LOCAL GOLF: NP's Powell qualifies for U.S. Girls Junior
Jul. 2—North Pocono High School senior Gwen Powell came home riding a natural high after earning a spot Thursday in the U.S. Women's Junior.
That might not be anything compared to the high she'll experience later this month.
The 17-year old fired an even-par 72 at the 1912 Club at Plymouth Meeting, sharing medalist honors and earning a berth in her first United States Golf Association event.
That tournament will be played on the Eisenhower Golf Club's Blue Course on the campus of the Air Force Academy from July 17-22, at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet.
"All I know is it's in Colorado," Powell said Friday while practicing on the range at Elmhurst Country Club.
And that qualifying for a USGA even is pretty special.
"The last three years I've played in (a qualifier) and this year I made the cut," said Powell, the reigning Times-Tribune girls player of the year. "It's just unbelievable, honestly. It still hasn't settled in yet, even when I heard the news on site. It just hasn't hit me yet.
"It's a very prestigious tournament so I'm just excited to have the experience, especially getting to meet new people around the country, and even around the world."
The USGA event features 36 holes of stroke play, with the low 64 continuing on to match play.
Like the event she'll be playing in, steady play and good putting were keys at the 6,348-yard qualifier.
"I was consistently in the fairways," Powell said. "My irons were pretty on, I hit almost every green and I made a lot of mid-range putts.
Powell made 14 pars, two bogeys, and two birdies in her final seven holes to earn co-medalist honors with Helen Yeung of Clarksville, Md., Angelina Tao of Coto De Caza, California, and Sydney Yermich of Wynnewood.
Familiarity with the course helped, too. A year ago, Powell played another junior event at the 1912 Club.
"There are some little things if I hadn't played there before I wouldn't have known, so it definitely helped a little bit."
Canoe Club
Chris Cuneo and Corey Cuneo took down defending champions Ryne Luce and Ricky Lochen on the final hole to win the championship flight of the men's member-guest event.
Mike Hopkins and Colin Hopkins were qualifying medalists with a 5-under 55, and Shaun Fortney and Mark Seamans scored holes-in-one during the tournament.
Flight winners: Championship, Chris Cuneo-Corey Cuneo; second, Chris Calder-Luke Fayocavitz; third, Dan Gilroy-Eric Aposh; fourth, Ted Rice-Mark Occhippinti; fifth, Carmen Caputo-Dan Santaniello; sixth, Tom Boles-Bryon Boles; seventh, Alex Behr-Michael Behr; eighth, Sean McDonough-Joe Price; ninth, Tony Price-Danny Price.
C.C. of Scranton
Michael Thomas and Gary Phillips ended the three-year reign of David Pompey and Alex Pompey, eking out a victory in a memorable member-member championship match that saw the players combine for 21 birdies and an eagle.
In the Senior Division, John Martines and Tex McGrath defended their title, knocking off the medalists, Bill Burkavage and John Voigt.
Other flights: First, Michael Lynch-Thomas Lynch over Mike Brown Sr.-Jake Brown; second, Matt Vassil-Ryan Vassil over Jamie Bell-Michael Brown Jr.; third, Jason Mesko-Thomas O'Brien over Andrew Bell-John Murray; fourth, Joey Karam-Quinn Karam over Walter Rosiecki-Thomas Hughes; fifth, Tony Libassi-Tom Tulaney over Al O'Donnell-Michael Coleman; sixth, Jack McGrath-Jeff Boyanoski over Bill Snyder-Marty Snyder; seventh, John Ryan-Jeff Ryan over David Scoblick-Mike Marion Jr.; eighth, Simon McAndrew-Jude McAndrew over Randy Peairs-Harrison Peairs.
Seniors: first, Terry Hurst-Paul LaBelle over Greg Borowski-Ken Rudolph; second, Conrad Bosley-Bob Parry over Jim Nasser-Tim Doherty.
Glen Oak C.C.
Frank Petrillo and Mike Kerzetski finished the alternate-shot shootout in par-birdie-par to claim the Gwil Maddock Memorial member-member championship.
Ned Dempsey and John Culkin took second, and Jamie Egan and Eric Montella, who made two eagles and a birdie in the first three holes, were third.
Flight winners and runners-up: Flight A, Egan-Montella, Brian Mahlstedt Jr.-Kyle Williams; B, John Connell-Jim Davis, Quentin Birch-Mitch Morgan; C, Tim Burns-Kevin Gorsline, Rick Dewey-Matt Naylor; D, Kerzetski-Petrillo, Robert Crofton-Pat Foley; E, Jesse Loughney-Scott Shimko, Al Senofonte-Nicky Senofonte; F, Sam Borgia-Max Borgia, Lee Namiotka-Leonard Namiotka; G, Dave Abel-Jody McGrail, Gary Borgia-CJ Borgia; H, Jim Cocolin-Mike Wolk, Sean Massey-Kevin Moylan; I, Greg Borgia-Matt Borgia, Tim O'Donnell-Scott Schoenberg; J, Michael Walsh Sr.-Michael Walsh Jr., Glen Goryeb-Gregg Goryeb; K, Jeff Rosenstein-Jacob Rosenstein, Spencer Liddic-Matt Nealon; L, Josh Klonoski-Sean Welenc, Joe Fontanella-Michael Thiel; M, John Culkin-Ned Dempsey, Nick Costanzo-Dave Mehall.
—Harvey Williams and Kyle Williams ripped it up with an 8-under 64 to win the parent-child tournament, topping Dave and Andrew Maddock by four, with Jim and Jamie Egan third after a 3-under 69.
Dave and Conner Abel won the net division with 61, a shot clear of Sid and Harrison Birch, and two better than Rick and Dave Bishop.
Flight winners: Ages 15-up, Serge and Gabrielle Levassseur, and Justin and Chris Pettigrew (tie); Age 11-14, Scott and Miles Shimko, Chris and Robert DiMattio; Ages 7-10, Sean and Bradley Timms, and Chris and Gavin Pettigrew (tie); Ages 6 and under, Mario and Mario Bevilacqua, Greg and Reagan Kane.
Honesdale G.C.
Jeff Tamblyn and Eamon Evans birdied the second playoff hole to nip Eric Williams and Matt Haley to claim the Simons-Markowski Cup in the 46-team Honesdale Golf Club member-guest.
Evans rolled in a 5-footer for eagle on the 17th hole to help the defending champs extend the match.
It was the second straight 20-hole affair for the champs, who needed two extra holes to dispatch Eric Odell-Tom McCauliffe in the semifinals. Williams-Haley edged Zach Tamblyn-Brian Brown, 1-up, in their semifinal.
Consolation flight winners were John Mikiewicz-Frank Kacvinsky with a 4-under 66.
Flight results: first, Corey Teeple-Kevin Karabin over George Garrick-John Pash, 2 and 1; consolation, John Werner-Hunter Thompson (73). Second, Chic Corrigan-Scott Corrigan over Dominick Panza-Brian Burns, 2 and 1; consolation, Matt Froncek-Harry Heck (69).
Third: Steve Murray-Tony Andrejko over Bob Simons-Bob Weber, 1-up, 20 holes; consolation, Frank Bannon-John Meyer (72). Fourth, Bill Hessling-Mike McLain over Sam Siepiela-John Logar, 1-up; consolation, Mike Miller-Kevin Miller (79). Fifth, Scott Miller-Rick Miller over Ron Collins-Ron Collins, 3 and 2; consolation, Jerry Dulay-John Leet (84).
—Bridget (Simons) Donovan and Julia Santo posted a 7-over 77 to win their third straight women's member-guest by four over Rae Ann Bishop-Julie Cerra, with Joanne Wychowanec-Rita O'Neill (87) third.
First flight, Christine Fritz-Taylor Rickard, Pip Tagle-Joanne Kroph; second, Debbie Menago-Terry Pohle, Theresa Dux-Colleen Dirlam.
Scott Greens G.C.
Bernie and Dave Mackrell, team Mac Attack, birdied their last three holes to finish with low score of the week, 2-under par 31, in the Wednesday Night Mixed League. Jane Allen, team Fairway to Heaven, had a little help from above with a chip-in on No. 4 to save par and continue her team's unbroken winning streak with partner Sheila O'Brien. Two teams tied for low net score with 28: Nerd Clusters, Chelsea and Josh Bundy; and the Travelin' Tees, Sharon Toman and Deb Smarkusky.
Stonehedge Golf Club
Earl Thomas and Kyle Canavy posted a two-round score of 4-under par to edge Damien LaRue and Mike Grimes, winning the member-member title.
The winners made up a two-stroke deficit, closing with a 1-under 70.
Bob Andrejko and Steve Mazur were third at even par, with Robin Bonda and Mike Peregrim fourth at 1 over.
Top three flight winners: first, Sean Frazier-Ryan Gilroy, Scott Bennett-Mike Drutarovsky, Ed Brown-Mike Wills; second, John Swank-Luke Swank, Kevin Murphy-Cullen Myers, George Travis-Jim Bedford Sr.
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