Tenembaum, Budny & Hart are tri-medalists in Mid-Amateur Qualifying at Peddie
HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY - 26 players qualified for the 38th NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship Thursday afternoon at the par-72, 6,278 yard Peddie Golf Club in Hightstown, New Jersey. Three players shot one-under par 71 to pace the 141-player field; Rockland Country Club’s Al Tenembaum, Metedeconk National Golf Club’s Vince Budny, and Deal Golf and Country Club’s Brian Hart. The top-23 and ties (four-over par 76 and better) qualified for the championship, which is scheduled to be played June 6-8 at Metedeconk National G.C. in Jackson Township.
Starting his round on the 10th tee, Tenembaum birdied the first two holes and made the turn at two-under par. During an up-and-down second nine, Tenembaum battled midday wind gusts to finish with a 71. He was the first player in the field to post a score under par. “I hit the driver well,” Tenembaum said. “It’s a short course, so I was a little aggressive, and it left me with some short shots into the greens.”
Metedeconk National’s Vince Budny also shot a one-under 71. Playing for the opportunity to compete at his home course, Budny rebounded from a bogey-bogey start to finish his round under par. “I’ve been at [Metedeconk] a long time. I’m just excited that I punched my ticket. Hopefully I represent the club well.”
Deal Golf and Country Club’s Brian Hart used a scintillating second nine to force a three-way split of the medalist position. Hart made the turn at 2-over par, but rallied and made birdie in four of his first five holes on the back-nine. “I stayed patient,” Hart said. “I got off to a slow start, but I knew the front-nine was the tougher of the two nines. I knew there were going to be more birdie opportunities on the back-nine, and I hit a lot of good shots coming in.”
Rumson Country Club’s Jack Skirkanich and Little Mill Country Club’s Dan Keenan shot twin even-par 72s to round out the top-five. Keenan was two-over par after 14 holes, but made a pair of birdies down the stretch to secure his place in the championship. Skirkanich made 10 pars, en route to his 35-37-72.
The second of two Mid-Am qualifiers is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 at Metuchen Golf and Country Club. The top-23 and ties from Metuchen’s qualifier will earn placement into the championship. Those qualifiers will join these 26 qualifiers and 13 exempt golfers in the championship field at Metedeconk National.
