103rd New Jersey Open Championship Returns to Hackensack Golf Club
No. 16 at Hackensack Golf Club
ORADELL, N.J. - The 103rd playing of the New Jersey Open Championship presented by Donnelly Industries will be contested at Hackensack Golf Club from July 24-26 where 116 of the top amateur and professional golfers in the Garden State will vie for the C.W. Badenhausen Champions Trophy.
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The 54-hole stroke play major championship is set for Monday through Wednesday on the par-72, 7,011-yard venue. The starting field consists of 58 amateur players and 58 professional competitors, who are either exempt or qualified at one of four state-wide sectional qualifying sites. After the completion of 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 40 scorers plus ties for the final round.
In 2022, Louis Kelly hoisted the C.W. Badenhausen Trophy at The Ridge at Back Brook, earning the victory after a 3-hole playoff with Jason Gore. Kelly, who was an assistant golf professional at Burlington Country Club is not in the 2023 field after taking a golf professional position at Gulph Mills Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
Having hosted 13 New Jersey championships in the past, Hackensack will play host to its second Open – last hosting in 2013 as Frank Esposito won over local favorite, Jim McGovern. Esposito, now 60 and McGovern, 58 are both in the 2023 field.
Founded in 1899, Hackensack Golf Club has been a long staple of New Jersey golf competition. The course was designed by golf course architect Seth Rayner and built by his construction associate Charles Banks in 1928. In more recent times, the layout has been renovated by Rees Jones beginning in 2007. He based his work on the original Banks plans that were found in the basement of the Hackensack clubhouse. Over the last ten years, there has been a restoration project to reshape the bunkers into more of a deeper and steeper Charles Banks style design. The project is nearly completed with only one hole left to restore to the original yet modernized layout of Banks.
Longtime Hackensack head golf professional Mike Dezic, alluded to the clubs' notable features.
“It's a traditional, tree-lined 125 year old facility and golf course,” Dezic said of the course. “I think it's challenging yet fair and the person that can control their ball flight distance could go low. It's a typical Charles Banks designed golf course, deep bunkers, wide fairways, big greens that are sectioned off into halves or quarters. If you hit in the right location, you're going to have a good look at birdie and if your ball is a little wayward, you're going to have a little bit of a fight on hand.”
Hackensack is one year shy of celebrating its 125th anniversary. It has withstood the test of time and will provide a challenge for Open competitors as it struts its true championship-caliber golf course.
“If you keep it in the fairway and then control your iron play, you have a good opportunity to make some birdies and put up a solid score,” expressed Dezic. “It's a strong enough test that if you're struggling with your irons a bit, it's going to be a challenge to get around the golf course. It will be a fair opportunity to whoever has control of their ball at that time.”
Inside the Field
A slew of former champions pack the 2023 field. Tyler Hall (2015, 2016, 2021), Mark Costanza (a) (2020) Marc Issler (2018), Frank Esposito, Jr. (1999, 2013), Brian Gaffney (2010), Mark McCormick (2008), Ed Whitman (1991, 1995, 1996, 2004) and Steve Sieg (1989) will be seeking a victory at the Bergen County club.
2023 New Jersey Amateur Champion Jack Wall will be teeing it up alongside Tyler Hall at 12:48 p.m. on Monday. He’s coming off a victory at his home club, Manasquan River Golf Club where he bested Jack Simon in a 3-hole aggregate playoff.
Rylee Plitz, head golf professional at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood will be competing in her second Open after a 2022 appearance in the New Jersey Open at The Ridge at Back Brook. She earned a spot in the field after winning the Women's NJPGA Professional Championship.
Qualifying medalists include amateur Henry Bolster (at Beacon Hill Country Club), amateur Jimmy Apostolico of Rockaway River Country Club (at Knoll Country Club - West), professional Kyle Nestor (at Preakness Hills), and amateur Colin Summers of Plainfield Country Club (at Cherry Valley).
Featured Groups
The NJSGA will follow each shot of the 'Featured' group on Instagram Live as they play No. 1 and No. 10 in their opening round and second round of the 2023 New Jersey Open Championship. Brent Paladino, Bill Hook and amateur Mark Costanza will highlight the featured group. They are set to tee off No. 10 at 8:11 a.m. on Monday and 12:26 p.m. of No. 1 on Tuesday.
Spectators who wish to attend must walk. Use of carts will not be permitted.
Qualifying Results
Beacon Hill Country Club (6/15)
Preakness Hills Country Club (6/26)
Cherry Valley Country Club (6/29)
NJSGA Social Media
For the latest updates and news, visit njgsa.org or follow New Jersey State Golf Association on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @NJSGA1900.
