11 Qualify for Public Links from Hudson Hills

OSSINING, N.Y. (May 22, 2018) – Qualifying for the 71st MGA Public Links Championship began Tuesday at at Hudson Hills Golf Course, where a total of 11 players advanced to the championship proper, slated for June 13 at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course in Greenwich, Conn.

Related: Results

Peter Terence Jakaitis of The Links at Union Vale led the way with a 4-under 67 on the challenging course where positioning is key to scoring well. Jakaitis used back-to-back birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 to card an even-par outward nine. An eagle-three started his inward nine on the right foot, while he added birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 and remained bogey-free over his final 12 holes.

MGA eClub - Wct/Ct member Sean Green also broke par on the day, shooting 2-under 69 with an impressive seven birdies. Despite playing the first four in 3-over-par, Green came back with five birdies over the next seven holes. He added two more bogeys on the way in, but also carded circles on Nos. 15 and 18 for the 69.

MGA eClub - Hudson Valley member Andrew Watson and Joseph Carpini followed with rounds of 2-over 73 and 3-over 74, respectively. Seven players took the remaining qualifying positions: Shkelgim Kukaj of Rockland Lake State Park and Adam Ochoa of Spook Rock Golf Club (75), Mike Fitzpatrick of Sterling Farms Mens Golf Club and Alex Melendez of Spillanes Golf Society (76), in addition to Scott Sessions and Michael Bernacchia of MGA eClub - Wch/Ct and Chris Meinke of Longshore Golf Club (77).

The course played to a par 71 at 6,323 yards. An overcast day led to intermittent showers throughout throughout play.

In all, the MGA will conduct five qualifying rounds for the 71st MGA Public Links Championship, which stands as the oldest public links championship in the country. The next takes place May 23 at Philip J. Rotella Municipal Golf Course in Thiells, N.Y.