Harbold takes the big prize at Haverford Trust Classic

   It is one of, if not the largest payday offered by a PGA Section in the country. That would be the $75,000 first prize that goes to the winner of the Philadelphia Section’s Haverford Trust Classic at Sunnybrook Golf Club.

   Lancaster Country Club pro Rusty Harbold completed a 5-under par round of 67 Tuesday when thunderstorms halted play. Much to his relief, the score held up for that whopping top prize when play was finally complete Wednesday.

   The dropoff in prize money after that top spot is precipitous as Brian Kelly, the veteran pro at Bucknell Golf Club, finished just a shot back of Harbold with a 4-under 68, but earned only $384. The top prize a year ago went to Billy Stewart, who grew up playing at Llanerch Country Club. Stewart was returning to the area after spending nearly a decade playing the Florida mini-tours following his collegiate career at Saint Joseph’s.

   Dave McNabb of Applebrook Golf Club and Terry Hertzog of the Country Club of York shared third place with 69s. Hertzog was one of the players who returned to the course Wednesday with an outside shot at catching Harbold, but he couldn’t quite match Harbold’s 67.

   Stu Ingraham, the teaching pro at the M Golf Range, finished in a tie for fifth at 2-under 70 with John Lynch of Peninsula Golf Club and Steve Swartz pf Conestoga Country Club.

   Among some other finishers in the Haverford Trust were: John Allen (72, tied for 10^th) of TaylorMade Golf; Stewart (73, tied for 18^th), who is at The ACE Club; Mark Sheftic (74, tied for 20^th), the head of instruction at Merion Golf Club; Anthony Napoletano (74, tied for 20^th), the former Cardinal O’Hara standout who is at GolfTEC in King of Prussia; Bryan Kienke (74, tied for 20^th) of Aronimink Golf Club; Ed Dougherty (75, tied for 30^th), the Linwood native who has won on the both PGA and Champions tours; and Carson Solien (75, tied for 30^th) of Aronimink Golf Club.