Mark Costanza wins 100th Open Championship in Playoff
July 22, 2020 - After firing a tournament-low seven-under-par 65 in the second round, amateur Mark Costanza of Hamilton Farm followed with a third round 68 – and still needed a three-hole aggregate playoff to win the 100th New Jersey State Golf Association Open Championship at the par-72, 6,705-yard Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly on Wednesday.
After 54 holes, Costanza, a native of Upper Saddle River, found himself deadlocked with Canoe Brook assistant professional Tony Perla (73-66-67) at 10-under par 206. A three-hole playoff then ensued with Costanza recording par-par-birdie, which edged Perla (par-bogey-birdie) by one stroke.
Costanza, 31, became the second consecutive amateur to win the Open championship, following Chris Gotterup of Rumson, a Rutgers student, who did not participate (due to a commitment to play in the Sunnehanna Invitational). He also became the 13th amateur champion in the 100-year history of the event, and the third in four years. For the first time in the NJSGA Open, amateurs have won in consecutive seasons.
Tied for third place at 209 were amateur Ethan Ng of Knickerbocker (70-69-68) and two-time champion Tyler Hall of Upper Montclair (70-67-70). Another stroke back at 208 was Bill Hook, the host head professional at Knickerbocker (67-74-67).
“I’m playing really good golf right now,” said Costanza, a graduate of St. John’s University and former mini-tour player who regained his amateur status in 2014. “I’ve put my golf demons to rest. I love this course and was a member here three years ago. This place means the world to me. To win this championship in its 100th year, here at Knickerbocker, is really special to me,” Costanza said.
In the three-hole playoff, both players parred the par-4 first hole. The second hole in the playoff, the par-3 17th hole, proved pivotal. Perla found rough on the left side of the green, and chipped to 20 feet. His putt for par burned the right edge of the hole. Costanza, meanwhile, made his par by two-putting from 30 feet.
On the final playoff hole, the 494-yard, par-five 18th, Perla was in with a birdie. Costanza won the championship by matching him with a two-putt birdie from 30 feet after reaching the green in two.
Despite finishing second, Perla received a check for $15,000 as low professional.
“I gave it my all. What hurt me were the three-putts. What I will take out of this is my ability to fight back. I attacked the par fives well this week,” said Perla, who dedicated his success to his father, two-time Pennsylvania Open Champion Tony Perla, who passed away in 2019. “It’s funny, last week, I didn’t make the cut in a qualifier for the Pennsylvania Open, but I knew I had an opportunity here. To me, every day is a new day.”
Costanza was paired in the final group today with Hall, who he trailed by one stroke going into the par-four 12th hole. Hall’s iron shot into the green ended up in the water fronting the green, and he took a double bogey. Costanza birdied and suddenly found himself tied with Ng and Perla, all at seven under par.
Costanza followed with birdies on three of the final four holes, including No. 18. Perla birdied the final two holes to draw even with Costanza and reach the playoff. Ng, paired with Perla, bogeyed the 12th hole and was never able to make up the one-shot difference.
“On the 18th hole in regulation, I didn’t know where I stood. I asked my caddie if I should look at the scores and he said to just make the putt,” Costanza said. “I made the 10-footer, so maybe it was better that I didn’t know. My putting carried me down the stretch.”
