelson, Peter |
PGA Individual Member |
72 |
71 |
143 |
|
Corbett, Brian T. / Gill, Robert |
Huntsville Golf Club |
73 |
71 |
144 |
|
Knoll, Edward H. / Troutman, George E. |
Deer Run Golf Club |
69 |
75 |
144 |
|
Boyer, Bennett S. / Pugh, R. Scott |
Country Club of Harrisburg |
72 |
73 |
145 |
|
Lawler, William P. / Gregorczyk, Edward |
Fox Hill Country Club |
71 |
74 |
145 |
|
Davis, Christian S. / Dougherty, Matt S |
Glenmaura National Golf Club |
73 |
73 |
146 |
|
Geldhof, Gary / Hazzouri, Jr., Dr. Albert A |
Glenmaura National Golf Club |
74 |
72 |
146 |
|
Dorminy, Marty / Orr, Scott |
Golden Oaks Golf Club |
75 |
72 |
147 |
|
Dietrich, Matt / Simmons, Jim |
Whitford Country Club |
74 |
74 |
148 |
|
Shoup, Andy / Barkley, Jason |
Brookside Country Club of Allentown |
72 |
76 |
148 |
|
Vassil, Michael J. / Domanish, Michael J. |
Country Club of Scranton |
75 |
73 |
148 |
|
Gast, Corey / Kliewer, Craig S. |
Meadia Heights Golf Club |
72 |
76 |
148 |
|
Kilduff, Lynn T / Tarutis, Peter |
Huntsville Golf Club |
73 |
75 |
148 |
|
Prowant, Zachary P. / Choate, Warren J. |
Williamsport Country Club |
76 |
73 |
149 |
|
Cuddy, Matthew R. / Brunn, Jr., Art |
Huntsville Golf Club |
77 |
72 |
149 |
|
Miller, Chance W. / Cabry, Sean T. |
Meadia Heights Golf Club |
76 |
73 |
149 |
|
Kondracki, Anthony G. / Elias, George |
Fox Hill Country Club |
73 |
77 |
150 |
|
Rattigan, James G / Metza, Jeffrey |
Schuylkill Country Club |
74 |
76 |
150 |
|
Hoover, Matthew J. / Answini, Mark |
Fox Hill Country Club |
77 |
74 |
151 |
|
Howe, Thomas / Tamblyn, Jeff |
Honesdale Golf Club |
78 |
73 |
151 |
|
Sweeney, John K. / Campbell, Robert G. |
Lancaster Country Club |
78 |
74 |
152 |
|
Williams, Irv / Simons, Robert |
Honesdale Golf Club |
74 |
79 |
153 |
|
Llewellyn, Tim / Maurer, Matthew |
PGA Individual Member |
76 |
79 |
155 |
|
Nangle, Scott D. / Petrarca |
Eagle Rock |
82 |
75 |
157 |
|
Mahlstedt, Brian / Coldwater, Connor |
Glen Oak Country Club |
82 |
81 |
163 |