Sanderson and Rothaus Win Titles at the Art Wall Championship
Sanderson and Rothaus Win Titles at Art Wall Jr. Memorial
106 of Pennsylvania’s top players over the age of 40 contested the Art Wall Jr. Memorial Championship presented by Dick’s Sporting Good at The 1912 Club. Hannastown Golf Club’s Kevin Fajt set the pace in the first round shooting a 6-under par 65. Colin Sanderson (Jericho National) 67, David Olexson (Steel Club) and Bob Crnjarnich (Diamond Run) with 68, Rick Stimmel (Connoquenessing) and Jason Wilson (Olde Homestead) with 69 and Rich Owsick (Rolling Green) with 70 were close enough to the lead to hope to contend on day 2.
The early lead in the second round was passed between several players. Early in the back 9, 5 players were tied at 5 under. Rich Owsik would take the clubhouse lead at 7-under with his 2nd round 65. Defending champion Rick Stimmel would birdie 17 and par 18 to post 8-under. Playing 2 holes behind, and the final group, Colin Sanderson was making a charge. Sanderson would birdie 4 of the final six to match Stimmel at 8-under at the end of regulation.
Stimmel and Sanderson would return to #18 to start the playoff. Both players would find the fairway. Stimmel’s approach would come up short of the green leaving a difficult up-and-down opportunity. Stimmel’s bogey set the stage for Sanderson to clinch his first Pennsylvania Golf Association Championship with his two-putt par. Stimmel’s 2nd place finish has pulled him within striking distance of 2023 POY point leader Calen Sanderson with just the Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur left to play.
Brian Rothaus (Five Ponds) would continue his dominance of the Super-Seniors. So far in 2023 Rothaus has been the Super-Senior champion in the George Dressler, the Senior Match-Play, and the Senior Amateur. He finished the clean sweep with a 7-shot victory at the Art Wall. Michael Capotis (Kahkwa) and Mike Vassil (Scranton) finished tied for second.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of The 1912 Club of for the hospitality shown in hosting the event. Thanks as well to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.