August 2016 Month In Review

August 2016

Month In Review Presented By:

Bidermann Golf Course

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—BIDERMANN GOLF COURSE

August 1, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (76) - Ryan Jacobs T-2nd Place (79) - Matthew Chalupa T-2nd Place (79) - Kaden Kinard Boys 13-15 1st Place (72) - Peter Garno T-2nd Place (73) - Richard Kline III T-2nd Place (73) - Ryan D’Ariano Girls 16-18 1st Place (82) - Brianna Marmorstein 2nd Place (86) - Casey Oppenheimer 3rd Place (89) - Natalie Jacobs Girls 16-18 1st Place (88) - Grace Wang 2nd Place (90) - Victoria Kim 3rd Place (98) - Olivia Schwandt 12 & Under 1st Place (37) - Evan Barbin 2nd Place (39) - Win Thomas 3rd Place (43) - Matthew Homer Click here to view Full Press Release

Girls 12-13

Drive, Chip and Putt Results

1st Place (124) - Brooke Oberparleiter

August 2, 2016

2nd Place (108) - Olivia Schwandt

Boys 14-15

3rd Place (101) - Kyleen Mccance

1st Place (163) - Luke Watson

Girls 10-11

2nd Place (141) - August Blatney

1st Place (118) - Angelina Tolentino

3rd Place (137) - Alex Mulrooney

2nd Place (106) - Tori Barson

Boys 12-13

3rd Place (103) - Megan Kirkpatrick

1st Place (140) - Colin Wong

Girls 7-9

2nd Place (138) - Nathan Guertler

1st Place (94) - Charli Troxell

3rd Place (137) - James Flickinger

2nd Place (91) - Kayley Roberts

Boys 10-11

3rd Place (86) - Reese Walizer

1st Place (135) - Michael Maslanka

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2nd Place (128) - Davin Lysik 3rd Place (113) - Tommy Marshall

Boys 7-9 1st Place (128) - Trevor Sikorski 2nd Place (97) - Nicholas Yagnik 3rd Place (91) - Hank Kancher

Girls 14-15 1st Place (136) - Haley Quickel 2nd Place (128) - McKylie Boreman 3rd Place (116) - Emily Luu

DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT— SUB-REGIONAL QUALIFIER AT THE ACE CLUB

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Philadelphia PGA Central Counties Chapter Junior Championship

The ACE Club

August 4-5, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (70-75-145) - Jacob Macinanti 2nd Place (76-73-149) - Gunnar Gale T-3rd Place (76-74-150) - Nathaniel Hiriak T-3rd Place (75-75-150) - Matthew Marino

Boys 13-15 1st Place (73-77-150) - Alex Mulrooney 2nd Place (76-79-155) - Andrew Wallace T-3rd Place (81-77-158) - Nikita Romanov T-3rd Place (76-82-158) - Stephen Lorenzo

Men 17-24 1st Place (81-76-157) - Robert Bass 2nd Place (83-82-165) - Richard Vanni 3rd Place (87-82-169) - Joshua Sheehan

Women 17-24 1st Place (88-92-180) - Carly Dorminy 2nd Place (90-98-188) - Anna Haley 3rd Place (95-98-193) - Samantha Thompson

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Avalon GC

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—Philmont Country Club

Philmont Country Club

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Blue Bell CC

August 5, 2016 Girls 16-18 1st Place (78) - Liv Julianna 2nd Place (83) - Casey Oppenheimer 3rd Place (88) - Kendel Abrams

Girls 13-15 1st Place (85) - Sunshine Gu 2nd Place (96) - Jessica McClellan 3rd Place (103) - Grace Enright

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—BENSALEM TOWNSHIP COUNTRY CLUB

Bensalem Township Country Club

August 8, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (73) - Trey Kuntz 2nd Place (73) - Jacob Macinanti 3rd Place (74) - Teddy Davis

Boys 13-15 1st Place (68) - Richard Kline III 2nd Place (69) - Mason Gattuso 3rd Place (76) - Matthew Bilson

Girls 16-18 1st Place (90) - Alexandra Lowder T-2nd Place (91) - Gina Lizzo T-2nd Place (91) - Grace Stillman

Girls 13-15 1st Place (88) - Amanda Gerrish

12 & Under 1st Place (38) - Maxwell Wager 2nd Place (40) - Kevin Lafond

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Hickory Valley GC

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—BENT CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

Bent Creek Country Club

Talamore Country Club

Boys 16-18 1st Place (71-72-143) - Benjamin Pochet 2nd Place (77-74-151) - Michael Sydnes 3rd Place (73-79-152) - Andrew Gallagher

Boys 13-15 1st Place (77-73-150) - Stephen Lorenzo 2nd Place (74-83-157) - Hayden Moffat 3rd Place (79-82-161) - Francis Gregor

Girls 16-18 1st Place (90-86-176) - Karly Brown

Men 17-24 1st Place (70-79-149) - Tom Fisher 2nd Place (88-83-171) - Andy Ring

Women 17-24 1st Place (80-75-155) - Minuette Laessig 2nd Place (81-78-159) - Hannah Fireman 3rd Place (80-83-163) - Anna Haley

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—TALAMORE COUNTRY CLUB

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Ba GC

August 8-9, 2016

August 9, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (74) - Jacob Liberman 2nd Place (74) - Matthew Davis 3rd Place (75) - Kohltin Bartlow

Boys 13-15 1st Place (77) - Morgan Lofland 2nd Place (79) - James Leroux T-3rd Place (80) - Alec Stern T-3rd Place (80) - Tyler Teague

Girls 16-18 1st Place (85) - Camille O’ Halloran 2nd Place (87) - Liv Juliana 3rd Place (91) - Casey Oppenheimer

Girls 13-15 1st Place (86) - Victoria Kim 2nd Place (88) - Grace Enright 3rd Place (92) - Grace Wang

12 & Under 1st Place (41) - Darren Nolan 2nd Place (42) - Kevin Lafond T-3rd Place (45) - Kristof Kopecky T-3rd Place (45) - Christopher Buysse

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Hickory Valley GC

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—LANDIS CREEK GOLF CLUB

Landis Creek Golf Club

Paxon Hollow Country Club

Boys 16-18 1st Place (70) - Michael Sydnes 2nd Place (72) - Cal Buonocore T-3rd Place (73) - William Foxman T-3rd Place (73) - Drew Steinmetz

Boys 13-15 1st Place (74) - Ryan McCabe 2nd Place (74) - Nikita Romanov 3rd Place (76) - Austin Barbin

Girls 16-18 1st Place (88) - Grace Hickey 2nd Place (89) - Liv Juliana 3rd Place (101) - Andrea Cho

Girls 13-15 1st Place (83) - Christina Carrol 2nd Place (91) - Grace Wang 3rd Place (103) - Caitlyn Hagerty

12 & Under 1st Place (42) - Jack Davis 2nd Place (42) - Austin Barbin 3rd Place (46) - Kristof Kopecky

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—PAXON HOLLOW COUNTRY CLUB

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Ba GC

August 11, 2016

Country Club of Scranton

Boys 16-18 1st Place (79) - Tyler Marchese 2nd Place (80) - Sebastian Cimoch 3rd Place (81) - Ryan Keyes

Boys 13-15 1st Place (78) - Logan Paczewski 2nd Place (83) - Davis Flannery 3rd Place (84) - Martin Cryan

Girls 16-18 1st Place (112) - Sara Hall

Girls 13-15 1st Place (87) - Lauren Golden 2nd Place (93) - Morgan Sohosky 3rd Place (116) - Audrey Schuebel

12 & Under 1st Place (39) - William Pabst 2nd Place (41) - Michael Maslanka 3rd Place (45) - James Flickinger

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS - SPRING HOLLOW GC

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—COUNTRY CLUB OF SCRANTON

August 15, 2016

Harry Hammond Invitational

August 16, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (69) - Christopher Warner 2nd Place (69) - Dawson Anders 3rd Place (70) - Michael Sydnes

Boys 13-15 1st Place (85) - Grant Gonka

Girls 16-18 1st Place (82) - Caprian Kan 2nd Place (83) - Kendel Abrams 3rd Place (85) - Brianna Marmorstein

Girls 13-15 1st Place (99) - Savanna Haas

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—WYNCOTE GOLF CLUB

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Cripple Creek G &CC

Wyncote Golf Club

August 16, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (72) - Sebastian Cimoch 2nd Place (76) - Ryan Keyes 3rd Place (80) - Mason Gattuso

Boys 13-15 1st Place (77) - Logan Paczewski 2nd Place (80) - Martin Cryan 3rd Place (89) - Benjamin Galko

Girls 16-18 1st Place (104) - Sara Hall

Girls 13-15 1st Place (88) - Morgan Sohosky 2nd Place (120) - Audrey Schuebel

12 & Under 1st Place (39) - William Pabst 2nd Place (44) - Maxwell Wager 3rd Place (45) - Michael Maslanka

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Bear Trap Dunes

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—STONE HEDGE GOLF CLUB

Stone Hedge Golf Club

August 17, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (78) - Ryan Keyes T-2nd Place (81) - Corbin Babyak T-2nd Place (81) - Sebastian Cimoch T-2nd Place (81) - Holdan Hitchcock T-2nd Place (81) - Timothy Gaudette

Boys 13-15 1st Place (74) - Logan Paczewski 2nd Place (75) - Jordan Pick

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Bayside Resort

3rd Place (81) - Nate Trout

Girls 16-18 1st Place (89) - Sophia Mancuso 2nd Place (107) - Sara Hall

Girls 13-15 1st Place (90) - Lauren Golden 2nd Place (91) - Morgan Sohosky 3rd Place (99) - Jessica McClellan

12 & Under 1st Place (39) - William Pabst 2nd Place (43) - Michael Maslanka 3rd Place (44) - Maxwell Wager

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—ELMHURST COUNTRY CLUB

Elmhurst Country Club

Hamilton Farm Golf Club

Nikita Romanov/Akhil Giri Vs. Max Sorger/Brandon Valvano Match halved

August 19, 2016

9-9

Alex Mulrooney/Carson Bacha Vs. Clement Shao/Tyler Galantini Mulrooney/Bacha win 5&3

Fourball Match Results Casey Oppenheimer/Elizabeth Beek Vs. Julia McLaughlin/Tiya Chowdary Oppenheimer/Beek win 2&1

Andrew Forjan/Jonathan Lumley Vs. Colin Peters/Randall Lazzaro Peters/Lazzaro win 3&2

J.T. Spina/Liam Ward Vs. Pat Ryan/Alexander Imperatore Spina/Ward win 4&3

Buddy Hansen IV/Caleb Ryan Vs. Ben Steenland/Max Johnson Steenland/Johnson win 3&2

TOURNAMENT RESULTS - Bagboy Flourtown CC

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—HAMILTON FARM GOLF CLUB

Under Armor Jon M. Pritsch Cup

Caleb Ryan Vs. Max Johnson Johnson wins 6&4 J.T. Spina Vs. Pat Ryan Spina wins 7&6 Nikita Romanov Vs. Max Sorger Romanov wins 2&1 Casey Oppenheimer Vs. Julia McLaughlin Oppenheimer wins 5&4 Alex Mulrooney Vs. Clement Shao Mulrooney wins 2 up Jonathan Lumley Vs. Randall Lazzaro Lazzaro wins 2&1

Andrew Forjan Vs. Colin Peters Peters wins 2 up Akhil Giri Vs. Brandon Valvano Valvano wins 2&1 Buddy Hansen IV Vs. Ben Steenland Steenland wins 1 up Elizabeth Beek Vs. Tiya Chowdary Match halved Carson Bacha Vs. Tyler Galantini Bacha wins 2&1 Liam Ward Vs. Alexander Imperatore Imperatore wins 7&5 Click here to view Full Press Release

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—HAMILTON FARM GOLF CLUB

Singles Match Results

Championship Hartfeld National Golf Club August 22, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (69) - Zachary Barbin T-2nd Place (74) - Kohltin Bartlow T-2nd Place (74) - J.T. Spina

Boys 13-15 1st Place (74) - Stephen Lorenzo T-2ndPlace (74) - Jonathan Lumley T-2nd Place (74) - Nikita Romanov

Girls 16-18 1st Place (79) - Brianna Marmorstein 2nd Place (83) - Caprian Kan 3rd Place (85) - Alexandra Lowder 3rd Place (85) - Grace Hickey

Girls 13-15 1st Place (83) - Haley Quickel 2nd Place (84) - Sunshine Gu 3rd Place (87) - Elizabeth Beek

12 & Under 1st Place (38) - Henry Fish 2nd Place (39) - William Pabst 3rd Place (41) - Hannah Lydic

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—CC OF HARRISBURG

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—HARTFELD NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

BagBoy Junior Tour

Indian Spring Country Club

Boys 16-18 1st Place (73) - Akhil Giri 2nd Place (75) - Drew Skultety 3rd Place (77) - Nikita Romanov

Boys 13-15 1st Place (72) - Calen Sanderson 2nd Place (76) - Stephen Lorenzo T-3rd Place (78) - Andrew Miller T-3rd Place (78) - Ryan D’Ariano

Girls 16-18 1st Place (97) - Andrea Cho 2nd Place (106) - Grace Lombardi 3rd Place (117) - Mackenzie Cassidy

Girls 13-15 1st Place (81) - Taylor Oberparleiter 2nd Place (81) - Lily Yang 3rd Place (87) - Kayla Gutierrez

12 & Under 1st Place (43) - Kristof Kopecky 2nd Place (43) - Aaron Skii 3rd Place (45) - Chase Marinacci

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—INDIAN SPRING COUNTRY CLUB

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—WOODSTONE COUNTRY CLUB

August 26, 2016

Riverton Country Club

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—RIVERTON COUNTRY CLUB

August 29, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (67) - Andrew Gallagher 2nd Place (73) - Akhil Giri 3rd Place (75) - Connor Bekefi

Boys 13-15 1st Place (75) - Franklin Zhu 2nd Place (76) - Justin Dougherty T-3rd Place (77) - Mathew Hanzel T-3rd Place (77) - Tyler Boucher T-3rd Place (77) - Calen Sanderson

Girls 16-18 1st Place (89) - Morgan Kodluk 2nd Place (104) - Yoojin Chun

Girls 13-15 1st Place (86) - Taylor Oberparleiter 2nd Place (88) - Olivia Strigh 3rd Place (104) - Cecilia Priolo

12 & Under 1st Place (42) - Jack Dare 2nd Place (43) - Ryan Garvey 3rd Place (44) - Darren Nolan

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August 30, 2016 Boys 16-18 1st Place (80) - Andrew Wallace 2nd Place (81) - Shane Nocito 3rd Place (83) - Brock Nestory

Boys 13-15 1st Place (79) - James Leroux 2nd Place (81) - Dylan Gooneratne 3rd Place (82) - Kevin Motil

Girls 16-18 1st Place (97) - Yoojin Chun 2nd Place (97) - Marykate Chambers

Girls 13-15 1st Place (111) - Amanda Schuebel 2nd Place (120) - Audrey Schuebel

12 & Under 1st Place (40) - Kristof Kopecky 2nd Place (41) - Win Thomas 3rd Place (49) - William Huntley

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TOURNAMENT RESULTS—DOYLESTOWN COUNTRY CLUB

TOURNAMENT RESULTS—CHISEL CREEK GOLF CLUB

Doylestown Country Club

Jon M. Pritsch Cup

“Pritsch Perfect” Philadelphia Retains Cup

Joy and happiness can be taken away at a moment’s notice. Just ask the family of Jon M. Pritsch. Pritsch tragically lost his life 25 years ago during a pick-up game of basketball. His family – left grieving. His friends – lost for words. His legacy – strengthened.

Jon M. Pritsch was one of the nation’s best junior golfers. It seemed inevitable that he would make a career out of playing golf, but it was not to be. His parents though, wanted Pritsch to remain in golf long after his passing in a way that could make a lasting impact. And so, they began a golf tournament that was able to raise funds, over $175,000 to date, to send junior golfers to college.

Ten years ago, the Philadelphia Section PGA and the New Jersey Section PGA had an idea to have a Ryder Cup style match between the best junior golfers in each section. That’s when the Pritsch family got involved and the Jon M. Pritsch Cup was

Joy and happiness – The Philadelphia team certainly felt it as they retained the Pritsch Cup after winning it for the first time last year. The road was not easy though. With fourball and singles matches occurring in each pairing, players had to bring their best effort each and every shot. Philadelphia got out to an early lead, with many arrows pointing in their direction, but New Jersey would battle back in the closing stages of the round. With only a few matches left on the course, the result could go either way.

For Philadelphia, nine points would get the job done to retain. To win the cup back, New Jersey would need nine and a half. Neither team really had an advantage coming in and with two or three holes to play, still, neither team had an advantage.

When matches came in, New Jersey posted an early point lead, but the middle matches fell in Philadelphia’s favor. A couple of great shots down the stretch and Philadelphia retained the cup. While New Jersey was disappointed, tournament directors were quick to remind them just how big of an accomplishment it is for all players to have made the team, a feat sought by many and realized by only a dozen.

The Pritsch family arrived as the players did and watched the entire event unfold, as if they were watching their son battle it out for the Cup. While Jon M. Pritsch is no longer with us, his presence is still felt on the course. And if he was watching the 2016 Pritsch Cup unfold, he certainly was not disappointed.

Jon M. Pritsch Cup

born. A legacy continued by those looking to follow in the footsteps of Pritsch and make their way to the top of their game.

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series August 15-17, 2016 The Philadelphia Junior Tour spent three days in the Pocono Mountains as players competed for a watch, courtesy of tournament series sponsor, SKIMP. Players competing in each of the three tournaments would be eligible for the first place prize.

The week began at the Country Club of Scranton on Monday, August 15. The course was in magnificent shape and easily remembered for the large undulations on and around the greens.

Tyler Marchese (Moscow, PA) won the Boys 16-18 Division after completing his round of 79 (+7). The Boys 13-15 Division would go to Logan Paczewski (Dallas, PA) who fired a round of 78 (+6) to fin by five shots. Sara Hall (Mountain Top, PA) shot 112 (+40) in the Girls 16-18 Division, improving upon her front nine by 12 strokes as she made her way back to the clubhouse. Lauren Golden of Wyoming, PA captured the Girls 13-15 Division after she paced her way around the course, shooting an 87 (+15). William Pabst, from just down the road in Roaring Brook Twp, PA, would call this week a home game, and got off to a solid start by winning the 12 & Under Division with a score of 39 (+4).

Often refereed to as “Sea-Bass� by his fellow competitors, Sebastian Cimoch (Vandling, PA) lured in a win in the Boys 16-18 Division as he chipped in on the eighteenth hole for his third birdie of the day to shoot 72 (+1). Logan Paczewski picked up his second straight win in the series, carding a 77 (+6) to win the Boys 13-15 Division by a trio of shots. In the Girls 16-18 Division, Sara Hall improved upon her previous round, shooting a 104 (+33). Morgan Sohosky (Bloomsburg, PA) won the Girls 13-15 Division, shooting a score of 88 (+17). Earning his second win of the series with another 39 (+3), William Pabst put himself in good position heading to his home course the following day.

The third and final day of the Pocono rotation landed the players at Elmhurst Country Club. A cool morning gave players a break from the summer heat, but the intensity did not die down. The juniors battled it out, with many hoping to leave wearing a brand new SKIMP watch.

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series

The next stop on the Pocono swing was Stone Hedge Country Club on Tuesday, August 16. A unique layout and design gave players the feeling they were playing two separate golf courses on the front and back nines.

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series Ryan Keyes (Parsons, PA) won the Boys 16-18 Division with a 78 (+6), just three clear of the four-way tie for second. Logan Paczewski shot 74 (+2) , his low round of the series, to sweep his division. Sophia Mancuso (Jamison, PA) won the Girls 13-15 Division with a round of 89 (+17). After taking a break during Stone Hedge, Lauren Golden returned to action and picked up where she left off, winning the Girls 13-15 Division with a score of 90 (+18). On his home course, William Pabst said he expected better, but was still happy to shoot 39 (+3) and win all three tournaments in the series.

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series Winners: Boys 16-18: Sebastian Cimoch (80-72-81-233) Boys 13-15: Logan Paczewski (78-77-74-229) Girls 16-18: Sara Hall (112-104-107-323) Girls 13-15: Morgan Sohosky (93-88-91-272) 12 & Under: William Pabst (39-39-39-117)

JGS SKIMP Pocono Series

Philadelphia Junior Tour Championship

Philadelphia Junior Tour Championship Hartefeld National Golf Course August 22, 2016 The Philadelphia Junior Tour 2015-2016 season came to an end on Monday, August 22, but not without one last shot at victory for its members. The Junior Tour Championship—a chance for players to add their name alongside some of the best players to play on the PJT. Hartefeld National would prove to be a strong test of golf for players. Out of bounds and hazards could be found on nearly every hole on the course, meaning players would have to be on their game if they wanted a shot at victory, and a chance to hoist the cup.

As players began coming in, it seemed as if 74 (+2) was going to be the number to beat. Players coming in would match it, but none could quite break through and beat the clubhouse lead. That is until Zachary Barbin (Elkton, MD) shot 32 (-4) on his closing nine holes to fire a 69 (-3) and win the Boys Junior Tour Championship as well as the Boys 16-18 Division.

Winning the Boys 13-15 Division, Stephen Lorenzo (Lower Gwynedd, PA) was one of the five players posting a round of 74 (+2). His victory came down to a scorecard playoff in which he defeated two other players in his division also posting 74. Lorenzo carded a solid but quiet round, with one birdie, a few bogeys and the rest pars.

Brianna Marmorstein (Havertown, PA) won the Girls 16-18 Division with a round of 79 (+7). Her 79 was also good enough to capture the Junior Tour

In the Girls 13-15 Division, it was Haley Quickel (Middletown, DE) that finished on top. Her 83 (+11) included eight pars on the back nine and an eight on her final hole. Take away that hole and she may have found herself in a playoff with Marmorstein to duel it out for champion honors. Regardless, a solid performance by Quickel none the less.

Henry Fish of Malvern, PA won the 12 & Under Division with a score of 38 (+2). Fish played consistently throughout his round, carding all pars and just two bogeys to give him the win.

The players on the Philadelphia Junior Tour again showed this year the strength they have as players and as individuals. They continue to impress, with both the shots they hit and the way they act on and off the golf course. Golf has a way of molding a positive character into individuals. This 2015-2016 season may have just ended, but for many of these players, their string of successes is just beginning.

Philadelphia Junior Tour Championship

Championship among all girls competing at Hartefeld. Marmorstein carded a birdie on each nine en route to victory and ultimately hoisted the trophy at the end of her round.

A Rules of Golf Reminder: Rule

A Rules of Golf Reminder: Rule 13—Ball Played As It Lies (Part 1; 13-1 & 13-2) Rule 13– Ball Played As It Lies is one of the most critical rules in golf. Whether a player knows it or not this rule comes into play on just about every shot that is taken during a round of golf. Part one of this series will explore Rules 13-1 and 13-2. Next month 13-3 and 13-4 will be examined and explained.

What is Rule 13-1 All About: Rule 13-1 lays the foundation for one of the most important principles in the game of golf; play the course as your find it. Rule 131 simply states, “The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules.” Sounds simple enough, but a little thought leads to a lot of questions about what “played as it lies” really means. These questions are answered in 13-2 and explain what the last sentence, “expect as provided by the Rules” truly means.

“Except as provided in the Rules”: Rule 13-1 finishes by telling you there will be situations that the Rules will allow you not to play the ball as it lies. At first glance this might seem like the Rule is giving players an advantage in certain situations. However, these exceptions are for granting a player relief in situations where the course is not as it should be such as ground under repair or casual water, or things that are not part of the course such as obstructions. This also covers situations where it would be impossible to play a ball, like when a shot unfortunately finds the bottom of a water hazard.

What is 13-2 All About: Rule 13-2 begins to explain what “played as it lies” really means. The Rule states a player must not improve or allow to be improved: 

The position or lie of his or her ball



The area a player intends to swing



The players line of play and reasonable extension of this beyond the hole

The area which a player might drop or place a ball.

The Rule continues by specifically explaining ways which a player may improve these areas, such as: 

Pressing the club on the ground



Moving, bending or breaking anything fixed or growing



Eliminating or creating irregularities of surface



Removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, replaced divots or other cut turf



Removing dew, frost or water

Next, the Rule gives a few exceptions by which a player might improve these areas so that they may continue playing the game: 

Grounding the club lightly



Fairly taking their stance



Making a stroke or the backward movement of the club for taking a stroke



Creating or eliminating irregularities on the teeing ground or removing dew, frost or water from the teeing ground



Removing sand and loose soil on the putting green

The Rules are careful to only allow a player to do what is necessary to continue playing the game. For example, the Rules are very careful to full explain what “fairly” taking a stance is (See Decision 13-2/1) and any unnecessary actions will result in the player taking a two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. Although it is not explicitly stated by the Rules these actions are only okay when the ball lies through the green.

Next month we will explore actions that are prohibited in hazards in Rule 13-4.

A Rules of Golf Reminder:



Bidermann Golf Course Cripple Creek CC

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