Overbrook GC’s Ray Thompson takes
48th Senior Amateur Championship title
ALLENTOWN, Pa.–Ray Thompson of Overbrook GC entered the state’s elder circuit with a dominant victory over a strong field in the 48th Senior Amateur Championship presented by Your Pennsylvania Toyota Dealers on Tuesday at Lehigh CC (par 70, 6,486 yards).Thompson, 55, of Drexel Hill, Pa., finished the two days and 36 holes in a spectacular 6-under par (136 total). Paul Schlachter of The Club at Nevillewood, the defending champion, placed second at 3-under par and Andy Thompson of Overbrook GC, Ray’s older brother, finished in third at 1-under par.
of Philadelphia CC with the Super-Senior Division trophy. |
Ray Thompson opened the second round with a three-shot lead on brother Andy and Ed Chylinski of Chester Valley GC after an opening-round 66. A pair of birdies and bogeys combined with a push from Andy cut Ray’s advantage to one after nine holes. However, Ray responded in style on the back side, carding birdies on No. 11 (par 5, 501 yards) with a smooth 4-iron from 218 yards to 15 feet and two putting, and a 6-iron on the par 3, 184-yard 13th to four feet. He would par the final five holes for the victory.
"That birdie on 13 turned out to be huge because it gave me a cushion," said Thompson. "It allowed me to par my way in."
Schlachter, 58, of Bridgeville, Pa., the top-ranked senior in the Golfweek rankings, did his best to surge into contention after a rough beginning. He bogeyed the opening two holes after a pair of poor second shots but responded with three birdies on holes 4-5-8 to make the turn at even par for the championship. He stood four shots back of Ray Thompson at the time. Schlachter continued to grind away and birdied No. 13 (par 3, 184 yards) with a 6-iron to 20 feet; No. 15 (par 4, 369 yards) with a 7-iron to four feet and No. 16 (par 3, 177 yards) with a 6-iron to six feet.
The round may have been just the beginning for Schlachter. He’s focused on fundamentals, lately, and that’s led to some uncharacteristic struggles.
"I’ve been playing my swing instead of playing golf," said Schlachter. "I’m to the point I’m kind of doing it decently on the range but haven’t got it to the course yet."
Schlachter finished his second round in 4-under-par 66.
Andy Thompson, 58, of Marple Newtown, Pa., pressed his brother with a 2-under-par 33 on the front nine behind birdies on Nos. 5 (par 4, 398 yards) and No. 8 (par 4, 381 yards), but fell back with two bogeys and no birdies on his inward side.
In the Super-Senior Division, for players 65 years of age and older, Richard Smith of Philadelphia CC posted a second-round 72 to finish at 1-over par for the two days and three strokes ahead of the field. The victory was Smith’s second Super-Senior Division title. He also captured that championship in 2004 at Saucon Valley CC. Smith has finished second the last two years.
"I won it three years ago at Saucon Valley so it’s nice to win it again," said Smith, 70, of Villanova, Pa. "I played solid all week. I had no double bogeys and I missed only one fairway over the two days."
Senior Division |
|||
Name, club |
Rd. 1 |
Rd. 2 |
Total |
Raymond Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club |
66 |
68 |
134 |
Paul Schlachter, The Club at Nevillewood |
71 |
66 |
137 |
Andy Thompson, Overbrook Golf Club |
69 |
70 |
139 |
Ed Chylinski, Chester Valley Golf Club |
69 |
73 |
142 |
Dennis M Perna, Spring Ford Country Club |
71 |
73 |
144 |
John Benson, Totteridge Golf Club |
74 |
70 |
144 |
David K. Brookreson, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
70 |
75 |
145 |
Francis McFadden, Overbrook Golf Club |
71 |
74 |
145 |
Don Donatoni, White Manor Country Club |
72 |
75 |
147 |
John Gonsior, The ACE Club |
74 |
73 |
147 |
Lee Lykens, Totteridge Golf Club |
76 |
71 |
147 |
Thomas Bartolacci, Jr., Saucon Valley Country Club |
74 |
73 |
147 |
Don H. Erickson III, Indiana Country Club |
76 |
72 |
148 |
Ed Hennigan, Fox Hill Country Club |
74 |
74 |
148 |
George Knapp, Uniontown Country Club |
72 |
76 |
148 |
John F Teel, Hanover Country Club |
71 |
77 |
148 |
Michael C Rowland, Lehigh Country Club |
77 |
71 |
148 |
Robert P Billings, Rolling Green Golf Club |
74 |
74 |
148 |
Andy Tompos, Lancaster Host Resort |
74 |
75 |
149 |
Bill Baloh, Greensburg Country Club |
72 |
77 |
149 |
Craig Scott, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
72 |
77 |
149 |
Gary D. Daniels, Saucon Valley Country Club |
74 |
75 |
149 |
Sam W. Lewis, Huntsville Golf Club |
72 |
77 |
149 |
Wally Swiger, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
73 |
76 |
149 |
Carl B. Everett, Merion Golf Club |
71 |
79 |
150 |
Edward Gregorczyk, Glenmaura National Golf Club |
75 |
75 |
150 |
Michael Rose, Philmont Country Club |
75 |
75 |
150 |
Mike McGuire, Hannastown Golf Club |
74 |
76 |
150 |
Peter Dellovade, Rolling Hills Country Club |
74 |
76 |
150 |
William P. Lawler, Fox Hill Country Club |
76 |
74 |
150 |
Dave DeNezza, Hannastown Golf Club |
76 |
75 |
151 |
Keith Li, Heidelberg Country Club |
76 |
75 |
151 |
Ed Blechschmidt, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
77 |
75 |
152 |
Frank S. Polizzi, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
76 |
76 |
152 |
Ted Beringer, Philadelphia Country Club |
78 |
74 |
152 |
Vincent A. Scarpetta, Jr., Glenmaura National Golf Club |
77 |
75 |
152 |
Bob Newcomer, Out Door Country Club |
75 |
78 |
153 |
Mark E. Shuman, Philadelphia Country Club |
75 |
78 |
153 |
Stephen E. Daley, Lu Lu Country Club |
77 |
76 |
153 |
Thomas Fleig, Colonial Country Club |
76 |
77 |
153 |
Allan T. Falvey, Bent Creek Country Club |
78 |
76 |
154 |
Daniel B. Burton, Bent Creek Country Club |
76 |
78 |
154 |
Len W. Coleman, Emanon Country Club |
75 |
79 |
154 |
Roc Irey, Cedarbrook Country Club |
77 |
77 |
154 |
Bob Allshouse, Hannastown Golf Club |
76 |
79 |
155 |
Fred Riley, Toftrees Golf Club |
76 |
79 |
155 |
James D Coleman, Rolling Green Golf Club |
78 |
77 |
155 |
Joseph M. Cordaro, Longue Vue Club |
79 |
76 |
155 |
William J Vostinak, Lehigh Country Club |
76 |
79 |
155 |
Frank T. Shuman, Lehigh Country Club |
78 |
78 |
156 |
James E Prendergast, Spring Ford Country Club |
76 |
80 |
156 |
Todd R Kennedy, Country Club of York |
77 |
79 |
156 |
Ed M Roberts, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club |
80 |
77 |
157 |
Eugene J Maginnis, Jr., Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
82 |
75 |
157 |
George H. May, Manufacturers Golf & Country Club |
80 |
77 |
157 |
Gibby Young, Hartefeld National |
70 |
87 |
157 |
John N Gershey, Jr., Country Club of Scranton |
82 |
75 |
157 |
Larry L. Novinger, Harrisburg North Golf Course |
79 |
78 |
157 |
Ronald R. Yarnell, Bent Creek Country Club |
78 |
79 |
157 |
Thomas S Pomroy, Windber Country Club |
80 |
77 |
157 |
Bernie Zbrzeznj, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club |
81 |
77 |
158 |
David A Kearney, Lehigh Country Club |
79 |
79 |
158 |
George Dimoff, West Shore Country Club |
76 |
82 |
158 |
James R. Haynie, Lu Lu Country Club |
78 |
80 |
158 |
Joe Ruby, Uniontown Country club |
80 |
78 |
158 |
Michael J. Nilon, Philadelphia Country Club |
80 |
78 |
158 |
Robert Majczan, Lookaway Golf Club |
78 |
80 |
158 |
William A Duncan, Carlisle Country Club |
77 |
81 |
158 |
Anthony Choy, Blue Ridge Country Club |
81 |
78 |
159 |
Charles W Jones, Philadelphia Publinks GA |
79 |
80 |
159 |
Gregory M Smee, Colonial Country Club |
81 |
78 |
159 |
Clyde W Shuman, Lehigh Country Club |
77 |
83 |
160 |
Jeff Ranck, Huntsville Golf Club |
83 |
77 |
160 |
Joel McFadden, Philadelphia Publinks GA |
82 |
78 |
160 |
Al Beeken, Longue Vue Club |
78 |
83 |
161 |
Ed Strickler, Huntingdon Country Club |
80 |
81 |
161 |
Richard Kovacs, Northampton Country Club |
84 |
77 |
161 |
Carlyle M. Robinson, Fox Hill Country Club |
79 |
83 |
162 |
Mark A Battista, Philadelphia Publinks GA |
82 |
80 |
162 |
Robert Marek, Carlisle Country Club |
80 |
82 |
162 |
Scott Yard, Whitford Country Club |
82 |
81 |
163 |
Charles J Whipple, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
84 |
81 |
165 |
Edward E Bondi, Huntingdon Valley Country Club |
84 |
81 |
165 |
J. Peter Pierce, Philadelphia Country Club |
85 |
81 |
166 |
Charles Caparo, Plymouth Country Club |
79 |
88 |
167 |
George Anderson, The ACE Club |
82 |
85 |
167 |
Gregory I Gaul, Merion Golf Club |
83 |
84 |
167 |
John C Snyder, Waynesborough Country Club |
84 |
83 |
167 |
Peter N. Gebhard, Lebanon Country Club |
81 |
86 |
167 |
Henry P McCullough, Rolling Green Golf Club |
84 |
84 |
168 |
Vernon C. Kelly, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club |
87 |
82 |
169 |
William J Marano, Rolling Green Golf Club |
82 |
87 |
169 |
Charles S. Rogalla, Country Club of Scranton |
83 |
87 |
170 |
Andrew Beechko, Country Club of Scranton |
85 |
86 |
171 |
C. Andrew Hobbie, Lehigh Country Club |
84 |
87 |
171 |
Tom O'Rourke, Chester Valley Golf Club |
89 |
82 |
171 |
William P. Fleckenstein, Elks Club of State College |
81 |
92 |
173 |
Al Pianelli, Fox Hill Country Club |
86 |
88 |
174 |
Albert J. Flora, Huntsville Golf Club |
88 |
86 |
174 |
John Pagana, Susquehanna Valley Country Club |
90 |
84 |
174 |
W. Garth Sprecher, Lancaster Country Club |
89 |
86 |
175 |
Joseph R Grubb, III, Honeybrook Golf Club |
83 |
97 |
180 |
Alan Beily, Deer Run Golf Club |
77 |
WD |
WD |
Donald Ashley, Philadelphia Country Club |
77 |
WD |
WD |
Donald S Landis, Lancaster Host Resort |
89 |
WD |
WD |
Frank Kunze, Spring Ford Country Club |
82 |
WD |
WD |
King T. Knox, Lancaster Country Club |
77 |
WD |
WD |
Martin Klagholz, Rolling Green Golf Club |
76 |
WD |
WD |
Thomas Lusto, PGA Individual Member |
77 |
WD |
WD |
Thomas Mairone, McCall Golf & Country Club |
89 |
WD |
WD |
Super-Seniors |
|||
Name |
Rd. 1 |
Rd. 2 |
Total |
Richard A Smith, Philadelphia Country Club |
69 |
72 |
141 |
Michael Kanoff, Jr., Colonial Country Club |
73 |
71 |
144 |
Phil Saylor, Sunnehanna Country Club |
71 |
74 |
145 |
Jay Y. Howson, Jr., St. Davids Golf Club |
77 |
72 |
149 |
George C Bilowick, Butler Country Club |
76 |
74 |
150 |
Curt Fromal, The Springhaven Club |
78 |
75 |
153 |
James R. Sherratt, Old York Road Country Club |
76 |
77 |
153 |
Warren W. Deakins, Philadelphia Country Club |
77 |
76 |
153 |
Don Lamb, St. Clair Country Club |
80 |
75 |
155 |
James Hoffer, West Shore Country Club |
76 |
79 |
155 |
A. Fred Rudy, Jr., Lancaster Country Club |
78 |
79 |
157 |
Bill Stasiulatis, West Shore Country Club |
81 |
77 |
158 |
A. Kent Weymouth, Jr., Lu Lu Country Club |
79 |
82 |
161 |
Ernest F. Eichenberg, III, Waynesborough Country Club |
81 |
80 |
161 |
Danny G Scheurich, Lancaster Host Resort |
84 |
78 |
162 |
Gary H. McQuone, Allegheny Country Club |
82 |
80 |
162 |
William Walk, Edgewood Country Club |
80 |
84 |
164 |
G. Clay von Seldeneck, Sunnybrook Golf Club |
79 |
86 |
165 |
Jim J. Callaghan, Rolling Green Golf Club |
81 |
84 |
165 |
Louis Degennaro, Country Club of Scranton |
81 |
85 |
166 |
Richard Genoni, Waynesborough Country Club |
80 |
86 |
166 |
Ronald D Schrotberger, Bent Creek Country Club |
88 |
80 |
168 |
Tom Balog, Bella Vista Golf Course |
83 |
89 |
172 |
Rocco J. Limongell, Fox Hill Country Club |
85 |
89 |
174 |
Tony Joseph, Windber Country Club |
84 |
90 |
174 |
John H. Guenther, Jr., Heidelberg Country Club |
76 |
WD |
WD |
WD-withdrawal |