Travis Deibert wins Haverford Trust
For Travis Deibert, playing in a golf tournament like the Haverford Trust Classic with a $40,000 first-prize check at stake made an episode of deja vu look as if it were in high definition.
But this time, the ending turned out to be a favorable one for Deibert, who defeated Brian Kelly with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff yesterday at Sunnybrook Golf Club to win one of the nation's top prizes in a one-day, 18-hole event for club professionals.
On a raw, bone-chilling day in Plymouth Meeting, with rain blowing sideways at times, Kelly, 48, head pro at Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, came in early with a 1-under-par 71. About five hours later, Deibert, 35, assistant pro at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, made a run at Kelly.
Contact staff writer Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com
The challenge for Deibert was to finish strong. In last year's tournament, he held a 1-stroke lead with two holes to play but bogeyed the par-3 17th to fall back into a tie for the lead. He then lost to George Forster of Radnor Valley in a three-man playoff.
This year, Deibert birdied the par-5 16th to get to 1 under, then made two-putt pars on the 17th and 18th for his 71, although he needed to sink a five-footer for his second putt at 18 to earn the playoff.
"I was talking with my brother about being in the same position this year as last year," said Deibert, referring to Clint Deibert, who caddied for him. "It was kind of spooky in a way. I was on the 17th tee with the chance to win again. Luckily, I parred both holes, so it was good."
Deibert was solid in the playoff on Sunnybrook's 459-yard finishing hole, hitting a 6-iron approach to within 30 feet of the hole. Kelly pushed his second shot to the right, and the ball hung up in heavy rough on a downslope behind a greenside bunker.
Kelly only could chop his ball out and watch it roll into the collar on the other side of the green. After Deibert stroked his birdie putt to tap-in range, Kelly's chip finished about nine inches short.
Deibert, whose best payday before yesterday was a $5,500 check in a 2001 NGA/Hooters Tour event in St. Louis, said his experience in the tournament enabled him to ignore the big check on the line.
"Today it never crossed my mind," said the resident of Doylestown. "I think it was a blessing in disguise to be in that position again. But you can't think about the money. . . . I was more nervous last year. This year I felt pretty good."
Kelly, who began the playoff more than six hours after he finished his round, settled for the runner-up prize of $5,500.
Brian Hollins, an assistant pro at Laurel Creek, bogeyed the 12th and 17th holes to finish at 72, a shot out of a playoff. Two-time champion Dave Quinn, head pro at Links Golf Club, finished in a four-way tie at 74.
Contact staff writer Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com
The Results
x-Travis Deibert, Commonwealth Nat.. . . 37-34-71
Brian Kelly, Bucknell . . . 35-36-71
Brian Hollins, Laurel Creek. . . 35-37-72
Scott Hunter, Overbrook. . . 37-37-74
Dave Quinn, Links. . . 34-40-74
Mark Sheftic, Merion. . . 37-37-74
Gregg Meyer, Woodstone. . . 35-39-74
Adam Condello, Aronimink. . . 39-36-75
Tom Byrne, Aronimink. . . 39-36-75
Bill Walker, Bala. . . 39-36-75
George Forster, Radnor Valley. . . 39-36-75
Christian Bartolacci, Jericho National. . . 37-38-75
Cleve Coldwater, Glenmaura National. . . 38-37-75
Chris Krueger, Kings Creek. . . 40-35-75
Nathan Fry, Woodstone. . . 36-40-76
Rob Agresti, Aronimink. . . 38-38-76
John Appleget, Cape May National. . . 38-38-76
Greg Farrow, Deerwood. . . 37-39-76
Stu Ingraham, M-Golf. . . 35-41-76
Eric Kennedy, Overbrook. . . 40-36-76
Terry Hertzog, Bent Creek. . . 35-41-76
John Pillar, Woodloch Springs. . . 37-39-76
Mike Moses, Concord. . . 38-38-76
Kevin Nicholson, Golf Galaxy . . . 38-38-76
Alex Knoll, Bethlehem. . . 38-38-76
x-won playoff
