Jenkins edges Wood by a point in Tee It Forward -- Fall Net Championship

   Spring-Ford Country Club’s Robert Jenkins managed his game perfectly to emerge with the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Tee It Forward – Fall Net Championship last Tuesday at Woodstone Country Club.

   The event utilizes the Stableford scoring system and Jenkins, a 68-year-old Devon resident, didn’t have a regulation birdie, but put together eight net birdies, seven net pars and had over-par scores on just three holes to pile up 40 points.

   That gave him a one-point edge on former Widener football coach Dave Wood, playing out of White Manor Country Club. Wood, a 46-year-old Glen Mills resident, had won the Spring Net Championship at Jenkins’ home track at Spring-Ford earlier this year.

   “We had fun out there today,” Wood told the GAP website. “The biggest thing from now and two months ago for me is I’m just not consistent off the tee. Everything sets up off my tee shot. When I get off the tee, I can play really well. When I don’t, it’s a tough game.”

   Some of the other finishers at Woodstone included: Edgmont Country Club’s Robert Huntzinger who got a share of fourth with 37 points; Edgmont’s Timothy Joyce (35); Rolling Green Golf Club’s John Brown (33); McCall Golf & Country Club’s Vincent Tomo (31); McCall’s John O’Rourke (27); and Edgmont’s Ed Depalma (24).

Jones, Nilon team up to take 27-Hole Challenge

   A day earlier, Collegeville’s Buck Jones and Gladwyne’s Michael Nilon teamed up to capture top honors in GAP’s unique Senior 27-Hole Challenge at Silver Creek Country Club.

   Teams play three different formats in the 27-hole event, select drive, alternate shot for the first nine, team aggregate for the second nine and better-ball of partners for the final nine. And last Monday’s event was played in the middle of the heat wave that hit the region early last week.

   But Jones, 64, and Nilon, 66, seemed to have the format mastered. They won the title two years ago at Bala Golf Club and last week became the first multiple winners of the Challenge with a 2-over 145 total.

   “We played hard all day, it was hot,” said Nilon, a Philadelphia Country Club member.

   Heading into the final nine holes, Jones and Nilon stood a shot back of Mark Quigley of Manufacturers Golf & Country Club and Alan Van Horn of Commonwealth National Golf Club.

But Nilon got the team home when, playing from behind a tree on the last hole, he drilled a low screamer with a 4-iron that finished 15 feet from the hole and got the two-putt par that finished the job.

   Mr. GAP Super-Senior, White Manor Country Club’s Don Donatoni, teamed up with Aqua America Inc. colleague Steve Tagert to win the Super-Senior division.

   Donatoni, a 67-year-old Malvern resident, and Tagert, a 65-year-old Collegeville resident, teamed up for a blistering 6-under 137 total to win the division by 11 shots.

   Donatoni won the Super-Senior division a year ago with Merion Golf Club’s Carl Everett. That same pair won the Senior division title in the event’s inaugural year of 2008.

   “We’ll have to come back and defend, for sure,” said Donatoni, GAP’s reigning two-time Super-Senior Player of the Year. “I just have to get Steve out of the office. His game is ready to play in these events.”