Jose Ramirez Wins Public Links, Sets Scoring Record
SUFFERN, N.Y. (June 13, 2024) -- A 6-under 66 in the opening round followed by a bogey-free 4-under 68 in the afternoon propelled MGA eClub - New Jersey member Jose Ramirez to a decisive victory in the 76th MGA Public Links Championship Thursday at Spook Rock Golf Course.
“Everything felt good today, to be honest,” said the 21-year-old Ramirez. “In the first round, the putter was better. In the second round, I hit the ball really well and made some putts too, but it was more consistent with the irons.”
In the morning Ramirez -- the 2023 NJCAA Division I national champion while at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa -- made six birdies, two bogeys and an eagle. Though he fired an impressive 6-under par score, it only earned him a one-shot lead over past champion Peicheng Chen of Rock Hill heading into the afternoon.
To begin his second round of the day, Ramirez went out in 34 with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6. He ran into some trouble on the par-5 15th, leaving himself a lengthy putt to keep momentum going.
“I tried to stay relaxed and focus on the next shot all the time,” said Ramirez. “We made the putt to save the par, and that kept me going for sure.”
Ramirez, who will continue his collegiate career at Witchita State in the fall, capped his exceptional day with a kick-in birdie on 18. He finished the championship at 10-under par, four shots clear of the field. His 36-hole score of 134 set a new record for lowest winning score, besting Carl Campanelli's mark of 137 in 1985.
Nineteen-year-old Diego Ocasio of Blue Hill Golf Association finished runner-up at 6-under par. Past winners Chen (2022) and Matthew Lowe of Bethpage (2023) finished at 5-under & 3-under, respectively. Youth on Course MGA member Yiwen Wang and USGA/MGA member Shane Kennedy both posted even-par days over the 36 holes to round out the top five and those finishing at even or better.
Spook Rock Golf Course was hosting its record ninth MGA Public Links. Ramirez joins an impressive list of champions at the venue, which has included two-time Met Open and three-time MGA Senior Open champion Mark Mielke, Alan Specht, Jeff Thomas, Peter Muerer, and Brian Komline.