ARMONK, N.Y. (May 10, 2021) — Ryan Skae of Old Tappan, New Jersey., carded the low round of the day, 67, to finish 4-under as the low medalist for the U.S. Open Local Qualifying Round at The Whippoorwill Club.
Right behind him was Dylan Newman of Stamford, Connecticut, who shot a 3-under 67 and was the leader in the clubhouse for a majority of the day. In a three-way tie for third place, James Nicholas (Scarsdale, NY), Gregory Bisconti (South Salem, NY) and Christian Cavaliere (a) (Katonah, NY) all recorded 2-under rounds. The final two spots were claimed by Del Ponchock (Jupiter, FL) and Matthew Dobyns (Glen Head, NY). Andrew Gruss (Greenwich, CT) and Carl Alexander (Bedford, NY), claimed the two alternate positions.
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Ponchock, Dobyns and Gruss all had to fight for the final two qualifying spots in a three-man playoff. On the first playoff hole, Ponchock was the first to claim his qualifying spot by making a par while Dobyns and Gruss made bogey. On the second playoff hole, Dobyns defeated Gruss with a par, claiming the last of seven available spots.
Skae, one of the last competitors to finish, recorded the low round of the day due in large part to his mindset during his round.
“Today, my mentality was just to stay steady out there,” Skae said. “I knew a couple under would probably get in, so I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”
He birdied three of the first four holes and went bogey-free on the back nine. Giving himself good opportunities was key.
“I think i hit 16 greens today, so my iron play was very strong. I was able to give myself a lot of good looks throughout the day,” Skae said.
Dylan Newman, who played in the first group out, battled the early morning cold to fire off a 3-under round, good enough for solo second on the day.
“My short game for sure,” Newman said when asked which parts of his game were sharp. “I didn’t hit it great on the front nine, I actually hit it all over the place, but managed to make some good pars. I made sure I was patient, once I made the turn I gave myself a couple of tap-in birdies, which is always nice, kept that momentum going and came in from there.”
Newman’s playing partner and 2017 MGA Player of the Year James Nicholas carded a 2-under 69, good enough to advance through to the final stage of qualifying.
In total, eight players finished under par on the day.
This was the MGA’s fifth and final U.S. Open local qualifying round. The MGA will next conduct final qualifying for the 121st U.S. Open Championship at Old Oaks Country Club and Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., on June 7.
