Arbes, Kozubal Lead; Opening Round of Mid-Am Suspended due to Weather
JACKSON, N.J. - With weather delaying the completion of the stroke play portion of the 38th New Jersey State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship, James Arbes and Peter Kozubal both shot 1-under 71s to share the lead Tuesday at Metedeconk National Golf Club. Ten golfers remain on the course and play will resume at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
Arbes, a member at Shackamaxon Country Club, bounced back from a pair of early bogeys and played his final 11 holes at 3-under par. A birdie at the 18th secured his position atop the leaderboard. “I hit the ball really well,” Arbes said. “It’s definitely a course you have to place it around. Hitting the ball pin-high is a premium out here. I pieced my way around the course, and I definitely holed a few good putts.”
Kozubal, last week’s winner of the NJPGA/NJSGA Senior Open Championship, continued his strong play with three birdies and two bogeys in his 1-under par round. “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?” Kozubal said when asked about his string of success. “I’m hitting good shots, not getting into any trouble. I’m hitting it on the greens, and my putting has been spot on. That’s basically it. Fairways, greens, two-putt, and you make a birdie here and there. If you make a mistake on one hole, it’s no big deal,” Kozubal, who missed the cut at last year’s Mid-Amateur, said. “There’s not much pressure if you bump one, so match play is fun. I’m excited to get back to it.”
Play was suspended for over two hours late in the afternoon with 19 golfers still on the course. Competitors returned to the course for about 25 minutes before storms returned to the area, ending competition for the day. Ten golfers will return to complete their stroke play round at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, and the overall top-16 will advance to match play which will begin immediately following the conclusion of stroke play tomorrow. Both the round of 16 and quarterfinals are slated for Wednesday, and the semifinals and finals will be played on Thursday.
Be sure to follow live scoring at NJSGA.org, and stay tuned to the NJSGA’s social media platforms @njsga1900 for updates, news, and player interviews throughout the championship.
