Kania, Beman teaming up in Compher Cup

   A couple of Haverford School All-Delcos, Michael Kania and 2012-13 Daily Times Player of the Year Cole Berman, will be teaming up when the Golf Association of Philadelphia takes on the New Jersey State Golf Association in the annual Compher Cup matches Wednesday at Aronimink Golf Club.

   The Jersey boys snapped a three-year winning streak for Team GAP when they claimed a 10.5-7.5 victory in the Ryder Cup-style matches a year ago on home turf at Galloway National Golf Club.

Each association fields a 12-man team with players simultaneously competing in singles and four-ball matches. A total of 18 points are available and ties are worth a half-point to each team.

   Berman, who plays out of Philadelphia Cricket Club, is honored to be selected to play in the matches, especially considering he isn’t out of high school yet.

   “I know Juniors are typically not selected, so it was a great surprise,” Berman, who has  been the GAP Junior Player of the Year each of the last two years, told the GAP website.  “It shouldn’t be anything out of my comfort zone. Aronimink should be a great test. I’m looking forward to it.”

   And he’s happy he gets to team up with a fellow Ford in Kania, who comes out of the talented stable of golfers at Overbrook Golf Club. The two joined forces last fall in the Mason-Dixon Matches, a similar style team competition, and won three points in singles and four-ball matches. Berman and Kania are both two-time Inter-Ac League Tournament champions.

    “He’s been one of my role models since we’re both Haverford School guys,” Berman said of Kania. “I grew up caddying for him when he was on the high school team. It’s cool to be able to play with him instead of watch him.”

   There is a third All-Delco on the GAP team in White Manor Country Club’s Conrad Von Borsig, the 2004-05 Daily Times Player of the Year as a senior at Strath Haven.

   The team will also include Merion Golf Club’s Michael McDermott, coming off a 2013 campaign during which he won two GAP majors, the Mid-Amateur and Philadelphia Amateur championships.      

   McDermott is a Haverford High and Saint Joseph’s product who is a five-time winner of the William Hyndman III Player of the Year award.

   McDermott’s 2013 Philly Am victory came at Aronimink, where he also holds a membership. Kania and Von Borsig reached the semifinals at Aronimink and Berman, a few weeks removed from his junior year at The Haverford School, qualified for match play.

   Veteran Glenn Smeraglio of Mercer Oaks Golf Course will serve as the GAP team captain. He is competing in his sixth straight Compher Cup and 13^th overall. He too, qualified for match play in the Philly Am at Aronimink last summer and was knocked out of match play by Von Borsig.