(L-R) Brewer, GAP Prez Dan Burton, Brookreson

Brookreson defeated clubmate Craig Scott in 20 holes for the Senior Division title while Brewer, the tournament’s namesake, stopped a gritty Charles McClaskey of Wyncote GC, 3 & 2, for the Super-Senior Division crown at a steamy Huntingdon Valley CC.

"It’s not easy to describe," said Brewer, a former seven-time Huntingdon Valley club champion. "Winning any tournament is great. Winning the inaugural Brewer Cup is extra special. And to do it here at Huntingdon Valley adds to that."

Added Brookreson, the 2004 Senior Club Champion, "Winning the championship is great. When it’s at your home course and when the trophy’s got [Gordon’s] name on it, it makes it special. I’ve known [Gordon] for 40 years. It seems to me he’s gotten better with age."

Brewer’s scorecards back that up. He was in red figures in all three of his Super-Senior matches this week including a 3-under total in the 16 holes of the final. He birdied No. 15 (par 5, 538 yards) after his hybrid from 254 yards grazed the flagstick in two to remain 2-up at the time and No. 16 (par 4, 363 yards) when he knocked a sand wedge from 81 yards to a foot and a half to close out the match.

McClaskey did all he could to challenge Brewer. He hit 15 of 16 greens en route to shooting even par in those 16 holes.

"It’s always tough to beat your friends," said McClaskey, 69, of Elkton, Md. "Gordon and I play together in a lot of team events together. We both played solid golf today."

Both Brewer and McClaskey pointed to the sixth hole (par 4, 392 yards) as the turning point of the match.

Brewer was 1-up at the time when he smacked his drive into the right hazard. McClaskey found the green in two but was left with a difficult 25 footer downhill putt. Brewer took a penalty stroke and rocketed a fantastic cut shot from 173 yards just to the back edge of the green and managed to get up-and-down for bogey. McClaskey rolled his speedy putt 10 foot past and missed the comebacker.

Two holes later Brewer registered another birdie to go 2-up and McClaskey was in trouble.

"I don’t know what happened," said Brewer, 71, of Pine Valley, N.J., talking about his game. "You can’t explain or understand it. I couldn’t have had any less confidence coming in here. I wasn’t even sure I could even qualify. I began to hit it pretty good in the qualifying round. Then I just kept playing better in each round."

In the Senior Division final, neither Brookreson nor Scott held more than a 1-up advantage at any time. A Scott par on No. 13 (par 3, 166 yards) gave him a 1-up edge heading into the final stretch.

The two then halved the next three holes before a poor hybrid tee shot on No. 17 (par 3, 205 yards) found the creek on the left side. Brookreson safely found the green with his long iron and the two were All Square with a hole to play.

On No. 18 (par 4, 428 yards), both registered unforced bogeys after both played approaches from the middle of the fairway. On the first extra hole, No. 1 (par 4, 382 yards), Brookreson made a fantastic up-and-down from the back left fringe and Scott two putted for par to keep the match going.

On the second playoff hole (No.2, par 4, 432 yards), Brookreson found the fairway and ripped a 7-iron from 162 yards to 20 feet. Scott’s tee ball found the right trees but got a fortunate kick back into the fairway. He launched a 3-wood from 260 yards that stopped about 20 yards short of the green. However, his par save missed and Brookreson two-putted for the win.

"It was just weak legs," said Scott, 59, of Marshalls Creek, Pa., about his final tee shot. "On any day, any one can beat the next one. I played good enough golf to make the final. It was a treat."

Scott turned in the highlight of the semifinals earlier in the day, when he drained a 25-foot, right-to-left sweeping putt on No. 18 to defeat Michael Dougherty of Huntingdon Valley CC, 1-up.

--Courtesy GAP

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