Live From: 18th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship

BRIELLE, N.J. (October 14, 2024) -- Rounds of 1-under 71 led Manasquan River's own Richard Fitzsimmons and Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow to earn the overnight lead in the 18th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Manasquan River. The two took advantage of their early tee times, posting their sub-par scores while experiencing just part of the day's winds that picked up a little before noon.

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Overall, 45 players made the 36-hole cut with scores of 7-over 79 or better. Fourteen players enter the final round within three shots of the lead. Recent Farrell champion Tim Hegarty of Winged Foot, two-time MGA Mid-Amateur champion Trevor Randolph of Arcola, past MGA Public Links winner Jason Bataille of Raritan Valley and Chester Patterson of Hamilton Farm all turned in rounds of even-par 72 to sit one stroke off the lead. Patterson led the field with five birdies on Monday. Past Met Amateur champion and MGA eClub - New Jersey member Matt Mattare is one of six players at 2-over.

The MGA Mid-Amateur Championship debuted in 2007 at Hudson National and has since visited some of the region's most respected courses, with Friar's Head, The Tuxedo Club, and Country Club of Fairfield hosting the most recent playings. Players earn the highly sought-after invite based on finishes in MGA and other Met Area events. The trophy, the Westmoreland Cup, is named for longtime MGA Tournament Director Gene Westmoreland who was instrumental in launching the championship and has a great passion for the mid-amateur game.

Manasquan River is hosting just its second MGA championship, last welcoming the MGA Father & Son Championship in 1998.