NJSGA, GAP set for 58th Compher Cup Match at Somerset Hills

NJSGA, GAP set for 58th Compher Cup Match at Somerset Hills
General

The 58th Compher Cup match between the New Jersey State Golf Association and Golf Association of Philadelphia will take place at the Somerset Hills Country Club in Bernardsville on Wednesday, April 28.

After a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s match will be held at the spectacular Somerset Hills, an A.W. Tillinghast masterpiece which is consistently rated as one of the top-100 courses in the United States. When the Compher Cup was last contested in 2019 at The Ridge at Back Brook in Ringoes, the GAP team prevailed, 10.5-7.5. GAP leads the all-time series, 39-13-5, and has won six consecutive affairs dating back to 2014.

For the competition, each association fields a team of 12 of its top amateur golfers who compete in simultaneous Four-Ball (team) and individual matches. Each match is worth one point; a total of 18 points are at stake. Any match which ends in a tie results in a half-point awarded to each side. The team with the greatest number of points wins, and if the match is tied, the Cup remains with the defending champions.

Mark Costanza of Hamilton Farm Golf Club, the NJSGA’s reigning Player of the Year whose 2020 season was highlighted by winning the 100th NJSGA Open Championship and the Metropolitan Golf Association Ike Championship, will serve as the captain of the NJSGA team.

“I’m honored to be captain of the team, which is also my first time playing in the event. Team events always bring out a different type of energy, as it is one of the few times we play for more than just ourselves. It’s about the team's success over any one individual.

"We have some great players on our team who I know are hungry for a “W” against the boys from GAP. Also, Somerset Hills is an outstanding golf course which will be fun to play in this format – plus the weather looks like it's going to be prime, so everyone is really looking forward to it.”

The Compher Cup was held for the first time in 1962 and is named for former NJSGA president, Frederic Compher, who donated the championship cup and conceived the idea of an interdistrict match with GAP to foster camaraderie and friendly competition between the associations. It has been held every year since, except for last year (COVID-19) and 2005 when it was rained out.

Play will begin at Somerset Hills on Wednesday, April 28 at 12:00 p.m. Be sure to follow the action at NJSGA.org.

Here is a look at the 2021 NJSGA Compher Cup team:

  • Gregg Angelillo, Baltusrol G.C. – 2nd place, 2020 NJSGA Pre-Senior Championship; on-site cut, 2020 NJSGA Senior Open and Amateur Championships; qualifier, 2020 MGA Amateur Championship.
  • Jason Bataille, Neshanic Valley G.C. – Qualifying medalist and quarterfinals, 2020 NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship; T-10, 2020 NJSGA Public Links Championship; qualifier, 2020 NJSGA Open and Amateur Championships.
  • Conor Casey, Somerset Hills C.C. – T-21, 2020 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship; Qualifier, 2020 NJSGA Open Championship; T-6, 2020 NJPGA Pro-Scratch Championship (with Daniel Joseph); T-2, 2019 Somerset Hills Invitational.
  • Tom Collins, Essex County C.C. – T-11, 2020 NJSGA Amateur Championship; Medalist, 2020 MGA Ike and Amateur Championships Qualifier; T-4, 2020 MGA Mid-Amateur; Champion, 2020 Framingham C.C. (MA) Scratch Invitational (with partner Brian Komline); T-9, 2019 NJSGA Amateur Championship.
  • Mark Costanza, Hamilton Farm G.C. – 2020 NJSGA Player of the Year; 2020 Champion of the NJSGA Open and MGA Ike; 2020 NJSGA Mid-Amateur runner-up; t-4, 2020 MGA Mid-Amateur.
  • Brandon Dalinka, The Ridge at Back Brook – T-3, 2020 Boff Memorial Invitational; 5th, 2020 GAP Mid-Amateur Championship; On-site cut, 2020 NJSGA Amateur and Open; 2020 MGA Amateur and Ike Championships.
  • Sam Goldenring, Brooklake C.C. - T-12, 2020 NJSGA Open Championship; Round of 16, 2020 MGA Amateur Championship; T-9 and 2nd low amateur, 2020 Met Open Championship; qualifier for upcoming U.S. Four-Ball Championship at Chambers Bay; reigning D-III Individual National Champion (won 2019 title as a junior at Williams College).
  • Tom Guy, Eligo Club – Qualified and on-site cut at 2020 NJSGA Open, Amateur, and Mid-Amateur Championships.
  • John Havay, High Bridge Hills G.C. – On-site qualifying medalist and match play semifinalist, 2020 NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship; qualifying medalist and T-17, 2020 NJSGA Amateur Championship.
  • Dawson Jones, Eagle Oaks G.C. – Semifinalist, 2020 MGA Amateur Championship; Champion, 2017 and 2019 NJSGA Amateur Championship; Champion, 2019 MGA Ike Championship.
  • Eric LeFante, Somerset Hills C.C. – T-2, 2020 Eagle Oaks Invitational, T-30 2020 NJSGA Open, T-8 2020 Boff Memorial Invitational, T-14, 2020 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship, Match play qualifier, 2020 MGA Amateur Championship. 2009 and 2010 Champion, NJSGA Public Links. 2012 Champion, MGA Public Links. 2019 Champion, Mittlemark Invitational. Contestant, 2021 U.S. Four-Ball Championship.
  • Steve Zychowski, Mendham G. & T.C. – Champion, 2020 South Jersey Cup; Runner-up (with Brian Zychowski), 2020 NJ Four-Ball Championship; Runner-up, 2019 NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship; Qualified for 2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship; 4 -time qualifier, U.S. Amateur Championship.
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