Albatross powers Peyman to medalist honors in Amateur Qualifying at Quail Brook
A rare albatross (3-under-par) on the 480 yard, par-5 17th hole carried Chris Peyman of Neshanic Valley to medalist honors at the fourth of five qualifiers for the 119th NJSGA Amateur Championship presented by Provident Bank on Saturday at the par-72, 6,626-yard Quail Brook Golf Course in Somerset.
Peyman, 37, a resident of Jersey City, fired a round of 4-under-par 68. He was two strokes better than Arav Patel of Forsgate, Kieran Purcell of Essex County, Nick Loughlin of NJSGA eClub, and Jonathan Ross, also of NJSGA eClub. 15 golfers who shot one-over-par 73 earned a berth into the Amateur Championship which takes place Aug. 3-5 at Arcola Country Club in Paramus.
“I got a great roll on my drive on 17, about 325 yards out there,” said Peyman. “That left me in the right rough 155 yards to the hole. I knew my shot was good when I hit it, but there was a mound in front of me so I couldn’t see how close I was to the hole. I didn’t know I had an albatross until I got up there and saw the ball in the hole.”
The 68 was also the best round ever for Peyman, who once shot a 70 in Mesa, Arizona. Peyman was born in Bergen County before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he went to high school. He came east and was a member of the golf team at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania.
“I know this course a little bit. I’ve played in three qualifiers here and also had some practice rounds,” said Peyman, who qualified for the Amateur for the first time. “I just wanted to keep it in play off the tee. I hit a lot of wedges close. That’s what did it for me today.
“I also had a thought on the range today about my hands coming through the ball.”
Peyman carded three bogeys, four birdies and the albatross in the memorable round.
“It was really nice to have the albatross on the 17th hole and finish my round knowing I would qualify. I kept the ball... and I might get it mounted in a frame,” he said.
