Qualifying: 67th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship
The par-5 17th on Baltusrol's Lower Course--the first of back-to-back par-5s to close the round.
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 23, 2022) -- For the third straight season, the Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship heads to a first-time Ike host. Though Country Club of Darien and The Bridge were also welcoming their first-ever MGA majors, this year's host Baltusrol Golf Club is certainly no stranger to welcoming the MGA's biggest events. In fact, after crowning an Ike champion Baltusrol will stand as the 19th MGA member club to have hosted all three MGA majors. They previously welcomed the Met Amateur on five occasions (1908, 1912, 1997, 2006, 2015) and the Met Open twice (1908, 1988).
Those advancing to the 67th playing of the Ike will be in for a treat, with the field taking on Baltusrol's newly restored Lower Course, which is set to host the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in 2023 and the PGA Championship for the third time in 2029.
Related: Ike History | Ike Records | MGA Championship Preview
The Met Area's premier stroke play championship has produced exciting storylines in recent years, from Cameron Young's back-to-back wins in 2015 and 2016 and Matt Lowe's record-setting final round 61 in 2017 to Michael Graboyes' birdie-birdie close at Meadow Brook in 2018 and Mark Costanza's thrilling eagle chip-in that earned him the one-shot win at Darien in 2020. Last year, Matt Fields of Quaker Ridge claimed the victory in what was a challenging final day of competition on the windswept layout at The Bridge.
Qualifying for the Ike takes place at six qualifying sites between May 23 and June 13.
May 23 - Bellport Golf Club, Bellport, N.Y.
Ryan Rittberger of Garden City, Eric Bleile of Sterling Farms and David Larado of Pelham all tied for low scores of the day, carding rounds of 1-under par. In total, 18 players qualified with scores of 2-over par or better, advancing to Baltusrol.
Results
May 23 - Panther Valley Golf & Country Club, Allamuchy, N.J.
Seven players shared medalist honors at even-par, with Barnes Blake of Ike host Baltusrol and 2013 Met Amateur champion and 2015 U.S. Open qualifier Pat Wilson of Hamilton Farm among those to fire 71s. MGA eClub - New Jersey member Spencer Weiner, Ryan Coughlin of Westchester, Thomas McCarthy of Essex County, Connor Bekefi of Manasquan River and Rhys Burgess of Darlington all carded 71s as well, leading the group of 17 players that carded rounds of 3-over 74 or better to advance to Baltusrol.
Results
May 24 - Hollow Brook Golf Club, Cortlandt, N.Y.
Ivy League Men's Golf Player of the Year Nathan Han of Salem Golf Club earned medalist honors behind a 3-under 68, leading 17 total qualifiers to Baltusrol. Han, a former back-to-back winner of the MGA/MetLife Boys' Championship now competing at Columbia, turned in a bogey-free card on a layout that demands precision throughout. Jack Woods of Ridgewood (Conn.) and Adam Friedman of Sterling Farms Men's Club turned in the only other sub-par rounds with 2-under 69 and 1-under 70, respectively.
Results
May 31 - Fiddler's Elbow Country Club (Forest), Bedminster, N.J.
Cole Ekert of Fairmount led the way as the only player to shoot even par while battling hot conditions at Fiddler's Elbow. Two birdies in the last four holes matched Ekert's two bogey's earlier in the back nine and dropped his score back down to even par to end with a 72. No players were able to finish under par as the challenging heat made for a challenging day. Eighteen players qualified total, with scores of 4-over 76 and better.
Results
June 13 - North Fork Country Club, Cutchogue, N.Y.
Liam White of The Ridgewood Country Club led all golfers at North Fork, shooting 2-under 69. White started off the day with a birdie on the first hole and he birdied twice on the back nine helping him to his medal score. Winds picked up as the day went on to challenge the field, with 18 players advancing to Baltusrol with scores of 2-over 73 or better.
Results
June 13 - Country Club of Otterkill, Campbell Hall, N.Y.
Jack Maerki of Lido carded a 4-under 68, using six birdies and four on his inward nine to lead the way. In all, six players shot sub-par rounds, with 15 players advancing to Baltusrol behind scores of 1-over 73 or better.
Results