JACKSON TWP, N.J. (April 21, 2025) – Alan Specht of Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills posted the lone sub-par round on Monday, using 1-under 71 to capture the overnight lead in the season-opening 98th MGA Senior Amateur Championship Presented by Assured Guaranty at Metedeconk National Golf Club.
Related: Rd. 1 Results | Rd. 2 Pairings | Photos
On an overcast, cool day, scoring proved challenging at Metedeconk National, which is hosting the MGA Senior Amateur for the second time (2012). Specht’s morning 71 earned him a one-shot lead over Scotty George of Westchester Country Club heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes. Michael Guli of Trump National Bedminster sits third after a 2-over 74 while Ed Gibstein of Glen Head, MGA eClub – Hudson Valley member Gustav Talleur, and Andre Bolukbas of Spook Rock all turned in 3-over 75s. A packed leaderboard follows as 10 players – including Metedeconk’s own Christopher Housen – carded rounds of 4-over
Specht had a pair of birdies and bogeys over his first nine before tallying birdies on Nos. 11 and 15 as well as one bogey on the way in. Having wintered in Florida, Specht said he practiced a lot but didn’t have a lot of confidence entering today’s round.
“My round before this one was the worst round I’ve played in maybe 10-20 years,” said Specht, 59. “I joked with my friend that I was heading up to New Jersey to play in a golf tournament after the round and he kind of laughed at me.”
Battling through some wayward tee shots, Specht leaned on his irons and specifically his short game and putter for what turned into an excellent scoring round. “I found my swing maybe halfway through, but I putted like crazy,” said Specht. “I hit some decent iron shots, and I got up and down from everywhere.”
One such up-and-down came on the par-4 18th, when a chip from a steep, grassy face above the greenside bunker rolled out to just a foot and sealed his 1-under round. His 71 was the best score in the morning by four shots.
Meanwhile, George had a relatively clean card on the day, making two bogeys on his first nine after starting on 10. He added birdies on the par-3 sixth and par-4 ninth to get back to even for the day. On nine, George hit his approach through the green to the back hole location, but a crafty bladed wedge from the rough rolled perfectly into the hole for birdie.
For Guli, the Senior Amateur at Metedeconk has been an event he’s been waiting for.
“For me, this is definitely a major,” said Guli. “It’s an MGA event, a senior event, I’m a senior so I have had this on my calendar for quite some time, since last year. I’m encouraged by my play, I am hitting it fairly well, and to come out here to Metedeconk, it’s just a treat. To me, it’s one of the best courses in the state easily.”
The season didn’t have to wait long for its first hole in one. Mark Dudziec of South Shore made an ace on the par-3 second – his 11th hole of the day – using a pitching wedge from 125 yards.
With 18 holes to go, Specht aims to have a similar approach as he did on Monday for Tuesday’s final round.
“I just have to swing aggressively, not sweat it too much and try not to steer it,” he said. “Maybe I’m not at my best, but give it a go, give it a full rip and see what happens.”
Following the first round, a cut was made to the low 40 scores and ties, with 40 players making the cut at 6-over 78 or better. Roddy McRae of Baltusrol and Ned Zachar of GlenArbor are the lone two past champions making the cut, doing so on the number. McRae birdied his final hole of the day to make it to the final round.
The championship is being contested on Metedeconk’s Founders routing, using Nos. 1-18 of the 27-hole facility. The layout meanders through marshlands and lowland pine forests to embrace the property’s surrounds. The venue is providing outstanding early season conditions for the championship.
Tuesday’s final round begins at 8:30 a.m., with groups going off the first and 10th tees. The final pairing of Specht and George will go off the first at 9:51 a.m.
More Information
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