Eagle Chip-in Helps Kruegers Win Father & Son In Playoff
An eagle chip-in from 22 yards on the second of three playoff holes carried Bob and Bobby Krueger of Rockaway River to their second title as they defeated defending champions, Ken and Drake Ferriter of Darlington, by an aggregate of 10-13 in the 94th NJSGA Father and Son Championship, sponsored by McRae Capital Management, on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
The playoff was a carryover from August 4 when the full field competed at Maplewood Country Club. The Kruegers , who won in 2013, and the Ferriters finished tied that day in the gross division at two-under-par 69 , thus necessitating the three-hole playoff.
The Kruegers combined the long hitting of young Bobby with the crafty play of dad Bob.
Both teams parred the par-4 first hole at Galloping Hill, but things changed on the uphill, 332-yard par-4 second hole. Bobby Krueger bombed a drive about 320 to the right rough, 22 yards below the hole. Bob then lofted a sand wedge onto the green, and it bounced twice right into the hole for an eagle.
It gave the Kruegers a two-shot cushion as the Ferriters settled for par. On the par-4 third hole, the Kruegers carded a par against a bogey for the Ferriters.
“On the second hole, the ball settled in clover and I could see mud on top of the ball. I was concerned because I didn’t know what it would do when it hit the green,” said Bob, 56. “I couldn’t see it go in because I was below the hole.
“The best thing about it was that it gave us a two-shot cushion. It gave us some breathing room. You need something like that to win this type of playoff,” Bob said.
“We’re a good team because my dad hits his tee shots down the middle and it gives me a chance to bomb one. That was a good one on the second hole,” said Bobby, 25. “I tell myself I’m out here to have fun. We came into this event with the mindset that we could win it. When we’re relaxed we play better. There’s nothing I’d rather do than be out here playing golf with my dad.”
The Ferriters had an unforgettable moment last year when Ken told his ailing dad that he and Drake had won.
“A while back, my dad and I won the Four-Ball Championship at our club. But had had been battling Alzheimers for four years. Last year, when Drake told him we had won, he became lucid for the last time, shook his hand, and seemed very proud of us. It’s moment I’ll never forget,” Ken said.
One stroke behind the Kruegers and Ferriters, tied for third place were 2015 champions Anthony and Rick Campanile of Deal, Cyrus III and Cyrus Whitney Jr. of Hackensack and Brian and Stephen Boyd of Baltusrol.
In the net division, Carmen and Carmine Spinazzola of Tamarack took first place at 75-11-64, followed by the Campaniles at 70-5-65, and Kevin and Tim Macken of Darlington at 71-6-65. Nick and William Dudes of Panther Valley took fourth place at 77-11-66.
