Last summer, Mike Tobiason bested the field to capture the title in the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship at St. Davids Golf Club.
But when the top finishers from the Philadelphia Section PGA event advanced to the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship in November, Tobiason was not in the field.
Looks like I got my answer as to why last Monday when Tobiason fired a 2-under-par 70 at Radley Run Country Club in West Chester to capture the title in the Connelly Cup Head Professional Championship.
Tobiason was an assistant pro at Deerfield Country Club when he won at St. Davids last summer and, obviously, received a promotion to head pro at Deerfield, which made him eligible to compete against his fellow head professionals in the Philly Section in the Connelly Cup.
A year ago the Connelly Cup was a reason to celebrate as it marked one of the first golf competitions to be staged in the area after 10 weeks of various stages of lockdowns. We had a long way to go in our ongoing battle with the coronavirus pandemic, but just the fact that a golf tournament could be held safely was a hopeful sign.
Tobiason couldn’t get a putt to fall at Radley Run as he registered 17 pars. But he drove it hole high on the 345-yard, par-4 14th hole and didn’t need the putter after his pitch from 25 yards away found the bottom of the cup for an eagle that proved to be the difference.
“Radley Run is a great golf course and it played as difficult today as I’ve personally seen it,” Tobiason told the Philadelphia Section PGA website. “I hit the ball well and even though I could have made more putts, I’m happy with how I played. I give lots of credit to my caddy Jerry, too.”
Reigning Philadelphia Section PGA Player of the Year Mike Little, who also received a promotion from assistant pro at Lookaway Golf Club to head pro in 2020, headed a group of three players tied for second place, as he posted a 1-under 71.
Joining Little at 1-under were Dustin Moser of the Toftrees Resort Golf Course outside of State College and Woodcrest Country Club head pro John DiMarco. Peter Clark of Manufacturers Golf & Country Club matched par with a 72 and finished alone in fifth place.
Radnor Valley Country Club’s ageless George Forster registered a 1-over 73 and shared sixth place with Dave Pagett of Whitemarsh Valley Country Club, Curtis Kirkpatrick of Indian Spring Country Club and Ian Madinger of Plantation Links Country Club.
Rounding out the top 10 were Eric Kennedy of Overbrook Golf Club, Anthony Malizia of Bidermann Golf Club and Sam Ambrose of Chester Valley Golf Club, all of whom carded a 2-over 74 to finish in a tie for 10th place.
DiMarco’s 1-under 71 gave him the top spot in the always competitive senior division by two shots over Forster.
Hugo Mazzalupi of Patriots Glen National Golf Club and Brian Kelly of Bucknell Golf Club finished in a tie for third place among the senior contingent, each signing for a 3-over 75. Mazzalupi was the overall winner of the Connelly Cup a year ago at North Hills Country Club.
Tobiason’s eagle on the 14th hole was good for a Skin and Michael Caldwell of DuPont Country Club had the only other Skin of the day with a birdie at the 11th.
DiMarco had a pair of Skins in the senior division with birdies at the sixth and 14th holes helping him post his 1-under 71. John Cooper of Green Valley Country Club picked up a senior Skin with his birdie at the 10th hole and Rick Gibney of the Colonial Golf & Tennis Club earned a senior Skin with his birdie at the first hole.
The Connelly Cup honors longtime Philadelphia Section professional Jack Connelly, who was the president of the Philly Section in 1983 and 1984 and was the president of the PGA of America in 2001 and 2002.
The Connelly Cup Head Professional Championship was supported by Bridgestone Golf, Hole-In-One U.S.A., Jim Ravina Golf Sales and Scott and Karen Hutchinson.
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