Miller & Cline Medalists At Four-ball Qualifying At Oak Hill G.C.
Joe Cline of Trump National-Bedminster and Jim Miller of Watching Valley combined for a four-under-par 68 to earn medalist honors at qualifying for the 85th NJSGA Four-Ball Championship on Tuesday, July 18, at 6,611-yard Oak Hill Golf Club in Milford.
Cline and Miller were one stroke better than the duos of Dave Lees and Jon DiPietrantonio, both of Metedeconk National, and Michael O’Keefe of Laurel Creek and Beau Guarino of Old York.
On Tuesday, the low 19 scorers who shot 72 or better advanced to the Four-Ball Championship, which takes place August 7-9, at Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell.
Cline and Miller former their alliance a few years back when both were members of New Jersey National in Basking Ridge. They qualified for the NJSGA Four-Ball in 2016, but failed to make the cut. They have also attempted to qualify for the U.S. Four-Ball Championship the past two years, but failed to advance past the first round.
“Today, the thought was, with the greens being so difficult, that we had to have two guys on the green,” said Cline, 51, a CPA who lives in Millington. “On these greens, if you have to lag, it’s impossible to make putts.”
Still, Cline and Miller made their share of long putts in accumulating six birdies and two bogeys as a team. On the par-4 No. 4, Miler sank a 20-footer over a ridge for a birdie. On the next hole, the par-3 No. 5, it was Cline who drained a 25-footer for birdie. Another long putt for birdie came on the par-5 No. 18 when Cline sank another 25-foot putt.
“We think we’re a good four-ball team. We were both striking the ball well today,” said Miller, 40, a detective with the Union County Sherriff’s Office who resides in Mountainside.
Lees, 58, has worked for 23 years as a locker room attendant at prestigious Metedeconk National, which was the site last week of the 97th State Open. DiPietrantonio, 36, is a scratch golfer who caddies there.
“We play a whole lot of golf together,” Lees said. “Jon needs to play a lot more. After this, I think you will see him at a lot of tournaments.”
"I don't get to play that much because of back issues," DiPietrantonio said. "I drove it well today. We both mixed it up on the greens.",
O’Keefe and Guarino also combined for four birdies and a single bogey.
“What made us do so well was Beau’s play. He was one-under on his ball,” said O’Keefe, 30, who lives in Marlton and has an internet business. “I hit first so I wouldn’t get nervous. It worked for us.”
O’Keefe in 2009 advanced to match play in the event in 2009 with partner P.J. Tighe.
“The idea here was to just keep it in play,” said Guarino, 27, an accountant who lives in Mount Laurel. “Today was a good driver day. And we both putted well.”
