Levinson, Blumenfeld Help NJSGA Tie Gap In 54th Compher Cup
Dan Levinson of Bayonne and Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge comprised the final group and came home with all three points as the New Jersey State Golf Association team halved with a squad from the Golf Association of Philadelphia, 9-9, in the 54th Compher Cup matches on Wednesday, April 29.
The backdrop was renowned par-71, 6,702-yard Bayonne Golf Club in Bayonne, N.J., which offered spectacular views on a spectacular spring day with temperatures in the mid-70s.
GAP retained the Compher Cup due to its 9-1/2-8-1/2 victory at Aronimink last October. GAP leads the series which began in 1962, 35-13-5. Victories by Levinson (5-4 over John Samaha of Old York Road) and Blumenfeld (1 up over Scott McNeil of Philadelphia Publinks G.A.) and their combined 2-up Four-Ball victory gave NJSGA the final three points needed to forge the tie.
COMPHER CUP PHOTO GALLERY FINAL SCORESHEET
“The competition was fabulous. I’m just glad everybody had a good time,” said NJSGA team captain Levinson. “Bayonne was proud to host the Compher Cup. I’m glad we playted well, but it’s too bad we didn’t win the Cup.”
Blumenfeld’s victory came on the strength of two par victories on his final two holes, Bayonne’s eighth and ninth holes.
“I’m surprised and happy I was able to win,” said Blumenfeld, a long-time Compher Cup player. “I’m happy for Dan that everything went well and that everyone enjoyed themselves.”
The squads compete annually as 12-man teams. In Compher Cup play, all 12 players from each side square off in individual matches and simultaneously in four-ball matches for a total of 18 points at stake.
Other individual winners for NJSGA were two-time and defending State Amateur champion Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake, Steve Zychowski of Mendham who left last night to play in the inaugural USGA Four-Ball championship at Olympic Club in San Francisco, veteran Nick Desai of Baltusrol and Stephen Ellis of Toms River, a Compher Cup rookie. Desai and Ryan Chin of Arcola won their Four-Ball match, 2 and 1.
Just six months ago, the teams met in the 53rd Compher Cup matches, with GAP defeating the NJSGA in a tight match, 9.5 –8.5 , on Tuesday, October 21, at the 7,190-yard, par-70 Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., with GAP as the host team.
The Compher Cup began in 1962 with the NJSGA winning at Hollywood G.C. in Deal. The 2005 event was canceled due to weather.
Bayonne Golf Club, located across the Hudson River from Manhattan, is a waterfront golf course unlike anything this side of the Atlantic. It was designed to rival the look and feel of the legendary links courses of Scotland and Ireland. It is ranked sixth in the country by Golf Digest for best overall value for a private club and in 2013-14 was ranked as the No. 126 among America’s Greatest Courses. It is ranked the ninth best venue in the state by Golf Digest.
2015 SCORING
Mike Stamberger, Spring Lake (NJSGA) def. John Brennan, Phila. Cricket, 1 up
Steve Zychowski, Mendham (NJSGA), def. Chris Ault, Yardley, 1 up
Stamberger and Zychowski def. Brennan and Ault, 5 and 4
Pete Barron, Stone Harbor (GAP) def. Brain Komline, Black Oak, 6 and 4
Matt Finger, Dupont IGAP) def. Niall Handley, Essex Fells, 2 and 1
Barron and Finger def. Komline and Handley, 6 and 4
James Kania, Overbrook (GAP) def. Ryan Chin, Arcola, 2 and 1
Nick Desai, NBaltusrol (NJSGA) def. Ray Thompson, Overbrook, 3 and 1
Chin and Desai def. Kania and Thompson, 2 and 1
Jay Blumenfeld, Mountain Ridge (NJSGA) def. Scott McNeil, Phila. Publinks, 1 up
Dan Levinson, Bayonne (NJSGA) def. John Samaha, Old York Road, 5 and 4
Blumenfeld and Levinson def. McNeil and Samaha, 2 up
Aaron Fricke, Honeybrook (GAP) def. Ron Vannelli, Forsgate, 3 and 2
Matt Crescenzo, Philmont (GAP) def. Allan Small, Fairmount, 1 up
Fricke and Cresenzo def. Vannelli and Small, 3 and 2
Stephen Ellis, Toms River (NJSGA) def. Ben Feld, Green Valley, 2 and 1
Mike Carr, Plymouth (GAP) def. Jason Bataille, Neshanic Valley, 4 and 3
Feld and Carr def. Ellis and Bataille, 4 and 3
