31 Golfers Advance from 105th Amateur Qualifier at Mahopac
Mahopac, N.Y. (June 6, 2024) - Michael Kennedy of MGA eClub Connecticut led the field at the 105th Westchester Amateur qualifiers at Mahopac Golf Club, leading all 31 qualifying athletes to the championship at Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. The reigning, defending back-to-back champion Ryan Coughlin of Westchester Country Club once again owns the top seed heading into match play. An emphatic playoff finish amongst a multitude of qualifiers left all in attendance hungry for more. That hunger will be satisfied come the 105th Westchester Amateur championship.
Related: Results
Steady Kennedy strikes in Mahopac. The 39-year-old golfer birdied 3 holes and parred the rest on his way to the top qualifying spot carding a 3-under 67. No bogies, no double-bogies and no mishaps. Kennedy just barely eclipsed Tommy Mangan of Apawamis Club and Aiden McDermott of MGA eClub Hudson Valley on the leaderboard. By one to be exact. At just 18-years-old, Mangan, the Boston College golfer, represents collegiate athletics in a leaderboard. Mangan’s bogie-less back nine pushed him into the day's top two.
McDermott forced the issue with two birdies on his final two holes to tie Mangan for that second qualifying spot - the embodiment of ice in his veins. Tyler Vitolo of Golf Performance Center and Eric Terminello of Knollwood Country Club tied for fourth shooting 1-under 69. Terminello eagled par 5 hole seven on his way to a 4-under 31 front nine.
Next came a four way tie for sixth amongst Connor Belcastro of Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Al Tenembaum of Manhattan Woods Golf Club, Marko Kazanjian of Hudson National Golf Club and Jackson Fretty of Greenwich Country Club who all scored even-par 70. Belcastro, the winner of the 77th Conneticut Junior Ametur Championship, looks to build upon his championship pedigree. Champion of juniors to champion of it all (at the Amateur level), what a story it would be.
Rounding out the top ten, Michael Karger of Century Country Club, Raymond Greco of MGA eClub Connecticut and Steven Lee of Westchester Country Club all carded 1-over 71. 53-year-old Karger was the oldest golfer to place in the top ten, ensuring a generational representation at the 105th championship.
In an 11-for-4 playoff to close out a long, long day, Andrew Flynn of Patterson Club, James O'Connor of Pelham Country Club, Ben Dunstan of MGA eClub Hudson Valley, Joseph Capano of Leewood Golf Club and Dave Larado of Pelham Country Club fought for an earned the final qualifying spots.
The weather horn went off at 5:38 p.m., signaling for all golfers to evacuate the golf course. Play resumed within the hour at 6:30.
The 105th Westchester Amateur Championship lands at Tamarack. The elite of the elite within Westchester golf square off in match play for a chance at hardware.