Pillar Goes Low to Win Skee Riegel Senior Open
Villanova, Pa. – The 2018 edition of the Robert “Skee” Riegel Senior Open was played on Thursday, August 2 at Radnor Valley Country Club. The tournament, named for the longtime PGA Professional, brought together some of the Section’s best Senior PGA Professionals as well as two senior amateur competitors for a one-day, 18-hole stroke play event.
Once again the competitors in the field were battling the hot, humid conditions that have settled into the Delaware Valley over the last couple of weeks. Additionally afternoon storms that were threatening the area hung over the field as everyone was hoping to finish before their arrival.
Playing early in the day, John Pillar (Country Club of Woodloch Springs) set the pace which ultimately proved too much to overcome. Early in his round, Pillar paired one birdie and one bogey. However, with a birdie on the par-5 7th hole, Pillar began to make his move up the leaderboard. Pillar went on to make five straight birdies on holes 7-11 to get to 5-under. He added one additional birdie on the 13th hole but a bogey on the 14th dropped him back to 5-under which is where he finished.
As play continued, no one was able to match Pillar at the top of the leaderboard. The closest a fellow competitor managed to get was 3-under (67). Dave Quinn (Philmont Country Club), who carded five birdies against two bogeys to reach his 3-under finish, two shots behind Pillar, but good enough for a solo second place finish.
Rounding out the podium was Stu Ingraham (M Golf Range) who finished three shots back after posting a 2-under (68). Ingraham carded six birdies; second to Pillar’s seven, en route to his final score. However it was a double bogey on the 18th hole that ultimately dropped Ingraham into third place.
In the tournament’s Super Senior division, Mike Mack (Burlington Country Club) took home the top spot. Mack posted a 2-over (72) to finish one shot of host professional George Forster (Radnor Valley Country Club) and Bill Sautter (Philadelphia Cricket Club).
The Philadelphia PGA would like to thank the membership and staff of Radnor Valley Country as well as tournament sponsors Jani King Philadelphia and the PGA Tour. The next event of the Philadelphia PGA calendar is the National Car Rental Philadelphia Assistant PGA Professional Championship at Laurel Creek Country Club on Monday, August 6.
