Bensel knocks off Turner in final to claim Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship

   Huntingdon Valley Country Club assistant pro Trevor Bensel picked up his first Philadelphia Section PGA victory with a devastating front-nine burst that enabled him to claim a 4 and 3 victory over Sunnybrook Golf Club assistant pro Andrew Turner in the final of the Match Play Championship Thursday at Concord Country Club.

   After losing the first hole, Turner, who hit the $100 grand jackpot with his victory in the Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic in May on his home course at Sunnybrook, evened the match by winning the second hole.

   But Bensel then won the next five holes in a row to take a 5-up lead through seven holes, a hole that proved too deep for Turner to climb out of.

   Every time Turner cut into the lead by winning a hole, Bensel responded by winning the next hole to restore his cushion.

   Turner won the 14^th hole to cut his deficit to 4-down with four holes to go,  but had no margin for error. When Bensel and Turner halved the 15^th hole with pars, the match was over.

   “It’s definitely exciting to get my first Philly PGA tournament win,” Bensel told the Philadelphia Section PGA website. “I play matches with the guys at Huntingdon Valley all the time, so it’s a format I am comfortable with.

   “I played well in my early matches which gave me a lot confidence.”

   Earlier in the day Thursday, Bensel earned his spot in the final with a 2 and 1 victory over Greg Farrow of Deerwood Country Club in the semifinals.

   Bensel went 1-up with a win on the fifth hole, getting a lead he would never relinquish.

   Turner punched his ticket to the final with a 3 and 2 victory in his semifinal match with Brian Bergstol of Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort. 

   Turner grabbed the lead by winning the fourth hole and built his advantage to as much as 4-up before closing out Bergstol on the 16^th hole.

   Bensel’s road to the semifinals included a 2 and 1 win over John Rudolph of Fieldstone Golf Club in the opening round, a 2-up decision over Mickey Sokalski of Philmont Country Club, a 2 and 1 victory over Tom Michaels of Berkshire Country Club and 4 and 3 win over Jakob Gerney of Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia in a quarterfinal match.

   Turner opened up with a 5 and 4 victory over Jimmy Maack of Kimberton Golf Club, got back-to-back 4 and 3 wins over Aronimink Golf Club assistant pro Carson Solien and Bidermann Golf Club’s Michael Caldwell and then edged reigning Philadelphia Senior Professional Championship winner Dave Quinn of Philmont, 1-up, in a quarterfinal match.