First Posted: 6/18/2013
For nearly a century, Fox Hill Country Club has been host to one of the most premier golf events in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And although the tournament has had a few different names, it’s still a coveted title.
In its 67th straight year, the John A. Allan Invitational pits the best golfers in the area against the best golfers in the area. Formerly known as the Fox Hill Invitational, this year’s contest will feature a group of 208 golfers – 104 teams – beginning Friday morning in a three-day event.
The two-member teams will vye for one of the spots in the 16-team championship flight held Saturday and Sunday.
While the country was recovering from the worst economic period in its history, club president John Allan shouldered the major financial burden of supporting his country club in the aftermath of the Great Depression.
Allan held his position from 1935-37 and Fox Hill continues to honor him with its most praised event.
“It brings together a lot of nostalgia at Fox Hill,” said Fox Hill general manager Shane Bradley. “At this point in time, there are children and second and third generations. It’s a great event and great interaction for our members.”
Fox Hill might not play as difficult as Merion did during last week’s playing of the 113th U.S. Open, but Bradley said the course will still be a little punchy.
“Everything becomes more difficult during the Allan,” he said. “The greens will be much faster and the rough will be much higher. It becomes more of a test.”
Not only will the course be tough for the 67th playing of the event, but with the superb weather in the area, the course is in tremendous shape, Bradley said. The general manager credited Ron Garrison, the course and grounds manager, with the excellent shape Fox Hill is taking.
“We’re just about where we want to be for the Allan,” Bradley said. “This place is in tremendous shape.”
Fox Hill’s entrants will play the opening qualifying round from the green tees, which plays at 6,175 yards. Once the championship flight is determined, those teams will battle from the back tees. The blues play from 6,555 yards.
The John A. Allan Invitational has been around since 1929, and was called the Fox Hill Invitational, just eight years after the first tee shot was hit at Fox Hill. The tournament was not played in 1943-45 because of World War II. But since then, it’s been 67 straight years of invitational play. The tournament has been a 2-person format since 1956.
There’s certainly been a lot of history in the John A. Allan Invitational. Just looking through the list of past champions, there are many pros, not to mention 1959 Masters champion Art Wall. And now, more than 50 years later, this year’s U.S. Open alternate Brandon Matthews will return to defend his title with partner Richard Laneski.
The finalized list of players in this year’s Allan tournament will be available later this week. Here is a list of past winners of the John A. Allan Invitational:
1929 – B. Edwards
1930 – Carl Cramer
1931 – Wm. Nacious
1932 – F. Hemelright
1933 – Wm. Nacious
1934 – F. J. Allan
1935 – Wm. Nacious
1936 – W. Crossley
1937 – C. Whitehead
1938 – R.L. Weichel
1939 – R. Allman
1940 – T. Lyons
1941 – F.J. Allan
1942 – Phil D’Orio
1943 – Not played WWII
1944 – Not played WWII
1945 – Not played WWII
1946 – F.J. Allan
1947 – T. Klett
1948 – F.J. Allan
1949 – Art Wall
1950 – Wm. Skomsky
1951 – Frank Souchak/J. Earl Keating
1952 – Dom Chiampi/Ed Talbot
1953 – Ed Gonsky/J. Demkovitch
1954 – Charles Barnes
1955 – Charles Barnes
1956 – Art Barni/Ed Gonsky
1957 – Wally Kohut/Frank Wesco
1958 – Dom Chiampi/Stan Starkey
1959 – Frank Allan/Dr. Ben Marshall
1960 – Harold Storm/Chet Ogrodoski
1961 – Robert Hutnik/Harold Bilhimer
1962 – Dom Chiampi/Pete Uram
1963 – Joe Butera/Mike Devan
1964 – Robert Bonser/Art Brunn
1965 – Dom Chiampi/Adam Rensa
1966 – Art Brunn/John O’Brien
1967 – Joe Stencik/Richard Stencik
1968 – John Melnick/Frank Rinker
1969 – Dave Monka/Tom Sobolewski
1970 – Don Koval/Joe Stencik
1971 – Don Koval/Joe Stencik
1972 – Leo Feldman/Paul McGowan
1973 – Ron Pieczynski/Frank Bryzcki
1974 – Carlyle Robinson/James Cicon
1975 – Carlyle Robinson/James Cicon
1976 – Edward Hennigan/Dave Monka
1977 – Edward Hennigan/Dave Monka
1978 – Edward Hennigan/Dave Monka
1979 – Billy Musto/Mark Jarloen
1980 – Walter Kuharchik/Art Brunn
1981 – Rollie Schmidt/Tom Gauntlett
1982 – Bill Lawler/Len Coleman
1983 – George Guzek/Tim Burns
1984 – Walter Kuharchik/Art Brunn
1985 – John Watson/Paul Fruehan
1986 – Santo Lafoca/Ted Tryba
1987 – Walter Kuharchik/Art Brunn
1988 – Walter Kuharchik/Art Brunn
1989 – Walter Kuharchik/Art Brunn
1990 – Carlyle Robinson/James Cicon
1991 – Carlyle Robinson/James Cicon
1992 – John Watson/Len Coleman
1993 – Walter Kuharchik/Art Brunn
1994 – Bob Gill/Brian Corbett
1995 – John Watson/Len Coleman
1996 – John Watson/Len Coleman
1997 – Carlyle Robinson/James Cicon
1998 – Dr. Santo LaFoca/Harry Heck
1999 – Bob Gill/Brian Corbett
2000 – Steven Greenwald/Art Brunn Jr.
2001 – Edward Hennigan/Anthony Kondracki
2002 – Don Crossin/Bill Briggs
2003 – Dr. Santo LaFoca/Jim Gardas
2004 – Don Crossin/Bill Briggs
2005 – Dr. Santo LaFoca/Jim Gardas
2006 – John Callahan/Joe Weiscarger
2007 – Don Crossin/Bill Briggs
2008 – Don Crossin/Bill Briggs
2009 – David Kluger/Eric Williams
2010 – Robert Gill/Brian Corbett
2011 – Don Crossin/Bill Briggs
2012 – Rick Laneski/Brandon Matthews