Austin Fires 69 To Earn Medal At State Open Qualifier At Old York
Andrew Austin, 28, has only been golfing for three years. On Monday, June 20, Austin fired a 2-inder-par 60 to earn medalist honor at the NJSGA State Open qualifier at Old York at Chesterfield
His 2-under-par 69 on Monday at Old York earned him a berth in the 96th NJSGA Open Championship on July 11-13, at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
Two more qualifiers are taking place on Tuesday, June 21 at Suburban Golf Club in Union and Thursday, June 23, at Green Brook
On Monday, seven golfers in the field of 44 who shot 72 or below qualified for the NJSGA Open at Galloping Hill. Austin was one shot better than Thomas Forte of VPAR Golf , Ambrose Abbracciamento of Old York and Henry Angier of Heron Glen.
“This is the first tournament I ever qualified for. I surprised myself. I hit it solid all day and kept it in play. And I couldn’t miss with my putting,” said Austin, an EMT in Gloucester County who lives in East Greenwich and attended Kingsway High School.
“Three years ago, my buddies took me golf and I got hooked. I love it. Last year, I went to an instructor, Robert Passarelli at Newark, Delaware, a half-hour from home, and told him to coach me from the bottom up. He taught me everything and straightened out my swing,” Austin said.
Austin’s round included five birdies – one on a 25-foot chip-in on the sixth hole - and three bogeys. He three –putted for bogey on the seventh hole.
“My distance has always been there. I only hit a couple of drivers all day. I’m constantly working on my putting,” said Austin, who credited his caddie, Jim (Pop-Pop) Equals, for reading the greens.
In a more relaxed state, Forte, who represents VPAR Golf, a live-scoring company, is having success on the golf course.
Forte, who spent six years as an assistant professional, now spends time in areas of event planning and charity events around the country, while also caddieing at Glen Ridge Country Club.
“When I was an assistant, I always worried about results and scoring and I felt pressure. Now I’m enjoying it and having more fun.”
The West Milford native now lives in Oakland, N.J.He spent five years as an assistant to Chris Dachisen at North Jersey an one more year assisting at Preakness Hills.
“I’ve been working on my putter. I only missed two greens today. I’m not used to fast greens. The greens today were awesome,” Forte said.
Abbracciamento lives in New Hope, Pa., and wll be a freshman at the University of Hartford. He attended Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, Pa.
“I’ve done well at Old York. I won two Big-I events here. I’m excited to be playing in my first State Open,” he said.
Angier attended Trinity-Pawling School in New York. He turns 19 on Sunday and lives in Frenchtown.
