2002 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PENNSYLVANIA GOLF ASSOCIATION President DONALD J. HALL ....................................... Sunnehanna Country Club Vice-President DONALD D. WOLFF, JR. ......................................Fox Chapel Golf Club Vice-President FRANK E. RUTAN, IV ...................................Philadelphia Country Club Secretary-Treasurer JOHN P. TRACH .........................................Country Club of Harrisburg Members of the Executive Committee DANIEL B. BURTON ..................................... Bent Creek Country Club * DR. E. NEWBOLD COOPER .................................... Merion Golf Club * DR. JAMES CUNNINGHAM ...................... Country Club of Scranton WILLIAM R. DAVIS, JR. ........................... Chambersburg Country Club WILLIAM M. DOW ........................................................ Merion Golf Club RODERICK F. EAKEN ..................................... Berkshire Country Club THOMAS B. GREALISH...................................... St. Clair Country Club * DR. JOSEPH E. GREEN, III.............................. Carlisle Country Club DR. WILLIAM D. McCANN............................... Lancaster Country Club * BRADFORD D. McKEAN ........................................ Longue Vue Club * HARRY McLAUGHLIN ....................................... Pittsburgh Field Club RAYMOND C. MOTT ...................................Country Club of Harrisburg THOMAS E. PAUL ................................................Gulph Mills Golf Club WILLIAM W. RIELLY ............................................. Pittsburgh Field Club DR. TERRY L. SMITH....................................... Huntsville Country Club MARK A. STUDER ............................................ Oakmont Country Club DR. RANDALL L. VALENTINE .......................................... Kahkwa Club * DR. JAY N. WEAVER...........................................Country Club of York JACK W. WOLFORD, JR.....................Huntingdon Valley Country Club *past president Pennsylvania Golf Association Ō 2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Donald J. Hall The talk of 2002 revolved around the legendary parcels that played host to the Pennsylvania Golf Association championships, in particular, historic Oakmont Country Club, site of the Amateur Championship, and revered Lancaster Country Club, venue for the Open. The two are steeped in tradition and provided magical settings for the cornerstones of the Association calendar. Congratulations to Nathan Smith of Pinecrest Country Club, who thrilled the galleries at Oakmont with an exhilarating, tournament-sealing birdie on No. 17 for his first Amateur crown and to Terry Hertzog, the pro at Gulph Mills Golf Club, for persevering in a playoff for his second Open title. Also, kudos to all of this years Pennsylvania Golf Association champions, earning a state title is truly a remarkable accomplishment. Of course, without the dedication and cooperation of our member clubs to host these events, the Pennsylvania Golf Association would cease to exist. A very special thanks to those clubs and their members for graciously offering their courses and facilities to the Pennsylvania Golf Association and our participants in 2002 and for those who will do so in 2003. Since its inception in the early 1900s, the Pennsylvania Golf Association has strived to expand and grow the game of golf in the Keystone State. In keeping with that goal, this year the Pennsylvania Golf Association formed an agreement with the Keystone Public Golf Association (KPGA) to allow KPGA member clubs (utilizing the USGA GHIN handicap service) access to Penn- sylvania state championships. Our hope is that this agreement will encourage individual players to join a club, either private or public, to obtain a handicap and enjoy the game. The effects of the KPGA were immediately evident. The Pennsylvania Golf Association saw a substantial increase in participation in the Open, Amateur and Junior. As we head to 2003, youll notice the tournament schedule holds some significant changes. The Senior Amateur Championship, set for Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, is adding a Super-Senior Division for those contestants 65 years of age and older. The Junior Championship will head to Penn National Golf Club for the first time in its history, and will be broken into three separate age divisions: 11-and-under, 12-to-14 and 15-to-17. The age require- ment for the Middle-Amateur Championship will drop from 30 years of age to 25, mirroring the USGA. Next years Mid-Am is set for the Longue Vue Club in Verona. And, for the first time in the Association history, the PGA will conduct the George Dressler Pennsylvania State Amateur Public Links Championship. Thats set for May 27-28 at Dauphin Highland Golf Club. Finally, all associations are only as strong as their volunteers are. In 2002, the PGA developed a championship volunteer program to help us better conduct our events in a profes- sional manner. This year about a dozen of you dedicated your time as starters and rules officials, and we thank you for that. In 2003, were looking to double or even triple that number. If inter- ested, contact the Pennsylvania Golf Association office. Again, we thank you for your support and we pledge our continuing commitment in providing you with the best the Pennsylvania Golf Association has to offer. For more information about the spring and summer ahead visit www.pagolf.org. Pennsylvania Golf Association Ō 3 89th Amateur Championship Oakmont Country Club ² Oakmont, Pa. July 29-31, 2002 that, at Oakmont, is really special. Even now, Nathan Smith, months As was the way Smith earned the removed from a victorious showing title. at the 89th Amateur Championship, Up two shots over Jones and continues to grapple with the enor- Knapp on No. 16 (par 3, 232 yards), mity of the achievement. When I got Smith faced a tricky, uphill sliding putt the trophy and looked at all those for par. In the group ahead, Jones great names on it, I figured that real- and Knapp had birdie opportunities ization [of winning] on No. 17 (par 4, 319 would finally set in, said yards) to draw closer. Smith in early Decem- With all parties involved ber, but it still hasnt, able to view the other and I dont know if it thanks to Oakmonts lay- ever will. out, Smith fired the first Smith, 24, of salvo by stepping up and Pinecrest Country Club, sinking his par putt. carded a winning score Knapp then slam dunked of 2-over-par at his 25-foot birdie and Oakmont Country Club Jones tapped in his short (par 71) to edge his under-par chance. competition by two shots Smiths advantage, three for the Amateur title and earn passage shots at the start of the day, had now into an elite group of champions. Smith dwindled to one. (Above, top) Nathan Smith, the 2002 Amateur Champion, is joined the likes of Frank Fuhrer, Buddy It was electrifying, said Knapp congratulated by Don Hall, President of the Pennsylvania Golf Marucci, J. Wood Platt, R. Jay Sigel, of the surroundings. Association. (Above, below) Nathan Smith lags his birdie putt on No. 18 during the third and final round. Smith parred the and Art Wall, Jr., the 1959 Masters Added Smith, To watch it unfold hole to take the Amateur title by two shots. (Left) Chip Lutz of champion, to name a few, that have was neat. Berkshire Country Club rolls a putt. captured the centerpiece of the Penn- With two holes remaining for Smith was tucked behind the big mouth [the front sylvania Golf Association calendar. and one for his closest pursuers, the bunker]. I felt good about the yardage Smith recorded rounds of 67, 75 verdict remained very much in and the wind was just behind me. and 73 for a 215 total, two strokes doubt, especially after all three put As the gallery roared, Knapp and better than 1994 Amateur champion their ensuing drives in play. Jones didnt have to see the action to John G. Jones, 45, of Oakmont Coun- Smith was left with an 100-yard know what happened. try Club and three shots clear of Sean approach shot on No. 17 and Jones I knew Nathan had stiffed it and the Knapp, 40, of St. Jude Golf Club, the and Knapp faced long-iron shots on game was over, said Knapp. It sapped 1997 Amateur winner. Junior cham- the brutal 18th hole (par 4, 475 yards). the lifes blood out of me. pion Blaine Peffley placed fourth at As timing had it, Smith played first and Said Jones, You could tell [by the 7-over-par and David Brown of St. with a 52-degree sand wedge in hand roar] that he put it close. Clair Country Club and Jon Rusk of almost holed out. He spun his ap- A Jones par and Knapp bogey on No. Yardley Country Club tied for fifth at proach back, just missing the cup, to 18 accounted for their respective over- 10 over. four feet for an easy birdie. all finishes, second and third. Smith The Pennsylvania Amateur has al- The scary thing was that I hadnt carded a four on the final hole to take the ways been really important to me, hit that green all week, said Smith of title by two shots. said Smith. With the quality of play No. 17. It seems like it sits on top of [The events that occurred] down the and players in Pennsylvania, to win everything. Its so small and the pin See Amateur Championship, page 5 (Far left) The churchpews between the third and fourth holes at Oakmont CC. (Left) The gallery sur- rounds the 10th tee at Oakmont. (Right) Sean Knapp of St. Jude Golf Club tees it up on No. 10. Pennsylvania Golf Association Ō 4 Qualifying results Amateur Championship page, 27-29. From page, 4 stretch is what this games all about, said Smith. John and Sean played great. Nobody really lost the tourna- ment, I guess I kind of won it. Up to the Amateur it was a sum- mer of close calls for Smith. He fin- ished second in the West Penn Ama- teur, the North and South Invitational and the Frank B. Fuhrer, Jr. Invitational. The Amateur was the fourth straight tournament he found himself in the last (Above) Blaine Peffley of Lebanon Country Club fin- days final pairing. ished in fourth place at 7-over-par. (Right) Don Hall, President of the Pennsylvania Golf Association, thanks It was really frustrating, said Smith Oakmont CC professional Bob Ford for his hospitality in of his close calls, to finally win some- hosting the 2002 Amateur.