FRIEDENSBURG — Sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The 40 amateur golfers who qualified for this weekend’s two-day 2015 Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Match-Play Championship will discover that when they tee off at 8:32 a.m. on Saturday.
For example, for the first year in several years for this event, Hidden Valley Golf Course (par 72, 6,259 yards from the championship tees) will revert back to its “traditional” or “original” layout (holes 1-4 on the clubhouse side of the road).
For the last few years, “The Valley” had experimented with a layout in which those holes, arguably among the toughest on the course, played as Nos. 15-18.
The change back found favor with at least one competitor, Luke Morgan of Pine Grove. Morgan qualified third, shooting a 3-under-par 69. He thought his fellow competitors were in favor as well.
“I like it,” said Morgan, who will be using a new Scotty Cameron “GoLo” putter in the event. “You can make more birdies now on the back nine, and it’s great for people to watch.”
Also, the same number of competitors qualified this year as last year, with 16 in the Championship Flight, 16 in A Flight and eight in B Flight.
The field is diverse, including high school players, graduates of junior golf and high school and college programs, and veteran competitors, many of whom play this event every year.
One such player is No. 1 seed Bobby Hillibush of Mahanoy City, who shot a 4-under 68. Hillibush played his collegiate golf at Wilkes, from which he graduated in 2012.
“I think this is a strong field,” Hillibush said. “At Hidden Valley you can attack if you hit the long ball.”
Hillibush said he’s lost some weight and added some muscle. As a result, he’s added about 20 yards in length.
What’s he been concentrating on the most?
“I’ve been working on my short game a lot,’’ Hillibush added. “A solid short game can save you strokes.”
Three players shot under par in qualifying, with James Bromwell of Schuylkill Haven matching Morgan’s 69.
There are three former champions in the field. One is 2012 winner Ryan Laudeman of Orwigsburg (seeded 12th), 2006 winner (and reigning county medal-play titleholder) Sean Misstishin of Ashland (seeded seventh) and 1992 winner and sixth seed Brian Paul of Pottsville.
Also in the field, and seeded ninth, is last year’s runner-up, Steve Rice of Orwigsburg. Rice has finished second in this event three times and is one name mentioned by several players as someone who will win it all one day.
Despite not yet having captured the crown, Rice said having been in final battles repeatedly is an advantage.
“Mentally, I know I can do it and I would like to win. As long as you’re in the Championship Flight, you have a chance. My game is coming along and I’ll be ready for the weekend,” Rice said.
The current champion and five-time winner of the event, who competed in the tourney every year since 1999, will be conspicuous by his absence, however.
Thirty-seven-year-old Jim Rattigan of Deer Lake (also a five-time winner of the county medal-play championship) is now in the golf hotbed of Jupiter, Florida, having taken advantage in March of what he called a wonderful career opportunity.
Rattigan, the former general manager/superintendent of the Schuylkill Country Club, was named Southeast regional director for The Plant Food Co. Headquartered in New Jersey, the company develops liquid fertilizers and custom plant health solutions. The company’s products and plans fit right in with Rattigan’s turf degree from Penn State and his experience.
Rattigan said he will be doing a lot of golf course consulting, introducing the company’s products to course superintendents and helping them to grow grass and improve their courses.
Rattigan has kept his home in Deer Lake as well, and said he returns home about once a month. He thought about coming home to qualify for the Schuylkill County championship, but the Palm Beach County Amateur Championship is also this weekend and he’ll be teeing it up there.
“It will definitely feel weird to not be playing at Hidden Valley. I always had a lot of fun in the event and have so many great friends in the area. However, my new position allows me to do something I always wanted to do, travel to many different golf courses and use my degree. I couldn’t pass it up.”
Play will get under way at 8:32 a.m. Saturday and continue throughout the day. The Championship Flight quarterfinals go off at 2:48 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday’s semifinals begin at 7:12 a.m. the B Flight final tees off at noon Sunday, followed by A Flight at 12:08 and the Championship Flight at 12:16.
2015 Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Match-Play Championship
Saturday-Sunday at Hidden Valley Golf Course
Saturday’s schedule
First Round
Championship Flight
9:04 a.m. — No. 8 Bailey Sophy vs. No. 9 Steve Rice; No. 7 Sean Misstishin vs. No. 10 Brent Jones
9:12 a.m. — No. 5 Mike Kacelowicz vs. No. 12 Ryan Laudeman; No. 6 Brian Paul vs. No. 11 Brian Noonan
9:20 a.m. — No. 4 Hunter Mickatavage vs. No. 13 Eric Schneck; No. 3 Luke Morgan vs. No. 12 Scott Kacelowicz
9:28 a.m. — No. 1 Bobby Hillibush vs. No. 16 Anthony Mehling; No. 2 James Bromwell vs. No. 15 Clair Rummel Jr.
Quarterfinals
Hillibush-Mehling winner vs. Sophy-Rice winner, 2:08 p.m.; Mickatavage-Schneck winner vs. M. Kacelowicz-Laudeman winner, 2 p.m.; Bromwell-Rummel Jr. winner vs. Misstishin-Jones winner, 2:08 p.m. Morgan-S. Kacelowicz winner vs. Paul-Noonan winner, 2 p.m.
A Flight
8:32 a.m. — No. 5 Mike Seasock vs. No. 12 Larry Strause; No. 7 Gary Hess vs. No. 10 Matt Lescavage
8:40 a.m. — No. 4 Alex Mansell vs. No. 13 Tanner Cook; No. 3 Chris Spittle vs. No. 14 John Worthy
8:48 a.m. — No. 1 Ryan Rhody vs. No. 16 Fred Krute; No. 6 Nate Yost vs. No. 11 Jeff Bromwell
8:56 a.m. — No. 1 Charles Greer vs. No. 9 Greg Maberry; No. 2 Chris Hartman vs. No. 15 Gary Metza
Quarterfinals
Rhody-Krute winner vs. Green-Maberry winner, 1:52 p.m.; Mansell-Cook winner vs. Seasock-Strause winner, 1:44 p.m.; Hartman-Metza winner vs. Hess-Lescavage winner, 1:52 p.m.; Spittle-Worthy winner vs. Yost-Bromwell winner
B Flight
Quarterfinals
1:28 p.m. — No. 1 Austin Boyer vs. No. 8 John Vadyak; No. 5 Mitch Carl vs. No. 4 Bob Watral
1:36 p.m. — No. 2 Jim Lord vs. No. 7 Dave Blasko; No. 6 Ken Carl vs. No. 3 Wayne Smith
Sunday’s schedule
Semifinals
Championship Flight, 7:36 a.m.; A Flight, 7:20 a.m.; B Flight, 7:12 a.m.
Finals
Championship Flight, 12:16 p.m.; A Flight, 12:08 a.m.; B Flight, noon
Schuylkill County Amateur Match-Play Champions
1992 — Brian Paul
1993 — Phil Pishock
1994 — Bob Costanzo
1995 — Jim Bohrman
1996 — Jim Bohrman
1997 — Jim Bohrman
1998 — Brian Richards
1999 — Mike Muncy
2000 — Jim Rattigan
2001 — Brendt Geiger
2002 — Brendt Geiger
2003 — Jeff Paul
2004 — Jeff Paul
2005 — Jim Rattigan
2006 — Sean Misstishin
2007 — Jeff Metza
2008 — Jeff Metza
2009 — Jim Rattigan
2010 — Jim Rattigan
2011 — Chris Schultz
2012 — Ryan Laudeman
2013 — Randy Kurzinsky
2014 — Jim Rattigan