Brian Komline Wins Bergen Am, Preps For U.S. State Team Even

By Greg Mattura, Bergen Record

Bridgewater’s Brian Komline and Franklin Lakes’ Trevor Randolph appear primed and ready to represent New Jersey this month at the U.S. Men’s State Team Championship.

Komline was stellar in winning Sunday’s Bergen County Amateur Championship at Rockleigh G.C. and Randolph was runner-up, one year after Randolph won and Komline was second.

“We’ve got the State Team coming up in a couple of weeks and it’s time to get ready and start playing good golf and trying to compete,” Komline said.

The U.S. Men’s State Team Championship is Sept. 28-30 in Birmingham, Ala., and Komline and Randolph will be joined by Brielle’s Mike Stamberger, a former Bergen Amateur titlist who did not play Sunday. The 36-hole Bergen Amateur at Rockleigh Golf Course was good preparation for Komline and Randolph.

Komline closed with a 4-under-par 67 for a 6-under 136 to win by four strokes. He and Randolph were paired in the final threesome, starting on the 10th hole. His 5-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth, combined with Randolph’s bogey, gave him a three-shot margin with one hole to play.

“After today’s performance, I’m a lot better right now. I’m in a much better place,” Komline, 42, said after winning his second Bergen Amateur. “I felt good, I felt confident. I hit a lot of good shots. I was chipping and putting well, and I’m feeling a lot better about where my game is right now.”

Randolph, who last year became the first Bergen resident in 15 years to win the Bergen Amateur, is enjoying his best season despite finishing second. He shot a pair of 70s on a course that played 6,812 yards.

Randolph pulled within one shot of Komline down the stretch by going birdie, birdie, eagle. He eagled the sixth, a 525-yard par-5, by holing a lob wedge from 20 yards. He missed a 5-footer for birdie on the seventh and suffered bogey on that par-3 eighth after he “tugged’ his tee shot “a little bit” over the green.

“I said I’d be aggressive and it helped at times and it hurt me other times,” said Randolph, 43, New Jersey’s reigning Mid-Amateur champion. “But I’m real excited about the State Team, because I feel like my game’s in a good spot, so I’m expecting good things from me and the other guys.”

Bergen County Amateur Championship

at Rockleigh GC, Rockleigh

Par: 71; Yardage: 6,812

Final

Brian Komline, Bridgewater 69-67-136

Trevor Randolph, Franklin Lakes 70-70-140

Russell Aue, Sayville, NY 69-72-141

Steven Zychowski, Mendham 70-71-141

Colby Anderson, Malverne, NY 70-72-142

Tyler Cline, Tuxedo, NY 71-71-142

Matthew Finger, Woolwich Township 73-70-143

Louis Bodine, Flemington 74-69-143

Dennis Lynch, Smithtown, NY 76-67-143

Shane Kennedy, Pearl River, NY 73-72-145

Mathew Goldman, Ramsey 74-71-145