31st Senior Challenge Matches underway at The Peninsula in Delaware

Photo ID: from left, John Trainor, John O'Malley, Ron Vannelli, Joe Roeder, Jay Blumenfeld, Mark Kosko, Paul Manore, Carlos Ochoa, Eric Houseknecht (NJSGA vice president)   

The team representing the New Jersey State Golf Association seeks its first victory since 2003 in the 31st Senior Challenge Matches, are being played today (Oct. 3) at The Peninsula in Millsboro, Del.

The NJSGA team has won three times (2003, 2002, 1996) in the matches that date back to 1989. The event features four Mid-Atlantic associations, including the NJSGA, Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP), Delaware State Golf Association and Maryland State Golf Association. Eight senior golfers representing each organization compete in 18 holes of stroke play. The top six scores from each count toward the team total.

Scoring

GAP, which leads the series with 16 victories, seeks its fourth title in five years. In 2018, GAP won by six strokes over Maryland at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Maryland is second with 10 victories and Delaware has one.

Here’s a look at the NJSGA individuals:

Jay Blumenfeld, Mountain Ridge: NJSGA Senior Player of the Year: T1 Boff Invitational, 2nd Schiavone Cup (Senior Division), T3 Arcola Cup (Senior), T4 MGA Senior Amateur, T5 NJSGA Senior Amateur.

Mark Kosko, Little Mill: T2 NJSGA Senior Amateur, T1 Boff Invitational, Sec. Qual. NJSGA Mid-Amateur.

Paul Manore, Neshanic Valley: T4 Schiavone Cup (50-64 Division), T7 NJSGA Senior Amateur.

Carlos Ochoa, Little Mill: T8, second low amateur, NJSGA/NJPGA Senior Open.

John O’Malley, Due Process Stable: 1st NJSGA Super-Senior Championship.

Joe Roeder, Little Mill: 4th NJSGA Senior Amateur, on-site cut NJSGA Senior Open.

John Trainor, Knickerbocker: T12 NJSGA Senior Amateur, Sec. Qual. NJSGA Mid-Amateur. 

Ron Vannelli, Forsgate: 1st Schiavone Cup (Senior Div.), 9th NJSGA Senior Amateur.