Caddie John Doherty Guides Hagestad To Remarkable U.S. Mid-amateur Triumph
Long regarded as one of New Jersey best caddies, John Doherty has finally received his wish to go to The Masters.
It took an incredible victory by his golfer, Californian Stewart Hagestad, to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur on Thursday, Sept. 15, at Stonewall in Elverson, Pa., but the well-known Doherty aka “J.D.,” a Red Bank resident, was there every step of the way as Hagestad rallied from four holes down with five to play before winning on the 37th hole.
“Back in 2004, I was on the bag in the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur for Chris Nallen of Panther Valley and he lost on the 19th hole. I was one hole away from going to The Masters and I said to myself, I won’t go there until I earned it. It happened with Stew. Now, I’m going to wear a white jumpsuit,” said Doherty, 45, who will accompany Hagestad to the 2017 Masters in Augusta.
Hagestad, 25, of Newport Beach, Calif., made the biggest comeback since a 36-hole final was introduced in 2001. He defeated Scott Harvey, 38, of Greensboro, N.C., who won the event in 2014.
At 25 years/5 months/5 days, Hagestad is the second-youngest U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, behind Nathan Smith (25 years/2 months/10 days) in 2003. Hagestad reached his first final after failing to qualify for match play in seven U.S. Amateurs.
On the 37th hole, the 169-yard, par-3 ninth hole on Stonewall’s Old Course, Hagestad and Harvey hit strong iron shots to give themselves birdie chances. Harvey’s, from 15 feet, missed to the right. The stage was Hagestad’s, and he made a downhill 14-footer that crawled into the hole for an improbable victory.
“We never doubted we wouldn’t win this match,” said Doherty of Hagestad, who works in real estate in Manhattan and is a member of Deepdale in Long Island. This summer, Hagestad won the Met Amateur in 38 holes over 16-year-old Ethan Ng of Fiddler’s Elbow. Doherty was on Hagestad’s bag for that, too.
Hagestad shattered records with Met-Am qualifying rounds of 61 and 64 at the Country Club of Fairfield.
"There’s not a scenario he is intimidated by. From all his experience on the golf course, as a player, I pale in comparison. Having him as a calming force on my bag is something I’ve needed and I’m really lucky to work with him," Hagestad said. "He’s caddied in 50-something USGA events and that’s pretty darn impressive.
"There’s a reason everyone knows who J..D. is. There’s a long list of players who’ve enjoyed working with him. For me, it’s an honor I’m mentioned in the same breath with the rest of them. We have mutual respect. I have a ton of respect for what he’s accomplished over the years, and the fact he is willing to work with me, is pretty cool. Going to The Masters is a dream come true for both of us.," Hagestad added.
The golfer and the caddie were paired in 2015 by mutual friends, including Dan Dubois of the Los Angeles C.C., who J.D. had worked for in the U.S. Senior Amateur. They met at the 2015 Met Amateur.
“Stew never quit. He never lost focus and just kept playing,” said J.D. of the U.S. Mid-Am victory. ”I did my job. I kept him calm. I didn’t let him get caught up in the moment. I allowed him to play his best golf when it counted.”
J.D. was a natural for Hagestad heading to Stonewall C.C.
“I’d caddied there 20 times before, at the GAP Amateur, and U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifiers. It looked different this year. They eliminated all the fescue.
“Stew had never seen the course before and he relied on me. It was the same way at Fairfield and he had good success there. Maybe it was an omen. Who knows?”
He said Hagestd has no aspirations about turning professional.
"He knows Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth well. He doesn't want to be a pro. He knows what his goals are and knows what he wants to do. I think he'll go to grad school. He's a very intelligent guy."
J.D. is a 1992 graduate of Moravian College and worked some on Wall Street. He is much more comfortable as a full-time caddie at Navesink Country Club and this winter will be the tournament director for the John Caliendo Jersey Shore Winter Golf League.
“I pretty much caddie all year long. I caddie in a lot of tournaments, in Florida, California and Arizona.”
He has been in on many championships in New Jersey, with Mike Stamberger, who won the State Amateur in 2013 and 2014 and Jeff Thomas, who won it in 1994, among others.He's also been with four NJSGA Mid-Amateur champions, two State four-ball championship teams,and one NJSGA Public Links champion. He's been in on more than 50 career winners, includign USGA qualifying medalists.
“J.D. loves golf more than anyone I ever met. He loves caddieiing and being out in competition even more.,” said Stamberger.
He has also caddied on the PGA Tour for Nallen, for Marina Alex in the LPGA, and even made it to the U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco when he caddied for New Yorker Cameron Wilson in 2012.
Back in 2010, J.D. was sidelined for six weeks when he was hospitalized for gall bladder and kidney stones and lost 65 pounds. He also discovered he was diabetic. He currently battles a foot issue that comes and goes.
His philosophy for success as a caddie:
“No. 1, know my job as a caddie; know the rules; No. 2, Realize you can’t hit the ball for your player; There’s nothing you can do if he doesn’t execute.
“No. 3, Be prepared. Know the courses, the yardages and slopes of greens and be prepared for tournament play. And No. 4, which is the biggest thing: Know your player, know what buttons to push and what not to push,” Doherty surmised
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