Stu Ingraham wins Philadelphia Section PGA Championship
After storms earlier in the week led to one more day and one fewer round of the Philadelphia Section PGA Championship, it was fitting that the two survivors at the end of the regulation 36 holes at White Manor Country Club were two of the organization's senior members.
After storms earlier in the week led to one more day and one fewer round of the Philadelphia Section PGA Championship, it was fitting that the two survivors at the end of the regulation 36 holes at White Manor Country Club were two of the organization's senior members.
Stu Ingraham, the 52-year-old teaching pro from M-Golf Range in Newtown Square, and 61-year-old Greg Farrow, head pro at Deerwood Country Club in Westhampton, N.J., battled through 36 holes and sudden death on Friday before Ingraham rammed home a 25-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole for the victory.
For Ingraham, who bogeyed the final hole of regulation to fall back into a tie with Farrow at 4-under-par 138 and missed a 21/2-foot par putt at the first playoff hole, the win was a testament to maturity.
"I figured I'd hit the putt solid, and I pulled it slightly," he said. "After I missed it, I said, 'OK, you're still alive, keep playing golf, trust yourself and go on.'
"In the past, I might have gotten down on myself, just like I might have when I bogeyed the last hole. But I didn't - I think because of maturity. The fact that I had an opportunity to be there, just being in a playoff in the section championship at age 52, that's a special dream to me."
On the third playoff hole, a 208-yard par-3, Ingraham hit a 4-iron, a strike he described as "aggressive and nervous." But the ball landed on the green right of the hole, and he sank the birdie putt.
Ingraham pocketed the $7,500 first prize and a watch with the win. It was his second section title.
Two-time defending champion Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford shot a 67 to fall one shot short of a playoff at 139, where he tied with Eric Kennedy of Overbrook and Jake Gerney of Trump National-Philadelphia.
The top 12 finishers qualified for the 2013 PGA Professional National Championship.
Top Finishers
*-won playoff
*-Stu Ingraham, M-Golf 70-68-138
Greg Farrow, Deerwood 68-70-138
Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford 72-67-139
Jake Gerney, Trump National-Phila 71-68-139
Eric Kennedy, Overbrook 72-67-139
John Bierkan, Aronimink 72-69-141
Barry Dear, Links 70-71-141
Travis Deibert, Commonwealth Natl 69-72-141
Terry Hatch, Hidden Valley 76-66-142
Brian Kelly, Bucknell 73-69-142
Dave McNabb, Applebrook 74-69-143
Rick Hughart, Tavistock 75-68-143
Alex Knoll, Bethlehem 75-70-145
Mark Sheftic, Merion 76-69-145
Cleve Coldwater, Glenmaura Natl 76-69-145