ARDMORE, PA -- University of Delaware golfer Jeff Griest (at right), who will be a junior for the Blue Hens this fall, was the second low amateur and placed fourth overall at the 103rd annual Philadelphia Golf Open held Aug. 6 at Merion Country Club.

Griest, a native of Glen Mills, PA (Westtown Friend High School) who plays out of Waynesborough Country Club, shot scores of 75 and 70 over the par 70 course during the one-day tournament. Griest’s 70 in the second round was one of only six scores of par or better among the 72 golfers in the tournament.

One of the nation’s highest rated golf courses, Merion has served as site of the United States Open several times and will host the Walker Cup in 2009 and the U.S. Open in 2013.

Mark Miller of Yardley Country Club was the top amateur and the overall tournament medalist with a 36-hole total of 140. Mark Sheftic of Sunnybrook Golf Club placed second at 141, Christopher Gray of Hartefeld National was third at 143, and Griest tied for fourth with Stuart Ingraham of Overbrook Golf Club, amateur Robert Robertson of Sunnybrook Gold Club, David McNabb of Cavaliers (DE) Country Club, and amateur Christopher Lange of Overbrook Golf Club.

A two-year standout for the Blue Hens, Griest ranked fourth on the team with a 76.10 stroke average in 10 rounds this past season and recorded a stroke average of 76.44 in 27 rounds as a freshman in 2005-06. He also placed 17th at the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association championships.

Delaware, led by seventh-year head coach Mike Keogh, will open the fall season Sept. 8-9 at the United States Naval Academy Fall Tournament in Annapolis, MD as part of a five-tournament fall schedule.