ELMSFORD, N.Y. (September 19, 2011) - Two-time defending champion Dennis Lynch of Nassau Players Club leads an accomplished field of 76 amateurs aged 35 and older into the 5th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be held September 27 & 28 at Essex County Country Club in West Orange, N.J. After last year’s successful defense of his 2009 victory at GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, N.Y., Lynch now holds half of the Mid-Amateur titles ever contended, and can win his third in a row at Essex County.

Since its inception in 2007, the MGA Mid-Amateur has become one of the most highly anticipated events for local golfers who meet the invitation criteria. Players compete over 36 holes of stroke play, and the high-caliber host venues as well as the special camaraderie among players who have been competing against each other for a number of years give the event its unique flavor. After the first round on Tuesday, September 27, the field will be cut to the low 40 and ties, who will advance to the second round on Wednesday, September 28.

Top contenders looking to challenge Lynch for the title this year include 2011 MGA Senior Amateur and 2010 MGA Senior Open winner John Ervasti of Sleepy Hollow, who also finished as low amateur at the 2011 Met Open in August at his home club. Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol, who finished fourth in this event last year, is once again in the field and is playing well this summer, making the cut at the Met Open and qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Current MGA Vice President Jeffrey Holzschuh of Stanwich will be competing in his first MGA Mid-Amateur, on the heels of qualifying for the Met Amateur at Piping Rock in August and also for the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Other notable entrants include: 2007 MGA Mid-Amateur champion Michael Reardon of Tuxedo, 2008 champion Greg Rohlf of Winged Foot, and reigning NJSGA Mid-Amateur winner Kevin McSorley of Monmouth Golfing.

A contingent of former MGA champions can add the MGA Mid-Amateur to their already impressive list of accomplishments. Highlighting this group is George Zahringer III of Deepdale, a 10-time winner of the MGA’s Player of the Year Award and the most decorated MGA champion in history; 1996 Met Amateur champion Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head, who also won the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur; 2010 MGA/MetLife Public Links winner Brian Komline of Black Oak; 2003 Met Amateur champion Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake, who is also coming off an appearance at the U.S. Mid-Amateur; and 1994 Ike champion Ed Gibstein of Engineers.

Ervasti and Zahringer are just two of an accomplished group of senior players who also figure to be in the mix for the Mid-Amateur title. This group includes three-time MGA Senior Amateur winner Steve Rose of Fresh Meadow; 2009 MGA Senior Amateur champion Al Small of Fairmount; and 2007 MGA Senior Amateur champion Jay Blumenfeld of Mountain Ridge.

Desgined by Seth Raynor, Essex County has hosted two major MGA championships—the 1946 Met Amateur, won by Frank Strafaci, and the 1987 Ike, won by Mike Kavkal. It has also been the host site of five New Jersey Opens and 11 NJSGA Amateurs.     

The Mid-Amateur made its debut in 2007 as the first new MGA championship since the Carter Cup in 2003. The Mid-Amateur’s permanent trophy, the Westmoreland Cup, is named after longtime MGA Tournament Director Gene Westmoreland, who piloted the MGA tournament department for nearly 30 years prior to his 2008 retirement.