Philadelphia Hickory Open off to good start

 

First, second, and third place finishers at the inaugural Philadelphia Hickory Open – Jeremy Moe (left), Bill Geisler, and Jeff Schmidt.

Sixteen players met to debut the Philadelphia Hickory Open on the Jeffersonville Golf Club. Host Ari Flaisher said that the Donald Ross-designed course “was a delightful host course that was greatly enjoyed for its kind walk, interesting greens, and complementary challenge to the modern hickory game.”

Hardscrabble Country Club pro Jeremy Moe won the day with an even par 71, followed by Bill Geisler at 76, and Jeff Schmidt with 78. Bill’s round was punctuated by two hole outs from the fairway for eagles on the par 4 three and thirteenth holes. As for Jeff, it was his first competitive hickory golf round. Hooked on hickories, maybe?

Ari noted how much fun it was to have young Alex Voight-Shelley in the field. The young lady golfer, who was featured in the Autumn 2014 Wee Nip, drove to the tournament with her father and grandfather from State College, Pa.

“She is a marvel to watch with the old equipment so I can only imagine how tough her steel game must be,” Flaisher said. “Alex, aka Glenna Collett, is a delight to host in our hickory group especially when she holes out par-saving niblick pitches preceded by an amazing play from a fairway bunker!”

Ari thanked all the players for joining him during this first Philadelphia Hickory Open and said he hopes to make the outing bigger and better next year. With that great field of players, this could quickly become a hickory classic on the yearly calendar.

 

The field for the first Philadelphia Hickory Open.

 

Alex Voight-Shelley with her grandfather, Barry Voight, at Prestwick in Scotland.

From left: Deal Hudson of Virginia, Kevin Sandleitner of Maryland, Karl Nagy of South Carolina, and Greg Shayka of Pennsylvania.

 

Host Ari Flaisher prepares for the outing.