It's a Net gain for O'Rourke, Castaldi in Warner Cup

   The Golf Association of Philadelphia is best known for staging its major championships and the spring team matches, for helping out with Pennsylvania Golf Association events and administering qualifiers for the big United States Golf Association championships.

   But not everybody carries a plus-2 handicap, which explains the huge turnout GAP gets for events like Tuesday’s Francis B. Warner Cup (Net) at White Manor Country Club.

   One of its own, longtime GAP volunteer John O’Rourke captured the title in the men’s division, carding a gross 83 over the 5,680-yard, par-71 White Manor layout, which translated to a net 64.

   That left O’Rourke, who plays out of McCall Golf & Country Club, in a tie for first with Joseph DeAngelis of Jericho National Golf Club. But O’Rourke’s net 5-under total on the back nine gave him the tiebreaker edge and his second Warner Cup victory. The 67-year-old claimed a Warner Cup win in 2009 at Silver Creek Country Club.

   O’Rourke is a Cherry Hill, N.J. resident who specializes in Garden State events when volunteering for GAP. But, as he proved once against at White Manor, the guy still has some game.

   A strong finish enabled him to claim the Warner Cup victory. He chipped in for a natural birdie on the par-4 16^th and then made solid pars at the par-5 17^th and the par-4 18^th with help from good approaches with his 11-wedge that were net birdies.

   Richard Genoni of Waynesborough Country Club finished a shot behind the top two in third with a 65. Tony Minervini of Old York Country Club at Chesterfield and Mike Schuster of Chester Valley Golf Club shared fourth place, each posting a 5-under 66.

   Three players – David Pierce of DuPont Country Club, Richard Saylor of Coatesville Country Club and William Choy of Flourtown Country Club – finished tied for sixth at 4-under 67.

   Talamore Country Club’s Michael Kyle, Saucon Valley Country Club’s John Martinson and Robert McCole of The Springhaven Club finished in a tie for ninth, each posting a 3-under 68.

John Lobb of Bellewood Country Club finished alone in 12^th at 2-under 69.

   The women’s division was added for the first time last year and this year drew 20 entries.

   The winner, Stephanie Castaldi of Hershey Country Club, also highlighted GAP’s new reach. Hershey, like  many of the clubs in central Pennsylvania, accepted GAP’s invitation to become a member club this year.

   Heck, golfers will drive hours for the chance to face some good competition at a course like White Manor, which once played host to an LPGA event, the McDonald’s Kids Classic, for six years in the 1980s.

   Castaldi carded an 87 that translated to a net 5-under 66 and a three-shot victory in the women’s division. Defending champion Josie Anthony, playing on her home course at White Manor, shared second place with Charlotte Kocher of LedgeRock Golf Club, each carding a 2-under 69.

   Anne Flink of Talamore and Carolyn Mendez of Fieldstone Golf Club finished in a tie for fourth at 4-over 75 and Wynn Harris of Old York Road Country Club finished alone in sixth with a 77.

   Susan Engle of Jericho National and Cathy Lucas of Wilmington Country Club ended up in a tie for seventh at 78.