Neshanic Valley Set to Host 72nd MGA Public Links
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 12, 2019) – Neshanic Valley Golf Course on Thursday, June 13 will host the 72nd playing of the MGA Public Links Championship. A field of 69 competitors will vie for the nation’s oldest public links championship, with Neshanic Valley welcoming the event for the first time since 2007.
Related: Pairings | Public Links History | Public Links Records
Defense Time
Jonathan Jeter of Nassau Players Club blitzed the field in 2018, winning the title by a record nine shots at Griffith E. Harris Golf Course in Greenwich, Conn. Jeter, who has already finished as runner-up in the Richardson Memorial and advanced to the semifinals of the Havemeyer, will aim to become the first repeat winner since Mark Farrell (2005-06). Jeter is joined by 2004 winner Jason Bataille of host club Neshanic Valley as the only past champions in the field.
Steady Form
Nick Dilio of The Links at Union Vale enters the championship following an impressive stretch of play. Dilio claimed the Westchester Public Links title to advance to Neshanic Valley, then earned medalist honors in Ike qualifying at St. George’s Golf and Country Club the very next day. In recent weeks he also qualified for the 100th Westchester Amateur Championship and earlier this week made the cut in the Westchester Open. Dilio has previously finished third (2013), tied fifth (2016), and tied sixth (2017) in the championship.
Medalist Momentum
In addition to Dilio, medalists from the four other sites will aim to carry momentum to Neshanic Valley. Jason Zaretsky of Douglaston, Mike Marotta of South Shore, and Tadhg O’Connor all posted 1-under 71s at Marine Park, as did Chester Patterson of Darlington at his own course. Shawn Blandine of Black Bear separated himself from the field at Timber Point with a 4-under 68—seven shots better than his next closest competitor—while Gary Cohan of Bethpage rounded out medalists with a 2-over 74 at Spring Lake.
Others to Watch
The field includes a long list of players to keep an eye on for title contention, including rising Binghamton senior Ryan Rodriguez of The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge; last year’s runner-up Rob Pepi of Nassau Players Club; MGA eClub – Long Island member Chris Lambrou, who advanced to match play at this year’s Richardson Memorial; 2018 U.S. Amateur qualifier Gray Barnes; as well as frequent MGA competitors Marc Coleman and David Segot, both of Nassau Players.
Format
- One day, 36 holes of stroke play
- Field determined from five local qualifiers throughout the Met Area
- Open to competitors with a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 8.0
Neshanic Valley Golf Course
- A Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry design that opened in 2004
- 27-hole facility, with the Lake and Meadows nines serving as the championship course
- Hosted the 2012 USGA Women’s Public Links
- Layout spreads across 350 acres of rolling farmland
Coverage
- 9- and 18-hole updates for the first round and additional updates during the final round
- Social Media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates throughout the day; additional content on Facebook and Instagram
- Scoring, recaps, interviews, and photos on mgagolf.org