South Jersey Mid-amateur Attracts NJSGA Member Golfers
Peter Barron III of Stone Harbor won the inaugural South Jersey Golf Association Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship on Tuesday, June 30, at Burlington Country Club.
Barron shot 72 to win by four shots over Jim Engler of Sea Oaks in a field of 68 golfers. Kathy Callender of Vineyards shot 82 and won the first Women’s Mid-Amateur title at Burlington in a field of a dozen ladies.
An interesting part of the event was the addition of nearly 40 golfers who are primarily members of the New Jersey State Golf Association and were afforded the opportunity to participate in SJGA events thanks to a mutually beneficial relationship between the associations that enable members of each golf association to participate in each other’s championships. Members of the SJGA may also participate in NJSGA Member Golf Days.
NJSGA members pay a discounted rate of $15 to be able to play in any SJGA events for the 2015 season.
“Nearly half the field came from clubs that are members of the NJSGA. That is exactly what we were trying to establish when we created the partnership with the NJSGA. The golfers were ecstatic to be playing a great course like Burlington and play in a championship for a fee of only $75,” said Gail Reilly, SJGA president and executive director.
Barron, who lives in Mays Landing, was a member of the victorious NJSGA Stoddard Trophy team in 2012. He plays out of Stone Harbor. Barron won the 2014 Philadelphia Mid-Amateur the same year he qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur. He was fourth in the NJSGA Player of the Year standings in 2013.
“We decided to conduct a Mid-Amateur this year because of the need to be attractive to younger golfers,” Reilly explained. “The bulk of the SJGA membership is 60 and over. The Mid-Amateur worked out well in that regard.”
Other SJGA events that will be attractive to NJSGA members are the Senior and Pre-Senior Championship ($63 entry fee) at Greate Bay on July 27 and the SJGA Amateur at Galloway National on August 11 ($115 entry fee).
Golfers to attend the Mid-Amateur came from NJSGA member clubs such as Hendrick’s Field in Belleville, Sussex County’s Great Gorge in McAfee, Essex County in West Orange, Union County’s Galloping Hill and Ash Brook, The Knoll in Parsippany and Bergen County’s Paramus.
“Working with the NJSGA with its large membership, gives us the chance to showcase our member courses. Additionally, it gives our clubs access and awareness of the NJSGA. The strategy is to boost membership in our area and expose northern New Jersey players to our area,” said Reilly, who also was instrumental in the partnering of the organizations.
