Reading Country Club Reading, PA
GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Philly Metro)
May 26, 2012
Reading Country Club in Reading, PA, a classic Alexander Findlay design from 1923, was the venue for the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Philly Metro) tournament on May 26, 2012. This was a return visit after an excellent tournament at this venue in 2011. Forty-four tour members in five flights competed for trophies on a hot and humid partly sunny afternoon. The golf course was in excellent condition with fast greens and challenging rough, thanks to Director Of Golf Tom Morgan and his capable staff. Reading Country Club, rich with history, remains a true classic. The course features some of the most challenging Par 3 holes in the area, with many elevation changes. Narrow fairways and small greens add to the challenge. The event raised $90.00 for the GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour’s charity partner, Stand Up 2 Cancer.
The tour welcomed new members Cesar Martinez and Ben Hollinger to the CHAMP Flight. We had three players visiting from the DC Metro Tour: Tracy Hodge (A), Andrew Campbell (A), and Karl Yergey (D).
In the Championship Flight, new member Cesar Martinez posted a 1-stroke victory over returning CHAMP Flight titleholder Greg Heisen 80 ( 39-41) and Andrew Neal 80 (37-43); Heisen took 2nd place on a match of cards. Martinez’s round of 79 (37-42) included a great birdie on the difficult Par 3 8th hole. Neal was tied with Martinez after 9 holes, and went ahead briefly on the back-nine; the match turned on the downhill Par 3 15th hole when Neal took a double-bogey 5. Gary Greenberg’s 83 (37-46) included 3 birdies, but he struggled on the difficult back-nine to a 4th place finish.
In the A Flight, DC Metro Tour member Tracy Hodge won his second straight event with a fine round of 79 (42-37), which included a great birdie on the Par 3 10th hole. Second place went to John DiValentino, Jr. 80 (39-41) on a match of cards over John Poole (35-45). Hodge’s back-nine 37 included 2 birdies and 3 bogeys; it was the lowest back-nine score by 4 strokes of any player in the field. Way to go, Tracy! Dennis Begley was another 3 strokes back in 4th place with a round of 83 (39-44).
The B Flight champion was Kevin Cockerham with a stellar round of 80 (38-42). Jim Checksfield 82 (40-42) placed 2nd on a match-of-cards over Jon DeMinico 82 (38-44 . Jim’s round included two great birdies on the back-nine – the par 4 13th hole and the difficult downhill par 3 15th hole. Kevin is the returning B Flight overall winner for 2011; this was his first victory of the season.
In the C Flight, two players battled head to head for the trophy. Kyle Mazza 90 (44-46) bested Max Lamberto 93 (45-48) by 3 strokes. This was Kyle’s second victory of the season.
The D Flight champion was Ken Wilson who carded a round of 93 (40-53), for a one-stroke victory over Dynamo David Neder 94 (41-53). Ken started his day with a great birdie on the Par 4 1st hole. Both players struggled in the heat and humidity on the back-nine. Kirie Kontostathis 94 (44-51) was another stroke back.
The GOLFWEEK Amateur Tour (Philly Metro) moves on to The Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ. for a two-day Tour Major event on Saturday June 9th and Sunday June 10th, 2012. This event is being held together with the Metro NY Tour. We will play two Roger Rulewich designed golf courses: Ballyowen and Wild Turkey, both of which have received design awards from GOLWEEK Magazine.
SKINS & CTP 05-26-12
Hole #2 - Dave DiValentino (Birdie “3”)
Hole #7 - Gary Greenberg (Birdie “3”)
Hole #8 - Cesar Martinez (Birdie “2”)
Hole #10 - Tracy Hodge (Birdie “2”)
Hole #12 - Doug Hilgenberg (Birdie “3”)
Hole #13 - Jim Checksfield (Birdie “3”)
Hole #15 - Jim Checksfield (Birdie “2”)
Hole #16 - Steven Mumford (Birdie “3”)
Skins paid $45.00 each
CTP #4 – Tracy Hodge
CTP #6 – Rick Dengler
CTP #8 – Cesar Martinez
CTP #10 – Greg Heisen
CTP #15 – Jim Checksfield
CTP paid $35.00 each