New Jersey Golfers on the Road to Torrey Pines

KENILWORTH, N.J. – A slew of New Jersey golfers have their eyes set on competing at the 121st U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. Eighteen New Jerseyans have earned themselves a spot in the final stage of qualifying prior to the major on June 17-20.

For all U.S. Open Qualifying information, click here.

There were 108 local qualifiers that were held across the United States. The number of qualifying spots at each site is determined by the size and strength of the field.

Jeremy Nevius (Mountainside, N.J.), Chris DeJohn (Ridgewood, N.J.), Pat Wilson (Andover, N.J.), Mark Costanza (Morristown, N.J.), William Hook (Hawthorne, N.J.), Nicholas Bova (Hillsborough, N.J.), Danny Harcourt (Fanwood, N.J.), Chris Gotterup (Little Sliver, N.J.), Daniel O’Rourke (Milford, N.J.), John Lento (Paramus, N.J.), David Sanders (Mt. Laurel, N.J.), Ryan Skae (Old Tappan, N.J.), Austin Devereux (Brielle, N.J.), Ryan Siegler (West Windsor, N.J.), John Pak (Scotch Plains, N.J.) Ethan Ng, Chris Nallen and Jason Gore (Gladstone, N.J.) will be competing in final qualifiers around the country.

Seven golfers in Pat Wilson, Mark Costanza, William Hook, Nicholas Bova, Danny Harcourt, Chris Gotterup and Daniel O’Rourke all earned spots to the final stage of U.S. Open qualifying out of the local qualifier hosted by Green Brook Country Club. Wilson, of Andover also qualified for the 2015 U.S. Open held at Chambers Bay. He shot an impressive 5-under 66 to split medalist honors with NJSGA’s reigning Open Champion, Constanza. Hook, Knickerbocker Country Club’s head golf professional turned in a 3-under 68. The 2020 NJPGA Teacher of the Year, Bova and Fanwood’s Harcourt also shot a 3-under 68. Gotterup, the 2019 NJSGA Open Champion, and O’Rourke both turned in a pair of 69s.

Jeremy Nevius, currently an assistant golf professional at Bloomington Country Club in Bloomington, Ill., has a lengthy history with the NJSGA. Most recently, Nevius put together a top-5 finish at the 96th NJSGA Open Championship at Galloping Hill.

Chris DeJohn qualified out of the Patterson Club, hosted by the Metropolitan Golf Association. The Ridgewood native recorded a 3-under 68.

Down south, Paramus’ John Lento qualified out of Florida, shooting a 4-under 68 at the Bear’s Claw Country Club. The 2011 NJSGA Amateur Champion, David Sanders shot a 1-over 72 as he qualified out of Indian Valley Country Club, hosted by the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Ryan Skae, of Old Tappan shot a 4-under 67 en route to medalist honors at Whippoorwill Club in Armonk, N.Y.

The reigning NJSGA Amateur Champion, Austin Devereux competed at the local qualifier at York Country Club, shooting a 2-under 68. At the same site, Ryan Siegler earned medalist honors, firing a 5-under 65.

Across the country, amateur Ethan Ng earned medalist honors at the El Macero CC qualifier in El Macero, Calif., firing a 3-under 69. Last year, Ng finished third at the NJSGA Open Championship. He currently plays for Stanford, where he won the 2019 NCAA Championship with the Cardinal. 

Chris Nallen, the 2001 NJSGA Amateur Champion shot a remarkable 9-under 63 to pick up medalist honors. The University of Arizona men's golf assistant coach now plays professionally. 

Last September, John Pak was the low amateur, tying for 51st place, in the U.S. Open at New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club. He’s currently ranked the No. 1 ranked collegiate player according to Golfstat. The Scotch Plains native is set to complete in the NCAA Championship with Florida State beginning on May 28 held at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Jason Gore rounds out the New Jersey contingent. Gore won the 2005 84 Lumber Classic, and is the all-time leader in career wins on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour, with seven.

Amateur Jack Wall (Brielle, N.J.) and professional Anthony Aloi fell short of earning bids to the next stage of qualifying, but recieved alternate spots. 

To follow all the action, head to the U.S. Open headquarters.

The road to the U.S. Open continues with final qualifying, the final stage for U.S. Open hopefuls. Played over 36 holes in one day, final qualifying is a test of skill and endurance. At each of the 11 sites – one in Japan and 10 in the U.S. – the number of qualifying spots is determined by the size and the strength of the field.