By Billy Condon
This just in - Chris DeForest carded a second-round 66 to be the clubhouse leader at 136. DeForest now leads Saladino and Hoit by two and Michael Quagliano is five behind DeForest at 141.
At this point in the championship, the gap in scores is widening as players look to keep themselves in contention for this afternoon's final round!
Showing posts with label Nassau Country Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nassau Country Club. Show all posts
July 1, 2009
Sog Island
By Billy Condon
After thunderstorms caused play to be delayed, the players are back out on the course and low scores continue to saturate the leaderboard. Roger Hoit finished his second round with an impressive 66, good enough as the low round of the tournament so far and is tied for the lead at 138. Joining Hoit is Joe Saladino, who fired a second-round 67. Chris DeForest is still out on the course finishing up his second round, but was 4-under at the turn for the championship.
The weather delay reminded everyone of the scenario that the USGA encountered two weeks ago at Bethpage as they tried to complete the U.S. Open, but the sun is peeking through again and the competitors are eyeing birdies.
After thunderstorms caused play to be delayed, the players are back out on the course and low scores continue to saturate the leaderboard. Roger Hoit finished his second round with an impressive 66, good enough as the low round of the tournament so far and is tied for the lead at 138. Joining Hoit is Joe Saladino, who fired a second-round 67. Chris DeForest is still out on the course finishing up his second round, but was 4-under at the turn for the championship.
The weather delay reminded everyone of the scenario that the USGA encountered two weeks ago at Bethpage as they tried to complete the U.S. Open, but the sun is peeking through again and the competitors are eyeing birdies.
How Low Can They Go?
By Billy Condon
The scores coming in this morning have been strong as Liam Quinn of Tuxedo (76) finished his first nine at three-under par and Roger Hoit of Baltusrol (72) made the turn at two-under and is now sitting at even par for the championship. Hoit is no stranger to playing well at the Ike, having won the championship at Fresh Meadow in 2006. Conditions are near perfect with a slight breeze as the 47 players look to make their move up the leaderboard before the final round this afternoon.
The scores coming in this morning have been strong as Liam Quinn of Tuxedo (76) finished his first nine at three-under par and Roger Hoit of Baltusrol (72) made the turn at two-under and is now sitting at even par for the championship. Hoit is no stranger to playing well at the Ike, having won the championship at Fresh Meadow in 2006. Conditions are near perfect with a slight breeze as the 47 players look to make their move up the leaderboard before the final round this afternoon.
Same Course, Different Looks
By Greg Midland
MGA Tournament Director Brian Mahoney put in place some interesting course setup changes at Nassau Country Club for today's second and third rounds of the Ike Championship. The par-three third hole, which was completed last year as part of a course renovation, will play just 114 yards for this morning's second round, down from 159 yards yesterday. The teeing ground used for this distance is farther to the right, calling for players to hit their tee shots directly over the pond to a front hole location that should yield some birdies.
For this afternoon's third round, the same hole location will be used but the tees will be pushed back to 205 yards. "It's a chance for us to give the players an entirely different look from the second to third rounds," said Mahoney.
Another hole that could yield some drama today is the par-four ninth. Yesterday, it played at 303 yards but today it will be shortened to 285, giving a number of players in the field the chance to drive the green if they so choose. It's a risk/reward situation that could result in some birdies and maybe an eagle or two, but also some bogeys if players get too aggressive and hit a wayward drive.
MGA Tournament Director Brian Mahoney put in place some interesting course setup changes at Nassau Country Club for today's second and third rounds of the Ike Championship. The par-three third hole, which was completed last year as part of a course renovation, will play just 114 yards for this morning's second round, down from 159 yards yesterday. The teeing ground used for this distance is farther to the right, calling for players to hit their tee shots directly over the pond to a front hole location that should yield some birdies.
For this afternoon's third round, the same hole location will be used but the tees will be pushed back to 205 yards. "It's a chance for us to give the players an entirely different look from the second to third rounds," said Mahoney.
Another hole that could yield some drama today is the par-four ninth. Yesterday, it played at 303 yards but today it will be shortened to 285, giving a number of players in the field the chance to drive the green if they so choose. It's a risk/reward situation that could result in some birdies and maybe an eagle or two, but also some bogeys if players get too aggressive and hit a wayward drive.
June 30, 2009
Nassau's Ace
By Billy Condon
The excitement of the Ike has brought many Nassau members out to witness the golf, including the club's most celebrated and longest-standing member, Jim Tingley. I was able to chat with Mr. Tingley about his fantastic accomplishments on the golf course as well as his thoughts on this year's Ike. Now in his 52nd year as a member of Nassau, Tingley has to his credit an unfathomable twenty holes-in-one throughout his golf career. That number trumps Jack Nicklaus's 18 career aces. In fact, the two have been in correspondence regarding their friendly hole-in-one contest. The 90-year-old Tingley has five club championships to his name at Nassau and of the twenty aces, ten of those occurred at his home course, including five on the fifth hole, with his most recent occurring in 2007 at the age of 88.
Tingley was also singled out by President Clinton on his trip to Nassau last year when the President had received word of Tingley's aces and requested that Tingley accompany him in a photo on the first tee that Tingley now proudly has in his possession.
However, the hole-in-one race was not the first time that Nicklaus and Tingley crossed paths. They actually played a practice round together for the 1961 U.S. Amateur held at Pebble Beach. Nicklaus went on to win the championship.
In regards to the Ike, Tingley was impressed with the morning rounds of 68, 69 and 70. "It's a tough par-70, and any scores under par are something to be proud of," stated Tingley, who has served on the MGA Executive Committee. Between the great golf and legendary spectators, the 2009 Ike is off to a great start.
The excitement of the Ike has brought many Nassau members out to witness the golf, including the club's most celebrated and longest-standing member, Jim Tingley. I was able to chat with Mr. Tingley about his fantastic accomplishments on the golf course as well as his thoughts on this year's Ike. Now in his 52nd year as a member of Nassau, Tingley has to his credit an unfathomable twenty holes-in-one throughout his golf career. That number trumps Jack Nicklaus's 18 career aces. In fact, the two have been in correspondence regarding their friendly hole-in-one contest. The 90-year-old Tingley has five club championships to his name at Nassau and of the twenty aces, ten of those occurred at his home course, including five on the fifth hole, with his most recent occurring in 2007 at the age of 88.
Tingley was also singled out by President Clinton on his trip to Nassau last year when the President had received word of Tingley's aces and requested that Tingley accompany him in a photo on the first tee that Tingley now proudly has in his possession.
However, the hole-in-one race was not the first time that Nicklaus and Tingley crossed paths. They actually played a practice round together for the 1961 U.S. Amateur held at Pebble Beach. Nicklaus went on to win the championship.
In regards to the Ike, Tingley was impressed with the morning rounds of 68, 69 and 70. "It's a tough par-70, and any scores under par are something to be proud of," stated Tingley, who has served on the MGA Executive Committee. Between the great golf and legendary spectators, the 2009 Ike is off to a great start.
History Repeating Itself?
By Billy Condon
Now that the morning players have finished up, the low round of the day so far is Hal Berman's 68. Also coming in low were Ken Bakst of Friar's Head with a 69, tying Al Falussy, and Michael Ballo Jr. of Woodway came in with a 70. Many of the players that have gone low have championship ties to Nassau. Berman and Falussy have each won the Nassau Invitational (2008 & 1996, respectively) while Bakst won the 1996 Met Amateur at the historic course.
The wind has picked up for the afternoon competitors and will challenge the likes of 2008 Ike champion Kevin Foley, 2008 MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year Joe Saladino and 2008 MGA Mid-Amateur champion Greg Rohlf.
Now that the morning players have finished up, the low round of the day so far is Hal Berman's 68. Also coming in low were Ken Bakst of Friar's Head with a 69, tying Al Falussy, and Michael Ballo Jr. of Woodway came in with a 70. Many of the players that have gone low have championship ties to Nassau. Berman and Falussy have each won the Nassau Invitational (2008 & 1996, respectively) while Bakst won the 1996 Met Amateur at the historic course.
The wind has picked up for the afternoon competitors and will challenge the likes of 2008 Ike champion Kevin Foley, 2008 MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year Joe Saladino and 2008 MGA Mid-Amateur champion Greg Rohlf.
Falussy: The Greens are Spectactular
By Billy Condon
The 54th Ike Championship is well underway at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y. The sun is shining and the putts are dropping as the morning wave of competitors finish their rounds. The low round so far is a 69 posted by Al Falussy of Bethpage. On his one-under par performance, Falussy said that although he had "bookend bogeys on one and eighteen, I was able to include three birdies in between." No stranger to Nassau, having won the 1996 Nassau Invitational, Falussy is playing confident and after a swing change a few weeks ago, "I can now feel my swing coming together." Falussy also raved about the condition of the course, including the "spectacular greens, the best I've seen," and that by keeping the ball below the hole, he was able to capitalize on those birdie putts. With the tees moved up a bit on the par threes Falussy expects that tomorrow's golf will play two to three strokes tougher.
Another player stroking the ball well is Connor Monaghan of North Fork. Monaghan fired a 32 on the front nine but cooled off a bit on the back, coming in at 73. Peter Herzog of the Sterling Farms Mens Club shot a two-over 72.
Stay tuned as players such as Hal Berman of Middle Bay and Mike Ballo Jr. of Woodway finish up their morning rounds shortly.
The 54th Ike Championship is well underway at Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove, N.Y. The sun is shining and the putts are dropping as the morning wave of competitors finish their rounds. The low round so far is a 69 posted by Al Falussy of Bethpage. On his one-under par performance, Falussy said that although he had "bookend bogeys on one and eighteen, I was able to include three birdies in between." No stranger to Nassau, having won the 1996 Nassau Invitational, Falussy is playing confident and after a swing change a few weeks ago, "I can now feel my swing coming together." Falussy also raved about the condition of the course, including the "spectacular greens, the best I've seen," and that by keeping the ball below the hole, he was able to capitalize on those birdie putts. With the tees moved up a bit on the par threes Falussy expects that tomorrow's golf will play two to three strokes tougher.
Another player stroking the ball well is Connor Monaghan of North Fork. Monaghan fired a 32 on the front nine but cooled off a bit on the back, coming in at 73. Peter Herzog of the Sterling Farms Mens Club shot a two-over 72.
Stay tuned as players such as Hal Berman of Middle Bay and Mike Ballo Jr. of Woodway finish up their morning rounds shortly.
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