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82nd Lehigh Valley Amateur features exciting opening round matches
September 26, 2018
BETHLEHEM TWP. — Thursday’s opening round championship flight matches of the 82nd Lehigh Valley Amateur at Green Pond Country Club will feature seven past tournament champions, 17 golfers who have won regional major amateur golf tournaments, and some interesting match-ups.
Defending champion Cody Cox of Milford, PA will be the first seed in the 64-player championship flight. He will face Dan Cahill.
Cox, 23, is a former Penn State (2017) golfer. Cox won the 2018 Bethlehem Golf Club Amateur Stroke Play Championship in July.
The 64-player championship flight will conclude with Sunday afternoon’s championship match.
Although the two opposite tournament brackets appear to be well-balanced with golfers of championship credentials, the upper side of the left bracket has just two golfers — Cox, and John Olszewski of Lower Macungie Township– who have won regional major amateur titles.
The lower side of the right bracket has one golfer who has won a regional major amateur title– Dave Olexson — but the presence of several accomplished golfers will make it a very competitive bracket.
Past Lehigh Valley Amateur champions making the championship flight were Cox, Kevin Rossi (2014), Brian Johnson (2008, 2011), Phil Ries (2009), Justin Tresslar (2015), Grant Schumaker (2013), and Tony Sarko (2016).
Former Lehigh Valley Amateur runner-ups making the championship flight were Nate Fry (2008), Tyler Smith (2013), Rob Arnts (2011), and Bob Posocco (2015).
Other top pre-tournament title favorites include: 2017 Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur champion Jason Wilson of South Whitehall Township, two-time semifinalist Nate Fry of Coplay, 2014 U.S,.Mid-Amateur qualifier Zach Fischl of Northampton, former Freedom golfer Zach Juhasz of Bethlehem Township, 2014 semifinalist Steve Kluemper of Bethlehem, former Saucon Valley Country Club assistant pro Andrew Bradley of Bethlehem, 2007 Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship winner Jim Rattigan, record four-time Northeast Pennsylvania Stroke Play winner John Olszewski, and 2018 Green Pond men’s club champion Kyle Pritchard.
Past champion opening round matches:
* Rossi, a 42-year-old Scranton resident, shot 2-under-par 35-34–69 to earn medalist honors in Sunday’s final qualifying round. Rossi will play Bob Posocco, the 2009 Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship winner.
* Brian Johnson, a 42 year-old Macungie resident, will open with Tony Sarko of Upper Macungie Township in a rematch of the 2016 final, won by Sarko 3-and-1.
Johnson, the 2010 Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur champion, is one of eight golfers in tournament history to reach at least four championship matches.
Sarko, a 39-year-old financial advisor, is a former Parkland (Class of 1997) and Old Dominion University (Class of 2001) golfer. Sarko is one of four golfers to win the Lehigh Valley Amateur, Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship, and Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions titles.
* Greenwich Township resident Phil Ries will play Zach Juhasz. Ries also won the 2004 and 2006 Lehigh Valley Mid-Amateur crowns.
Juhasz, 21, has won the 2017 Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions and 2018 Allentown City Amateur titles.
*Justin Tresslar, a 30 year-old Saylorsburg resident. will open with Leo Fischl of Northampton.
* Grant Schumaker, who in 2013 became the youngest golfer to win the Lehigh Valley Amateur at the age of 16, will play Zach Fischl.
Schumaker, a former Emmaus (2014) and Robert Morris University (2018) golfer, has relocated to Florida.
Fischl, 30, reached the semifinals in 2008. He was the 2015 Lehigh Valley Player of the Year.
Some top favorites opening round matches:
* Jason Wilson will play former Nazareth (2009) and Northampton Community College golfer Jesse Bingaman in the opening round.
Wilson, a 44-year-old South Whitehall Township resident, won the 2017 Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur title, 2017 Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship, and the 2010 Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship. He will be inducted into the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame in October.
Bingaman, a 27 year-old Bethlehem resident, is a former Northampton Country Club men’s club champion.
* Nazareth native Nate Fry will play Alex Green, a 29-year-old Bethlehem Township resident.
Fry, a 35 year-old Coplay resident, lost in the 2008 championship match, and was a semifinalist in 2006 and 2017.
A former assistant golf professional at Southmoore Golf Course, Fry won the 2012 National Car Rental Philadelphia Section PGA Assistant Championship at Whitemarsh Valley Country Club. Fry qualified for the 2000 PIAA state tournament as a senior at Nazareth High School. Fry was a 2003 national junior college tournament runner-up.
* Steve Kluemper, 25, will open with Blue Mountain graduate Mike Kacelowicz.
Kluemper played golf at Freedom High School (2011) and Centenary College (2015). Kluemper won the 2015 Eastern Pennsylvania Amateur. He advanced to the sectional qualifying stage of the 2018 U.S. Open, was the 2018 Lehigh Valley Medal Play Championship runner-up, and was the 2017 Lehigh Valley Open qualifying medalist.
Kluemper is a three-time runner-up in the Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship, and was a semifinalist in the 2014 Lehigh Valley Amateur. He was a 2014 first team Colonial States Athletic Conference all-star.
* Andrew Bradley will play former Bethlehem Catholic golfer Ryan Matuczinski. Bradley, 36, teamed up with Charlie Hummers to win the 2018 Donald Ross Invitational at the Steel Club.
Ryan Orcutt, who tied Wilson with the second-low qualifying score of 70, will open with Randy Brown.
Orcutt, a 40-year-old Bethlehem resident, is a former Freedom High School golfer (1996). Orcutt has won two consecutive Lehigh Valley Regular-Senior Better Ball of Partners events (with Jeff Hudson and Tom Lusto), and combined with former Freedom golf teammate Ryan Hally to win the 2017 Donald Ross Invitational at the Steel Club.
82nd Lehigh Valley Amateur
Green Pond Country Club
Thursday starting times
Championship Flight (opening round)
First Tee
Upper Bracket:
12:10 p.m. — Cody Cox (defending champion) vs. Dan Cahill, Kyle Henofer vs. Schuyler Hart
12:18 — Kyle Pritchard vs. Brendan Mohler, John Olszewski vs. Ryan Caverly
12:26 — Riley Hogan vs. Dan Howard, Marc Ashner vs.Will Marquette
12:34 — Matt Long vs. Brandon Nardella, Trever Mertz vs. John Buliga
12:42 — Jason Wilson vs. Jesse Bingaman, Lee Nonnemacher vs. Mike Casella
12:50 — Mike Englert vs. Connor Vanin, Steve Castellani vs. Jason Barkley
12:58 — Steve Kluemper vs. Mike Kacelowicz, Leo Fischl vs. Justin Tresslar
1:06 — Jim Rattigan vs, Frank Betz, Phil Ries vs. Zach Juhasz
Tenth Tee
Lower Bracket:
12:10 p.m. — Kevin Rossi (qualifying medalist) vs. Bob Posocco, Tyler Smith vs. Kyle Buchman
12:18 — Lonnie Pintande vs. Kevin Fisher, Joe Coulson vs. Rob Arnts
12:26 — Brian Johnson vs. Tony Sarko, Zach Fischl vs. Grant Schumaker
12:34 — Andrew Frank vs. Trevor Buss, Tyler Smith vs. Jason Matuczinski
12:42 — Ryan Orcutt vs. Randy Brown, Jim Maru vs. Kevin Kunkle
12:50 — Joe Jasinski vs. Mike Dickey, Bill Ianieri vs. Kyle Morrow
12:58 — Nate Fry vs. Alex Green, Eric Ostrosky vs. Dave Olexson
1:06 — John Hartzell vs. Chris Sakasits, Andrew Bradley vs. Ryan Matuczinski
Presidential (First) Flight (opening round)
First Tee
Upper Bracket:
7:16 a.m. — Pat Denman vs. Sean Sullivan, Dan Setar vs. Rich Eilenberger
7:24 — Steve Gonzales vs. Scott Radio, Justin Shireman vs. Dan Dunlap
7:32 — Erik Stevens vs. Don Keiser, Rick Weaver vs. Tony Malia
7:40 — Mike Miorelli vs. Dave Frantz, John Ryan vs. John Renner
7:48 — Jeff Hamley vs. Mike Weiner, Brian Egan vs. Bob Engler
7:56 — Kyle Hutnik vs. Doug Eldridge, Rob Johnson vs. John Jaques
8:04 — Matt Crilley vs. Kevin Gertz, Billy Hallman vs, Aaron Thieme
8:12 — Mike Hersch Jr. vs. Stefano Curto, Freddy Carmona vs. Dan Kremus
Tenth Tee
Lower Bracket:
7:16 a.m. — Ken Bontz vs. Dale Barker, Gary Greenberg vs. Brandon Sluzalis
7:24 — Derek Kressler vs. Rob Smith, Adam Sutovich vs. Tom Prestia
7:32 — Bryan Barker vs. Mark Weiner, Adam Benza vs, Charles Strong
7:40 — Matthew Vital vs. Matt Scriff, Scott Clark vs. Josh Richards
7:48 — Rich Kovacs vs. Nick Engleman, Bob Evans vs. Tom Coakley
7:56 — Matt Greenawald vs. Mat Wearing, Coley Burke vs. Adam Puskar
8:04 — James Mack vs. Chris Erb, Travis Burkholder vs. Bret Howey
8:12 — Rob Schubach vs. Dave Purdy, Bill Reduzzi vs. Nick Hinkle
Past champions:
2017: Cody Cox, 2016: Tony Sarko, 2015: Justin Tresslar, 2014: Kevin Rossi, 2013: Grant Schumaker, 2012: Robin McCool, 2011: Brian Johnson, 2010: Mike Weiner, 2009: Phil Ries, 2008: Brian Johnson, 2007: Sal Picone, 2006: Brian Bergstol, 2005: Derek Kistler, 2004: Jeff Hudson, 2003: Sal Picone, 2002: Robin McCool, 2001: Barry Klinikowski, 2000: Terry Slater Jr., 1999: Dave Blichar, 1998: Dominic Carr, 1997: Henry D’Alberto, 1996: Terry Slater Jr., 1995: Barry Klinikowski, 1994: Dominic Carr, 1993: Barry Brackenbury, 1992: Tom Woodring, 1991: Barry Klinikowski, 1990: Barry Klinikowski, 1989: Brian Belden, 1988: Brian Belden, 1987: O. Roy Langslet, 1986: Robin McCool, 1985: Jim Muschlitz, 1984: Jim Muschlitz, 1983: Ray Silnik, 1982: Rich Hallman; 1981: Chic Gioieni; 1980: Rich Hallman; 1979: Jim Muschlitz, 1978: Mike Zambelli, 1977: Barry Klinikowski, 1976: Jim Muschlitz, 1975: Rich Hallman, 1974: Rich Hallman, 1973: Ted Beckowski, 1972: Jack Thomas, 1971: Jack Thomas, 1970: Ted Beckowski, 1969: Barry Frey, 1968: Norm Schadt, 1967: Jack Thomas, 1966: Norm Schadt, 1965: Al Vargo, 1964: Harold Bilheimer, 1963: Manny Palos, 1962: Bob Buhner, 1961: Al Konrad, 1960: Bob Buhner, 1959: Bill Mulzet, 1958: Angelo Revilla, 1957: Hal Bilheimer, 1956: Bruce Kovaleski, 1955: Bruce Kovaleski, 1954: Mike Kuzman, 1953: Bill Smith, 1952: Bob Schoener Jr., 1951: Norman Staats, 1950: Joe Hoch, 1949: Al Bold, 1948: Jerry Peet, 1947: Joe Hoch, 1946: Clyde Oskin, 1943-1945: no tournament, 1942: Jim Reynolds, 1941: Jim Reynolds, 1940: Jim Reynolds, 1939: Joe Hoch, 1938: Leroy Klipple, 1937: John Reed, 1936: Jack McBride, 1935: Percy Strauss, 1934: Leroy Klipple.
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