WESTFIELD, N.J., (May 24, 2016) - A total of 30 players qualified for the 61st Ike Championship - the MGA’s premier amateur stroke-play event - that will be played June 27 and 28 at Essex County Country Club in West Orange, N.J.

Dylan Stein of Cooper Hill earned medalist honors at today’s Sectional Qualifying Round at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, N.J.  Stein's six birdies and lone bogey added up to a 5-under 65 and separated him from the field by two strokes. 

Lawrence Haertel Jr. of Round Hill and Nicholas Rencis of Ballyowen were the only other players to score below 70, each carding rounds of 3-under 69.

Jake Mayer of Plainfield, Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol, and brothers Jack Wall and Ethan Wall of Manasquan River rounded out the top five with rounds of 2-under 70.  Jeremy Nevius of Metuchen used a strong back nine to also get into red figures at 1-under 71.

Nine players shot level-par rounds of 72 to safely advance to Essex County, including Kevin Kramarski of Blue Hill, Perry Litwin of Colts Neck, Nick Branchina of Fiddler's Elbow, Thomas Urciuoli of Baltusrol, Vincent Palazzolo of Colts Neck, John Felitto of Echo Lake, Nick Desai of Baltusrol, Dino Stathis of Metedeconk, and Zach Egermayer of White Beeches.

13 other players took the remaining qualifying positions: Christopher Troy of Stanwich, Danny Harcourt of Shackamaxon, Eric Ganshaw of Tamarack, Spencer Shih of Paramount, Sam Goldenring of Brooklake, Ryan Davis of New Jersey National, Paul Ulanich of South Shore, Paolo Matti of Plainfield West Nine, Kellen Jordan of Spring Lake, Kevin King of Plainfield, Justin Lankler of Fiddler's Elbow, Dan Macdonald of Arcola, and Thomas Lee of MGA eClub - New Jersey. 

Forecasted rain and thunderstorms held up nicely as Echo Lake played to a par 72 at 6,895 yards for the field of 145 players.

The Ike, the MGA’s stroke play championship, is a 54 hole event open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 5.0. Today’s qualifying round was the third of five qualifying rounds throughout the Met Area to determine the final field. The final two qualifying rounds will take place on June 1 at Elmwood Country Club in White Plains, N.Y. and Essex Fells Country Club in Essex Fells, N.J.