NEWS
Bethlehem Golf Club rallies to win second consecutive Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship
June 4, 2018
BETHLEHEM TWP. — Led by amateur division medalist Kevin Scherr and a wave of young talent, The Bethlehem Golf Club rallied Sunday afternoon at Green Pond Country Club to win the 29th annual Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship.
Bethlehem, which also captured the title in 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2017, registered a 10-stroke victory over runner-up Green Pond Country Club in the three-day, 54-hole team and individual competition.
Trailing second-round leader Wedgewood by 12 strokes entering the final round, Bethlehem’s nine-player score of 671 strokes (74.6 per player) was by fay the lowest team total of the day, and enough to lift them to victory.
At Sunday’s final round at Green Pond, the 18 year-old Scherr shot even-par 36-35–71.
Scherr, a former Nazareth Area High School golf standout, managed to build on his two-stroke lead entering the final round with a steady three birdie (holes 4, 9, and 16), 12 greens in regulation, four scramble par, and 27-putt performance.
Scherr, a rising sophomore golfer at Youngstown State University, shot a 54-hole score of 2-under-par 72-69-71–212 to win by six strokes over fellow young Bethlehem teammate Zach Yuhasz (72-72-74–218), and former Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg golfer (’09) Matt Long of Green Pond, who shot 72-71-75–218.
In addition to Scherr and Juhasz, Bethlehem’s winning effort was also aided by key final round contributions from 22-year-old Jason Matuczinski (73), and Liberty freshman Jordan Barker (76). Bethlehem was also paced by senior’s Robin McCool (72), Tom Egolf (74), and Mike Guro (75).
Scherr, the 2016 PIAA state champion, was pleased with his iron game from the fairways.
“I hit a lot of greens in regulation,” said Scherr, who finished sixth in the 2018 Horizon League Golf Championship. “I was making half the good looks I had on the greens. My irons are better. I know my miss, and what I have to do to get on the green.”
The victory represents Scherr’s second regional major amateur title. In 2016, he won the Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions.
In the senior amateur division competition, Dave Blichar of Upper Macungie Township shot 2-over-par 76-68-72–216 to win the title by three strokes over defending senior champion Jeff Hudson of Upper Saucon Township, who shot 75-70-74–219.
Sal Picone of Palmer Township, the 2004 amateur division champion, was third at 75-72-74–219.
Robin McCool, a five-time winner of the senior event, was fourth at 79-72-72–223.
Blichar, Picone, and McCool are Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame inductees.
Entering the final round with a one-stroke lead over Hudson, Blichar maintained a steady lead during the final round. A pair of 4-foot birdie putts on the par-4 13th and 14th holes enabled Blichar to build a four stroke lead over Hudson.
The victory for the 54-year-old Blichar adds to his career resume which also includes winning the 1999 Lehigh Valley Amateur, 2008 Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions, 2002 Lehigh Valley Medal Play, and the 2013, 2015, and 2017 Lehigh Valley Senior Tournament of Champions titles.
“I credit Dom (Dominic Carr),” Blichar said. “Dom told me two weeks ago to enter. He said you’ll win. He was right.”
29th annual Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship
Green Pond Country Club (par 71)
Third round scores:
Bethlehem Golf Club 671 — Kevin Scherr 71, Jason Matuczinski 73, Zach Juhasz 74, Jordan Barker 76, Stefano Curto 77, Nick Vecellio 79. Seniors: Robin McCool 72, Tom Egolf 74, Mike Guro 75.
Green Pond Country Club 692 — Matt Long 75, Kevin Rossi 75, Riley Hogan 77, Justin Tresslar 77, John Hartzell 78, Ryan Orcutt 80. Seniors: Sal Picone 74, Rob Smith 76, Bruce Jodoin 80.
Allentown Municipal Golf Course 703 — John Dimler 75, Jim Maru 78, Grant Schumaker 78, Mike Casella 79, Luke Smith 80, Matt Crilley 82. Seniors: Dave Blichar 72, Dave Olexson 78, Dominic Carr 81.
Wedgewood 725 — Cory Schmidt 76, Rob Schubach 79, Michael Boyczuk 82, John Olszewski 82, Coley Burke 83, Aaron Thieme 90. Seniors: Jeff Hudson 74, Andy Lykon 77, Ron Gerlette 82.
Whitetail Golf Club 748 — Nate Fry 74, Nick Schiavone 75, Evan Notaro 77, Nick Engelman 83, Adam DeRaymond 84, Jerry Bretzik 87. Seniors: Owen Dunne 84, Randy Kroschwitz 87, Dale Walters 97.
Final team standings after three rounds: 1. Bethlehem Golf Club 2,035, 2. Green Pond 2,045, 3. Allentown Municipal 2,073, 4. Wedgewood 2,077, 5. Whitetail 2,245.
Final Amateur top-five 54-hole scores — 1. Kevin Scherr 72-69-71-212 (2-under-par); 2-T. Zachary Juhasz 72-72-74-218, Matt Long 72-71-75-218; 4. Cory Schmidt 72-71-76-219; 5. Kevin Rossi 73-74-75-222.
Final Senior Amateur top-five 54-hole scores — 1. David Blichar 76-68-72-216 (2-over-par); 2. Jeff Hudson 75-70-74-219; 3. Salvatore Picone 75-72-74-221; 4. Robin McCool 79-72-72-223; 5-T. Robert Smith 80-71-76-227, David Olexson Sr. 78-71-78-227.
2018 team champion: Bethlehem Golf Club (second consecutive title).
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