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Berkshire CC’s Sutherland opens
Amateur Championship with 63

  VERONA, Pa.–Nathan Sutherland of Berkshire CC equaled the Longue Vue Club (par 70, 6,633 yards) course record on Monday, with a 7-under-par 63 in the opening round of the 94th Amateur Championship. The 18-year-old Sutherland matched the mark set by Bob Ford, a close friend and the longtime Oakmont CC professional, in 1999.

ADAM HOFMANN
  "That’s cool," quipped the Miami University (of Ohio) bound Sutherland. He continued with a smile, "I really wish I would have made that putt on the final hole now."

  Sutherland, who also plays out of Oakmont CC, blistered the 123-player field with six birdies, an eagle and a bogey. He went out in 2-under-par 34 and came home in 5-under 29. He holds a three-shot advantage over Adam Hofmann of Fox Chapel GC and a four-shot lead on Cody Kersey of Pine Meadows Golf Complex and one of the local favorites, Nathan Smith, the 2002 Amateur Champion who is a member at both Pinecrest CC and Wildwood GC. Defending titleholder Chad Bricker of Waynesboro CC finished at 5-over-par 75. Another popular local player and Longue Vue Club member, Sean Knapp, is at even-par 70. In all, 10 players posted under-par scores.

  The second round begins at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow with a cut to the low 40 players and ties for Wednesday’s third and final round. All media and spectators are welcomed.

  "I’ve been close all summer to [finding my game]," said Sutherland, a recent graduate of Holy Name High School in Reading, Pa. "I knew if I stayed patient, it would come. My tempo today was perfect. Hopefully it sticks with me for a little bit."

NATHAN SMITH
  Sutherland’s tempo found its rhythm on the fifth hole (par 3, 198 yards) when he knocked a 6-iron to 20-feet below the hole and made the putt. He drove the short par 4, 323-yard, 7th hole for birdie before knocking a 5-wood on from 233 yards on No. 8 (par 5, 530 yards) in two shots and two putting for another red figure.

  A 6-iron to eight feet on No. 12 (par 3, 188 yards) and a fortuitous punch wedge out of the right side trees on No. 13 (par 4, 334 yards) to 15 feet equated to two more birdies and pushed Sutherland to 4 under. On the par 5, 15th hole (540 yards), he laced another 5-wood, this time from 250 yards, to eight feet for eagle before closing out the impressive display on No. 17 (par 4, 470 yards). On that hole, Sutherland hit driver and then a 9-iron from 150 yards to five feet. He had a 12-footer birdie chance on No. 18 (par 4, 471 yards), but watched it just slide past.

  "You can’t win it in the first round but you can shoot yourself out of it," said Sutherland, a resident of Wyomissing, Pa. And for tomorrow? "You have to stay aggressive. There is a lot of golf left."

  Hofmann, 18, of Pittsburgh, Pa., carded a 66.

  The Fox Chapel High School graduate cited his approach as the key to his success.

  "I try to have a focus for the round and have that focus for every shot," said Hofmann. "I try to have a clear plan for every shot. I executive that plan in my mind first and then physically. I was 10 out of 10 on mostly every shot today."

  A short birdie on No. 2 (par 4, 390 yards) and a bogey on No. 4 (par 5, 553 yards), after a poor drive, left Hofmann even. However, the Vanderbilt University-bound freshman found his groove with a nice two-putt par on the difficult 5th hole and an eight-foot birdie conversion on No. 6 (par 4, 390 yards) that propelled him into red figures. Hofmann continued his charge with a smooth up-and-down from the greenside bunker on No. 8; a nice lob wedge from 50 yards on No. 13 (par 4, 334 yards) to three feet and an 8-iron from 158 yards to kick-in range on the final hole.

  "It’s nice to be up here [near the top of the leaderboard] after the first round," said Hofmann. "I really executed well today."

Name, club

Front 9

Back 9

Total

Nathan Sutherland, Berkshire Country Club

34

29

63

Adam Hofmann, Fox Chapel Golf Club

34

32

66

Cody Kersey, Pine Meadows Golf Complex

36

31

67

Nathan Smith, Pinecrest Country Club

34

33

67

Arnie Cutrell, Totteridge Golf Club

34

34

68

Brian Bergstol, Great Bear Golf & Country Club

34

34

68

Timothy Moynihan, Willowbrook Country Club

34

34

68

Scott Phillis, The Country Club

34

35

69

Stephen Arnold, Yardley Country Club

34

35

69

Travis Howe, Corey Creek Golf Club

33

36

69

David Brown, St. Clair Country Club

35

35

70

David DeNunzio, Latrobe Country Club

35

35

70

Frank Fairman, Totteridge Golf Club

32

38

70

Robert Rohanna, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

38

32

70

Sean Knapp, Longue Vue Club

36

34

70

Timothy Hager, Lookaway Golf Club

35

35

70

Adam Cohan, The ACE Club

34

37

71

Chris Gallagher, Penn Oaks Golf Club

35

36

71

Conrad Von Borsig, Concord Country Club

36

35

71

John Brennan, Spring Ford Country Club

37

34

71

Les Neilly, Edgewood Country Club

37

34

71

Zachary Drescher, Conestoga Country Club

35

36

71

Brian Corbett, Huntsville Golf Club

37

35

72

Cole Willcox, Philadelphia Country Club

34

38

72

Daniel Obremski, Hannastown Golf Club

38

34

72

John Popeck, The Club at Nevillewood

36

36

72

Jon Merriott, PGA Individual Member

38

34

72

Matthew Rebitch, Hannastown Golf Club

37

35

72

Michael J. Gross, Glenmaura National Golf Club

36

36

72

Artie Fink, Jr., Sinking Valley Country Club

37

36

73

Bennett Boyer, Country Club of Harrisburg

39

34

73

Brett Diakon, Commonwealth National Golf Club

38

35

73

Brixton Albert, Meadia Heights Golf Club

36

37

73

Cameron Peterson, PGA Individual Member

38

35

73

Chad Warmbein, Rolling Hills Country Club

37

36

73

Christopher Schultz, Schuylkill Country Club

38

35

73

James Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club

36

37

73

Jarred Texter, Lancaster Country Club

39

34

73

John Sweeney, Lancaster Country Club

36

37

73

Mike Van Sickle, Treesdale Golf & Country Club

36

37

73

P. Chet Walsh, Philadelphia Country Club

37

36

73

Ronald DeNunzio, Latrobe Country Club

38

35

73

Brian P. Gillespie, St. Davids Golf Club

37

37

74

Chase Duncan, Meadia Heights Golf Club

38

36

74

Clayton Rotz, Chambersburg Country Club

38

36

74

Darryn DeShong, Majestic Ridge CC

40

34

74

Donald Thomas, Edgewood Country Club

38

36

74

Gregor Orlando, The Kahkwa Club

39

35

74

James Bohn, Bucknell Golf Club

38

36

74

Jason Cohan, The ACE Club

38

36

74

Kevin McCarthy, Hannastown Golf Club

36

38

74

Matthew E. Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club

36

38

74

Mike Serensits, Willow Brook Golf Course

37

37

74

Patrick Serfass, Susquehanna Valley Country Club

36

38

74

R. Scott Pugh, Blue Ridge Country Club

39

35

74

William Miller, St. Clair Country Club

38

36

74

Brian Belden, Jr., Brookside C.C. of Allentown

38

37

75

Chad Bricker, Waynesboro Country Club

39

36

75

Daniel Charen, Yardley Country Club

38

37

75

David Figura, Woodstone Golf Club

38

37

75

Eric Fonner, Huntingdon Valley Country Club

38

37

75

Kevin R. Melnick, Jr., Plymouth Country Club

41

34

75

Kyle Davis, Inniscrone Golf Club

39

36

75

Michael Domenick, Phoenixville Country Club

41

34

75

Michael McDermott, Merion Golf Club

41

34

75

Robert Galbreath, Jr., Huntingdon Valley Country Club

37

38

75

Ryan Gelrod, Commonwealth National Golf Club

38

37

75

Stephen Dressel, Spring Ford Country Club

35

40

75

Brendan Borst, Hickory Heights Golf Club

40

36

76

Dominic Schiavone, The ACE Club

37

39

76

Donald Dubyak, Hannastown Golf Club

37

39

76

Doug Marcincin, Northampton Country Club

39

37

76

Eric Williams, Honesdale Golf Club

38

38

76

James Bryan, Latrobe Country Club

39

37

76

Jim Rattigan, Schuylkill Country Club

39

37

76

Jimmy Markovitz, The Club at Nevillewood

38

38

76

Ken Matt, Commonwealth National Golf Club

39

37

76

Mark D. Miller, Yardley Country Club

40

36

76

Robert Voltz, St. Jude Golf Club

41

35

76

Tyler Brewington, Mill Race Golf Course

40

36

76

Aaron Williams, Willowbrook Country Club

37

40

77

Andrew Rickard, The ACE Club

40

37

77

Bo Maguire, Brookside Country Club

40

37

77

Kevin Farrell, Country Club of Harrisburg

41

36

77

Philip Bartholomew, Yardley Country Club

39

38

77

Zach Smith, Doylestown Country Club

41

36

77

Doug Stadler, Treesdale Golf & Country Club

40

38

78

Jacob Pleczkowski, Saucon Valley Country Club

40

38

78

James M. Gardas, Honesdale Golf Club

44

34

78

Jason Loehrs, Philadelphia Publinks GA

37

41

78

John Michael Pelet, Wyncote Golf Club

40

38

78

John Rodney, Diamond Run Golf Club

39

39

78

Jonathan Pepe, Youghiogheny Country Club

42

36

78

Sasha Bozic, Honesdale Golf Club

43

35

78

Drew Panebianco, Talamore at Oak Terrace Country Club

40

39

79

Gregg A. Hostetter, Meadia Heights Golf Club

40

39

79

Kevin Reiber, Penn National Golf Club

40

39

79

Mark Yost, Penn National Golf Club

42

37

79

Matt M. Dolinsky, Honeybrook Golf Club

41

38

79

Rick Bojalad, First Tee of Greater Pittsburgh Golf Club

41

38

79

Alexander Maguire, Jr., Philadelphia Cricket Club

41

39

80

Barry Erenrich, The Club at Nevillewood

40

40

80

Don Erickson, III, Indiana Country Club

39

41

80

Edward H. Knoll, Deer Run Golf Club

41

39

80

Justin Masters, Glen Oak Country Club

39

41

80

Mark Coassolo, Berkleigh Country Club

40

40

80

Mike Lintelman, Sewickley Heights Golf Club

43

37

80

Russell West, Meadia Heights Golf Club

39

41

80

Sean Hirschler, Glen Oak Country Club

42

38

80

Nicholas Bellisario, Rolling Green Golf Club

44

37

81

Brock Christine, Susquehanna Valley Country Club

43

39

82

Chris G. Esbenshade, Meadia Heights Golf Club

45

37

82

Glenn Smeraglio, Yardley Country Club

43

39

82

Jeffrey Griest, Waynesborough Country Club

42

40

82

Shane Miller, Hannastown Golf Club

40

42

82

Stanley Namola, Seven Oaks Country Club

43

39

82

Frank Milsak, Montour Heights Country Club

44

40

84

Matt Ehrlich, Meadowlands Country Club

45

40

85

Ross Pringle, Cross Creek Resort

44

42

86

Adam Layden, Culbertson Hills Golf Resort

46

41

87

Jason Barkley, Huntsville Golf Club

46

41

87

David Gedris, Churchill Valley Country Club

50

38

88

Bill Gropp, McCall Golf & Country Club

45

45

90

Alan Borowsky, White Manor Country Club

WD

WD

WD

Arthur Kania, Jr., Overbrook Golf Club

WD

WD

WD

Christian Breed, Waynesboro Country Club

WD

WD

WD

Jordan Wycoff, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

WD

WD

WD

 

WD-withdrawal

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