PREVIEW: 92nd Four-Ball Championship at Hollywood Golf Club
2024 NJSGA Championship Season Commences at Hollywood Golf Club as the 92nd Four-Ball Championship Gets Underway May 7
DEAL, N.J. - The first major championship of the 2024 New Jersey State Golf Association season is slated for May 7-9 as the 92nd Four-Ball Championship is en route to Hollywood Golf Club.
92nd Four-Ball Championship Program
Hollywood, originally designed in 1913 by Isaac Mackie, a Scottish professional and green keeper was soon redesigned by Walter J. Travis in 1917. Over the years, Hollywood has undergone multiple remodels, a renovation and most recently a restoration of bunkers by Brian Schneider of Renaissance Golf.
Hollywood’s mesmerizing and unparalleled layout is one of Walter Travis’ most notable projects and has been the stage for multiple national championships as well as numerous NJSGA events. Among them is Kevin Foley's 2011 New Jersey Open Championship triumph by five strokes.
The course features reimagined bunkering, wide fairways, and complex greens with false fronts, multi leveled and demanding.
Inside the Field
Out of a record 262 team entries accepted, 42 advanced to the Championship Proper, including a handful of exempt players. Defending champions John Havay and Erik Diamond, who won last year at Hamilton Farm Golf Club are among the six teams who earned full exemptions.
One, 18-Hole, stroke play qualifying round will be played on Tuesday, May 7; the low 16 teams will advance to two days of Four-Ball match play on Wednesday and Thursday, May 8-9.
Spectators who wish to attend must walk. Use of carts will not be permitted.
Family Ties
While the NJSGA also hosts a Father & Son Championship, there are four father and son duos who are vying for the Four-Ball Championship.
Mike & Michael Paduano
Niall & Conor Handley
Michael & Jack Stamberger
Richard & Justin Lippert
PLAYER NOTES
A collection of notable players in the 92nd Four-Ball Championship:
Pat Wilson, 33, is in the Four-Ball field for the first time since regaining his amateur status. Coming off helping the NJSGA to a win at the 62nd Compher Cup on April 24, Wilson is paired with Marc Kunesch, 33 .Wilson's 2023 was highlighted by a Round of 16 appearance in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, a pair of top-20 finishes in the New Jersey Amateur and Open Championships and a Round of 16 appearance in the New Jersey Mid-Amateur Championship.
Austin Devereux, 25, will be competing alongside partner Mike Puorro, 40 for the second-straight season. Last year, the duo fell in the quarterfinals in 19 holes at Hamilton Farm to Beau Guarino and Zach Arsenault. Devereux, the 119th New Jersey Amateur Champion also helped lead New Jersey to a win over GAP in the Compher Cup this past April. His partner, Mike Puorro is co-host of The DROP – a podcast that talks about golf in the Garden State.
Listen to The DROP's course preview on Hollywood with Director of Instruction, Bryan Dougherty.
Corey Brigham, 43, the 2022 New Jersey Public Links Champion and 2002 New Jersey Amateur Champion is set to compete alongside Keith Ryan, 54, of Rumson Country Club. Brigham is well-versed in the Shore area, having won his Amateur Championship at Hollywood and played out of Rumson.
Michael Brown, 51, is a four-time NJSGA Champion and is looking to have yet another successful run in the town of Deal alongside partner, Peter Barron, 48. In 2022, Brown and Barron hoisted the Ridgewood Country Club Trophy at Deal Golf & Country Club just down the street from Hollywood. In 2023, Brown won the 40th Mid-Amateur Championship, also played at Deal.
The Wall brothers, Jeremy, 28 and Ethan, 29, are the lone sibling duo in the field. Jeremy is coming off a solid third place finish in the 122nd New Jersey Amateur Championship that his younger brother, Jack won at their home course. Jeremy was a semifinalist in the 40th New Jersey Mid-Amateur Championship at Deal Golf & Country Club.
Qualifying Results
Suneagles GC
NJSGA Social Media
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