CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (October 16, 2007) – The inaugural MGA Mid-Amateur Championship is in the books, and there were two winners on yet another brilliant fall day at Hudson National Golf Club. First-round leader Mike Reardon of the Tuxedo Club never fell out of first place in the 36-hole stroke play championship, shooting a one-over-par 72 today to win his first career MGA title with a two-round total of 141. Reardon was in control of his game, recovering from a bogey-double bogey start to shoot two-under the rest of the way and cruise to a three-stroke victory over Greg Rohlf of Winged Foot, the 2007 Met Amateur champion. Ed Gibstein of Engineers finished alone in third place with a seven-over 149 total.

At the awards ceremony immediately following the completion of play, MGA president Les Schupak presented Reardon with the Westmoreland Cup, the permanent MGA Mid-Amateur trophy named after MGA Tournament Director Gene Westmoreland. The naming of the trophy was a secret hatched in a recent meeting of the MGA Executive Committee, and the dozens of players, officials and MGA staff treated Westmoreland to a rousing standing ovation as he learned of the surprise honor.    

“This is very special. You try not to think about that out there, but it’s wonderful to win the first-ever MGA Mid-Amateur and to have it be the year that Gene is the honoree and to win an MGA event,” said Reardon. “I’ve been playing pretty well and have been working mostly on my attitude. I’ve been working on my confidence and to avoid the little distractions out there and keep focused.”

Reardon began the day with a two-stroke lead over Rohlf, and the longtime friends and competitors were paired together in the last group. Both players made the turn in three-over 39, allowing Reardon to maintain his lead heading to the back nine, which had played nearly two strokes easier than the front. “I got off to that bad start and my goal was to get it back to even [par],” said Reardon. He nearly achieved that goal, as he birdied the 12th and 14th holes and stretched his lead to three strokes after Rohlf three-putted the par-four 15th hole. Both players made pars in from that point to preserve the final outcome. 

The quality of play in the first-ever MGA Mid-Amateur Championship, and the outstanding setting at the 6,835-yard, par-71 Hudson National layout, are both indicative of the high caliber of championships the MGA has been known for since Westmoreland took over as Tournament Director 26 years ago. MGA president Schupak said afterward, “The MGA would not be what it is today without the many contributions Gene has made, and naming this trophy in his honor is just a small and lasting way for us to recognize all that he has done and to say thank you.”

The inaugural MGA Mid-Amateur Championship is the first new tournament on the MGA schedule in 11 years, since the MGA Senior Open debuted in 1996. Competitors must have reached their 35th birthday by October 15, 2007 and met a number of other competitive criteria to gain an invitation to the championship. With the renaming of the trophy, all future winners of the MGA Mid-Amateur will take home the cherished Westmoreland Cup. Next year’s MGA Mid-Amateur Championship will take place at Bayonne Golf Club in Bayonne, New Jersey. 

Hudson National, which hosted the 2001 Met Amateur and 2004 Met Open, provided a stunning backdrop for the first-ever playing of the MGA Mid-Amateur. The Tom Fazio-designed layout unfolds over a series of hills that are currently blanketed with fall foliage.

For more information on the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship, contact Gene Westmoreland or Greg Midland at 914-347-4653.