Seiden leads Llanerch to Team Championship berth

   Hard to believe that we are just 11 days away from the 2013 U.S. Open teeing off at the historic East Course at Merion Golf Club in the Ardmore section of Haverford Township.

   While Tiger Woods was getting his first look at Merion on a rainy, chilly day after Memorial Day last week, many of the area’s top amateur players were on the other end of Haverford Township teeing it up in the Golf Association of Philadelphia Team Championship Qualifier at Llanerch Country Club.

   And the homestanding Llanerch group did pretty well, earning one of the four spots available by finishing in a tie for second with Commonwealth National at 304.

   Huntingdon Valley Country Club got a big lift from Jeff Osberg, who just left Llanerch over the winter, in claiming medalist honors at 298. Philadelphia Cricket Club, coming off its title in the GAP team matches, will be the fourth when the GAP Team Championship is decided June 25 at Lehigh Country Club.

   Osberg used his knowledge of Llanerch to fire a 3-under 68 over the 6,778-yard, par-71 layout in conditions so tough that the field average was 83.

   “It’s nice coming back here, I love Llanerch,” Osberg, who will be trying to land a spot in the U.S. Open at Merion in sectional qualifying Monday, told the GAP website. “It always plays extremely difficult. Playing in the afternoon, you could see the scores from the morning and I wasn’t surprised. I just feel comfortable here. I know how to play the greens. I know how to keep it in  play. I never really got in trouble today.”

   But Llanerch got a big boost from one of Osberg’s pals, Steve Seiden, the Strath Haven All-Delco, who, along with Osberg, gave Llanerch a pair of entrants in the 2011 U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. Seiden led a talented Llanerch group by posting a 2-over 73.

   “I knew pars were going to be excellent today with the weather coming in, but they’re good on this golf course no matter what the conditions are,” the Havertown resident told the GAP website. “The familiarity of the golf course helps you get it around and be comfortable with the lines off the tees.

   “I got off the tee real well and consequently put myself in good shape to hit a lot of greens and to make some easy pars. And easy pars help the round keep going. It was nice to do that.”

   Seiden also gave some credit to Sandy Amadio, a Llanerch member who forecaddied for Seiden despite the rainy conditions.

   “He’s an old veteran here,” Seiden said. “We get along well and I asked him to ride along with me to have some fun and he likes the competition. He  made sure I didn’t make any silly mistakes. I’ve been known to do that.”

   Llanerch also got 76s from Kevin McDermott and Michael Rogers and 79s from Sean Coyle and Tom Spano (with the luxury of tossing out one of the 79s) in recording its 304 total. Brian McDermott had an 81 to round out the Llanerch effort.

   When the four qualifiers gather again at Lehigh for the final, there will be eight-man teams playing alternate-shot format in the morning and singles in the afternoon.

   Overbrook Golf Club saw its three-year reign as team champion halted as it failed to advance with a 322 total. James Kania Jr., GAP’s William Hyndman Player of the Year in 2009, carded a 76, but none of the rest of Team Overbrook’s players could break 80.

   The Springhaven Club was led by Gene Flanagan’s 78 in posting a 326 total and Aronomink Golf Club, which was led by Bucknell and Malvern Prep product Dan Bernard’s 76, was another shot back at 327.