Chylinski and Hyland Win Senior Four-Ball While McGuire and Ruby Threepeat in Super-Senior
ORWIGSBURG, Pa. - Ed Chylinski of Chester Valley Golf Club and Thomas Hyland of Moselem Springs Golf Club went four strokes under par in their last seven holes to finish with a two-round total of 138 (-6) to win the 24th Senior Four-Ball Championship, presented by Allegheny Health Network, at Schuylkill Country Club. In the Super-Senior Division, Mike McGuire and Joe Ruby made it a threepeat with a five-stroke victory and a score of 137 (-7).
Chylinski and Hyland battled from three shots back after round one. They got off to a quick start with a pair of birdies by Hyland before consecutive bogeys dropped them back to even par for the day. However, the bogey on No. 4 would be the last of the tournament for the team, as they made three more birdies and an eagle en route to a second round score of 67 to edge the duo of Ken Phillips (Lancaster CC) and Oscar Mestre (Overbrook GC).
"We didn't even look at the leaderboard until the 16th hole today," Hyland said. "When we made birdie on No. 12, Ed really started dialing it in. He took over on the back nine for us."
For Chylinski, taking over on the back side meant a nice birdie on No. 14 followed by a great save for par on 15, and then of course, the eagle on the par-5 17th hole to win the tournament. Making it even more special were the multiple rain delays in round two that made even finishing the round look in doubt for a significant portion of the day.
Phillips and Mestre, meanwhile, entered the day just like Chylinski and Hyland after a first round 71. And with three birdies and a bogey-free front nine, they put themselves in position to win. Another birdie on No. 14 put them at -4 for the championship. A bogey on the par-4 15th hole slowed the momentum, but the team then birdied both 16 and 17 to get to 6-under par. However, a bogey on the 18th hole had them settling for a two-round total of 139, just a shot behind Chylinski and Hyland.
In the Super-Senior side, McGuire (Hannastown GC) and Ruby (Nemacolin Woodlands) were the prohibitive favorites coming in as two-time defending champions, and after a score of 65 in the opening round, they held a five-stroke advantage on their nearest competitors. They started slow with a bogey on the par-3 fourth hole and another on No. 7. McGuire, in his words, "ran into an 8-footer" for birdie on the par-5 eighth hole, and that seemed to jump start the team a bit. Ruby made birdie on No. 10 after a beautiful approach shot. They dropped one shot on the 13th hole, but another birdie by Ruby on No. 14 cemented the cushion they'd need as they cruised to victory.
"Today was a bit of a struggle when we got started," McGuire said. "But it came together in the end. Fortunately we played well enough yesterday to withstand that."
For Ruby, it was important on a classic Donald Ross design like Schuylkill CC to keep the ball in good position, and that's what he was able to do throughout the 36 holes.
"This course is outstanding," Ruby said. "It's not one where you have to kill the ball off the tee, but if you get in the wrong position, it's all you can do to two-putt."
Hyland echoed the Super-Senior champions' compliments on the golf course.
"This course ... I tell everybody what a great place this is," Hyland said. "I told some guys yesterday that I'd never seen better hospitality anywhere!"
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership at Schuylkill Country Club for that aforementioned hospitality in hosting another great championship.
