Day 1 PA Women's Four-Ball Complete
Bryan Kast
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – A perfect day of weather and a challenging golf course highlighted the first round of the Fourth Annual Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) Women’s Four Ball Championship at Radley Run Country Club. In the Amateur Division, the pairing of current NCAA Division I golfers Stefania Fedun and Mary Dunigan (French Creek GC / Kennett Square GC) paced the field with a five-under-par 68 after the first round.
Fedun, a member of Lehigh University’s golf team, birdied a trio of holes on the back nine–No. 12, 16, and 18—while Dunigan, who will compete for the University of Delaware this Fall, notched the pair’s only birdie on the front nine (hole No. 8), and added another on No. 10.
Two other duos are still within striking distance, including sisters Emily and Clare Gimpel (Manufacturers’ CC / Whitemarsh Valley CC), who are two strokes behind after shooting a first-round 70 (-3). Emily, a University of Maryland alum, birdied a pair of holes on the back nine while Clare, a current Florida Southern College golfer, carded four birdies on the day.
Sitting in third place are Ava O’Sullivan and Isabella Dilisio (Applecross CC / Philadelphia CC) with a two-under-par 71. O’Sullivan, the defending PAGA Junior champion and current Bowling Green golfer, birdied holes No. 8, 14, and 18, while Dilisio, who won the PAGA Four-Ball championship in 2020, added birdies on No. 12 and 13.
Rounding out the top 5 are the pairings of Emilee Barkley / Brooke Graham (Moselem Springs GC / Manada GC) and Georgia Capotis / Steph Urban (Kahkwa Club / Lawrence Park GC), who were into the clubhouse with scores of 80 (+7).
Over in the Senior Division it’s shaping up to be a fantastic final round after three teams ended the first round tied atop the leaderboard, all after shooting one-under-par 73’s.
The pairing of Missy Wietlisbach and Louise Gebhart (Gulph Mills GC / Hanover GC) featured Gebhart’s blistering front nine, where she birdied four holes and made par on two others to help secure a combined 35 on the front, the lowest in the division.
Decorated players Alexandra Frazier and Karen Siegel (Gulph Mills GC / Commonwealth National GC), the 2023 PAGA Senior and Super Senior Players of the Year, respectively, played a solid and steady first round, featuring just two birdies (both from Siegel, on holes No. 16 and 18.) Siegel posted an individual 75 for the round, the lowest of the day in the Senior flight.
The third team tied for the lead is Melana Regan and Nicoll Keeney (Philadelphia CC / Wilmington CC), who both unfortunately ran into trouble and posted bogeys on holes No. 1, 7, and 18 – but recovered with four birdies, as Regan birdied the par-three sixth hole and Keeney posted them on No. 8, 12, and 16.
Defending champions Delia Keys and Lisa Klein (Moselem Springs GC / RiverCrest GC & Preserve) aren’t too far behind, either, sitting in fourth place with a three-over-par 77 after the first round.
Play continues with tomorrow’s final round on Tuesday, June 11.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Radley Run Country Club for the hospitality shown during this week’s tournament, with additional thanks going to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.