Kania passes U.S. Open qualifying test

   Michael Kania, a two-time Haverford School All-Delco and a year removed from an outstanding career on the Villanova golf team, took the first step toward a possible appearance in the U.S. Open next month at the famed No. 2 course at the Pinehurst Resort.

   Kania fired a 1-over 73 in windy conditions over the 7,009-yard, par-72 Hidden Creek Golf Club layout Monday to earn one of just six coveted tickets to golf’s longest day June 2, U.S. Open sectional qualifying at sites all around the country.

   Kania, part of the deep pool of talent at Overbrook Golf Club, survived a four-man playoff for the final three available berths after finishing in a tie for third.

   Alexander Hicks, runnerup to Michael McDermott in the Philadelphia Amateur at Aronimink Golf Club last summer, shared medalist honors with Jose Garrido, coach of Columbia’s national team. Both fired 2-under rounds of 70. A little shore golf didn’t bother Hicks, coming off his junior season at William & Mary, as he is based at Wildwood Golf & Country Club.

   Third place went to Michael Johnson, who just completed his senior campaign on the La Salle golf team. Johnson, who lost out in playoff in local qualifying at Applebrook Golf Club a year ago, matched par with a 72.

   I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m guessing Michael Kania might be among the Overbrook players teeing it up Saturday as the title in the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) Team Matches is decided.

   Overbrook will battle it out with Aronimink, once a perennial contender for this title getting a shot at it again after a long absence, Little Mill Country Club and defending champion Philadelphia Cricket Club. The Cricket Club won the Team Matches for the first time a year ago when it got the clinching point from reigning Daily Times Player of the Year Cole Berman, who was finishing up his junior year at The Haverford School at the time.

   Overbrook is coming off a sterling 37.5-16.5 victory over Glenmaura National Golf Club that earned it a spot in the four-way AA shootout.

   Oscar Mestre, Overbrook’s 54-year-old captain, teamed with Mark Endres, a two-time All-Delco at Radnor and a member of the Raiders’ 2006 PIAA championship team, to shoot 5-under in their better-ball match to win 1-up.

   The ageless Thompson brothers, Andy and Ray, several decades removed from their days as Central League standouts at Marple Newtown, are still players Overbrook can count on in these matches.

   “Andy and Ray shot 4-under better-ball and halved their match,” Mestre told the GAP website. “We came out on the winning end, but it was just great competition.”

   Aronimink earned its ticket into Saturday’s playoff with a 30-24 victory over Yardley Country Club.

   “We felt really good about our chances coming into this year,” Aronimink captain Jeff Fialko told the GAP website. “We started the process of lining up our team for this year’s matches during the winter months. We were able to field very competitive teams in each of our matches this year by leveraging the play of our young guns like Joe Fabrizio, Dan Bernard and Chris Ford with that of our veterans like Doug Schroer and Charlie Bernard.”