Forsgate to Host Callaway MGA Senior Open
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 27, 2017) – The Met Area’s top professionals and amateurs aged 50 and older are set to take on the Banks Course at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, N.J., August 28-29, in the 21st Callaway MGA Senior Open.
Related: Pairings | Senior Open History | Senior Open Records
The Field
This year’s field contains 101 competitors, 59 professionals and 42 amateurs. The growing popularity of the Senior Open led to the addition of a sectional qualifier in 2013. This year, 45 competitors qualified from play at Leewood Golf Club in Eastchester, N.Y.
Past Champions
A total of 10 past champions are in the field at Forsgate, including winners of the last nine titles. Several have continued their winning ways this season, as Craig Thomas of Metropolis (2013) won the Met PGA Senior Match Play Championship, and Bill Britton of Trump National – Colts Neck (2006) won the NJ Senior PGA Professional Championship.
Jim McGovern of White Beeches (2016), Mark Milke of Oyster Bay, N.Y. (2015), amateur Adam Kugler of Alpine (2014), Peter Busch of Galloping Hill (2012), Mike Burke of Montammy (2011), John Ervasti of Sleepy Hollow (2010), Bobby Heins of Old Oaks (2008, 2009), and third-place finisher in last year’s championship Ed Whitman of Knickerbocker (2004) are all in the field.
The Open Double
Last year at Brooklawn, McGovern became the seventh past Met Open champion to win the Senior Open. Mark Brown of Tam O’Shanter is looking to add to that list, as the three-time Met Open champion is competing in the Senior Open for the first time.
Met Open Momentum
A pair of players are looking to carry momentum into the Senior Open following strong performances in last week’s Met Open at Hollywood. Mark McCormick of Suburban led senior finishers at Hollywood, tying for 10th at 1-under. Meanwhile, 2017 NJPGA/NJSGA Senior Open winner Frank Esposito of host Forsgate finished tied for 26th at 3-over.
Home Course Advantage
Esposito isn’t the only competitor looking to use home-course knowledge to his advantage in the Senior Open. Amateur and five-time MGA champion Ron Vannelli, Bob Kave, and amateur John O’Malley are also in the field representing Forsgate.
Top Amateurs
Ervasti and Kugler are the lone amateurs to have won the Senior Open. Those looking to add to that list include last year’s low amateur who tied for fifth Dennis Lynch of Nassau Players, and Nick Desai of Baltusrol who is making is in his first year of eligibility for the championship.
Format
- Ages 50 and over
- Two days, 36 holes of stroke play
- Field cut to low 40 scores & ties (and anyone within five shots of the lead) following 18 holes
Coverage
- 9 and 18-hole updates for Monday’s first round
- Live hole-by-hole scores for the majority of groups during Tuesday’s final round
- Social Media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates through the day; additional content on Facebook and Instagram
- Scoring, recaps, interviews and photos on mgagolf.org