-Billy Condon
There are some familiar faces atop the leader board at the Ike. Defending champ Mike Ballo Jr. and 2008 MGA Player of the Year Joe Saladino are recognizable names, but there are also a few relative unknowns who are in contention as well.
Meet Russell Giglio, a 25-year-old Iona graduate who works for IBM. Giglio is tied with Ballo and Saladino and he plays out of Orange County Country Club. Giglio is excited to be in contention and during the rain delay during the first round, texted his family telling them that we was in the lead at the Ike. Giglio took a day off from work to play at the Ike, and joked that now he has to tell his manager he is going to need another day off from work because he made the cut. If Giglio goes on to win, hopefully his manager will cut him some slack for his time out of the office.
The other player tied at the top is Chris Ferraro, who won the NJCAA Division III National Championship this past season for Suny Ulster. Ferraro was also named the Most Outstanding Player by the Mid Hudson Conference and he hopes that his strong finish to the college season continues here at Metropolis. He plays out of Twaalfskill.
At the end of the day it will be a new or familiar face holding the Ike trophy. Until then, let's get to some golf.
Showing posts with label Mike Ballo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike Ballo. Show all posts
June 29, 2010
June 28, 2010
Saladino Leads at the Ike
-Billy Condon
The morning wave of players have finished and Joe Saladino sizzled out on the course with a 2-under 69. Saladino had 6 birdies on the round, no surprise because of his comfort level at Metropolis. Mike Stamberger and Robert Cronheim also came in under par with 1-under 70's. Saladino is the clubhouse leader but defending champ Mike Ballo Jr. and Cameron Wilson are on the course and also have the goods to go low.
The weather for the afternoon is continued heat and humidity with the possibility of storms, but a 100% chance of birdies.
The morning wave of players have finished and Joe Saladino sizzled out on the course with a 2-under 69. Saladino had 6 birdies on the round, no surprise because of his comfort level at Metropolis. Mike Stamberger and Robert Cronheim also came in under par with 1-under 70's. Saladino is the clubhouse leader but defending champ Mike Ballo Jr. and Cameron Wilson are on the course and also have the goods to go low.
The weather for the afternoon is continued heat and humidity with the possibility of storms, but a 100% chance of birdies.
Why to like the Ike
-Billy Condon
The MGA's amateur stroke play championship, the Ike, is one of the toughest tests of regional amateur golf in the country and brings out one of the premier Met Area fields. Looking at the numbers, it doesn't take long to comprehend why this event is so difficult to win, and why George Zahringer III's five Ike titles will probably never be matched.
20 former MGA champions are in the field of 110, with three of those being former Ike winners (Mike Ballo Jr., Greg Rohlf and Roger Hoit). Cameron Wilson and Joe Saladino, the last two winners of the MGA Player of the Year award are also competing, and both of them, along with Rohlf, played in the MGA's French-American Challenge at Metropolis in 2008, giving the trio an added knowledge of the course.
When you add in the accomplishments and recent strong play of players such as Mike Miller, Dave Pastore, Brian Komline and John Ervasti, the championship will surely be well deserved for the player who comes out on top.
With such a stacked field and outstanding golf course testing the competitors, it is hard to not like the Ike.
The MGA's amateur stroke play championship, the Ike, is one of the toughest tests of regional amateur golf in the country and brings out one of the premier Met Area fields. Looking at the numbers, it doesn't take long to comprehend why this event is so difficult to win, and why George Zahringer III's five Ike titles will probably never be matched.
20 former MGA champions are in the field of 110, with three of those being former Ike winners (Mike Ballo Jr., Greg Rohlf and Roger Hoit). Cameron Wilson and Joe Saladino, the last two winners of the MGA Player of the Year award are also competing, and both of them, along with Rohlf, played in the MGA's French-American Challenge at Metropolis in 2008, giving the trio an added knowledge of the course.
When you add in the accomplishments and recent strong play of players such as Mike Miller, Dave Pastore, Brian Komline and John Ervasti, the championship will surely be well deserved for the player who comes out on top.
With such a stacked field and outstanding golf course testing the competitors, it is hard to not like the Ike.
Ike kicks off in heat and humidity
-Billy Condon
The 55th Ike Championship is off and running and the field will be feeling the heat both from the competitiveness of one of the finest amateur golf fields, and also from the muggy conditions. It is just before 9:00 and the temperature is already in the high 80's with a heat index of 91.
Players such as 2009 Met Amateur runner-up John Ervasti, 2008 MGA Player of the Year Joe Saladino and 2009 MGA Senior Amateur champ Al Small all teed up in the early wave and are out on the course. They are looking to post solid rounds early before the championship reaches its hottest temperatures.
Two players familiar with MGA championships who will be facing the afternoon heat will be defending Ike champ Mike Ballo Jr. and 2009 MGA Player of the Year Cameron Wilson, who are paired together and tee off at 1:00.
August 6, 2009
A Family Affair
By Billy Condon
As mentioned earlier, Mike Ballo has his brother Peter on his bag today at the Met Amateur. Peter, who begins his freshman year at St. John's University this fall, has been receiving guidance all summer- (and throughout his life) from fellow Red Storm teammate and senior captain, brother Mike.
Ed Whitman, the head golf professional at Knickerbocker is also out on the course at Hackensack today. How is this possible at an amateur event? Ed has taken on the caddie duty for his son Brian. The Whitman duo seems to be having success as Brian played his first nine holes (the back nine) at two-under. Words of wisdom: Keep paying attention to dad's reads!
Note: The three Wilson's in the field: Cameron, Pat and Peter are not related.
As mentioned earlier, Mike Ballo has his brother Peter on his bag today at the Met Amateur. Peter, who begins his freshman year at St. John's University this fall, has been receiving guidance all summer- (and throughout his life) from fellow Red Storm teammate and senior captain, brother Mike.
Ed Whitman, the head golf professional at Knickerbocker is also out on the course at Hackensack today. How is this possible at an amateur event? Ed has taken on the caddie duty for his son Brian. The Whitman duo seems to be having success as Brian played his first nine holes (the back nine) at two-under. Words of wisdom: Keep paying attention to dad's reads!
Note: The three Wilson's in the field: Cameron, Pat and Peter are not related.
Off and Running at 107th Met Amateur
By Billy CondonThe Met Area's amateur stars have come to Oradell, New Jersey, for the 107th playing of the Met Amateur at Hackensack Golf Club. Fresh off of his win at the Carter Cup yesterday at Baltusrol Golf Club down the Garden State Parkway from Hackensack, Cameron Wilson looks to continue his hot streak as he and fellow competitors Brian Komline and Pat Pierson have just teed off on the first hole. Also seen around the grounds this morning are 2008 & 2006 Met Amateur champ Tommy McDonagh and 2009 Ike champion Mike Ballo - who has his brother Peter on the bag as his caddie. Another player looking determined is Michael Quagliano, who sits in second place behind Ballo on the MGA Player of the Year points race
.Other player notes:
-Along with Wilson, there are a few other players in the field who competed yesterday in the heat and humidity at Baltusrol. They include: Jonathan Renza, Jisoo Park, and Pat Wilson, who has Carter Cup competitor Brody Nieporte on his bag.
-The pups aren't the only players ready to go. MGA tournament veterans such as Dick Siderowf, Ron Vanelli, Peter Van Ingen, Ken Bakst and Ed Gibstein have all warmed up and are aiming to shoot low.
July 1, 2009
Ballo Bests Field for Ike Title
By Billy Condon
A final round 66 was what it took for Mike Ballo to top the field for his first MGA championship. Ballo, who already won the WGA Amateur this year used a stellar back nine to secure a victory. Lurking around the top of the leaderboard after the first two rounds and shooting a one-over par 36 on his final-round's front nine, Ballo put his game in high gear for his back nine, firing a 30. The low nine-hole score for the championship. Ballo appeared to be in trouble on the 18th hole when he pulled his drive left into thick rough under a tree, but Ballo remained poised and hit his approach shot to about five feet, and then capitalized on the shot by sinking the birdie putt, marking his third birdie in his final four holes.
Besides the outstanding 30, Ballo's key to success was his consistency. He never posted higher than a 71, shot 35 twice on the back and 36 twice on the front. The only anomaly to the scorecard was a positive one, the five-under 30.
Finishing in second and third place was Chris DeForest and Roger Hoit, respectively. Both DeForest and Hoit shot final round 73's.
A final round 66 was what it took for Mike Ballo to top the field for his first MGA championship. Ballo, who already won the WGA Amateur this year used a stellar back nine to secure a victory. Lurking around the top of the leaderboard after the first two rounds and shooting a one-over par 36 on his final-round's front nine, Ballo put his game in high gear for his back nine, firing a 30. The low nine-hole score for the championship. Ballo appeared to be in trouble on the 18th hole when he pulled his drive left into thick rough under a tree, but Ballo remained poised and hit his approach shot to about five feet, and then capitalized on the shot by sinking the birdie putt, marking his third birdie in his final four holes.
Besides the outstanding 30, Ballo's key to success was his consistency. He never posted higher than a 71, shot 35 twice on the back and 36 twice on the front. The only anomaly to the scorecard was a positive one, the five-under 30.
Finishing in second and third place was Chris DeForest and Roger Hoit, respectively. Both DeForest and Hoit shot final round 73's.
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