St Davids' Gillespie returns to GAP glory with Marston Cup title - Main Line

Thanks to an even-par round of 72 on LedgeRock Golf Club’s (par 72, 6,667 yards) stifling track, Gillespie won the 11th Marston Cup on Thursday. The victory was Gillespie’s first since winning the 2001 BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship at Jericho National Golf Club. After a rough start out of the gate with a bogey on No. 1 (par 4, 370 yards), he bounced back with a red number on No. 3 (par 4, 330 yards). Gillespie rolled a 42-yard wedge shot just past the cup, then drained the birdie putt after a helpful read from Philadelphia Publinks’ Dave Fardon, one of his playing partners. Another Gillespie birdie came on No. 8 (par 5, 532 yards) after his pitch shot came to rest two feet from the hole and was easily finished. Gillespie, playing his final nine in 1-under-par, propelled himself towards the trophy with a birdie on No. 13 (par 5, 530 yards), where he snuck in a 12 footer on the right side of the cup. He avoided mistakes down the finishing stretch, including a crucial par on the par 4, 408-yard 17th, which the field played to a 5. 07 stroke average on Thursday. “It feels good having not seen this golf course before and having played pretty well. Source: www.mainlinemedianews.com