Kruegers Win 91st NJSGA Father & Son At Glen Ridge C.C.
It had been eight years since Bobby and Bob Krueger of Rockaway River competed in the NJSGA Father and Son Championship. But Thursday’s turned out to be special.
The Kruegers combined for a 4-under-par 67 and won the 91stFather and Son Championship by two strokes on Thursday, July 25, at the 6,005-yard Glen Ridge Country Club.
The Kruegers were two shots clear of Brian and Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge. Tied for third place were Bill and Ryan Rose of Ridgewood and Jeffrey and Greg O’Connor of Chalrdeston Springs, who each shot 70.
FINAL SCORING VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
In the net division, Andrew and Kevin Filliater of Glen Ridge took first-place honors with a 76-12-64. Second place went to Anthony Maurella Jr. of Pinch Brook and Anthony Sr. of Picatinny (76-9-65) on a match of cards over Andrew and Chris Nappi of Bowling Green (73-8-65). David and Keith Adams of Darlington (73-6-67) claimed fourth place on a match of cards over Lucas and Michael Artigliere of N.J. National (75-8-67).
“I knew we had the potential to make birdies, but the potential to make bogeys, too,” said Bob, 53, a vice president for taxes for PSE&G in Newark. “If someone had offered me a 74 or 75 before we started, I would’ve signed up for it.”
Son Bobby, 21, is a former New Jersey PGA Juniors champion, which he won five years ago. Since that time, the younger Krueger has turned to body builder, won several novice division titles, and is now a personal trainer for BK Fitness Elite in Cedar Knolls.
“My goal now is to mix both golf and physical training. I can show people you can still have flexibility and strength train,” he said. “My motto is ‘Lift heavy and hit it hard.’ “
“He has gone from 5-7, 130 pounds to 5-7, 210 pounds of muscle. With the power he created, he was hitting five or six shots out of bounds. Today, it was one or two, but I was there to back him up on those holes. He still hits those 300-yard drives and made it easy for me to hit a seven or eight iron into the green," Bob said.
The Kruegers started out with a birdie on the par-3 second hole when Bobby drained a 30-foot putt. Another birdie came on the par-4 ninth hole when Bobby lofted an iron to 15 feet and his father sank the putt.
The Kruegers three-putted for a bogey on the par-4 10th hole. On the par-5 12th hole, Bobby drove it well and later chip to six inches for a birdie to go 2-under-par. Bobby’s monster drive on the par-5 16thhole and Bob’s iron shot to 10 feet led to another birdie. The Kruegers finished up with a fifth birdie on the par-4 18th hole with Bobby sinking a 15-foot putt.
“Bobby’s gotten back into golf this summer. We usually play nine holes on Sindays. He’s showing flexibility and with the power he creates on his drives, let me have a nice iron shot to the green. This was a fun day for us. We’ll be back next year, " said Bob, whose dad, Bob Sr., is a long-time official with the NJSGA .
The event will move to the Edgewood Country Club in Bergen County for 2014.
