Kosup knocks off Lutz in Brewer Cup final

   The only player standing between The Ridge at Back Brook’s Bert Kosup and a victory in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Brewer Cup Wednesday was none other than Chip Lutz, the reigning five-time GAP Senior Player of the Year.

   In addition to dominating a very talented GAP senior division, Lutz of LedgeRock Golf Club, owns two British Senior Amateur titles and had won the Brewer Cup twice, including last year. But the 60-year-old Kosup of Flemington, N.J. pulled out a 2 and 1 decision over Lutz at a soggy Saucon Valley Country Club Weyhill Course to capture the title.

   “To win this event, with Mr. Brewer’s resume behind it and his great tradition of playing, means a lot,” Kosup told the GAP website. “It’s an honor to beat Chip. He was a gentleman all day. I kept waiting for a charge. I hung in there and didn’t think about matching shot for shot. It worked out well.”

   Lutz, a 60-year-old Reading resident, jumped in front by winning two of the first three holes. Kosup battled back with a birdie at the sixth and a par at the 10^th only to see Lutz drop in a 22-foot birdie putt at the 11^th to regain a 1-up advantage. But Kosup got even with a birdie at the par-5 12^th and then took a lead he wouldn’t relinquish by holing a 25-foot birdie putt at the 13th.

   Lutz overcooked a 3-wood off the 17^th tee and Kosup was able to win the hole and finish off the match.

   Kosup survived a 20-hole battle to edge Ed Chylinksi of Chester Valley Golf Club in his semifinal match. Lutz edged Robin McCool, 2 and 1, in a rematch of the 2014 final, which Lutz also won, in the other semifinal.

   Kosup’s opening-round victim was Michael Quinn of Edgmont Country Club, who fell 3 and 2. Lutz defeated Merion Golf Club’s J. Kirk Luntley, 5 and 4, in the opening round. Another opening-round casualty was Concord Country Club’s Doug Fedoryshyn, who fell, 4 and 3, to James Muller of Manufacturers Golf & Country Club.

   Don Donatoni of White Manor Country Club continued his dominance of the Super-Senior division with a 7 and 5 victory over Joe Marucci of host club Saucon Valley in the final. They’ve conducted the Brewer Cup three times and Donatoni has won the Super-Senior division all three times.

   Donatoni edged Merion Golf Club’s Carl Everett, 2 and 1, in the semifinals. You won’t see this often, but Everett reached the semifinals by beating the guy the tournament is named after, Pine Valley Golf Club’s O. Gordon Brewer, 3 and 1. Brewer, a recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award, is a two-time U.S. Senior Amateur champion and has played in 42 USGA championships.

   “I told Gordon I didn’t really enjoy being the guy that knocked him out of his own tournament,” said Everett, a 68-year-old Harleysville resident. “I told him this was only the second time I remember beating him. He said that wasn’t true, but I’m pretty sure it is. I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”

    Aronimink Golf Club's Max Siegfried has been a fixture on Golf Association of Philadelphia junior leaderboards all summer. Look for a roundup of his recent successes and near misses as well as a report on reigning Daily Times Player of the Year, Radnor senior Brynn Walker, earning a trip to the PGA Junior Championship in Miramont, Texas in a qualifier this week at Applecross Country Club in Tom McNichol’s Golf Notebook in the Daily Times Saturday print edition.