Harcourt, Bova Lead 103rd New Jersey Open Championship
ORADELL, N.J. - The first round of the 103rd New Jersey Open Championship presented by Donnelly Industries is complete as Danny Harcourt and Nick Bova, two professionals, share the lead at Hackensack Golf Club, both firing 5-under par, 67.
An assistant golf professional at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club, Harcourt carded five birdies and an eagle. In 2019, Harcourt, then competing as an amateur in the New Jersey Open Championship, finished in third place.
“It was fun round,” Harcourt said following his round. “Really good lag putting and ball striking.”
“I don't really look at the board. I try to play against the golf course the best I can and see what happens.”
For Bova, a teaching professional at Hamilton Farm Golf Club, he birdied four of his last nine holes. He notched seven birdies on his scorecard.
“My short game was really, really good today,” Bova recalled. “Hopefully I can rely on it a little bit less and hit a little bit better in the next couple of days. I’m just trying to stay within myself, one shot at a time, all the cliches, add them up and see what happens.”
Coming off the 2022 NJPGA Professional Championship at Manasquan River Golf Club, Bova has had a solid run in the last several years. He’s collected two top-5 finishes in both NJPGA major championships this season. In the 2021 Open, Bova finished in third place at Spring Brook Golf Club.
Hackensack, a Charles Banks design suits Bova’s eye.
“I played here about a year and a half ago with a few members that are also members of Hamilton Farm and I fell in love with it,” Bova said of Hackensack. “I think it's one of the best places in New Jersey that nobody ever talks about. I like to hit fades off the tee, and I think every single tee shot is a fade with the exception of 18, so everything fits my eye nicely and I can go ahead and free wheel it.”
As for the 2022 Hackensack Golf Club club champion, Thomas O’Neill, his course knowledge proved helpful, carding a 1-under par 70.
Five players are within two strokes of the leaders.
For Vannucci and Simon, who each are one stroke behind the leader, they have both had a solid summer of golf in their own right.
"I won the Big East Championship at the end of May and then won the New York City Amateur a couple weeks after that. So my game has been really good,” Simon reflected. “I’m just trying to ride the momentum keeping it on track and just see how it goes from here.”
“My game has been good all year,” said Vannucci. “I just need to do what I did today, keep the ball in front of me, a lot of fairways and greens and keep it stress free out there.”
After the completion of 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 40 scorers plus ties for the final round.
Spectators who wish to attend must walk. Use of carts will not be permitted.
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