Mactas Leads Field at Leewood
EASTCHESTER, N.Y. (May 28, 2015) – Leewood Golf Club in Eastchester, N.Y., hosted the first of five Sectional Qualifying Rounds for the 60th Ike Championship, the MGA’s premiere stroke play event. A total of 20 players qualified from a starting field of 147, led by Jared Mactas of Paramount.
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The 2012 Carter Cup champion carded a 4-under 66 to take home medalist honors and earn a spot in the championship at Friar’s Head on June 29 & 30.
Not far behind was CJ Swift of MGA eClub – Westchester/Fairfield with a 3-under 67. Swift, a New Canaan, Conn., resident, competed in the 2012 U.S. Amateur.
At an even 70, Michael Rojas of White Beeches, John Jackopsic of MGA eClub – Westchester/Fairfield, and Peter Chin of MGA eClub – Westchester/Fairfield all earned a spot in the final field as well.
2014 Boys Champion Brent Ito of the Met PGA Junior Golf Club qualified with a 1-over 71. Ito participated in the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach last year alongside Champions Tour professional Stephen Ames.
James Nicholas of Westchester will move on to Friar’s Head with a 2-over 72. Nicholas recently committed to Yale, where he’ll compete for the Bulldogs in both golf and football.
Also at a 2-over 72, James McHugh of Rye GC, Martin Jensen of Siwanoy and David Weisfeld of Hudson National all earned qualifying spots.
Rounding out the players that will compete at Friar’s Head are as follows: Chris Eskierski of Met PGA Junior Golf Club (73), Erik Jaffe of James Baird GC (73), Jason Monroe of Fenway (74), Herrol Pryce of Baychester (73), Brian Williams of Winged Foot (74), Andrew Kaskel of Quaker Ridge (74), Scott Sessions of Knollwood (74), Doug Saidenberg of Metropolis (74), Christopher White of Garden City GC (74), and Mike Shine of Minisceongo (74).
Leewood played to a par 70 at 6,349 yards in warm and humid conditions today. Play was briefly interrupted due to lightning in the area during the afternoon round.
The MGA will conduct a total of five qualifiers throughout the Met Area to determine the final field for the 60th Ike Championship. This 54-hole stroke play event is open to amateurs with a Handicap Index of 5.0 or below. Friar’s Head in Riverhead, N.Y., one of the top courses in the nation, will be a challenging and terrific host course for the championship proper in late June.
