2024 Pennsylvania Mid-Am Day 1 Recap
FLEETWOOD, Pa. – The final event of the 2024 Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) season got off to a rousing start on Monday at Moselem Springs Golf Club. The first round of the 31st Annual Mid-Amateur Championship featured six players under-par, including Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Brendan Borst leading the way with a four-under-par 66. Borst birdied four holes on the front nine (2, 4, 7, and 9) as well as 12 and 14 on the back nine. Bogeys on 8 and 15 were the only setbacks in a stellar round.
“Overall I made a lot of good decisions, which is unique for me,” said Borst. “I rolled in a few putts early which helped me to settle in. I hit a lot of 2-irons into a good spot on the fairway and then hit it onto the green. I felt like if I missed the green I got up-and-down most of the time so it was a pretty good day. It was my first round ever here. I heard good things, I was excited to play, and it was a good setup today. The last time I think I was leading an individual event was probably the State Junior when I was 16 or 17 so it’s been a minute! We’ll see how tomorrow goes but I’m looking forward to it.”
Troy Vannucci of Philadelphia Publinks, the reigning GAP Player of the Year, trails Borst by just a single stroke and finished Monday with a three-under-par 67. Vannucci played nearly mistake-free golf for 17 holes, including birdies on holes No. 4, 5, 8, and 10, but a bogey on 18 denied him a share of the round one lead with Borst.
Behind the top two is a pair of players tied for third at 68 (-2): Huntingdon Valley Country Club’s Andy Butler—who was the 2022 PAGA Mid-Am champ—and Schuykill Country Club’s Patrick Rutter. Both competitors birdied five holes on the day.
Another duo is knotted up at 69 (-1) in fifth place: LedgeRock Golf Club’s Grant Skyllas and South Hills Country Club’s Darin Kowalski. Skyllas is also a former PAGA Mid-Am medalist, winning the event in 2014—which was also held at Moselem Springs.
A group of six golfers shot even-par 70’s on the day and is still within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard. Included in this group is Hannastown Golf Club’s Kevin Fajt (who has been one of best amateurs in the state all summer), as well as Josh Anderson (LedgeRock GC), Andrew Forjan (Royal Manchester Golf Links), Brandon Knaub (Country Club of York), Mark Miller (Philadelphia Cricket Club), and Brad McFadden (Merion GC).
Defending champion Zach Dilcher is tied for 28th with a three-over-par 73.
The Team Championship leaderboard is led by the Philadelphia Cricket Club pair of Borst and Miller, who sit at four-under-par. Trailing them are two teams at one-over from LedgeRock Golf Club: Anderson/Brock Kovach as well as Skyllas/Chris Storck.
Play continues on Tuesday with the final round of the two-day Championship, with tee times beginning at 8 a.m.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Moselem Springs Golf Club for the hospitality shown during today’s rounds. Additional thanks, as always, go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.