Ex-Temple star wins Patterson Cup

Before finishing one of the finest summers ever enjoyed by a player in the Golf Association of Philadelphia, Andrew Mason had to make things interesting and bring others into the hunt in Friday's final round of the Patterson Cup at White Manor Country Club in Malvern.

After Mason got to 7 under par with a birdie on the seventh hole, his game started to unravel. He carded five bogeys on his next eight holes and saw his lead trimmed to 1.

But the former Temple star steadied himself, finished with three consecutive pars, and became the fourth player in GAP history to win the Patterson Cup (109 years old) and the Philadelphia Open (107) in the same year.

Mason, 22, of Huntingdon Valley Country Club, fired a 3-over-par 74. With Thursday's 66, which tied the competitive course record, he posted a 36-hole score of 2-under 140.

Local legends William Hyndman III (1968, 1969) and Jay Sigel (1980, 1986) won the Open and the Patterson Cup in the same year twice each. The other to do it was James McHale Jr. (1948).

"I've been playing real solid, a lot smarter than usual," Mason said. "So I attribute [the success] to that. Obviously, being mentioned in the same sentence with those other guys before me is really special."

To join that special company, Mason had to fight his short game. The problem really manifested itself on the 330-yard 15th hole, where, after hitting his tee shot pin-high with a rather ordinary chip shot coming up, he left the green with a bogey 5.

After he parred 16, Mason drove into a fairway bunker at the par-5 17th. He considered going for the green but passed on the 200-yard shot and laid up - into a divot. He yanked his third shot left, chipped up, and was left with a six-foot, downhill, sliding putt for par that he made.

Mason said he thought he won the tournament there.

Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Vall. 66-74-140

James Kania Jr., Overbrook 72-69-141

Christopher Fuga, Phoenixville 70-72-142

Stephen Seiden, Llanerch 67-76-143

Michael McDermott, Merion 74-70-144

David Sanders, Laurel Creek 73-71-144

Oliver White, Manufacturers 71-73-144

Matthew Teesdale, Commonwlth Natl. 70-74-144

Scott McLaughlin, Commonwlth Natl. 73-72-145

Peter Barron III, Stone Harbor 71-74-145

Mike Meisenzahl, Little Mill 75-71-146

Ben Cooley, Huntingdon Valley 73-73-146

Rodney James, Five Ponds 75-72-147

Patrick Ross, Glenmaura Natl. 77-71-148

Jeff Osberg, Llanerch 76-72-148

Glenn Smeraglio, Mercer Oaks 75-73-148

Michael Hyland, Little Mill 74-74-148

Bill Jeremiah, Bidermann 74-74-148

Patrick Dougherty, Phila. Cricket 70-78-148