Greyserman fires 67; leads 119th Amateur Championship after Round 1
August 3, 2020 - When Dean Greyserman of Hamilton Farm won the New Jersey State Golf Association William Y. Dear Junior Championship last summer, he took extra delight in accomplishing a feat his older brother, Max, had achieved six years before him.
Fast forward to 2020, and the 17-year-old Dean Greyserman is attempting to match his brother’s performance of 2015 when Max won the NJSGA Amateur Championship. Dean is off to a good start, following first round, bogey-free five-under-par 67 to grab a two-stroke lead over Kieran Purcell of Essex County in the 72-hole 119th NJSGA Amateur Championship, presented by Provident Bank, at the par-72, 7,098-yard Arcola Country Club in Paramus.
Following Purcell is a three-way tie for third place at one-under-par 71; Johnny Bush of Plainfield, Tom Collins of Essex County, and Michael Brown of Darlington stand four shots back of Greyserman. NJSGA Open Champion Mark Costanza of Hamilton Farm shot an even par 72.
Due to the forecasted impact of Tropical Storm Isaias, which calls for heavy winds and rain, Tuesday’s play has been postponed. Round 2 is now scheduled for Wednesday morning. After a cut to the low 40 scorers (plus ties), Round 3 will begin mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The final round has been rescheduled for Thursday morning.
“I hit the ball really well today, the best I hit I all year, for sure,” said Greyserman, 17 of Short Hills, who has verbally committed to attend Stanford University beginning in the fall of 2022. “I think I’m as good as anyone who’s out here.”
Just this past Friday, Greyserman lost in the quarterfinals of the Metropolitan Golf Association Amateur Championship, for the second year in a row, this year to eventual champion Jack Wall of Manasquan River on the 18th hole.
“I drove it well and I hit my irons well, and I made a couple of putts. I think I hit every single green. I know what my potential is if I hit it like that,” said Greyserman, who attends Score Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. He birdied four of his final nine holes.
Greyserman missed a six-foot eagle putt and settled for birdie on the par-5, 558-yard 15th hole after hitting driver and three-wood to the green. His best moment came on the par-4, 465-yard 18th hole, when he faced a 20-foot right-to-left putt. He drained that putt and left the course with a wide smile.
“My brother has always inspired me. I’ve learned a lot from him and he’ll answer any questions I have,” Greyserman said.
Since winning the NJSGA Junior Championship last summer when he defeated Wall in the final match, 4 & 2, he said he has focused on his wedges and putter.
“It’s been about the speed with my putting and distance control with the wedges. I’m trying not to put too much spin on it and getting it to land where I want it to,” he added.
Last summer, he shot 10-under-par over 54 holes at Streamsong Resort to win the Florida State Golf Association Boys’ Junior (13-15 Division).
Purcell’s best finish in the NJSGA Amateur Championship was a tie for third in 2016 at Montammy Golf Club. The former University of Delaware golfer and graduate of St. Peter’s Prep qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2015. His round on Monday included three birdies against one bogey. The bogey came when he found water on the par-4 470-yard sixth hole.
“I hit it very well and putted solid. I was fortunate because I’d been struggling with the greens coming into this,” said Purcell, 24, a resident of Nutley. “The bogey was the turning point for me. I played really solid after that. I want to continue to drive it well this week.”
