Three Players Lead at 3-under at 18th MGA Senior Open at Alpine
DEMAREST, N.J. (August 25, 2014) - The morning wave is complete at the 18th MGA Senior Open at Alpine Country Club and a trio of players lead the field at 3-under par.
Co-Greens Chairman at Alpine Country Club Adam Kugler is among those who fired a 3-under 69. The amateur made three birdies and 15 pars for one of the steadiest rounds of the day to grab a share of the lead. The course knowledge certainly helped.
“You have to putt very conservatively here,” Kugler said. “You can’t be aggressive. I’ve played here so many times, so I’m pretty comfortable here.”
Matching Kugler’s round of 3-under were two professionals, Gary Ostrega of Hyatt Hills and Rick Vershure of Quaker Ridge. Ostrega was even with two holes to play, when he eagled the par 4 317-yard 17th hole and followed it up with a birdie on the par 5 18th. While Vershure had no eagles, his round featured five birdies and it was all thanks to the putter.
“The best thing I had going was that I putted great,” Vershure said. “I didn’t hit the ball particularly well, I drove it terribly, but I hit a lot of good wedge shots and short irons and I putted great.” After a 1-over start, Vershure bounced back with two straight birdies on his third and fourth holes. “That kind of set me straight,” he said.
Right behind the leaders at 2-under is a pair of past champions. Two-time MGA Senior Open Champ and three-time Met Open Champ Darrel Kestner of Deepdale carded one of the 2-under 70 rounds. Kestner was 1-over through 13 holes, but rebounded with three birdies in his last five holes. 2006 MGA Senior Open Champ Bill Britton of Trump – Colts Neck also fired a 2-under 70 thanks to an excellent finish. Britton was even par heading to the 18th tee (par 5 9th at Alpine) and walked away with an eagle to shoot up the leaderboard.
Still very much in the tournament are a number of players at even par. The following shot rounds of 72 and are tied for 6th: (a) Edward Gibstein of Engineers, Bobby Heins of Old Oaks, Ed Whitman of Knickerbocker, David Young of Sleepy Hollow, Gregory Hurd of North Hempstead, and Michael Summa of Stanwich.
Continue following the live 9 and 18 hole scoring at the 18th MGA Senior Open by clicking here.
