Was busy caddying for
Penn Charter’s Brian Isztwan in the Christman Cup at Stonewall’s North Course
the last couple of days, but I fully intend to catch up on everything,
including Owen J. Roberts product Maddie
Sager earning a ticket to the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Golf Association of
Philadelphia’s Brewer Cup, the great Nathan Smith’s fifth Jay Sigel Match Play
victory, the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia Match-Play Championship
and a caddy’s-eye view of the Christman Cup. But first …
Merion Golf Club assistant pro Robby Bruns made a pretty
good run at making a PGA Championship appearance when he finished tied for 31st
in the PGA Professional Championship when it was scheduled to be played at Philadelphia Cricket
Club in 2015.
He’s been a little quiet on the Philadelphia Section PGA
scene since, at least until Monday when the 27-year-old Iowan set the
competitive course record at Huntingdon Valley Country Club to claim the title
in the William Hyndman III Memorial Classic, the section’s eighth Omega Player
of the Year Points event, presented by Haverford Trust Company.
Bruns fashioned a brilliant 6-under-par 64 over the classic
William Flynn design to finish two shots ahead of John Pillar, the director of
golf at the Country Club at Woodloch Springs who was coming off an appearance
in the U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Mass.
Bruns started at the 10th and made three birdies
against a bogey on the back nine to make the turn at 2-under with a 33. But
that was just the beginning. He ripped off six birdies on the front nine,
finishing the round with birdies on six, seven eight and nine.
“I came into today’s round with a good state of mind and,
after a great warmup session, my confidence was really high,” Bruns told the
Philadelphia Section PGA website. “I hit it solidly all day and my group helped
to keep me relaxed as we made our way around the course. It honestly felt like I was playing with friends, which definitely contributed to
my score.”
Gulph Mills assistant pro Jordan Gibbs, the reigning
Philadelphia Section PGA champion, led a group of five players tied for third
at 1-under 69. Joining him at the figure were Overbrook Golf Club head pro Eric
Kennedy, Zac Oakley of Heritage Shores Golf Club, Curtis Kirkpatrick of Indian
Springs Golf Club and Kevin Kraft of the Bumble Bee Hollow Golf Center.
Applebrook Golf Club head pro Dave McNabb, who has had a
spectacular summer with a runnerup finish in the PGA Professional Championship
and a trip to the U.S. Senior Open, led a group of four players tied for eighth
at even-par 70.
Joining McNabb in that group were John Bierkan, the head of
instruction at Aronimink Golf Club, Shawn Matthews from the Huntingdon Valley
pro shop, and Chris Krueger of Kings Creek Country Club.
Stu Ingraham, the head of instruction at the M Golf Range in
Newtown Square who played the weekend at the U.S. Senior Open and finished tied
for 49th, was one of eight players who finished tied for 12th
at 1-over 71.
The Huntingdon Valley pro shop was represented in that group
by John Allen and Trevor Bensel. Also coming in at 1-over 71 were Radley Run
Country Club’s Brett Melton, Brian Kelly of Bucknell Golf Club, Andy Watters of
Talamore Country Club, Michael Tobiason of Deerfield, Alex Knoll of Bethlehem
Golf Club’s Monacacy Course and Overbrook assistant pro Pat Butkus.
It was appropriate to see some good play from the guys who
played at the U.S. Senior Open in a tournament named for the legendary William
Hyndman III. A Huntingdon Valley member, Hyndman played in 50 United States
Golf Association championships, winning two U.S. Senior Amateur championships
and representing the United States in the Walker Cup Match five times.
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