ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 11, 2026) – The 71st Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship will be held for the first time at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y., June 29-30, as the region’s top amateurs gather to battle for the iconic Ike bust trophy. The club is no stranger to hosting MGA majors though, having welcomed the Met Amateur on three occasions (1944, ’65, ’83) and the Met Open in 2011. It also has a connection to the championship, as home to back-to-back winner Cameron Young (2015-16), who still stands as the youngest winner of the event (18 years, 1 mo.) at the time of his 2015 victory.
Related: Ike History | Ike Records | Past Champions Gallery
In 1953, Daily News sportswriter Dana Mozley founded the Ike. The event struggled in the 1970s and 80s, but in 1986, the MGA purchased the rights to the event. Since then, the event bounced back and has become a top event welcomed by outstanding venues in the Met Area.
Last year, two-time MGA/MetLife Boys’ champion Reed Greyserman added to his MGA resume, winning the event at his home course of Hamilton Farm to become the sixth home course winner. Greyserman made two birdies to emerge victorious from the three-hole aggregate playoff that included Nathan Han and Mike Rothberg.
In 1911, course architect Charles Blair Macdonald worked with Seth Raynor who designed and oversaw the construction of the initial nine holes of the course that sits perched atop the Hudson River. In 1920, A.W. Tillinghast expanded the course to 27 holes. Recent renovations by Gil Hanse and George Bahto restored C.B. Macdonald’s original character to the layout and elevated the course’s standings in several course rankings.
The MGA’s first men’s major of the year is a 54-hole event with a cut after 18 holes on the first day. Thirty-six holes will be played the second day to determine the winner. While the top competitors from last year’s event are exempt into the championship, the remainder of the field will be filled through seven qualifiers held between May 11 and June 15 throughout the Met Area.
May 11 – Cherry Valley Country Club, Skillman, N.J.
Earning the top qualifying spot in a highly contested field was Erik Stevens of Hamilton Farm after firing a 5-under 67 to claim medalist by one shot. Stevens used seven birdies along the way as he worked himself up the leaderboard. Low scores were a theme with four golfers finishing at 4-under-par 68. Ried Bedell of Manasquan River, Derek Gutierrez of Plainfield C.C. – West 9, Jason Salameno of North Jersey and Eric LeFante of Somerset Hills all finished one shot back. Tailing them at 3-under-par were Liam Pasternak of Essex Fells, James Arbes of Watchung Valley, Jeremy Wall of Manasquan River and MGA eClub New Jersey member Jack Irons. Overall, 14 golfers advanced to the championship after shooting a 2-under 70 or better.
Results
May 11 – Plandome Country Club, Plandome, N.Y.
The 19-year-old MGA eClub of Long Island member Matthew Difiore was the medalist at Plandome Country Club after shooting a 1-under 70. Difiore made five birdies on the day, including a red-hot, three-birdie stretch to close the front nine. A perfect tee shot and approach on the par-4 18th led to a stress-free par to keep his top spot by one stroke. Young talent was the theme of this qualifier as 20-year-old Arjun Singh Bhatia, also an MGA eClub-Long Island member, came in second behind an even-par 71. Singh Bhatia made three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 17th to stand alone in second. Rounding out the podium positions was a three-way tie for third as MGA eClub – NYC member Elliot Horst, Ike Rothman of Red Hook Golf Club and MGA eClub Connecticut member Drew Southwell all finished at 1-over 72. Sixteen players shot 4-over 75 or better to advance.
Results
May 21 – Old Bridge Golf Club, Matawan, N.J.
Lance Hollingshead of Trump National Bedminster led 16 qualifiers as the field battled poor weather at Old Bridge Golf Club. The past MGA/MetLife Boys’ champion recorded a birdie on the front nine and two birdies on the back nine to log a bogey-free 3-under 68. Ben Loomis of Winged Foot, Ryan Coughlin of Westchester Country Club, and Eli Kaufman of MGA eClub – New Jersey came in two shots back with 1-under par 71s. With ten spots and ties on the line, seven players squeezed themselves into making the cut on the number, tying for 10th at 2-over 73. Several players were clutch in doing so. Carel Garbers of USGA/MGA GC finishing strong with four birdies on the back nine after a slow start, posting nines of 41-32. Mark Lyszczasz of Neshanic Valley bounced back from a triple bogey on the par-5 14th with two birdies over his final four holes for his 73. Greg Norman, Jr., of Southampton made a birdie on No. 17, while Conor McGovern of Brooklawn birdied his final two holes, as both also qualifed on the number. Results
May 26 – Aspetuck Valley Country Club, Weston, Conn.
Jonathan Oaks of Ardsley Country Club earned the medalist spot in qualifying for the 71st Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship at Aspetuck Valley, shooting an astounding 6-under-par 65. The 20-year-old made seven birdies and had two separate runs of three straight birdies. The only blemish on his card came when he made bogey on the par-4 ninth. Joe Bonyai of MGA eClub – Connecticut, Jonathan Renza of Mohansic Golf Club, Michael Jones of Aspetuck Valley Country Club, Angad Manaise of MGA eClub – Connecticut and Peter Tomlinson of The Stanwich Club all shot 2-under-par 69 and are headed to Sleepy Hollow for the championship. Manaise had a roller coaster round, playing the first five holes at 2-over-par, then playing the next 13 holes at 4-under-par, making seven birdies and three bogeys.
Results
June 2 – Deal Golf & Country Club, Deal, N.J.
Jacob Dejesus of MGA eClub – New Jersey and Ryan Klarreich of Manhattan Woods Golf Club shared medalist honors to lead 17 players to the 71st Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship. Both players recorded two birdies on the front nine and three birdies on the back nine for matching 1-under par 70s. Eric Kim of MGA eClub – New Jersey went on an impressive run to close, recording five consecutive birdies to seal his spot with an even-par 71. Six players squeezed into the final cut with 2-over par 73s, including Patrick Scenna of Deal Golf and Country Club who finished strong with two birdies on his final nine. Andrew Lord of Hudson Hills Golf Course also made a strong comeback, adding two birdies on his final nine to advance.
Results
June 8 – North Fork Country Club, Cutchogue, N.Y.
Jason Bataille of Raritan Valley Country Club, Matthew Bettino of Siwanoy Country Club, and Colin Dolph of Nassau Country Club led the pack recording matching 1-under 70s to earn medalist honors. Quinn Reilly of Southward Ho Country Club shot an even-par 71 to earn a spot at Sleepy Hollow. Also advancing to the championship with rounds of 1-over 72 were Padruig Douglas of Glen Head Country Club, Keith Hendrickson of MGA eClub Long Island, and Jack Maerki of Meadow Brook Club. Alan Fuchs of Echo Lake Country Club, Davis Weil of Ridgewood Country Club, and Brian Healy of the MGA eClub NYC each fired a 2-over 73 to advance.  Rounding out the qualifiers with 3-over 74s were Christian Dolan of the SCPD Golf Team, Robert Giuffra of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Matthew Spagnoli of Brookville Country Club, Joseph Guterding of Colonial Springs, Ryan Millevoi of USGA/MGA GC, Daniel Oh of Wins’ Society Golf Club, and Kevin Lauretti of Bellport Golf Club.
Results
June 15 – The Summit Club at Armonk, Armonk, N.Y.
Daniel Hallissey of Westchester Country Club earned medalist honors with a score of 2-under 69, leading the final 18 qualifiers for the 71st Ike. Hallissey had two birdies on the day with an eagle on the par-5 ninth, while adding two bogeys for his 2-under round. A group of seven players followed at 1-under 70. MGA eClub NYC member Jayden Freedman and Aiden So of Hamilton Farm both carded five birdies en route to their 1-under scores. Owen Walsh of Mahopac had a field-best six birdies on the day on his way to an even-par round.
Results
