A long golf course that played even longer due to soft fairways. Rough so thick it impeded the swing of even the strongest golfers. Large undulating greens that confounded even the most savvy players. Add gusting winds throughout the afternoon round.
That was the setting as Blue Bell Country Club presented an authentic title test in the 17th Montgomery County Amateur Championship.
For many, the scores were higher than usual. But the cream eventually rose to the top.
A scramble ensued – among some of the best collegiate golfers, and about-to-be collegiate golfers, in the area. When the dust settled, a familiar name was being engraved on the Fazio Trophy – emblematic of golf supremacy in Montgomery County.
Defending champion Ron Robinson, a sophomore-to-be at Monmouth University, rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the first sudden death playoff hole to defeat St. Joseph’s University incoming freshman J.T. Spina for the championship.
The Hatfield resident took the lead with an even-par 71 in the morning round at Blue Bell, a course where he has played well in the past. Something during the lunch break must not have agreed with him.
He started the afternoon round with five consecutive bogeys and lost the lead to Spina, who plays out of Spring-Ford CC. His father, John Spina, is one of the highly regarded teaching professionals in the area.
In the meantime, Lamar Saxon of Twin Ponds was on fire. He followed his opening round of 76 with five birdies in the afternoon round. He posted a six-over-par 148 and awaited the leaders. He was joined at 148 by Delaware sophomore Jack Melville, who qualified to play in the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach, and LaSalle sophomore-to-be David Kim.
But Robinson and Spina avoided the traffic jam below and moved to the sudden death playoff. Robinson’s winning birdie putt helped to soothe some of the wounds from earlier in the year.
“It’s been a tough year for me,” said Robinson. “I injured my wrist and wasn’t right until mid-July. I feel like I am just starting to come around now.”
He had no trouble hoisting the Fazio Trophy for the second time in two years. It was the fourth time that a player won back-to-back championships. Chet Walsh won the
first two titles in 2002-2003. Logan Terry won repeat titles in 2005-’06. Ben Feld, the current Drexel University golf coach, repeated in 2011-’12.
“That’s a pretty impressive list of players,” said Robinson. “I feel very honored to be in that company.”
Senior Division
LuLu Country Club’s Mark Czerniakowski gets a riding from his fellow competitors for being too old … and too young.
The 51-year-old Czerniakowski competed with the young bucks of the Golf Association of Philadelphia last week and qualified to play in the prestigious Patterson Cup. More than once he heard term “old man.”
Yesterday, at Blue Bell Country Club, he played in the Senior Division of the Montgomery County Amateur Championship and posted a 37-33—70 to rout a strong field of seasoned players. Matt Mingione of The 1912 Club, the 2016 runnerup, finished second again at 77. Andy Lykon of Makefield Highlands was third at 79.
“There was definitely some kidding about me being too young,” said Czerniakowski, who turned things around with a 2-under-par 33 on the back nine. “It was a nice experience. The course was in great shape and I struck the ball well.”
Super-Senior Division
Bruce Gladish of Sandy Run CC, posted a very impressive 74 to capture his fourth Super-Senior Divison title in the Montgomery County Amateur Championship.
Gerald Godshall of Macoby Run, playing in his first County Am, finished second at 78.
Women’s Division
Isabella DiLisio of Hatfield has proven to be one of the great names in Montgomery County Amateur Championship history. She won two Junior Girls Championships, then made history by becoming the first girl in Philadelphia golf history to win a championship playing against the boys, from the same tees. She won the overall Junior Championship in 2015.
Now she is a senior to be at Notre Dame and is embarking on a nine-day adventure to Scotland and Ireland with the entire Fighting Irish golf team.
But first she had to win the County Women’s Championship for a fourth and, possibly, final time. She could turn professional after graduating from Notre Dame next year.
She shot even-par 71 at Blue Bell CC, despite making a quadruple bogey 8 on the par 4 11th hole. Luckily she had a bit of breathing room. Finishing second at 75 was Megan McGowan. West Chester junior-to-be Julia Genuardi finished third at 80.
Montgomery County Amateur Championship, Blue Bell CC
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Championship Division 36 holes
Ron Robinson, Commonwealth Nat. 71-76—147 *(won playoff)
J.T. Spina, Spring-Ford 72-75—147
Lamar Saxon, Twin Ponds 76-72—148
David Kim, Commonwealth Nat. 76-72—148
Jack Melville, LuLu 75-73—148
Curtis Geiger, Raven’s Claw 79-71—150
Brent Schoeller, Huntingdon Valley 75-76—151
Dawson Anders, Indian Valley 75-78—153
Michael Sydnes, Talamore 75-81—156
Greg Welsh, Talamore 82-76—158
Thomas Butler, Indian Valley 76-83—159
Daniel Wu, Blue Bell 78-82—160
JH Park, Blue Bell 76-85—161
John Engle, Twin Ponds 82-80—162
Michael Flatlery Merion 83-82—165
Brent Mudry, Phila. Publinks 81-85—166
Clay Anders, Indian Valley 86-81—167
Joseph Kim, Commonwealth Nat. 85-83—168
Lenny Welch, Indian Valley 86-89—175
Thomas Schaffer, Spring-Ford 87-88—175
Cameron Byrne, Jeffersonville 90-87—177
Matt Milligan, Lederach 96-94—190
John Foley, Raven’s Claw WD
Senior Division
Mark Czerniakowski, LuLu 37-33—70
Matt Mingione, The 1912 Club 40-37—77
Andy Lykon, Makefield Highlands 37-42—79
Craig Melville, LuLu 41-41—82
Henry Wadsworth, Blue Bell 44-39—83
Gerald Henderson, Blue Bell 45-39—84
Steve Frost, Limekiln 49-37—86
Phil Sokol, Flourtown 44-43—87
Jay Catania, Blue Bell 46-42—88
Mark Lauer, Raven’s Claw 48-40—88
Dennis Begley, Flourtown 45-44—89
Steve Purdy, The 1912 Club 44-45—89
Super-Senior Division
Bruce Gladish, Sandy Run 38-36—74
Gerald Godshall, Macoby Run 39-39—78
Chuck Caparo, The 1912 Club 42-42—84
Richard Henseler, Blue Bell 43-45—88
Women’s Division
Isabella DiLisio, Indian Valley 33-38—71
Megan Grosky McGowan, Blue Bell 35-40—75
Julia Genuardi, Applecross 41-39—80
