Dewey & Haley Bookholdt Of Old York Win Mixed Pinehurst
The father and daughter team of Dewey and Haley Bookholdt of Old York combined for an even-par 72 to win the 52nd NJSGA Mixed Pinehurst Championship by three strokes on Tuesday, May 22, at Metuchen Golf and Country Club in Edison.
The Bookholdts finished their round with an eagle and a birdie to cement the championship over Metuchen’s Sean Fitzpatrick and Patricia Stilo, who shot 75. Third place went to J.J. (Pomsin) Om and Tae Whoan Om of Galloping Hill.
The low net title was captured by the brother and sister grouping of James Chojnacki of Rolling Greens and Marcy Chojnacki of Little Mill, who carded a 65.
John Feindt and Fran Gacos of Copper Hill, overall champions in 2016 and ‘14, earned Senior Gross honors with a 78. The Senior Net title went to Charlie and Barbara Kohut of North Jersey with a 73.
The Bookholdt’s eagle on the par-4, 360-yard No. 17 came courtesy of a 290-yard drive by Haley and a 70-yard chip-in by Dewey. The birdie on the par-3, 167-yard No. 18, resulted when Dewey stuck it to six feet and Haley sank the putt.
“I had played here once with the U.S. Kids a long time ago. The course was in great shape today,” said Haley, 19, a rising sophomore and golf-team member at Elon University. Even though she played high school lacrosse at Northern Burlington Regional, she is still rated as a top junior among New Jersey girls.
In 2014, she played in the U.S. Girls’ Junior in Flagstaff, Ariz. In 2015, she qualified and played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Portland, Ore. The next year, she was the New Jersey Big-I champion and finished in the top 10 in the nation.
A year ago, she was second low medalist at the NJSGA Women’s amateur before losing to finalist Yeji Shin.
Dewey, who carries a three handicap, is the current club champion at Old York. He is a retired state trooper.
“The last seven years, I’ve followed Haley around and didn’t have much time for my game. Now that she’s in college, I can focus on my game,” he said.
