Finger, Schwendinger, Co-medalists At Mid-amateur Qualifying
Matt Finger of Darlington, who grew up in Oradell, close by the Arcola Country Club, gets to return to his roots for the 2015 NJSGA Mid-Amateur which will be conducted at Arcola in Paramus , Sept. 8-10.
Finger comes in as co-medalist with Derek Schwendinger of Trenton, as both shot 1-over- par 72, to lead a group of 19 golfers who emerged from qualifying on Monday, August 24, at the 6,308-yard Trenton Country club in West Trenton .
Tied for third place at 73 were John Capra of Stanton Ridge, Marc Grinberg of Charleston Springs and Brian Whitman of Knickerbocker. The 19 who qualified shot 78 or better.
“The course played tough today. It was firm and fast,” said Finger, 38, who now lives in South Jersey’s Woolwich Township. “The greens were faster than they looked . They rolled very nice. I kept the ball in play, which is a key here. I hit a lot of irons off the tee.”
Finger’s card included four birdies and five bogeys. He has reached the NJSGA Mid-Am semifinals in 2010 and played on numerous New Jersey Stoddard and Compher Cup teams. He was fifth in the 2011 State Amateur and ninth in the State Open in 2008.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the State Mid-Am close to where I grew up,” said Finger, who graduated Bergen Catholic and Georgetown University and now works in educational sales.
Schwendinger, 38, is a native of St. Louis and has lived in Lawrenceville the past three years.
“Local knowledge made a difference today,” said Schwendinger, who birdied his final three holes, Nos. 7, 8 and 9, to get to 72.
“The greens were in great shape. I’m excited about playing in the Mid-Am. I was playing on an injured foot and decided to come out here and see what would happen. I wasn’t trying too hard, but it worked out for me,” said Schwendinger, who is in marketing for Podt Cereals in Parsippany.
Brian Whitman, who this summer won the NJPGA Pro-Scratch with his dad, professional Ed Whitman, needed a 3-under –par 32 on his back nine to reach 73.
“I made four birdies and a 3-putt bogey on the 11th hole coming in. I lost it mentally early and just decided to start focusing after I went four-over on my first four holes and hit out-of-bounds on the second hole,” said Whitman, who now lives in Tinton Falls and works in technical sales.
Capra had his son, Mike, 15, on his bag.
"Mike told me that when I hit it in trouble, to get out of trouble," said Capra, 51, of Bridgewater, who has played in three U.S. Mid-Amateurs.
Grinberg thanked his brother, Brian, for giving him the day off work and his wife, Perri, for "watching the kids." Grinberg, 41, who lives in Morganville, lost in the finals of the 2009 NJSGA Mid-Amateur to David Pierce.
