2007 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PENNSYLVANIA GOLF ASSOCIATION President MARK A. STUDER ............................................ Oakmont Country Club Vice-President DR. RANDALL L. VALENTINE .................................. The Kahkwa Club Vice-President RAYMOND C. MOTT .......................... Dauphin Highlands Golf Course Secretary-Treasurer CHARLES R. DANNENBERG .................................... Merion Golf Club Members of the Executive Committee JAMES J. CALLAGHAN ................................. Rolling Green Golf Club WILLIAM R. DAVIS, JR. .......................... Chambersburg Country Club RICHARD L. FALCHETTI .............................. Kittanning Country Club *DR. JOSEPH E. GREEN, III .............................. Carlisle Country Club KING T. KNOX .................................................Lancaster Country Club DR. JAMES J. MAHONEY ............................. Lake View Country Club JOHN W. McMURDY, JR. .................................... Indiana Country Club *THOMAS E. PAUL ..............................................Gulph Mills Golf Club JOSEPH A. PESAVENTO...........................................Longue Vue Club DR. PETER G. RICHTER ................................... Hershey Country Club DR. PAUL RINGIEWICZ.................................. Rolling Green Golf Club PAUL S. ROMANO ............................................ Colonial Country Club RENARD M. SACCO..................................... Philadelphia Publinks GA VINCENT A. SCARPETTA, JR. ............ Glenmaura National Golf Club JAMES R. SHERRATT............................ Old York Road Country Club DR. TERRY L. SMITH............................................. Huntsville Golf Club *JOHN P. TRACH.......................................Country Club of Harrisburg JACK W. WOLFORD, JR. ................. Huntingdon Valley Country Club JOHN F. YERGER, III .................................. Sunnehanna Country Club *past president Pennsylvania Golf Association – 2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Mark A. Studer he Pennsylvania Golf Association completed its 98th year of administering competitive amateur golf in the TCommonwealth. It was a season highlighted by aston- ishing venues and spectacular performances. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our Pennsylvania Golf Association Member Clubs for their unwa- vering support and especially extend the Associations gratitude to the memberships, professional staffs and course maintenance crews of each host facility. I must also thank Your Pennsylvania Toyota Dealers for stepping into the role, once again, as the presenting sponsor of 10 Pennsylvania Golf Association tournaments. In addition, I would be remiss not to acknowledge the Penn- sylvania Golf Association Executive Committee, tournament volunteers and staff for the endless hours of time and effort put forth to make the 2007 season a success. Congratulations to Nathan Smith of Pinecrest, Pa., the recipient of the 2007 W.C. Fownes, Jr., Player of the Year Award. Smith edged Mike Van Sickle of Wexford, Pa., by just 47 points on the strength of a Round of 16 appearance in the U.S. Middle-Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon Dunes, Ore. Smith became the first repeat winner of the Fownes Player of the Year in the five-year history of the award. Praise is also in order for Paul Schlachter of The Club at Nevillewood, the 2007 Senior Player of the Year. Schlachter proved a dominant force in Senior golf in 2007, not only taking the States first-ever Senior POY, but also earning the 2007 Golfweek/Titleist Senior Amateur of the Year and the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Senior Player of the Year. Two young upstarts displayed their championship mettle at two of the States most presti- gious events. Adam Hofmann of Fox Chapel GC overcame a final-round quadruple bogey to take the Amateur Championship at the Longue Vue Club and Van Sickle of Treesdale G&CC hit quality shot after shot to capture the Open Championship at Lancaster CC. I would like to congratulate all of the 2007 Champions and to all of those who advanced into the various USGA Championships throughout the year. It was a pleasure to serve you as President in 2007. A view of the Allegheny River with the 15th green from the Longue Vue Club in the foreground. Pennsylvania Golf Association – 3 4th R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship Gulph Mills GC – King of Prussia, Pa. May 15-17, 2007 ING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.Brian Belden, Jr., of KEmmaus, Pa., a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, stopped Jeff Daniels of Harrisburg, Pa., a 32-year-old real estate agent, 3&1, for the 4th R. Jay Sigel Amateur Match Play Championship title presented by Your Pennsylvania Toyota Dealers at Gulph Mills GC. Belden constructed a 4-up advantage after nine holes be- fore closing the match out on No. 17 (par 3, 213 yards) with a conceded I had to make birdie. those putts to knock The Sigel Championship was Beldens him back a little bit. first state title. His top finish prior was If I didnt make a fourth-place showing at last years those, the result of Amateur Championship. the match could This feels good, said a reserved (Above) Brian Belden, Jr., have definitely been Belden. Its a great start to the sum- of Emmaus, Pa., receives different. mer. congratulations from Tom Belden never trailed in the cham- Paul, former Pennsylvania Golf Association President, Brian Belden, pionship match, recording a par on after his, 3&1, victory over Jr., on his clutch No. 1 (par 4, 415 yards) and a kick- Jeff Daniels (left) in the R. in birdie on No. 2 (par 4, 404 Jay Sigel Match Play putting to Championship final at yards) to jump ahead 2-up. Daniels Gulph Mills GC. defeat Jeff then conceded an eagle to Belden on Daniels No. 7 (par 5, 496 yards) after his second shot drifted into the deep, left quarry guarding the green. green right. Belden drained a nice six-foot putt with Daniels Belden continued the momentum on the ensuing 8th inside of that. hole (par 4, 351 yards) when the Brookside CC of Allen- Daniels did take the next hole after Beldens tee shot town member guided a nifty lob wedge from 55 yards out clipped a tree and fell out of bounds, but both players onto the same tier as the back hole location 15 feet left of came up short with their approaches on No. 16 (par 4, the flag. Daniels 65-yard shot failed to climb the ridge 400 yards). Both players saved par, Belden draining an- leading to the hole and rolled 30-feet back. Daniels two- other 15-footer. putted for par but Belden, as he did all day with the flat On the matchs final hole, No. 17 (par 3, 213 yards), stick whenever he needed to, converted his 15-foot birdie Daniels missed the green left before Belden rocketed a 5- chance, to move 4-up. iron to 12 feet. Daniels chip sailed past the hole and the Daniels, who advanced to the Round of 16 in last years players shook hands. 2006 U.S. Publinks Championship, wouldnt go away qui- He made all the putts he needed to make, said Daniels. etly, however, and used a par on No. 10 (par 4, 417 yards) I couldnt hit it in the fairway early and got behind. Fair- and birdie on No. 11 (par 4, 363 yards) to cut the deficit in ways here, especially with the rough being thick, are im- half. On No. 12 (par 5, 523 yards), Daniels pulled his 5- perative. iron from 203 yards left of the green and failed to get up- Said Belden, He was slowly working his way back. I had and-down. Belden, five yards closer in the fairway, watched to make those putts to knock him back a little bit. If I didnt his 6-iron just skip sideways into the rough at the top of the make those, the result of the match could have definitely greenside bunker. He converted his eventual birdie chance been different. to push his edge back to 3-up. Both players made good par saves on the 14th hole (par 3, 190 yards) after missing the See Sigel, page 5 (Far left) Brian Belden, Jr., of Emmaus, Pa., and Jeff Daniels of Harrisburg, Pa., shake hands after their match concludes on the 17th hole (par 3, 213 yards). (Left) Belden chips it tight from the greenside bunker on No. 12 (par 5, 523 yards). He would make birdie compared to a Daniels par to win the hole and move 3-up at the time. Pennsylvania Golf Association – 4 Benson defeats Polizzi for Senior R. Jay Sigel title ohn Benson of Punxsutawney, Pa., even. Benson, the No. 3 seed, however, four really good players this week and Jdefeated Frank Polizzi of Bryn Mawr, responded with a smooth 8-iron from beat three of them. Pa., 3&2, for the inaugural R. Jay Sigel 148 yards that stopped just inside of Added Benson, a multiple-time Amateur Match Play Championship Polizzis ball. champion in other arenas around the Senior Division title. The match took Polizzi missed his birdie chance. Commonwealth and country, This two days to complete. The match was Benson did not. Bensons three moved was very important to me. I had never postponed on the 14th hole the day him 2-up with five holes to play. won a state title before. prior due to inclement weather. Benson That was basically the difference, held a 2-up advantage at the time. said Benson, a member at Totteridge Senior Division The Senior Final swung squarely in GC. Being 2-down is a lot different Final 3. John Benson of Punxsutawney, Pa., d. 12. Frank Bensons favor right before the delay than being 1-down or even when you Polizzi of Bryn Mawr, Pa., 3&2 when the two were playing the 13th are standing on the 14th tee. Semifinals hole (par 4, 401 yards). The wind The pair exchanged bogeys on the 3. Benson d. 10. Michael Nilon, Gladwyne, Pa., 4&3 direction had turned into the players ensuing two holes before the match 12. Polizzi d. 9. Ed Chylinski, King of Prussia, faces for the first time all week with the concluded on No. 16 (par 4, 386 Pa., 3&2 impending storm bearing down on the yards) with a Benson birdie and Polizzi First round 9.