Perrotta, Griffith Victorious at Tournament of Club Champions
PHOTO: Samantha Perrotta of Old York and Quentin Griffith IV of Pennsauken
Samantha Perrotta of Old York Country Club and Quentin Griffith IV of Pennsauken Country Club were the winners at the NJSGA Tournament of Club Champions on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club in Farmingdale.
Perrotta, who in August won the NJSGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, fired a round of one-under par 70 to easily win the women’s division. Sue Dahabsu of Colts Neck Golf Club was runner-up with a 79. Alair Muzzatti of Essex Fells Country Club and Margaret O’Meara of Navesink Country Club tied for third place with 81s.
In the men’s division, Griffith finished at two-under-par 69, two shots better than co-runners-up Troy Vannucci of Little Mill and William Evertz of Preakness Hills Country Club. Richard Stagle of Hominy Hill Golf Course was fourth with a 72.
Perrotta was three-under-par until she recorded bogeys on her final two holes, the par-4 No. 7 and the par-3 No. 8.
“I was hitting my driver as if it was a three wood and placing it out there,” said Perrotta, who hit all but three fairways and recorded three birdies against two bogeys.
“It was so frustrating to get those bogeys on my last two holes. I also had a tough time on the greens. I’m happy with the 70. This summer I’ve been more consistent than I ever have with my game,” she said.
In August, Perrotta, 30, successfully defended her title at the Farnum Cup, the medal-play championship of the Women's Golf Association of Philadelphia. She won a total of six WGAP events this summer. She also played in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship for the third time.
“It’s nice to play well and win. I put a lot of work in and it’s nice to see the results,” she said.
Griffith’s victory was his first in NJSGA competition. He was playing in his fourth Tournament of Club Champions thanks to his prowess at Pennsauken C.C., where his father, Quentin Griffith III, is the head professional. “The only other thing I won was the conference championship when I played at Rutgers-Camden,” he said.
“I owe this to my father. He has been on my side the whole time. This is as much his as it is mine. “Everything was on in my game today. I was great off the tee and my approach shots were beyond stellar,” said Griffith, 27, who had four birdies and two bogeys.
He also had a very hot putter, ramming in a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-4 No. 12 and draining a 25- footer for birdie on the par-5 No. 17.
“I’ve never seen the course before, but I enjoyed playing here,” said Griffith, who has failed to make the cut in three NJSGA Amateur Championships.
“Hopefully, this is a stepping stone for great things in 2019 and beyond,” he stated. “Next time I’m in contention, I’ll be able to pull from this experience and get the same result.”
