2nd NJ Corporate Golf Challenge draws 80 to Metedeconk National
Champions Photo: OceanFirst Bank, from left: Vince D'Alessandro, Robert Kilgour, Chris Martin of Provident Bank, Chris Maher, Ashley Navin, NJSGA President Bill Frese
Teams representing 20 New Jersey businesses and corporations enjoyed a day of golf and networking in the NJSGA’s second annual New Jersey Corporate Golf Challenge, presented by Provident Bank, on Monday, Oct. 7, at prestigious Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson.
Foursomes from across the state competed in the one-day event which benefits the New Jersey State Golf Association’s Caddie Scholarship Foundation and Youth Foundation.
“This is a great event in that we get corporate leaders to come out and play, and in the end, we wind up helping kids,” said Chris Martin, president and CEO of Provident Bank. “It’s gratifying that we can conduct this event each year as friendly competitors in business as well as on the golf course, while networking and having a great day.”
The event included teams representing New Jersey-based companies from any business sector. Each team consisted of four amateur players with a team handicap limit not to exceed 60.
An additional Callaway competition was added this year to welcome players and teams without golf handicaps.
OceanFirst Bank’s team of Vince D’Alessandro. Robert Kilgour, Ashley Navin and Chris Maher won the championship, followed by Magyar Bank and Donnelly Energy. Sandler O’Neill Partners won the Callaway Division.
“It’s a great day. We were blessed with great weather and the course was in phenomenal shape. Chris Martin has done a great job promoting this event. We are friendly competitors. But there are times that we collaborate. We share a foundation together,” said Maher, president and CEO of OceanFirst Bank, which is headquartered in Toms River.
“This event gives corporate executives a chance to get away from the office and network with one another in a relaxed setting. The friendly competition that comes along with the Corporate Challenge is an enjoyable bonus,” said Tom Jaronski, NJSGA partnership consultant.
“I will come and play in the Corporate Challenge every year if I am invited. It’s the only event like it that I’ve seen. The venue is outstanding, the networking is great and the fact that we’re giving back to the Caddie Scholarship and Youth Foundations also make it worthwhile,” said Bill Gascoigne, senior managing director of the Peapack-Gladstone Bank.
His mother Jean Gascoigne, was a long-time NJSGA Board of Trustees member who has an NJSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship Trophy (net) named after her.
“We can share ideas with other bankers and that can be beneficial. We form partnerships in different ways,” Gascoigne said.
Tim Maher, senior vice president of Investors Savings Bank who has played in the Corporate Challenge both years, stated: “It’s great to network with people from other banks and other businesses. There’s no other golf event like this. I plan on coming back year after year.”
In addition to the 18-hole competition, each team’s entry included VIP cooler bags, a lavish brunch before play, on-course snacks and refreshments, a corporate networking cocktail reception after play, followed by a buffet dinner and awards program.
Provident Bank, as well as NJSGA partners NJM Insurance Group and Lincoln Motor Company sponsored par-3 contests with giveaways and prizes to help enhance the enjoyment of the golf experience for all players.
The event has the look and feel of an NJSGA championship. It is designed to be much different than the usual Monday charity golf outings. Each golfer plays his or her own ball and individual scores are calculated on a net basis using a Stableford scoring system, with the goal being for each player to generate as many points as possible. Aggressive play is the name of the game, as the Stableford point system doesn’t award points for net bogeys or higher. So once a player reaches a net bogey score, he or she can pick up their ball and refocus for the next hole.
The third annual NJ Corporate Golf Challenge is planned for fall of 2020. To learn more about the event or enter a team, visit the competitions section of NJSGA.org and click on the Corporate Challenge tab.
