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Medalist J.T. Barker leads The Bethlehem Golf Club to 2017 Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship title
March 26, 2018
Medalist J.T. Barker leads The Bethlehem Golf Club to 2017 Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship title
MOORE TWP. — Led by amateur division medalist J.T. Barker, The Bethlehem Golf Club won the 28th annual Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship on Sunday afternoon.
Bethlehem, which last won the title in 2011, registered a decisive 56-stroke victory over runner-up Green Pond CC in the three-day, 54-hole team and individual competition.
At Sunday’s final round at Whitetail Golf Club, the 20-year-old Barker shot a final round even-par 72 to hold off a charge from former Emmaus golfer Grant Schumaker (4-under-par 68) to win the amateur division title.
Barker, a 2015 Bethlehem Catholic graduate, shot a 54-hole score of 5-under-par 72-66-72–210 to win by two strokes. Schumaker, a rising senior golfer at Robert Morris University, shot 73-71-68–212.
Former Northampton golfer Evan Notaro, who recently competed his golf career at Temple University, was third at 216.
Nazareth senior Kevin Scherr, who is headed to Youngstown State University on a partial golf scholarship, was fourth at 221.
Bethlehem built a 13-stroke lead after Friday’s opening round on their home course, then averaged an outstanding 74 strokes per golfer Saturday at Allentown Municipal to take a 37-stroke margin into the final round.
Other key contributors to Bethlehem’s title clinching final round on Sunday at Whitetail GC were Scherr (73), former Freedom golfer Zach Juhasz (75), 14-year-old Jordan Barker (77), former Nazareth golfer Cole Young (77), and Will Marquette (77); and senior golfers Robin McCool (75) and Tom Egolf (76).
The keys to Barker’s victory was an improved short game, and a sizzling 6-under-par 66 at Allentown Municipal on Saturday which gave him a six-stroke lead over Schumaker entering the final round.
Barker eagled the par-5 sixth and 13th holes, and birdied holes 3, 11, 15, and 17 en route to a 35-31–66. He hit 13 greens in regulation and used only 26 putts.
Sunday, Barker maintained at least a four stroke lead over Schumaker throughout the first 16 holes. Schumaker, the 2013 Lehigh Valley Amateur champion, birdied the par-4 17th hole to cut Barker’s lead to two shots, but Barker scrambled for a par on the uphill par-4 18th hole to win by two strokes.
A two-time Lehigh Valley Sportsfest Junior Golf Classic champion, Barker was pleased to win his first regional major amateur title.
“It’s sweet,” Barker said. “Finally, I got one locally. To get a local win at three different courses for three rounds is legit. It was great competition.”
Barker credited an improved short game for three key par saves down the stretch Sunday afternoon.
“I had to get up and down for pars on 15, 16, and 18,” Barker said.”It was s tournament of recoveries.”
In the senior amateur division competition, Jeff Hudson of Upper Saucon Township shot 7-over-par 75-72-75–222 to win the title by two strokes over two-time defending senior champion Robin McCool, who shot 76-73-75–224.
Craig Scott of Stroudsburg, who won the senior division in 2013 and 2014, was third at 76-75-74–225, McCool and Scott are Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame inductees.
Entering the final round with a two-stroke lead over McCool, Hudson maintained a two-to four stroke lead during the final round.
The victory for the 52-year-old Hudson adds to his career resume which also includes winning the 2004 Lehigh Valley Amateur, 2014 Lehigh Valley Tournament of Champions, and the 2015 and 2016 Lehigh Valley Senior Amateur Medal Play titles.
“Playing with those guys was just fantastic,” Hudson said. “I was playing with two hall of famers. I’m very pleased with where my game is now. I hit it great the first two days. I started to play really well today until I hit it out of bounds on the 16th hole and made a double bogey. With a three shot lead and the pin in the back of the green I shouldn’t have gone after that pin.”
28th annual Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship
Whitetail Golf Club (par 72)
Third round scores:
Bethlehem Golf Club 682 — J.T. Barker 72, Kevin Scherr 73, Zach Juhasz 75, Jordan Barker 77, Will Marquette 77, Cole Young 77. Seniors: Robin McCool 75, Tom Egolf 76, Rob Schultz 80.
Whitetail Golf Club 683 — Evan Notaro 67, Nate Fry 70, Nick Schiavone 74, Justin Hilgert 79, Nick Engelman 80, Kyle Hutnik 81. Seniors: Craig Scott 74, Randy Kroschwitz 78, Jim Gleason 80.
Allentown Municipal Golf Course 695 — Grant Schumaker 68, Jim Maru 75, Mathew Wearing 77, Chad Hess 78, John Dimler 79, Alec Cwienkala 80. Seniors: Mark Choi 78, Jack Booros 79, Geoff Jones 81.
Wedgewood Golf Course 696 — John Olszewski 72, Andrew Woolley 74, Michael Boyczuk 74, Mark Sivel 82, Rob Schubach 83, A.J. Olszewski 83. Seniors: Andy Lykon 73, Jeff Hudson 75, Fred Lening 80.
Green Pond Country Club 701 — Kevin Rossi 71, Steve Gonzales 76, Cory Haldeman 76, Riley Hogan 76, Christian Haldeman 80, Alex Green 80. Seniors: Tom Prestia 79, James Boburka 80, Rob Smith 83.
Final team standings after three rounds: 1. Bethlehem Golf Club 2,041, 2. Green Pond 2,097, 3. Allentown Municipal 2,108, 4. Whitetail 2,112, 5. Wedgewood 2,116.
Final Amateur top-five 54-hole scores — 1. J.T. Barker 72-66-72–210 (5-under-par); 2. Grant Schumaker 73-71-68–212; 3. Evan Notaro 74-75-67–216; 4. Kevin Scherr 74-73-73–220; 5. John Olszewski 77-72-72–221.
Final Senior Amateur top-five 54-hole scores — 1. Jeff Hudson 75-72-75–222 (7-over-par); 2. Robin McCool 76-73-75–224; 3. Craig Scott 76-75-74–225; 4. Andrew Lykon 79-79-73–231; 5. Tom Egolf 81-78-76–235.
2017 team champion: Bethlehem Golf Club.
28th annual Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship
Allentown Municipal Golf Course (par 72)
Second round scores:
Bethlehem Golf Club 666 — J.T. Barker 66, Kevin Scherr 73, Zach Juhasz 73, Will Marquette 74, Cole Young 77, Jordan Barker 79. Seniors: Robin McCool 73, Joe Zelechoski 74, Rob Schultz 77.
Green Pond Country Club 690 — Riley Hogan 74, Kevin Rossi 77, Alex Green 77. Steve Gonzales 77, Justin Tresslar 78, Cory Haldeman 79. Seniors: Lance Oberparleiter 74, James Boburka 77, Rob Smith 77.
Allentown Municipal Golf Course 705 — Grant Schumaker 71, Chad Hess 71, John Dimler 77, Jim Maru 78, Mathew Wearing 80, Alec Cweinkala 84. Seniors: Geoff Jones 81, Mark Choi 81, Jack Booros 82.
Wedgewood 697 — John Olszewski 72, A.J. Olszewski 77, Michael Boyczuk 78, Mike Nechetsky 79, Andrew Woolley 79, Mark Sival 83. Seniors: Jeff Hudson 72, Fred Lening 78, Andy Lykon 79.
Whitetail Golf Club 712 — Nick Engelman 74, Evan Notaro 75, Nick Schiavone 78, Kyle Hutnik 82, Justin Hilgert 83, Jerry Bretzik 84. Seniors: Craig Scott 75, Jim Gleason 79, Randy Kroschwitz 82.
Team standings after two rounds: 1. Bethlehem Golf Club 1,359; 2. Green Pond 1,396; 3. Allentown Municipal 1,413, Wedgewood 1,420, Whitetail 1,429.
Amateur top-five 36-hole leaders — 1. J.T. Barker 72-66-138; 2. Grant Schumaker 73-71-144; 3. Chad Hess 75-71-146; 4. Kevin Scherr 74-73-147; 5. Zachary Juhasz 76-73-149, Evan Notaro 74-75-149, John Olszewski 77-72-149.
Senior Amateur top-five 36-hole leaders — 1. Jeff Hudson 75-72-147 (4-over-par); 2. Robin McCool 76-73-149; 3. Craig Scott 76-75-151; 4. Lance Oberparleiter 78-74-152; 5. Robert Smith 76-77-153.
28th annual Lehigh Valley Inter-Club Championship
Bethlehem Golf Club (par 71)
First Round Scores
Bethlehem Golf Club 693 — J.T. Barker 72, Kevin Scherr 74, Zach Juhasz 76, Tom Lakata 78, Cole Young 78, Will Marquette 84. Seniors: Mike Guro 74, Robin McCool 76, Tom Egolf 81.
Green Pond Country Club 706 — Cory Haldeman 76, Riley Hogan 77, Kevin Rossi 79, Justin Tresslar 79, Steve Gonzales 80, Christian Haldeman 82. Seniors: Rob Smith 76, Lance Oberparleiter 78, James Boburka 79.
Allentown Municipal Golf Course 708 — Grant Schumaker 73, Chad Hess 75, Jim Maru 78, Mathew Wearing 79, John Dimler 81, Alec Cweinkala 83. Seniors: Mark Choi 78, Jack Booros 80, Geoff Jones 81.
Whitetail Golf Club 717 — Evan Notaro 74, Nick Engelman 76, Derek Kressler 77, Justin Hilgert 78, Kyle Hutnik 80, Jerry Bretzik 90. Seniors: Craig Scott 76, Randy Kroschwitz 82, Jim Gleason 84.
Wedgewood 723 — John Olszewski 77, Mike Nechetsky 77, Michael Boyczuk 79, Mark Sivel 83, Andrew Woolley 85, A.J. Olszewski 87. Seniors: Jeff Hudson 75, Andy Lykon 79, Bob Schubach 81.
Amateur Top-5 Leaders — 1. J.T. Barker 36-36-72; 2-T. Grant Schumaker 38-35-73, Evan Notaro 37-37-73; 4. Kevin Scherr 38-36-74; 5. Chad Hess 38-37-75.
Senior Amateur Top-5 Leaders — 1. Jeff Hudson 37-38-75; 2-T. Robert Smith 39-37-76, Robin McCool 38-38-76, Craig Scott 36-40-76; 5-T. Mark Choi 39-39-78, Lance Oberparleiter 40-38-78.
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