Lofland, Pabst help GAP finish second behind WMGA in Williamson Cup

    Behind strong individual showings from recent Conestoga graduate and Penn State-bound Morgan Lofland and North Pocono senior Billy Pabst, the Golf Association of Philadelphia earned a runnerup finish behind the Washington Metropolitan Golf Association (WMGA) in the 57^th Williamson Cup, which was contested Tuesday at the Country Club of Buffalo.

   Pabst carded a solid 3-over-par 73 and Lofland added a 4-over 74 in Tuesday morning’s opening round as the GAP entry put together a 12-over 222 team total in the four-score-three format. Recent Haverford School graduate and Bucknell-bound Jake Maddaloni was the final counter for GAP in the opening round with 75 and GAP was able to toss the 76 turned in by Tatnall School junior Jeff Homer.

   That left GAP five shots behind WMGA going into the afternoon, but GAP could only shave one more shot off its opening-round total with an 11-over 221 in the afternoon for a 23-over 443 total. WMGA added an 8-over 218 to its opening-round 217 to capture the title with a 15-over 435 total, eight shots ahead of GAP.

   Lofland, whose victory in the Pennsylvania Junior Boys’ Championship at Hershey Country Club’s East Course highlighted a strong summer, posted a 2-over 72 in the afternoon with Pabst, who finished in a tie for sixth place in the PIAA Class AAA Championship last fall, coming in with another solid round, a 4-over 74. Maddaloni was again the final counter with a 5-over 75. GAP tossed Jeff Homer’s second-round 79.

   Pabst and Maddaloni teamed up to win the Francis X. Hussey Memorial at Rolling Green Golf Club. Maddaloni was a key member of the Fords’ 2018 and 2019 Inter-Ac League championship teams. Jeff Homer captured the Christman Cup, one of GAP’s major championships for juniors, last month at Chester Valley Golf Club.

   WMGA was led by the individual champion, Marshall Meisel, who matched par in the opening round with a 70 and added a 2-over 72 in the afternoon for a 2-over 142 total.

   Jake Griffin added a 3-over 73 and Connor McGarrity registered a 74 to account for WMGA’s opening round of 7-over 217. WMGA was able to throw out a 79 posted by Bryan Kim.

   In the afternoon, Kim matched Meisel’s 72 and Griffin was the third counter with a 74. McCarthy’s 76 was tossed by WMGA in the afternoon. It added up to an 8-over 218 in the afternoon and a 15-over 435 total.

   The Western Pennsylvania Golf Association finished two shots behind GAP in third place with a 445 total. WPGA matched GAP’s opening-round 222 before adding a 13-over 223 that left it with a 445 total.

   Rocco Salvitti, who has been a PIAA Class AAA qualifier in each of his first two seasons at Pittsburgh Central Catholic, carded a solid 2-over 72 in Tuesday morning’s opening round. Aidan Oehrie and Wes Warden each carded a 5-over 75 for WPGA’s final two counters. Nolan Shilling’s 79 was tossed in the morning round.

   Warden led the way for WPGA in the afternoon with a 2-over 72 with Oehrie adding a 75 and Salvitti’s 76 the final counter. WPGA was again able to throw out a 79 by Shilling.

   Metropolitan Golf Association was also tied for second place with GAP and WPGA following a morning 12-over 222. Metropolitan then carded a 226 in the afternoon to finish in fourth place, three shots behind WPGA.

   Host Buffalo District Golf Association finished 16 shots behind Metropolitan in fifth place with a 464 total as it opened with an 18-over 228 and added a 26-over 236 in the afternoon.

   Syracuse District Golf Association was another 16 shot behind Buffalo in sixth place with a 480 total after adding s 243 to its opening-round 237.

   With Jeff Homer drafted by GAP for its team, the Delaware State Golf Association grabbed his twin brother Matt, who won the Jock MacKenzie Memorial, another GAP major championship for juniors, at Sandy Run Golf Club last month, and the youngest of the Homer crew, Jack Homer, who will be a freshman at Tatnall this fall.

   Delaware finished a shot behind Syracuse with a 481 total after adding a 238 to its opening-round 243.

   Anthony Ciconte, who will be a senior at Tatnall this fall, led the way for Delaware in the morning with a 79. Matt Homer added an 81 and Salesianum junior Kristof Kopecky was the final counter for the First Staters with an 83. Delaware tossed an 86 posted by Jack Homer.

   Matt Homer’s 4-over 74 led the way for Delaware in the afternoon. Ciconte added an 81 and Kopecky was again the final counter with an 83. Delaware tossed the 84 carded by Jack Homer.

   Rochester District Golf Association was 10 shots behind Delaware in eighth place with a 491 total after shaving 13 shots off its opening-round 252 with a 239 in the afternoon.

    Metropolitan’s Garrett Kessler was the runnerup in the individual standings as he finished two shots behind Meisel with a 4-over 144 total. Kessler posted a pair of 2-over 72s.

   GAP’s Lofland and Pabst landed in a tie for third place in the individual standings, two shots behind Kessler as each finished with a 6-over 146 total.

   Griffin gave WMGA two top-five finishers in the individual standings as he backed up Meisel by ending up in a tie for fifth place with WPGA’s Warden at 7-over 147.