ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 22, 2026) – The 99th MGA Senior Amateur marks the MGA’s first individual championship of the season, as the region’s top players aged 55 and above head to Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, N.Y., May 27-28.
Related: Pairings | History | Records | Past Champions Gallery
Though several weeks later than its typical playing, it’s well worth the wait as the championship heads to Meadow Brook Club for the first time, just nine months after the club hosted the Met Open last August. The always-popular event seemed to draw even more interest, quickly building a waiting list upon registration opening.
After an exciting Met Open finish where David Pastore completed his MGA Major slam, the layout will surely provide another memorable finish for the Senior Amateur. Last year, Alan Specht earned a four-shot victory at Metedeconk National Golf Club, his first MGA victory since a win in the 1990 MGA Public Links Championship. Other recent highlights include Dennis Lynch winning in both 2022 and 2024, and Ken Bakst making three birdies over his final six holes to win at Baiting Hollow.
Past Champions in the Field:
Alan Specht, Port Jefferson CC at Harbor Hill, 2025
Roddy McRae, Baltusrol – 2021
Ned Zachar, GlenArbor – 2020
Adam Kugler, MGA eClub – NYC, 2018
John Ervasti, Sleepy Hollow – 2011
Back-to-Back
Specht has the opportunity to become just the sixth player in championship history to win the Senior Amateur in back-to-back years. George Zahringer was the last to do so, winning 2015 and 2016.
Home Game
Just like at last year’s Met Open, the host club of Meadow Brook will be well represented in the field by its members, with seven players looking to have a strong home-club showing: Robert Codignotto, Bill Collins, Don Hendler, David Mattana, Dave Scialabba, Peter Van Ingen, and Stephen Worth.
Winning Momentum
Meadow Brook’s Scialabba already has two victories on the young season, claiming the senior division title in both the Richardson Memorial Invitational at Wheatley Hills and the Travis Invitational at Garden City Golf Club. The last player to win the title at their home club was Allan Small in 2017 at Fairmount.
Defending champion Specht and David Boccia of Huntington Country Club both have victories this season as well, with Specht taking the senior title in the Havemeyer Invitational at Southward Ho and Boccia last week winning the senior title in the Glen Head Classic.
Top-10s
Scialabba has been one of the most consistent competitors in the MGA Senior Amateur in recent years, logging seven top 10s in the last eight playings. He had four consecutive top-10 finishes from 2018-21 and has been in the top 10 the last three years, including a runner-up finish at GlenArbor and a tie for third last year at Metedeconk National. Meanwhile, past champion Zachar has also been a leaderboard mainstay, compiling six top 10s in the same span.
MGA Presidents, Past and Present, in the Field
Ned Zachar, GlenArbor – 2025-26
Tod D. Pike, Apawamis – 2019-20
Stephen F. Boyd, Baltusrol – 2015-16
Donald J. Hendler, Meadow Brook – 2005-06
New to the Ranks
The field welcomes new players each year as they reach the 55-year old age of eligibility for the championship. Nine players will make their championship debut at the age of 55 this year, including 2013 MGA Mid-Amateur champion Michael Karger of Century, and Gerard Connolly of Eisenhower Park, who in 2021 won the MGA Father & Son with his son Philip.
Format
• Ages 55 and over
• Two days, 36 holes of stroke play
• Field cut to the low 40 scores and ties (and anyone within five shots of the lead) following 18 holes
Meadow Brook Club
• A founding member of the MGA and a longtime supporter of local championship golf
• Host of three Met Amateurs (1947, ’60, ’87), three Ikes (1997, 2003, ’18), and three Met Opens (1977, 2007, ’25)
Coverage
• Scoring updates will be available throughout the championship
• Social media: @MGA1897 on X and Instagram, plus additional content on Facebook
• Scoring, recaps and more on mgagolf.org
