Long Island Open Heads to Nassau
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 1, 2018) – The Long Island Golf Association is set to crown its first champion of the season, as a full field of 144 competitors will vie for the Long Island Open Championship, June 5-7, at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y.
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Several past champions, including the winner from each of the last 10 playings, headline the deep field of professionals and amateurs. J.D. Guiney of Piping Rock aims to be the first player to claim the title in back-to-back years since Michael Meehan did so in 2008-09. Meehan of Old Westbury, a three-time champion who also won in 2012, is also in the field and already owns a title this season having won the Met PGA Long Island Match Play Championship. Jimmy Hazen of St. George’s (2014, 2016), Matt Dobyns (2011, 2013) and Bob Rittberger of Garden City Golf Club are all seeking their third title in the championship. Jim Farrell of Hamlet, winner in 2015, rounds out the past champions in the field.
Three-time Met Open champion Mark Brown of Tam O’Shanter, Rob Corcoran of Poxabogue, Anthony Aruta of North Shore, Jason Caron of Mill River, 2017 Met Open champion Josh Rackley of Tam O’Shanter, and Web.com Tour competitor and Engineers assistant Andrew Svoboda stand among the many professionals capable of capturing the title.
Reigning LIGA Player of the Year and 2016 Long Island Amateur champion Darin Goldstein of Noyac leads a strong contingent of amateur competitors aiming to build on their LIGA resumes. Fellow former Long Island Amateur champions Hunter Semels of North Hempstead (2003, 2010) and Matthew Lowe of Colonial Springs (2013), and now professional Tim Rosenhouse are also in the field.
The Long Island Open is returning to Nassau Country Club for the eighth time, making its first appearance at the club since 1991. The historic club dates back to 1896, with names like Jerry Travers and Alex Smith engrained in its history. Nassau has stood out on the national stage, hosting the U.S. Amateur in 1903 and U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1914 and 2014—just two years after its green complexes were rebuilt. The challenging layout is sure to help decide a worthy Long Island Open champion.
Scoring updates will be available online, with 9- and 18- hole updates over the first two rounds of play. Following 36 holes, a cut will be made to the top 40 players and ties. A number of groups will have live hole-by-hole scores during the final round of play.