Aronimink's Kiddie named PGA's top merchandiser

    Jeffrey Kiddie, the head pro at Aronimink Golf Club, has been named the 2011 PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Private Facilities.
   The 40-year-old Kiddie is the third Philadelphia Section PGA pro to win the award since it was established in 1978. The award recognizes PGA professionals who excel as businerperson/merchandisers in the promotion of golf.
   Kiddie will be recognized at The PGA of America Awards Jan. 26 during the the 59th PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Converntion Center's Chapin Theater in Orlando, Fla.
   "I am really proud, happy and honored as this award is a great acknowledgement for both myself and my team," Kiddie said in a PGA of America press release announcing the honor. "We take a lot of time and pride to amke sure our golf shop operation is successful and the whole group at Aronimink deserves a lot of credit for this honor."
   Aronimink was very much in teh spotlight the last two summers as it hosted the AT&T National event, which was on hiatus from Congressional Country Club as that Bethesda, Md. prepared for the 2011 U.S. Open, which turned into the coming-out party for Rory McIlroy.
   The Donald Ross design drew nothing but praise from the touring pros who were seeing it for the first time. Aronimink has also hosted the 1962 PGA Championship, the 1977 U.S. Amateur, the 1997 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 2003 Senior PGA Championship.
   "My peers and I like to share ideas to be as creative and efficient as we can," Kiddie said. "We try hard to do what we do well and I feeel like we treat people great, not just on the retail side, but for regular member and guest play. We work hard at Aronimink to create the right atmosphere -- one that is welcoming and professional."

Strong showing for Kania

   Villanova junior Michael Kania, the two-time Haverford School All-Delco, had a solid showing in the Philadelphia Big 5 Invitational, which concluded Sunday at Plymouth Country Club.
   Kania had a pair of 72s over the 6,600-yard, par-70 Plymouth layout to finish in a tie for sixth at 4-over 144. It was the first top-10 finish this season for the Overbrook G.C. member. It was Kania's second top-20 finish and fourth straight top-30 finish.
   Kania led Villanova to an 11th-place finish out of the 22-team field with a 599 total. The Wildcats finished third among the Big 5 entrants as Penn earned Big 5 bragging rights by finishing in a tie for fourth at 587 and Temple finished in a tie for eighth overall and three shots ahead of Villanova at 596.
   The Wildcats got a boost from senior Bret McGaughey of Laguna Beach, Calif. who finished in a tie for 21st with a 147 total in his first tournament action of the fall.
   Villanova's other scorers were senior Brian Colbert of Cary, Ill. who was 61st at 154, junior Steve Skurla of Wheaton , Ill., who was in 66th with a 155 total and junior Derek Jones of Lower Burrell, Pa. who was in 91st with a 159 total.
   Monsignor Bonner All-Delco Mike Hartsough teed it up for the Saint Joseph's Hawks and struggled a little with rounds of 85 and 86 for a 171 total, but it was to see him get a shot since Hartsough went to Hawk Hill hoping to make the team as a walk-on. The Hawks finished 21st with a 642 total.

Haverford School still going strong

   Haverford School has continued to dominate the new format in the Inter-Ac League, which switched from the spring to the fall this season.

   The format has each school hosting the other schools in mini-tournaments and Germantown Academy was the host Monday at Plymouth Country Club.

   Led by a 34 posted by All-Delco Scott Jaster, the Fords finished with a 239 total, which was matched by Episcopal Academy. Cole Berman added a 37 for the Fords.

   Episcopal was led by Alex Dupre’s 37 and a 38 by Sean Fahey. Malvern Prep sophomore and Newtown Square resident Michael Davis also had a strong individual effort with a 35.

Through four mini-tournaments, Haverford School is in first place with an 18-0-4 mark. Episcopal is second with a 14-3-3 mark and Malvern Prep is third at 13-6-1.

   The top three individuals are Berman (132-6-7), Davis (163-18-6) and Jaster (153-28-7).

   A week earlier, Malvern Prep hosted the third mini-tournament at Applebrook Golf Club.

Led by Berman (37), Timmy Brooks (36) and Jaster (38), Haverford School finished with a 241 total, a number that was again matched by Episcopal.

   The Churchmen were led by Fahey, who was the overall medalist for the day with a 36. Dupre and Jack Dordelman added 38s for Episcopal.

   The final two mini-tournaments are next week, both at Gulph Mills with Penn Charter playing the host Oct. 17 and Haverford School as the host Oct. 20.

   The Inter-Ac Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Militia Hill course.

Thompson's unlikely title

   Ray Thompson, the Overbrook G.C. member and Drexel Hill resident, wasn't even going to tee it up in the Golf Association of Philadelphia Senior Amateur Championship because it was so close to the U.S. Senior Amateur, which he had qualified to play in. 

   But the epic rains of September, including Hurricane Irene, conspired to allow Thompson to not only play in, but win the GAP Senior Amateur crown.

   The original site for the GAP Senior, Whitemarsh Valley C.C., was ravaged by Irene, so the event was pushed back and moved to Whitford C.C.
   With the date change, Thompson teed it up and carded a 3-under 69 at Whitford to take the lead after the opening round of the scheduled 36-hole event.
   More rain left Whitford unplayable and Thompson was declared the winner after 18 holes.
   "It's a little bittersweet," the 59-year-old Thompson told the GAP website. "It's better when you win it over the course of two rounds, but don't get me wrong, I'm glad to win."
   Thompson's performance at Whitford also enabled him to overtake Michael Quinn of Edgmont C.C. by four strokes for the Senior Silver Cross Award.

   "I’m certainly happy that I was able to win the Senior Amateur and the Silver Cross to boot," said Thompson, who captured every Senior title in 200-7 en route to Player fo the Year honors that year. "That’s a nice accomplishment for me.

   "After 2007, I guess my expectations got up and I put a lot of pressure on myself to try and do better. Winning tournaments isn’t easy. You have to get a little luck as well. I went into this season saying that I have to have fun and not put pressure on myself to win every time I tee it up."

   LedgeRock G.C.’s Chip Lutz, winner of the Senior British Amateur last summer, finished second, three shots behind Thompson.

   Frank McFadden, a fellow Overbrook member of Thompson’s, shared third place at 1-over 73. Edgmont’s Quinn shared fifth place with Gary Daniels of Aronimink G.C. at 2-over 74.

   Overbrook’s Chris Lange finished in a tie for seventh at 3-over 75.