Locals conclude play in USGA's Men's State Team Championship
UPDATED (September 31, 2016 - 4:00 p.m.) - MGA eClub - Westchester/Fairfield member Chet Hrostek led Connecticut on the final day at the Men's State Team Championship at Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala., but Michigan surged to capture top honors.
Related: Scoring
Connecticut began the day atop the leaderboard, but Michigan jumped past everyone thanks to a 5-under team score in the final round, ending at 4-over 422 for the championship. Hrostek carded a final round 73 while John Flaherty's 76 was the team's second score. The team finished at 7-over for the championship.
Trevor Randolph paced New Jersey with a final round of 1-over 72, while both Mike Stamberger and Brian Komline carded 76s en route to the team's 6-over final round and 12-over total for the championship. They tied for 15th.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATED (September 30, 2016 - 9:30 a.m.) - Under-par scores have been hard to come by in the Men's State Team Championship, but Mike Stamberger posted a 3-under 68 to quickly secure New Jersey's spot in Friday's final round at Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala. Connecticut will take a two-stroke lead into the final round, while New York missed the 21-team cut.
Related: Scoring
Connecticut has been paced by 22-year old Geoff Vartelas and 23-year old John Flaherty, while MGA eClub - Westchester/Fairfield member Chet Hrostek is the third team member.
New Jersey entered the day needing a steady round to make the 21-team cut, following a 5-over performance on day one. Stamberger's 68 led the charge as he carded five birdies on the day. Brian Komline's 75 counted as the team's second score, leaving the team just 1-over for the day and moving them into 13th position entering the final round. Trevor Randolph rounded out the team's scores with a 78. New Jersey begins play at 9 a.m., in Friday's final round.
Tyler McArdell led New York in the second round with a 4-over 75, while Stewart Hagestad tallied a 79 and Luke Hobika an 82.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATED (September 29, 2016 - 9:30 a.m.) - Play at the USGA's Men's State Team Championship continues today at Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala. Teams will be looking to advance to Friday's final round, which will feature the top 21 teams and ties following two rounds of play.
Related: Scoring
Connecticut finished day one tied for first at 2-under 140 alongside Missouri, Ohio, and reigning champion Texas. The competition is played over three days, with the two lowest scores of the three individuals counting as the team's score for the round. Though MGA eClub - Westchester/Fairfield member Chet Hrostek carded an opening round 81, his teammates Geoff Vartelas and John Flaherty posted scores of 68 and 72, respectively to lead Connecticut to the top. Connecticut will return to action beginning at 1:40 p.m. ET.
Met Amateur and U.S. Mid-Am champion Stewart Hagestad led the New York squad with a 1-over 72, while Tyler McArdell of Baldwinsville and Luke Hobika of DeWitt added matching 4-over 75s. The 5-over 147 first round total placed New York tied for 16th. Hagestad will be first off for the New York team this afternoon at 2:10 p.m. ET.
New Jersey also posted a first round total of 5-over 147, as Trevor Randolph paced the team with a 2-over 73 and Michael Stamberger added a 3-over 74. Brian Komline carded a 79. New Jersey's second round is already underway.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (September 26, 2016) – The 12th USGA Men’s State Team Championship takes place September 28-30 at Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Ala., and four Met Area competitors will be representing their respective states.
Related: Scoring | Men’s State Team Championship Homepage | Starting Times
Stewart Hagestad has been on a strong run over the last two months, claiming victory at the Met Amateur in early August and earning a thrilling victory in the U.S. Mid-Amateur in mid-September. The 25-year old New York City resident will be the lone Met Area representative on the New York State Team, which also includes Tyler McArdell of Baldwinsville and playing Captain Luke Hobika of Dewitt. In 2012 Met Area competitors Max Buckley, Mike Miller, and Joe Saladino claimed the title not far from home at Galloway National Golf Club in Galloway Township, N.J.
New Jersey’s competitors are no strangers to the State Team Championship. Trevor Randolph of Franklin Lakes served as a playing captain in 2014, while Brian Komline of Bridgewater has competed in the event three times (2007, ’10, ’12) and Mike Stamberger of Brielle has done so on four previous occasions (2003, ’09, ’12, ’14). Each have had quality seasons, with Randolph claiming titles at the Hochster Memorial, the Travis Invitational, and the NJSGA Mid-Am. Komline recently earned a victory at the Bergen County Amateur, while Stamberger won the Eagle Oaks Invitational and advanced to the quarterfinals of this year’s Met Amateur.
Finally, Chet Hrostek, an MGA eClub - Westchester/Fairfield member, will represent Connecticut. Hrostek logged a top-10 in this year's MGA Public Links Championship at Spook Rock GC, and competed in the Met Amateur.
The Men’s State Team Championship, as well as the Women’s State Team Championship, grew out of the USGA’s Centennial celebration in 1995. Starting in 2010, the USGA alternated the Men’s and Women’s State Team championships. Each state sends three players, using a 3-count-2 stroke play format. State associations are given the option to choose their teams by any method. College players are ineligible due to NCAA bylaws.
This year’s field includes 52 teams, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Teams compete in 18 holes each of the three days, with the low aggregate score (using 3-count-2) earning the title.