Skirkanich, Perrotta and Kahn Capture Respective South Jersey Cup Titles
SOMERS POINT, N.J. – It took 18 holes and four playoff holes to determine the champion, but Jack Skirkanich came out on top to win the Men’s Amateur portion of the 4th South Jersey Cup. On the women’s side, Samantha Perrotta of Bordentown captured her third consecutive title, turning in a 3-under par 67 at Greate Bay Country Club on Wednesday afternoon.
The playoff, which consisted of Skirkanich, Ryan Cass and JC Boggs who all shot 2-over par 72 was lengthy. On the first playoff hole, No. 1, the trio all knocked in pars. It was on the second hole, a 398-yard par 4, where Boggs was eliminated as he hit one out of bounds while Skirkanich and Cass carded pars.
The duo went another two holes before a champion was decided. Skirkanich carded a birdie while Cass turned in a par on No. 1 to clinch the cup.
“I had never played here before, so I think expectations were low,” explained Skirkanich. “I just wanted to come down and just have some fun. It was a beautiful day on a really, really fun golf course.”
Last year, Skirkanich fell in a playoff to Evan Danchenka at Atlantic City Country Club.
“Today was just a really steady day,” Skirkanich continued. “I didn't do anything fancy, but stayed out of my own way and stayed calm and I was able to sneak it out there at the end.”
The 40-year-old won the championship all while using a friend’s driver after breaking his Tuesday afternoon. His friend? Former New Jersey Open Champion and current rising PGA Tour star, Chris Gotterup. The fellow Rumson Country Club member lent him a spare driver, which helped lead him to a victory on the 6,654-yard par 70.
“I have to give him (Gotterup) some shop credit,” Skirkanich joked of his winnings.
The victory also earned him an exemption into the 2023 New Jersey Amateur Championship, which will be held at Manasquan River Country Club.
For Perrotta, who is coming off an appearance at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, carded five birdies and just two bogeys.
“I hit it well today,” said Perrotta. “I finally didn’t turn pars into bogeys and turned bogeys into pars.”
In the senior division, Ed Kahn of Little Mill Country Club carded an even par round to outwork the field by two strokes. This marked his second NJSGA Championship. Earlier in the season, Kahn won the Senior Four-Ball Championship alongside Chris DeSana.
“I think for the most part, keeping it in play off the tee and hitting some nice irons in the greens and most of all, making some key putts,” Kahn said of his solid play.
Proceeds from the event will fund the Gail Reilly Scholarship Program which awards scholarships to deserving male and female golfers that is attending college. Reilly was a former president of the defunct South Jersey Golf Association, which conducted tournaments in southern New Jersey from 1946-2018.
In the Net Divisions, Barb Volpe came out on top with a 7-under par 63 to win that portion. Kahn also went on to win the Men's Senior Net Stableford with 40 points.
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