PREVIEW: 66th Senior Amateur Championship at Beacon Hill CC
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J. - The 66th New Jersey Senior Amateur Championship presented by NJM Insurance Group is set to get underway at Beacon Hill Country Club on Tuesday, September 17.
It will be the first time the Senior Amateur will visit the Atlantic Highlands club. Beacon Hill, celebrating its 125th anniversary this season, will provide a tough test of golf to the 132 male golfers aged 55 and above.
The championship is set for Tuesday and Wednesday when the 36-hole, stroke-play tournament is played over the par-71, 6,200 yard venue. After the completion of 18 holes, the field is cut to the low 40 scorers plus ties for the final round.
Defending and two-time Senior Amateur Champion (2022 and 2023) Morten Gotterup highlights the 132-player field. Last year, Gotterup, 57, came out on top at Spring Lake Golf Club. Starting the final round in a tie for the lead, Gotterup put together a solid 1-over par 73 in some challenging weather to claim the win.
Also in the field are five other former champions in Adam Armagost (2021) Norman Lewis (2019), Anthony Fioretti (2018), Bill Charpek (2015, 17), Jay Blumenfeld (2016, 14) and Tom Dicinti (2010).
PLAYER NOTES
A collection of notable players in the 66th Senior Amateur Championship:
Adam Armagost, 61, is in the field after a third-place finish at Spring Lake Golf Club in 2023. The 2021 Senior Amateur Champion was a member of the winning 2023 Senior Challenge team.
Morten Gotterup, 57, is the defending two-time champion. Tabbed the 2022 and 2023 New Jersey Senior Player of the Year, Gotterup has notched a victory already in 2024, winning the 29th Senior-Four Ball Championship alongside Christopher Housen.
Michael Guli, 57, finished in second last year at Spring Lake. Guli also qualified and competed in the 2024 New Jersey Mid-Amateur Championship and New Jersey Amateur Championship. In 2023, Guli finished as runner-up in the New Jersey Senior Player of the Year rankings. Also in 2023, Guli was a member of the winning 2023 Senior Challenge team.
Christopher Housen, 59, won the 29th Senior Four-Ball Championship alongside Morten Gotterup this past May at Atlantic City Country Club. Just a few weeks ago, Housen finished in a tie for third at the Senior Arcola Cup. Last year, Housen earned a t-5 finish at Spring Lake Golf Club in the Senior Amateur.
Harris Podvey, 58, currently leads the Senior Player of the Year standings. Coming off an appearance in the U.S. Senior Amateur, Podvey earned a spot in the match play bracket after advancing out of the stroke play portion of the championship. In the early part of September, Podvey also won the Senior Arcola Cup, shooting an even par 72. In 2023, Podvey was a member of the winning 2023 Senior Challenge team.
Merv Smith, 57, finished third in the Senior Player of the Year standings in 2023. He collected senior wins at the Boff Memorial and the Eagle Oaks Invitational and finished second at the Senior Arcola Cup. This season, Smith made the cut at the NJPGA/NJSGA Senior Open.
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