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scores
AMBLER, Pa. – There’s just something about the Pennsylvania Golf Association's (PAGA) Art Wall Jr. Memorial Championship and Greensburg Country Club's Arnie Cutrell. Cutrell, a four-time champion of the event, is in prime position once again to take home a title at the 21st playing of the Championship and leads the field at Old York Road Country Club with a two-under-par 69 after Monday’s first round. Cutrell, who won Art Wall titles in 2011 and from 2014-16, birdied holes No. 1, 4, and 11, with a lone bogey on 16 his only real mistake of the day.
“I think the key to the round was that I had about eight or nine holes outside 30 feet, either on the green or off the fringe, and I was able to two-putt them,” said Cutrell. ”I didn’t have any three-putts today, which is key to this course with how severe the greens are. So I hit it close a couple times and made the birdies. I played here in the State Open back in 2008 and I didn’t play very well. The greens are tough to read so I tried to really pay attention and I ended up putting well, so that helped.”
Kevin Kelly, a member at Old York Road, finds himself just one stroke behind Cutrell in second place with a one-under 70. Kelly shot even par on the front nine before birdies on 12, 16, and a bogey on 15. Two players are tied for third place with even par 71's: Rick Stimmel (Connoquenessing Country Club) and Paul Rogowicz (Yardley Country Club.) Stimmel, who won the Art Wall Memorial in 2022 and has claimed two PAGA titles this summer, totaled five birdies on the day while Rogowicz carded a double bogey on the first hole but recovered with three birdies (on 3, 9, and 15) to stay within shouting distance of the lead.
The Pre-Senior Division (ages 40-54) finds Kevin Fajt (Hannastown Golf Club) and Jon Pratkanis (Butler Country Club) tied for the lead at one-over 72 while the Senior Division (55-64) top four of Cutrell, Kelly, Stimmel, and Rogowicz mimics the overall leaderboard. In the Super-Senior Division (65+), Glenn Smeraglio (LuLu Country Club) and Don Donatoni (Hershey's Mill Golf Club) are tied for the top spot after both shooting four-over 75's.
Play continues tomorrow with the final round of competition. Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m., with the leaders scheduled to tee off at 1:13 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Old York Road Country Club for the hospitality shown during today's rounds. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA.
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