Handley's 5-under 67 Earns Medal At Mid-amateur Qualifier

By Niall Handley’s account, it was the best round he has ever recorded in a New Jersey State Golf Association event.

On Tuesday, April 26, Handley, who plays out of Essex Fells, fired a five-under-par 67 to win the medal at qualifying for the 33rd NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Royce Brook Golf Club (West Course) in Hillsborough.

Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol shot a two-under-par 70. John Capra of Stanton Ridge was third with a 72

A total of 20 golfers qualified to advance to the State Mid-Amateur which will be played May 10-12 at Spring Lake Golf Club.

“I just missed an eight-foot putt for birdie on my final hole that would’ve given me a 66. I don’t know where this round came from, but I hope it’s a good sign for the upcoming season,” said Handley, seeking his first NJSGA Mid-Amateur title after reaching the semifinals on three occasions, the last in 2012.

Handley’s career low is a 63 at the Zephyr Hills (Fla.) Invitational.

He has won two Met Mid-Amateur Championships, however, in 2011 and 2014, but is still in search of his first NJSGA title of any kind. He has represented the NJSGA on two Compher Cup and one Stoddard Trophy teams, and also played for New Jersey in the 2012 U.S. State Team Championships.

VIEW PHOTO GALLERY LEADERBOARD

“I played here once, 15 years ago, in a State Amateur qualifier and remember it having a lot of fescue and playing firm and fast. Today, you could see the greens were recently aerated and they were rolling true at medium speed. But I usually like them fast,” said Handley, a native of Ireland who came to the United States to play college soccer. He ended up playing golf at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

On Tuesday, he had five birdies against no bogeys. His irons got him close to the pins all day and had no birdie putts longer than eight feet. He saved par three times, however, needing a 15-footer for the par save on the par-3 17thhole.

“It’s funny to play so well today. I have not been playing well this spring. I drove it well and hit a lot of greens. I just felt comfortable over the ball all day.”