Johnsons Of Stone Harbor Win 90th Father And Son Championship
For the Johnsons of Stone Harbor, the first time was the charm.Matt Johnson and his dad, Bill Johnson Sr., appearing for the first time at the NJSGA’s 90thFather and Son Championship, fired a 4-under-par 68 (36-32) to win the event in a match of cards over defending champions, Robert and Christopher Housen of Manasquan River, on Thursday, August 2, at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club (River Course) in Bedminster.
A full field of 88 teams of fathers and sons took part in the tournament at the par-72, 6,340-yard course.In the net division, Brian and Steve Zychowski of Mendham won in a match of cards over Robert and Robert Kaminski of Pine Barrens at 7-under-par 65.
“It was just a day that everything fell into place. It was a day we’ll never forget,” said Matt Johnson, 30, who works with his father in the company business, Prefab Structures in Atco.“We knew about the Housens as the team to beat. It was very nice to get the victory. It was a good experience for us.”
Matt said he took care of the driving and the approach shots by his father were pretty much on the green every time.
“It was one of those days where I was making every putt I looked at,” said Matt, who carries a handicap index of 5.3 and was formerly a member at Little Mill Country Cub, where he recorded a career-best 1-under-par 71.
But it was Bill Sr., who wrapped up the triumph in a big way by snaking in a 20-foot downhill putt for a birdie on the 18thhole. At the time, the Johnsons left without knowing they were the victorious duo.
They had more golf in the plan, going on to play nine holes at nearby Trump National-Bedminster, courtesy of their playing partners from Fiddler’s Elbow, Dan Jr., and Dan LaVecchia Sr. of Trump-Bedminster.
“I wanted to play a tournament with my dad,” said Matt Johnson, a former baseball player at Rowan University. “He’s been injured with a knee replacement the past year-and-a-half, so this was a good opportunity for us.”
