PREVIEW: 104th Open Championship presented by Donnelly Industries at Plainfield Country Club
Plainfield Country Club Set to Host the 104th New Jersey Open Championship Presented by Donnelly Industries
EDISON, N.J. - Hosting its 26th New Jersey State Golf Association championship and eighth New Jersey Open Championship, Plainfield Country Club is set to welcome the 104th New Jersey Open Championship presented by Donnelly Industries as New Jersey’s top amateurs and professionals aim to capture the C.W. Badenhausen Champions Trophy.
Plainfield has been the stage for some great championship finishes. Among them is Brian Komline’s 2007 State Open Championship triumph, which featured a thrilling finish with a one-stroke victory over Frank Esposito, Jr. A 33-year-old at the time, Komline shot rounds of 71-74-69 for a 2-under par total of 214 on Plainfield’s par-72, 6,998 yard layout. Komline is in the 2024 field and is set to tee off at 7:41 a.m. on Tuesday off No. 10. New Jersey Golf Hall of Famers have also won Open titles at Plainfield, including Babe Lichardus (1952) and David Glenz (1990).
The club has also hosted two USGA Championships, including the 1978 U.S. Amateur and the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open. They have also served as host of two PGA TOUR events – the 2011 and 2015 Barclays.
As the 104th Open Championship makes its way to Plainfield Country Club after 17 years, it will be the first time since Gil Hanse gradually began restoring the course to its original Donald Ross features. Hanse started the long-term project in the late 1990s and during the early 2000s, every green, fairway, teeing ground, chipping area and bunker was restored, and encroaching trees were removed.
The NJSGA will be adding articles, photo galleries, videos, and other content before and during the New Jersey Amateur on the Championship HQ page.
Inside the Field
Out of a record 510 entries accepted, 120 advanced to the Championship Proper. Over the course of five state-wide 18-hole qualifiers and the 52 exempt competitors, the field for Plainfield was determined.
Nine past champions are playing in the 2024 field, including last year’s winner Brent Paladino. He’s joined by Ed Whitman (1991, 95, 96, 04), Frank Esposito (1999, 13), Greg Farrow (2003), Brian Komline (2005, 07), Brian Gaffney (2010), Marc Issler (2018), Tyler Hall (2015, 16, 21) and Mark Costanza (2020). Paladino looks to become the first back-to-back champion since Tyler Hall won in 2015 and 2016.
There is no shortage of competitors representing Plainfield. Four professionals – Scott Paris, Sean Golden, Ryan Hager, Rhett Sellers and four amateurs – Nicholas Conti, Greg Goodman, Brian Kilduff and Colin Summers are all aiming to defend their home club.
The competition begins with 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday, July 23 and 24. After 36-holes, a cut will be made to the low 40 scorers plus ties, who will advance to the final round on Thursday, July 25.
Spectators are encouraged to attend, and admission throughout the event is free of charge. Use of carts will not be permitted.
PLAYER NOTES
A collection of notable players in the 104th Open Championship:
Nick Bova, 39, came up just short at last year’s Open at Hackensack Golf Club, finishing behind Brent Paladino by one stroke. 2023 NJPGA Player of the Year, Bova collected a win at the Fall Finale, and finished second in the Charity Clambake and third in the NJPGA Professional Championship. The Hamilton Farm Golf Club Director of Instruction also qualified for the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch in Texas, finishing in a tie for 42nd.
Mark Costanza (a), 35, is one of nine former Open Champions in the field. Claiming the 2020 New Jersey Open at Knickerbocker Country Club, Costanza is coming off a t-3 finish at the New Jersey Amateur from July 8-10. In 2021, he finished as runner-up at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He’s currently 192 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
Austin Devereux (a), 25, started the summer with a win at the 41st New Jersey Mid-Amateur Championship in his first year eligible for the event. Devereux won the New Jersey Amateur in 2020 and notched a t-12 at Forest Hill FC in the Amateur at the beginning of July.
Cole Ekert (a), 21, a rising senior at the University of Richmond last played in a New Jersey Open in 2022, finishing t-6 at The Ridge at Back Brook. The Fairmount Country Club member had a solid collegiate season, leading the Spiders with a 72.4 stroke average. In 2023, Ekert qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Brian Gaffney, 53, recently competed in the U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club where he made the cut and finished t-64. Gaffney, one of nine former champions in the field won the 2010 New Jersey State Open at Spring Brook Country Club and was a two-time runner-up (1998, 2009). The Essex Fells Country Club Head Golf Professional has notched three top-5 finishes in NJPGA major championships this season, including a second place finish at the 30th Dunning Head Pro Championship, t-5 at the Match Play Championship and t-5 at the Charity Clambake. Last year, Gaffney placed 8th at the New Jersey Open at Hackensack Golf Club.
Tyler Hall, 42, seeks his fourth New Jersey Open title and first since 2021. Champion in 2015, 2016 and 2021, Hall, Director of Instruction at Upper Montclair Country Club recently finished t-3 at the 2024 Charity Clambake, an NJPGA major championship. He also qualified for the 2024 PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch in Texas, finishing in a tie for 42nd.
Danny Harcourt, 27, was in contention throughout the entire Open championship at Hackensack Golf Club. Finishing t-3 at the Open in 2023, Harcourt, an assistant at Fiddlers Elbow Country Club has had a solid start to the 2024 season. He’s won one NJPGA assistant event and finished in second in three others.
Brian Komline (a), 50, has won two New Jersey Open titles, including the last time it was contested at Plainfield Country Club in 2007. The Black Oak Golf Club member has won the Open, NJSGA Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Public Links, and Four-Ball Championships. He’s playing in his first Open since 2020 when it was played at Knickerbocker for the Centennial playing.
Tyler McArdell, 34, has won four NJPGA Assistant Professional events in 2024. The Hollywood Golf Club assistant professional notched his best finish at a State Open last year at Hackensack Golf Club. In 2022, he was named NJPGA Assistant Player of the Year.
Brent Paladino, 37, made a tremendous run at the 2023 New Jersey Open Championship to win his first NJSGA title. Paladino won the 2024 NJPGA Match Play Championship at Arcola Country Club in May. In 2023, Paladino racked up wins at the Match Play and Charity Clambake.
Grant Sturgeon, 46, is gaining momentum after being sidelined with a wrist injury in 2023. The Arcola Country Club head professional is coming off a pair of New Jersey PGA Section victories in the 30th Head Pro Championship and the 60th Charity Clambake this season. His best finish in a New Jersey Open came in 2017 as the runner-up and top professional when amateur Luke Graboyes won at Metedeconk National Golf Club.
Troy Vannucci (a), 32, the 2023 New Jersey Player of the Year is coming off a solid 2023 campaign where he finished as runner-up in the New Jersey Mid-Amateur, a t-6 finish at the New Jersey Amateur and t-3 at the New Jersey Open. He started off 2024 with a quarterfinal appearance in the 41st New Jersey Mid-Amateur. Vannucci finished t-6 at the 123rd New Jersey Amateur at Forest Hill FC at the beginning of July.
Jack Wall (a), 23, is coming off a t-3 finish at the New Jersey Amateur after winning the championship in 2023. Wall had a second-place finish at the MGA Ike Championship. In 2023, Wall finished t-14 at Hackensack Golf Club. Wall checks in at 269 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
Qualifying Results
LBI National GC
Lake Mohawk GC
Green Brook CC
Metuchen G&CC
Trenton CC
Listen to the DROP Podcast Course Preview
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