Mason-Dixon Matches: Golf Association of Philadelphia prevails
Baltimore Country Club
(Baltimore Country Club Photo)
BALTIMORE, MD (October 23, 2016) -- The visiting Golf Association of Philadelphia won the first three matches and rolled to an 8-4 margin in singles and an overall total of 11 1/2 - 6 1/2 to win the 65th Mason-Dixon Matches between GAP and the Middle Atlantic Golf Association held at Baltimore Country Club's East Course.
The triumph snapped a four-year Philadelphia losing streak and raised its series lead to 33-27 (plus five ties). Where Saturday play was marked by sunny but wind-swept conditions with gusts to 40 m.p.h. buffeting the players in 50-degree weather, Sunday was a bit better with sun, less wind, and warmer temperatures.
The visitors had managed a 3 1/2 - 2 1/2 lead after the first day's Four-Ball matches and seniors Doug Fedoryshyn and Glenn Smeraglio, plus junior Ron Robinson, quickly opened a 6 1/2 - 2 1/2 gap and were not seriously challenged thereafter. Team captain David Brookreson had matched a veteran with a newcomer in four Four-Ball pairings, winning two of them, then had better success in the singles as three rookies produced victories -- Fedoryshyn, Robinson, and Jay Whitby.
GAP's domination was clear, as it won twice by 5 and 4, and twice by 4 and 3, while all four MAGA wins were achieved on the 18th green.
Ben Warnquist, from Manor CC, the 2015 Maryland State Amateur champion, used five birdies to get to 3 up a couple of times on Max Siegfried, led 2 up through 16, lost 17, then halved 18 for the victory. Dan Falls, whose first M-D appearance was in 1992 when he was the MAGA's Junior representative, was 3 up after No. 6, lost the next four, then steadied to close out Scott McLaughlin by winning 16-17-18 for a 2-up decision.
Matt Sughrue, from Bethesda CC, squeezed out a 1-up verdict over John Brennan, who was 8-3-1 in six previous starts, then lost twice this time. Tim Kane, Columbia CC, was 3 up with three to go against Ben Smith, lost 16-17, then halved 18 to hang on for the win.
The 2017 Matches will be held at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club.
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ABOUT THE
Team matches between teams representing
the
Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) and the
Middle Atlantic Golf Association (MAGA).
Field: 12 players, 1 Junior, 2 Seniors and 9
players at large, from the Golf Association of
Philadelphia and the Middle Atlantic Golf
Association.
Format: Eighteen holes Four-ball match play
on
Saturday. Eighteen holes Individual match
play
on Sunday.
Eligibility: Players selected by the Executive
Committee.
View Complete Tournament Information