Timby takes medal in Pub-Links Qualifying at Mercer Oaks
August 11, 2020 - Tom Timby of Mercer Oaks fired a three-under-par 69 to capture medalist honors at the second of three qualifying rounds for the 16th NJSGA Men’s Public Links Championship on Thursday at the par-72, 6,885-yard Mercer Oaks (East) Golf Course in West Windsor.
Timby was three strokes better than Nick Loughlin of NJSGA eClub - North and Mike McComb of Twisted Dune, who both shot even-par 72. Andrew Ward of Mercer Oaks carded a 73 for third place. Daniel Defilippo of Rutgers and Jonathan Ross of NJSGA eClub-North tied for fourth at 74.
A total of 16 golfers who shot six-over-par 78 or better qualified for the 36-hole NJSGA Public Links Championship, scheduled for August 20 at Rock Spring Club in West Orange.
Timby, 49, is a three-time Mercer County Open Champion. In 2014, he was runner-up to Jacob Stockl of Hyatt Hills in a one-hole playoff for the NJSGA Public Links Championship at Neshanic Valley.
“This is always something that I look forward to, the NJSGA Public Links, the qualifier and 36-hole final,” said Timby a resident of Sea Isle City, whose low round at Mercer Oaks (East) is 68. “Coming into this qualifier, I was hitting it well, even though I haven’t played much this summer.”
Timby’s round included four birdies against one bogey, the bogey coming on the par-5 second hole when he chunked a wedge into a bunker and failed to get up and down.
He immediately responded with a birdie on the par-4 third hole as he lofted a lob wedge to six feet. He added a birdie on the par-5 seventh hole, sinking a 15-foot putt. Timby recorded the shot of his day on the par-4 15th hole, chipping in from 40 feet for another birdie. His final birdie came on the par-4 17th hole as his 9 iron from 135 yards landed one foot from the hole.
“My plan here is always the same, avoid the fescue and try to hit the greens, and on a hot day like this, drink a lot of water,” said Timby, a former lacrosse player at St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. “I’ve played here enough times to know where to leave the ball in certain places.”
