Cordaro and Eichenlaub Win 34th Four-Ball

Anthony Cordaro and Evan Eichenlaub did their best Forrest Gump imitation in Tuesday’s final round of the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) Four Ball Championship at Toftrees Resort. You remember, “Run Forrest Run!” Well, the Saucon Valley Country Club tandem, took a two-stroke lead out of the first round and kept running to narrowly outpace the field to win their second straight title in the event.

Following their opening-round 63, they slowed their torrid pace just a bit coming home finishing with a 6-under 66  in round two. The two-day total, combined with their winning score at last year’s event at Schuylkill Country Club means they have registered scores totalling 27 under par in the 72 holes.

Cordaro and Eichenlaub birdied four of the first five holes of the day wrapped around their lone bogey of the day at the par-three third hole. Cordaro birdied the opening hole and added two more back-to-back on the 630-yard eighth and par-4 ninth. Eichenlaub’s birdies came at two, four and five. They played the inward holes one under to hold off the charging team of Sam Pancoast (Radley Run Country Club and Colin Smith (Biderman Golf Club).

That pair was in third place after 66 in the first round and were three off the pace. But, on day two had a six-under 30 on the front to pass the other team above them in second place, Grant Skyllas (LedgeRock Golf Club and Jake Haberstumpf (The Steel Club). Their first birdies on the back on 16 and 17  actually pulled Pancoast and Smith even with the leaders at -14 briefly, but playing in the group right behind, Cordaro birdied the par-five 17th and the issue was decided.

“We gave it our best shot and almost made it,” said Smith. He had five of his six birdies on the opening nine. His lone birdie on the back brought it even at the top of the leaderboard after Pancoast had gotten them within one with one of his own on 16.

Cordaro, unlike his partner, is a scoreboard watcher. “I knew exactly where we were all day, especially on the back. I knew they tied us on 17 so knew what we needed to do. I flared my drive into the right rough, so it wasn’t the start I wanted,” he said. “But, I caught a good lie in the rough and had 225 into the wind and I caught the three wood right and it hit in front and rolled up to 10 feet. Just had to cozy it up from there for the short birdie putt.”

As for the scoreboard, “I never check the scoreboard, so I have no idea what is going on,” said Eichenlaub. That way I can focus on what I am doing and no worry about the rest.”  As they wrapped up, Eichenlaub was headed to the pro shop to buy new balls with his winnings. He has a preference for playing his rounds with used balls.  But, while those work very well for him, some new balls may be put in play for his next round.

Skyllas and Haberstumpf finished third at 13-under, followed by three teams at -9; Andrew Forjan (Manchester Golf Links) and Will Gekas (Regents’ Glen Country Club, who matched the Pancoast/Smith team second round low score of 64 along Southpointe Golf Club’s Tom Novic and Lance George and Nemacolin Country Club’s Hunter Bruce and Tanner Johnson.

PAGA wishes to thank the event sponsor, DICK’S Sporting Goods, the staff at Toftrees Resort and the players for a great event.