The USGA and the R&A Propose Anchor Ban

   

  A few days ago the USGA and the R&A  made public their proposed rule change that would prohibit the anchoring f any club while making a stroke.  The proposed rule, Rule 14-1b, would go into effect on January 1, 2016, giving players’ the opportunity to adapt their current method of putting to comply with this new rule.  The USGA and the R&A cited the fact that anchoring of the putter has become more and more prevalent with an increasing number of players.  The rule would not prohit the use of a belly putter or a long putter, just the fashion in which the player can make his or her stroke with it.  For more information of this proposed rule change click here: http://www.usga.org/news/2012/November/Proposed-Rules-Change-to-Prohibit-Anchoring/

  The Golf Association of Philadelphia would like to know what type of putter our juniors are currently using…

2012 AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic

  The final, and one of the most prestigious, events on the AJGA calendar took place last week and three local juniors competed down in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.  This invitational, which, in the past,  has been won by the likes of Tiger Woods and Hunter Mahan, took place at the Palm Beach Gardens Resort and Spa (Champion & Fazio Courses).  Talamore CC’s Scott Jaster, Yardley CC’s Kyle Sterbinsky and Merion GC’s Michael Davis were in the elite field of 156 juniors.  The format for the event is 36 holes of stroke play followed by match play (the low 32 boys and 32 girls make it to match play).  Both Davis and Sterbinsky narrowly missed qualifying for match play.  Merion’s Davis fired rounds of 74 and 79 to miss advancing by 2 strokes.  After shooting rounds of 73 and 78, Yardley’s fell in a 7 player for 1 spot playoff to determine the 32nd seed in match play.

  Talamore’s Jaster easily advanced to match play after rounds of 75 and 72 and earned the 14th seed for match play.  In his Round of 32 match, Jaster defeated Christopher Petefish, Scottsdale, AZ  on the first extra hole.  His Round of 16 match would pit him against the #1 ranked player in the Polo Junior Golf Rankings, Robby Shelton, IV of Wilmer, AL.  Although he lost two of the first four holes of the match, Jaster was able to claw his way back and win the match 2 up.  Jaster’s run to the championship came to end in the quarterfinals, where he lost a hard-fought match to the eventual champion, Adam Wood, Zionsville, IN.

  Congratulations to Scott, Kyle and Michael on their performances last week!

  For a full recap of the event please click on this link: http://www.ajga.org/MicroSite/index.asp?TN=2012094#

Class of 2013 College Signees

  A number of our local juniors have announced where they will be attending college starting in the fall of 2013.  The Golf Association of Philadelphia would like to wish all of Class of 2013 junior players the best of luck with their college careers.  And if you would like your name to be added to this list please feel free to email me at croselle@gapgolf.org whenever you decide on your college of choice.

Steve Altieri, Hopewell Valley GC, Franklin & Marshall College

Ashley Cassidy, Commonwealth National Golf Club, The University of Cincinnati

Sean Fahey, Overbrook Golf Club, Dartmouth College

Brian Fischer, Commonwealth National Golf Club, Drexel University

Zachary Herr, Jericho National Golf Club, Vanderbilt University

Craig Hornberger, Lancaster Country Club, Campbell University

Scott Jaster, Talamore Country Club, Dartmouth College

Evan Thornton, Berkshire Country Club, The University of Delaware

Brendan Worthy, Merion Golf Club, Lehigh University

College Golf Scholarship Seminar Recap

  This past Saturday the Golf Association of Philadelphia conducted our 7th College Golf Scholarship Seminar.  Area junior golfers and their parents gathered at Plymouth Country Club to hear J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Director, Brad Kane and Golf World Senior writer, Ryan Herrington, discuss various topics related to collegiate golf.  Kane, the former head golf coach at Penn State University – Harrisburg, talked primarily about the golf at the Division III level.  Herrington, who has covered college/amateur golf for Golf World since 1997, spent his time discussing golf at the Division I level.  Even yours truly got into the act and spent time going over Rules 7, 11, 17 and 21.

  For a copy of the packet on information that we provided please click on this link: http://gapgolf.org/pdf/2012_college_golf_scholarship_seminar_packet.pdf

  Also, Tony Regina, our Assistant Communications Director, was on hand to film each presentation and they can be found on our YouTube channel by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/gapgolf09

  A special thanks goes out to Brad, Ryan and Tony for making the seminar first class and to all our area juniors and parents who attended!