Tyler Hall Shoots 65, Is First Back-to-back State Open Champion In 20 Years

It took Tyler Hall of Upper Montclair only four holes to separate himself from second day co-leader amateur Jeremy Nevius of Metuchen and once he did, he was on his way to becoming the first repeat champion of the New Jersey State Golf Association Open Championship in 20 years.

Hall, 34, followed his birdie at the par-4 No. 4 with birdies at Nos. 6 and 7, and following his only bogey on No. 9 due to an unplayable lie, he rallied with four more birdies on his final nine holes for a six-under-par 65 that punctuated a seven-shot victory in the 96th State Open at par-71, 6,608-yard Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth on Wednesday, July 13.The event was sponsored by Lincoln Motor Cars. For the second straight year, Hall won the first-place $15,000 of the $75,000 total prize money

Hall’s three-day total of 15-under-par 64-69-65-198 propelled him to an easy seven-stroke victory over young pro Alexander Hicks of Stone Harbor (70-69-66-205) and was one of the finest showings ever in the event . The seven-shot margin matched his victory margin of 2015 when he won at Rockaway River.

The last player to win back-to-back was four-time champion Ed Whitman of Knickerbocker who did it in 1995-96. Galloping Hill was the first public venue to host the State Open since 1930 and it showed well with Hall saying, “There is no better golf course in the State of New Jersey.” The 20-year stretch between repeat champions is the longest in the history of the event and Hall as the 12th to do repeat. Before Hall, defending champions Frank Esposito and Mac Greyserman both finsiged runner-up the next year.

PHOTO GALLERY FINAL LEADERBOARD

Third place went to pro Brent Studer of Metedeconk National (71-67-68-206), followed by Nevius (65-68-74-207) and pro Richard Terga of Mountain Ridge (70-67-68-207). Next were pros Frank Esposito of Forsgate (70-70-70-210), a two-time champion, and Alex Beach of Ridgewood (74-68-68-210).

Some 136 players (65 professional, 61 amateur) started on Monday, July 11, in the 54-hole, stroke-play tournament over the par-71, 6,845-yard renovated venue and after Tuesday’s second round, the field was cut to the lowest 50 scorers plus ties for the final round.

“I actually felt as comfortable on a golf course as I can honestly remember. There were no nerves at any point. There was no tension. I made one mistake with an unplayable lie, but once I made a birdie early and he missed a birdie putt, I was able to get some more birdies and put the throttle down,” said Hall, a native of Wayne who spent 10 years on the PGA Tour mini-tour circuit before returning home last summer.

Hall nearly holed out from a bunker on the 18th hole for an eagle, but settled for a 65, one short of the course record he set in the first round on July 11.

Hall dedicated the victory to his dad, Larry, a former head professional at Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, who is in the process of overcoming health issues. Larry Hall remembered leading the 1977 State Open at Navesink by two shots with five holes to play, before losing to Mike Stubblefield.

“Early on, I thought of this as match play,” said Tyler Hall, who was tied after two rounds with Nevius, a Campbell University rising senior, at nine-under-par.

“And I also knew there were some really good pros out here who could get hot. But if I could keep in red numbers today, nobody could catch that,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to repeat as champion, but whenever I show up I want to win.”

Last year Hall lost an opportunity to win the Met Open. He opened a six-stroke lead before losing in a playoff.

A week ago, he played at practice round at Galloping Hill and shot 78. But a year ago, he had shot a 69 to earn medalist honors at State Open qualifying at Galloping Hill.

He said getting used to an unanchored stroke with his long putter this year due to the USGA ruling against anchored putters really made a difference this week.

“I was never a great putt. I’m actually more comfortable unanchored. It took some getting used to. I like this feeling two years in a row,” Hall said. “It’s pretty awesome.”

Next week, Hall will be on the bag of his winter-time pupil in Scottsdale, internet sensation Paige Spiranic who will be playing in the ladies Scottish Open. After that, he has set his sights on winning the Met Open.

Hicks said his game came together. “I was good off the tee and really good with my wedges, which gave me good looks at birdies,” said Hicks, who graduated the College of William & Mary in 2015 and starred for the golf team.

The native of Cape May Courthouse still lives at home and is attempting to qualify for Web.com and PGA Tour events through Monday qualifiers.

Nevius, who was tied for sixth in the 2015 State Open, returns in the fall for his senior year at Campbell.

“I’ll take a lot of experience out of this. Usually when guys play well, playing with them, you try to up your game. I think I did up my game today. I just didn't roll the putts in," said Nevius, who lives in Mountainside.