Trevor Randolph Wins Met Mid-am In Record-tying Fashion
Trevor Randolph of Arcola, who won the 2014 and 2013 NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship, won his first Met championship and did it in record fashion.
Randolph notched his first-ever MGA victory at the Ninth MGA Mid-Am Championship on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as his 1-under 69 in the final round at Nassau Country Club in New York earned him a one-shot win. His two-day total of 137 (68-69) matched the lowest winning total in the young tournament’s history, also being done in 2012 and 2013.
Randolph outlasted Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake to claim victory. Both came to the 36th hole standing at 3-under-par overall, but Randolph came through with par while Stamberger missed the green with his approach from the left rough and could not get up and down to force a playoff.
Stamberger finished in solo second at 2-under 138 for the championship. New Jersey golfers Dan Levinson of Bayonne, and Nick Desai of Baltusrol, the 2015 NJSGA Pre-Senior champion, tied for eighth place.
While Randolph has been a serious challenger in numerous MGA events, including a runner-up finish in the 2013 Mid-Am, he was relieved to finally come out on top. “I got the monkey off my back, that’s for sure,” said a relieved Randolph following his win.
For Randolph, putting was key en route to the win. “My putting was really solid the whole tournament,” he reported. “Typically out here, if you have a round without a three-putt, that’s really good—and I don’t think I had a three-putt the whole tournament. So, that helped and my wedge play was fantastic.”
Both Stamberger and Randolph had it going early, with Stamberger birdieing three of his first six holes to take a two-shot lead over both Randolph and first-round leader John Ervasti of Sleepy Hollow. Stamberger kept it rolling and moved to 7-under after birdies on Nos. 9 and 10. But, Randolph remained close.
“Mike got off to such a hot start and I kind of rode his coattails for a while there,” Randolph remarked. “He was just making everything, so seeing the putts go in helped me and I stayed within striking distance.”
Randolph birdied 12 to edge closer, before both players stumbled down the stretch. Stamberger played the final six holes in 5-over, while Randolph had one miscue on the par-3 16th, which he double-bogeyed. But, with the tournament on the line, Randolph knocked his drive to the center of the fairway, spun his approach just off the front of the green and easily two-putted to claim stake to the Westmoreland Cup.
