Black Oak's Daniel Tripp leads 62nd Pre-Senior after Round 1
August 31, 2020 - Daniel Tripp of Black Oak had never played Maplewood Country Club before today, but he had a sound strategy as he began round one of the 62nd NJSGA Pre-Senior Championship for golfers between the ages of 45-54.
“I just wanted to keep it in play off the tee because it is not too long of a course. I always wanted to hit the middle of the green,” said Tripp, a native of Kingsville, Texas, who now resides in Chester. “And, I just made some key putts today.”
Tripp was the only player to finish at under par, carding a one-under 70, to take a one-shot lead after the first of two rounds the par-71, 6,313-yard Maplewood Country Club in Maplewood on Monday.
On the day, Tripp registered five birdies against four bogeys. He began the round with a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-5 first hole.
“In between, I had birdies on the seventh, 11th and 14th holes, all par fours, by making putts in the 10-to-15 foot range. I capped it off with a five-footer on the par-3, 18th hole,” said Tripp, who works for Johnson & Johnson.
Tied for second place at even-par 71 are 2018 champion Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol, Derrick Scenna of Deal and KJ Kim of NJSGA eClub - North. Jason Klarreich of Darlington, Mark Stankewicz of Neshanic Valley and Mike Stiles of Indian Springs are tied for fifth at 72. The low 27 players who shot 77 or better return for the final round while the remainder was cut from the field. Play begins at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
Scoring & Round 2 Starting Times
A graduate of the University of North Texas, Tripp has lived in the northeast for two decades. He is a two-time MVP of the local Golf Mission Tour, based in Clifton.
“Tomorrow, I just want to keep my nerves at bay and come out and have fun. I’d like to continue making putts,” Tripp said.
Angelillo said he was happy to be in the clubhouse at even par and that “I didn’t shoot myself out of it on the first day.”
His round included one birdie and one bogey.
“I hit a lot of greens and made a lot of ups and downs,” Angelillo said. “Overall, I was in play and I lag-putted very well.”
Scenna, who won the NJSGA Tournament of Club Champions in 2014, carded four birdies and four bogeys.
“The hole locations were challenging and for not knowing the golf course, you can get out of position very easily here,” said Scenna, 50. “I hit the driver well and made some good comeback putts for par. I made a nice birdie putt of about eight feet on 18 to finish my round.”
