Field Set For 90th MGA Senior Am
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (April 27, 2017) – The Metropolitan Golf Association, now in its 120th year, begins its championship season May 2-3 at Fairmount Country Club in Chatham, N.J., with the 90th MGA Senior Amateur Championship. As one of the MGA’s most popular events, the season-opening championship includes a deep field of the area’s top senior competitors and is sure to provide an exciting beginning to the 2017 calendar of competitions.
Related: Pairings | Senior Am History | Senior Am Records
George Zahringer III of Deepdale Eyes Three-Peat
The 17-time MGA champion is looking to join J. Wolcott Brown (1967-69) as the only golfer to claim the MGA Senior Amateur in three consecutive years. A win would also make Zahringer III just the sixth three-time champion in the event’s history.
Past Champions Contending
This year’s field contains seven past champions, including three-time victor and eClub – NYC member Steve Rose (2003, 2005, 2010); two-time champions Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge (2007, 2014), Ron Vannelli of Forsgate (2012, 2008), and Zahringer III (2015-2016); in addition to John Ervasti of Sleepy Hollow (2011), Allan Small of Fairmount (2009), and Ned Steiner of Mountain Ridge (2000).
Local Knowledge
Past champion Allan Small, who is also a five-time winner of the NJSGA Senior Amateur, will aim to use the familiarity of his home course to claim another victory. Small is a 31-time club champion at Fairmount, including both match and stroke play.
Depth of Field
There is no shortage of accomplished players in the field, with many looking for their first MGA Senior Amateur title. Among those to watch include 1997 U.S. Mid-Am champion Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head, 2009 and 2010 MGA Mid-Am champion Dennis Lynch of Nassau Players (who finished second in 2016), eClub – Long Island member Ed Gibstein (tied third last year), David Prowler of Bethpage who logged top-three finishes in both 2014 and 2015, and longtime MGA competitor Tom Yellin of The Stanwich Club.
Pinehurst Prep
Jay Sessa of Gardiners Bay and Don Enga of Cherry Valley will compete in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Pinehurst later this month, but first have their sights on individual success in the MGA Senior Am. Both notched top-10 finishes last season at Huntington, finishing fifth and tied eighth, respectively.
Format
- Ages 55 and over
- Two days, 36 holes of stroke play
- Field cut to low 40 scores & ties (and anyone within five shots of the lead) following 18 holes
Fairmount Country Club
- Opened in 1962, designed by Hal Purdy
- Well-known for its greens, which feature a variety of mounds and contours
- Tree-lined fairways place emphasis on accuracy
- Hosted the LPGA Tour’s Chrysler-Plymouth Classic in 1985 and 1986
- Last hosted an MGA event in 2014, the Men’s Four-Ball
- Has also hosted the Met Junior (2011), Father & Son (2010), and Mixed Pinehurst (2000)
Coverage
- 9 and 18-hole updates for Tuesday’s first round
- Live hole-by-hole scores for the majority of groups during Wednesday’s final round
- Social Media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates through the day; additional content on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat
- Scoring, recaps, interviews and photos on mgagolf.org