Bellewood Golf Club was the venue for the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Philly Metro) tournament on Saturday June 18th, 2011. Twenty-four tour members in five flights competed on a hot and sunny afternoon on an immaculately conditioned course. Bellewood is a private golf-only club that has been open for play since July 1999. The club spans a vast 171 acres in beautiful N. Conventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The property was once the estate of local business tycoon Mr. Edward Gruber; the estate’s mansion now serves as the clubhouse.
In the Championship Flight, Greg Heisen bested a field of four ‘CHAMPS’ by 6 strokes. Greg really is playing some fine golf recently. After a 2-over front nine, Greg shot an even-par back that included birdies on 15 and 18. Fred Hartwell finished in 2nd place with an 80.
The A Flight victory went to Joe Foley, his first on the GOLFWEEK AGT. After a closely matched front nine, Joe pulled away on the back with a 4-over par 40 to win the flight by 4 strokes over Bob Hobson. Joe’s front nine included s fine birdie 2 on the difficult Par 3 8th hole.
In the B Flight, Jon DeMinico and Tony White both came home in 81, 6 strokes ahead of the field. DeMinico carded a 3-over par 39 on the front nine for a 1-stroke lead over White, but was caught on the back nine when he double-bogeyed the 16th. White had a 1-stroke lead coming to 18, but DeMinico made a birdie 4 to force the playoff. DeMinico claimed his first GOLFWEEK AGT title with a par on the first playoff hole.
The C Flight champion Tim Turner once again distanced himself from the field with a round of 91, for an 11-stroke victory over Ken Wilson and Jeff Brodsky. Turner had a 3-stroke lead at the turn and never looked back over a steady back nine to claim his second GOLFWEEK AGT trophy.
In the D Flight, Dan Carter and Doug Johnson came home in 86, for a 2 stroke margin over a fast-closing Kyle Mazza, who scorched the back-nine in 39 strokes! The ensuing playoff went 2 holes before Johnson claimed his 2nd GOLFWEEK AGT trophy with a bogey 6 on the difficult 2nd hole, after Carter couldn't recover from a shot into the hazard.
The event raised $120.00 for the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour’s charity partner, Stand Up 2 Cancer.Everyone commented on the fantastic golf course and the way our members were treated by the staff at Bellewood. It was truly a "private club for a day" experience.
The Philly Metro Tour moves on to the P.B. Dye Golf Club in Ijamsville, MD for a joint-event with the Washington D.C. Metro Tour on Saturday June 25 at 11:00 AM. Following that we play on British Open Saturday July 16, 2011 at the sparkling McCullough’s Emerald Links in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ – a true links style course!