Ferguson and Brennan Edge Field at AB Thorn Memorial Pro-Am
Lancaster, Pa. – After a one-year hiatus the AB Thorn Memorial Pro-Am once again returned to the Philadelphia PGA tournament schedule. The long time event was not played in 2016 due to inclement weather and scheduling conflicts. However, as players returned to the rolling hills of Lancaster Country Club this year they were treated to a near perfect golf course which helped the difficulties brought on by the hot and humid temperatures. The AB Thorn is played as a four-ball (better ball of partners) tournament with each team consisting of one PGA Professional and one amateur playing to a scratch handicap.
Early in the day the team of Mike Bell (LedgeRock Golf Club) and his partner Scott Mayne posted the first score of note in today’s tournament. Bell and Mayne carded four birdies on their round, two from each player, but a lone bogey on difficult par-4 11th hole proved to be costly. When all was said and done Bell and Mayne finished with a team score of 3-under (67) which was good enough for a top-2 finish but was ultimately one shot shy of the top spot.
As the morning wave came to a close a second team made a run for the tournament’s top spot but like the duo of Bell and Mayne they also fell one shot short. The team of John Spina (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and his partner Kevin Kelly got off to a fast start after posting a score of 3-under through their opening nine holes. However, as they made their way to the back nine they were unable to get anything going and finished with nine consecutive pars to finish the day at 3-under (67).
Playing in the group immediately following Spina and Kelly, the team of Michael Ferguson (Philadelphia Cricket Club) and his partner John Brennan managed to break through the growing log jam at 3-under and post a score one shot better. Ferguson and Brennan made their way around the par-70 course flawlessly. As a team they carded two birdies, both by Ferguson, and one eagle, carded by Brennan to finish at 4-under (66).
As the teams in the afternoon wave made their way around it became clear that they were on the tougher side of the draw. With temperatures remaining hot and humid the windy conditions that came through in the afternoon made it tough to hold shots as the greens became firm. Only one team in the afternoon wave made a run at the top of the leaderboard. Josh Bashore (Lebanon Country Club) and his partner Stuart Hanford made a late charge carding two birdies over their final three holes but no holes left to play they had to settle for a score of 3-under (67) and tie for second place.
In the end Ferguson and Brennan’s score of 4-under held up and gave the duo a one shot victory and the 2017 AB Thorn Memorial Pro-Am crown.
Special congratulations to Kevin Kelly of Philadelphia Cricket Club on carding a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th hole at Lancaster Country Club. Kelly used a 6-iron on the 160 yard hole to accomplish the feat. It was Kelly’s fifth career hole-in-one but his first in tournament competition.
The Section thanks our tournament sponsors Mizuno Golf, Greg Norman Apparel and Morell Studios for their continued support of the Philadelphia PGA tournament program and specifically the AB Thorn Memorial Pro-Am. Additionally, the players and staff thanks the members and staff of Lancaster Country Club for their outstanding hospitality.
The Philadelphia PGA tournament offices will be closed July 1-4 in observance of the July 4 holiday. The offices will reopen on Wednesday, July 5 and the next tournament on the schedule is the Pro-Scratch Championship at Country Club of York on July 6.