Siegfried helps Team GAP get share of third at Williamson Cup

   The Golf Association of Philadelphia played host to the Fred E. Williamson Cup last week at Saucon Valley Country Club’s Weyhill Course and a strong GAP foursome finished in a tie for third in an event that draws top junior golfers from all over the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and Canada.

   All-Delco Max Siegfried, a senior who led Haverford School to the Inter-Ac League title last fall, teamed with PIAA standouts Jack Melville of Upper Dublin, Kyle Vance of Methacton and Evan Brown of Kennett to form a formidable group for Team GAP. Following an opening ceremony and a banquet Tuesday night, it was 36 holes of golf Wednesday.

   Vance, who won the District One Class AAA title as a freshman two years ago, led the way for Team GAP as he had rounds of 72 and 74 to finish in a tie for fourth overall in the individual standings at 2-over 146.

   But it was the team chase that was foremost in the minds of Team GAP. Siegfried, playing out of Aronimink Golf Club, has been consistently strong all summer. He had rounds of 75 and 79 for a 154 total. Melville, the runnerup in Class AAA at the district tournament at Turtle Creek last fall, had rounds of 81 and 77 for a 158 total and Brown had rounds of 79 and 81 for a 160 total.

   It added up to rounds of 226 and 230 for a 456 total that landed Team GAP in a tie for third with the Pennsylvania Golf Association. The Pennsylvania GA was led by Gus Minken, who had rounds of 75 and 71 to match Vance’s 146 total. Pennsylvania GA went 234 and 222 to match Team GAP’s 456 total.

   The Metropolitan GA captured the team title for the 11^th time with remarkably consistent rounds of 219 and 218 for a 437 total. Metropolitan GA was led by Ryan Davis, who had rounds of 73 and 71 for a 144 total that was third in the individual standings.

   Washington Metropolitan GA had built a five-shot lead after a strong opening-round 214, but fell back a little in the afternoon with a 225 that left it two shots back of Metropolitan GA with a 439 total. Washington Metropolitan GA was led by Chris Navarro, who opened with a brilliant 5-under 67 before falling back with a 76 that left him second overall at 1-under 143.

   Individual honors wen t to Charles-Eric Belanger of the Quebec Golf Association, who fired rounds of 71 and 69 for a stellar 4-under 140 total that was three shots clear of Navarro.

   Belanger helped Quebec GA earn a share of fifth place with the Golf Association of Ontario at 457, just a shot back of Team GAP and Pennsylvania GA. Rounding out the team finishers were Delaware State Golf Association (465), Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (470), Rochester District Golf Association (473) and Syracuse District Golf Association (474).

   “It was so much fun,” Vance told the GAP website in summing up the event. “With the teammates I had, I’m all friends with them, so it was really a blast.”