Philadelphia Mid-Am: Barron emerges as winner
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (May 22, 2014) – Mother Nature delayed, but didn’t damper one of the most exhilarating Middle-Amateur Championship finishes in history. Pete Barron, III, of Stone Harbor Golf Club emerged from a frantic race and in the process atoned for a playoff loss in last year’s event with a final-hole birdie to seal his first Major victory. Barron rolled in a 10-foot putt on No. 18 (par 5, 452 yards) to post a 5-under 137 and edge Chris Ault of Yardley Country Club by a stroke on Thursday at Gulph Mills Golf Club (par 71, 6,536 yards) for the 31st Middle-Amateur Championship presented by Callaway Golf. Barron finished the final two holes after a 3:05 weather delay.
“Absolutely,” said Barron when asked if the triumph was a point of redemption. “Last year, I lost in a playoff to a great player in Michael McDermott. It feels great to finally win something big. I’ve been knocking on the door for awhile.”
Barron didn’t politely knock for his Mid.-Am trophy. He confidently walked through the championship entrance with clutch shot making.
Knowing he needed birdie on No. 18 to win, Barron lifted a 9-iron from 142 yards. It landed 30 feet behind the hole and spun back.
A superb answer considering he was forced to chip out after a wayward drive landed behind a tree. That came on the heels of a bogey, the number of choice on the testy No. 17 (par 3, 211 yards).
“I told myself to make an aggressive swing that will get to the back of the green and spin back,” said Barron, 38, of Mays Landing, N.J. “I wanted to hit something hard. I read [the putt] to have about two feet of break. It broke a hair more than that and snuck in the right side.
“[I was] relieved. I could breathe. I was just thinking get it to the hole and give it a chance.”
ABOUT THE Philadelphia Mid-Amateur
Format: Thirty-Six hole individual gross stroke
play, two day event. With a cut after the first
day to the low 70 and ties.
Eligibility: Open to Member Club golfers who
are
25 years of age and over with a USGA
Handicap. Nonexempt players must prequalify.
Index of 7.0 or lower.
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