Met Open Centennial Program

The One Hundredth playing of the

MET OPEN

CHAMPIONSHIP WINGED FOOT GOLF CLUB AUGUST 25-27, 2015

Winged Foot East — Hole No. 6

Met Open Contestants and Past Champions: We are pleased to welcome you to the 100th playing of the Met Open Championship and are so happy you are here to help us celebrate the great history of one of the nation’s premiere championships. For those who have been lucky enough to win this event, we know you appreciate the thrill of having your name added to the beautiful Walter L. Trammell trophy alongside some of the game’s greatest players like Hagen, Sarazen, Farrell, Runyon and Harmon, who helped establish its great historical legacy, as well as the many modern era players like Albus, Courville, Glenz, Zahringer, Kestner and Wagner, who helped to continue its tradition of greatness. For those in search of their first title, we wish you all the best in your quest to join this distinguished list.

It is only fitting that we celebrate this milestone event in MGA history at one of the worlds’ greatest clubs.

The world knows Winged Foot for its many national championships and for names like Jones, Zoeller, Irwin, Love and others who have made golfing history on its storied links. But we in the Met Area also know that Winged Foot has been a loyal and generous supporter of local golf as well, and particularly the MGA, having hosted a record seven Met Opens and countless other Association championships and events.

We are especially thrilled to be playing this year’s event on the East Course, which after its impeccable restoration under the watchful eye of architect Gil Hanse and superintendent Steve Rabideau, is sure to garner the attention it fully deserves as a true test of championship golf.

In addition to Winged Foot, we would like to thank Rolex for their support of all of the Met Open centennial activities and publications. And finally, we thank our member clubs and all the Met Area players, professional and amateurs, for participating in MGA championships and for their consistent support of the game of golf.

Our special thanks to all the former champs who gathered to share in this occasion; we hope it brought back great memories and we wish all our 2015 contestants the best of luck in the 100th Met Open Championship.

Steven A. Boyd

Jeffrey R. Holzschuh

MGA PRESIDENT

CHAIRMAN, 100TH MET OPEN COMMITTEE

On the cover: Brothers Alex and Macdonald Smith each won multiple Met Opens, Alex, with four—still the record, edging his brother Macdonald, with three, by one victory.

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A

H I S T O R Y

O F

T H E

MET OPEN

CHAMPIONSHIP “After many years of endeavor to obtain adequate recognition for the professionals of the Metropolitan district, something has at last been done, thanks chiefly to the persistency of Mr. Lionel Graham and the enterprise of the Fox Hills Golf Club.”

T

HIS REFERENCE from “Golf” is to the Met Open, first played in 1905 at the longdefunct Fox Hills Golf Club on Staten Island. Lionel Graham of Baltusrol was the first president of the New Jersey State Golf Association and treasurer of the MGA.

Any suggestion that the MGA dragged its feet is unfair — on the eastern seaboard, only the Philadelphia Open (1903) preceded the Met Open.

A number of players in the 1905 championship followed Walter Travis’ lead and used longshafted drivers. Alex Smith of Nassau led the way with a 51-inch driver, and used it successfully to win the tournament. Victory didn’t come easily, as Smith was tied at 300 after 72 holes with four-time U.S. Open champion Willie Anderson of Apawamis. Smith’s victory in an 18-hole play-

off was just one of many feature events that took place on the third day of the championship.

Opposite: Walter Hagen at 23, around the time of his first Met Open victory in 1916.

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The first two Met Opens were sponsored by the host clubs. The Fox Hills membership provided $415 as prizes for the top six finishers and numerous smaller amounts for other awards. Members of the Hollywood Golf Club did the same in 1906. No club stepped forward in 1907, and the Met Open was not held that year. Consequently, in 1908, the MGA raised its dues so that the association could sponsor the event itself.

Many of the early winners of the Met Open were Scottish, foremost among them being the Smith brothers, Alex and Macdonald of Carnoustie, with six titles between them. The first American-bred winner was Tom McNamara, Boston-born professional at Siwanoy, who played a role in the founding of the PGA in 1916.

Walter Hagen won the Met Open in 1916, then again in 1919 and 1920, his three consecutive victories separated by a two-year hiatus while the United States was involved in World War I. The Met Open was considered a major national championship prior to World War II, and nine Met Open winners — Alex Smith, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Willie MacFarlane, Tommy Armour, Johnny Farrell, Olin Dutra, Byron Nelson, and Craig Wood — won a total of twelve U.S. Open titles. “Long Jim” Barnes, winner of the first two PGA Championships, a U.S. and a British Open, could do no better than finish second three times in the Met Open. Both Sam Snead and Ben Hogan played in the Met Open, albeit just a few times, and neither was able to win. Hogan was the runner-up to Craig Wood’s tournament record 64-66-68-66–264 in 1940. Just about every

Above: A group Willie of players from the 1906 championship gather on the steps ofMet Hollywood Anderson, runner-up in the inaugural (1905) Open, Country Club.

Opposite: 1925 Met Open champion Gene Sarazen was the reigning U.S. Open champion.

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leading player of the era competed in the Met Open, and its field was considered one of the toughest of the season.

There have been quite a few playoffs in Met Open history, but none lasted longer than the one in 1926 between Gene Sarazen and Macdonald Smith, which the latter won with a brilliant 66 in the third extra round. Throughout his career, Smith was known for his ability to get “hot” and produce scores well below par.

Five U.S. Open courses (the “Old Course” at Baltusrol, Englewood, Garden City Golf Club, Winged Foot and the original Fresh Meadow) also hosted the Met Open during these years, and Inwood, the modern Baltusrol courses, and Bethpage Black were added to that list in later years. In 1989 Bethpage Black became the first public course to host the Met Open.

In recent years, the Met Open has been hosted by some of the top new clubs in the Met Area.

Since World War II, courses such as Stanwich, Old Westbury, Atlantic, Metedeconk National, Hudson National, and the original course at Trump National Bedminster.

Fourteen of the pre-World War II Met Opens, including the first three, were held at clubs or courses that no longer exist, including three at the storied Lido Golf Club located between the Atlantic Ocean and Reynolds Channel near Long Beach, on a course that was recognized as one of the top three in the country at the time.

The Met Open was not played during the years 1941-1948 that saw the United States’ engagement in World War II, but instead was replaced by the Amateur-Professional Championship during those years. Among the winners of this event were Paul Runyan, Craig Wood, and Mike Turnesa with amateur partner Willie Turnesa in 1946. Ironically, “lack of interest” was cited as a reason for the cancellation of the Met Open at that time, even though a gallery

Above:1932 Met open champion Olin Dutra. Opposite: 1934 champion Paul Runyan

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of 2,500 watched the 1940 Open. Financial concerns were another issue.

After the war, the Met Open quickly re-established itself as the leading championship in the region as golf enjoyed tremendous growth inspired partly by President Eisenhower’s love for the game. The first twenty years following the war can be considered the “Age of the Sharpshooter,” a period when players with experience on the Tour won the Met Open, with names like Claude Harmon, Jackie Burke, Jr., and Doug Ford, all winners of majors, as well as Pete Cooper, Jimmy Wright, and Tom Nieporte. Some of these players, like Wes Ellis of Mountain Ridge, Al Mengert of Echo Lake, and Jerry Pittman of The Creek, would dominate the championship in a given year, shoot low scores and win by wide margins.

Al Mengert’s Jersey Slam of 1960 included four rounds in the 60’s and a 12-stroke runaway in the Met Open at Ridgewood. Wes Ellis tamed the Green Monster at Plainfield in 1963, winning by five strokes. Jerry Pittman carded 275 at Woodmere in 1965, then 274 at Inwood in 1968 when he won by eight strokes. During an 11-hole span in the final round, he and playing partner Jimmy Wright carded an amazing 14 birdies!

Although five different amateurs won the U.S. Open prior to 1940, none were successful in the Met Open until the post-war era. Neither Walter Travis nor Jerry Travers played a role in the history of the Met Open. The first amateur to win the Met Open was Chet Sanok in 1952. Next came Jerry Courville in 1967, and then in 1985 George Zahringer III

Opposite: Caricature of Montclair’s Chet Sanok, first amateur to win the Met Open in 1952.

Opposite: Chet Sanok and certificate awarded by the MGA for his win.

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became the first amateur to win both the Met Amateur and the Met Open in the same season.

Zahringer, incidentally, was a ten-time MGA Player of the Year, a Walker Cup player, and the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion. Later on, amateur winners like Jim McGovern, Johnson Wagner, Andrew Svoboda and John Stoltz used their victories in the Met Open as a springboard to the professional Tours.

Johnson Wagner deserves special note here. After winning the 2001 Met Amateur as a relative unknown, he won the Met Open a few weeks later, and followed that by sweeping the Ike Championship, Met Amateur, and Met Open (days after turning professional) in 2002, a feat unmatched in MGA annals.

No story about the Met Open would be complete without mention of Gene Westmoreland who was the MGA’s Tournament Director for 30 years. Gene followed Peter Bisconti and consistently delivered outstanding venues and unparalleled tournament administration to the Met Open and all MGA championships.

Brian Mahoney continues to raise the bar even higher as Gene’s successor.

With the long time support of MetLife as its sponsor for 30 years, the purse and entries have increased steadily, reaching $100,000 in the MGA’s centennial year, 1997, when the Met Open attracted nearly 800 of the area’s top professionals and amateurs. It now stands at $150,000, the highest purse for any regional professional event in the Met Area. Since 1969, a club team pro-am has preceded the Met Open and has raised nearly $1.5 million dollars for regional Caddie Scholarship Funds.

Whether it has been played as a national major event or a regional championship, the Met Open has always been the premier event of the year conducted by the Metropolitan Golf Association.

Opposite (clockwise from top left): Several post-war multiple Met Open Winners: Jerry Pittmann, Mark Mielke, Darrell Kestner, Jim Albus, Bruce Zabriski, Bobby Heins,David Glenz and Rick Hartmann (center).

Above: Gene Westmoreland –13–

MET OPEN

CHAMPIONSHIP Y E A R - B Y - Y E A R

1905

Willie Anderson had won four of the five U.S. Opens between 1901 and 1905, twice (1901 and 1905) with Alex Smith as the

runner-up. Alex Smith defeated his rival for the first time in a major in the first Met Open. The two rivals were tied at 300 strokes after the first 72 holes, and Smith trailed Anderson after the first nine of the playoff. The turning point came at the tenth hole, when Anderson failed to make a long carry to the green and took a double-bogey. Smith earned $150 for his efforts. The Championship was played at the long-defunct Fox Hills Golf Club on Staten Island, which put up the funds to sponsor the event.

Opposite: Alex Smith (left) and George Low — the first two winners of the Met Open in 1905 and ’06.

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1906

Baltusrol

professional

1910

George Low started with

Alex Smith won again, but only after a long battle

a 71 and led throughout the 72 holes,

with Johnny McDermott from the

finishing with a 294 score over the

Philadelphia area. McDermott, who

5,707-yard Hollywood links. Alex

would go on to win the 1911 and 1912

Smith rallied to be second, albeit 10 strokes behind

U.S. Opens, hit the better approach shots and rarely made

Low. The golf course was softened by heavy rains, and

a mistake, but missed several putts of between four and

players often had to hit fairway shots with a niblick to

12 feet. Ultimately, Smith won with a 301 score, two

get the ball out of plugged lies.

ahead of McDermott.

1908 Breaking all records with an

The Met Open was not played in 1907

1911

unheard-of score of 281, Gil

Jack Hobens of Engle-

Nicholls of Wilmington, Delaware,

wood not only won the

broke a tie at 144 with Johnny McDer-

Met Open but he equaled the record

mott after 36 holes, and finished with

1908

of 71 for the Old Course at Baltusrol

rounds of 71 and 66 to finish eight strokes ahead

in the final round. Hobens’ score of

of the home course professional Jack Hobens of

305 was one stroke better than Alexander Campbell

Englewood, who finished second. The winner’s prize

from the Country Club at Brookline, and four better than

for the championship remained at $150.

1909

St. Andrew’s professional Jock Hutchison, who also equaled the course record in the final round.

1909

1912

Tom

McNamara

from Boston played

Alex Smith won his sec-

his final two rounds in 73-71,

ond Met Open, this time at

coming home in 34 strokes to win

his home club, the Wykagyl Country

the Championship

by

four

Club in New Rochelle. The Champion-

strokes over Gil Nicholls. Frank Peebles, the

ship was played in two days, 36 holes

Stockbridge, Massachusetts, professional, set a new

each day, and Smith started the second day’s play with a five-

competitive course record 69 at Apawamis, his

stroke lead, and played cautiously, but admirably to score

round including a pair of birdie 2’s.

157 for 36 holes. His 72-hole score of 306 helped lead him to win by two strokes. Eight cash prizes were offered.

Opposite: 1911 Met Open champion Gil Nicholls

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1910

1913

1914

Alex Smith won for what

1916

is still a tournament-

Walter

Hagen

from

Rochester won his first of

record fourth time with a score of 291,

three consecutive Met Open titles

one-stroke over defending champion

(interrupted by World War I) in a

Tom McNamara and three better than

playoff over “Long Jim” Barnes and

U.S. Open champion Johnny McDermott. The Champi-

Charles Hoffner, both from Philadelphia. The younger

onship was played on the Salisbury Links in Garden City,

Hoffner was the flashier player of the three, but

forebearer of the Cherry Valley Club. The first eight finish-

couldn’t overcome the handicap of being the shortest

ers won prizes, as did the best scores of each round and

driver. The three players tied at 307 over the Garden

the 36-hole leader.

City links, with Barnes carding a 72 in the last round to force the three-way playoff.

1914

Macdonald Smith, then the professional at Oakmont,

The Met Open was not played from 1917-18 due to WWI

established a new championship record of 278 while winning the Met Open at Scarsdale.The previous record had been

U.S. Open winner Walter

a 279, which was set by Harry Vardon in the 1911 Geran

1919

Open. He missed several short putts during his final round

Open title successfully. The Oakland

of 73. Smith’s older brothers from Carnoustie, Scotland,

Hills professional had a comfortable

Willie and Alex, both won the U.S. Open.

four-stroke lead until he pulled his tee

Hagen defended his Met

shot into a patch of mounds, followed by a hooked 1915

Gil Nicholls, a 20-year

approach on the 18th hole that landed in the trees and

veteran, outlasted young

under the branches with a bunker between his ball and

Robert MacDonald from Buffalo in a play-

the green. His attempt to escape hit the mound

off for his second Met Open title. Nicholls

behind the bunker, his ball rolling back into the sand,

started the playoff poorly, but steadied

leaving his bunker shot 15 feet from the hole. From

himself in time to surpass McDonald, whose putting failed

there, he calmly rolled in his putt and collected the $250

him miserably. The end for McDonald came at the 13th hole,

winner’s prize.

1915

where he topped his second shot that landed his ball embedded in a muddy creek bank at the now defunct Fox Hills.

1919

Opposite: Action at the third green at Garden City Golf Club in 1916 ( from left to right): Charles Hoffner, Walter Hagen and James Barnes.

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1920

Jim Barnes led Walter

1923

Hagen by two strokes

The Met Open was contested over the North

after 18 holes and by five after 36

Course at Canoe Brook. At first glance,

holes, but faltered by shooting a third

the professionals thought the course

round 78, while Hagen shot a course

looked easy. They had a more realistic

record 69. In Hagen’s final round, he missed several

appraisal after their average score proved close to 80.

short putts, including one from three feet on the 18th

Midwesterner Bob MacDonald emerged victorious in a

green that circled around the hole and cost him the out-

tight finish. He missed a three-foot putt for the outright

right victory. Hagen won the playoff the next day, shoot-

victory, the shot 70 to Long Jim Barnes’ 80 in a playoff

ing a 70 to his rival’s 74. His three consecutive Met Open

after the pair had tied at 295. Legends Gene Sarazen and

victories remains unsurpassed in Met Open annals.

Johnny Farrell finished one stroke behind at 296.

1921

Bob MacDonald, a burly

1924

Scot from the Bob O’Link

Beginning the final round, Winged Foot professional

Club near Chicago, played steady golf

Mike Brady was in third, two strokes be-

over the last 36 holes and won the Met

hind Johnny Farrell and Willie MacFar-

Open by four-strokes. Cyril Walker of En-

lane. After nearly missing the ball on his

glewood held a three-stroke lead after 36 holes, and might

tee shot at the second hole, distracted by a fan walking in

have won the Championship had he not taken four whacks

the gallery behind him, Brady played the first eight holes

to get out of footprint in a bunker behind the 13th green.

on the back nine in two under par and shot a 72 to edge MacFarlane by two strokes. Farrell faded to third with a 77.

1922

Marty O’Loughlin, the rotund New Jersey Open

Gene Sarazen passed seven

title holder, won the first Met Open ever

1925

staged at the fabled Lido Country Club.

and Mike Brady, with a final round 71 to

His winning 72-hole score of 309 was

card 295 and win the championship by

the highest in recent years, attesting to the severe challenge

one stroke over Turnesa. Until Sarazen

of the relatively new links at Long Beach. O’Loughlin led

emerged, the likely outcome of the tournament was very

the way after 36 and 54 holes (by three strokes), but a front

muddled. The championship was played at the now-defunct

nine 45 left him behind. He rallied with a back nine 38,

Grassy Sprain, a private club located between the Bronx River

however, to retake the lead and win the tournament.

Parkway and Central Avenue, south of Tuckahoe Road.

Opposite: 1923 met Open champion Bob MacDonald

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rivals, including Joe Turnesa

1925

It took three extra rounds

the charge of defending champion Johnny Farrell, who

to determine the winner

closed with rounds of 68 and 69. Armour’s 278 equaled

of what might have been the longest

the tournament record set by Macdonald Smith in 1914.

major championship ever. The com-

Armour shot a course record 66 in the first round, and

petitors were Gene Sarazen and Mac-

never looked back.

1926

donald Smith, and it took a course record 66 in the seventh round to determine Smith as the champion.

Smith’s sensational putting defeated Sarazen, who shot an

1929

excellent 70. Smith’s winning score for the championship

rounds of a much easier Lido course

was 494. During the first two playoff rounds, held on the

after Cox shot a course record 67 in the

same day, Sarazen twice rallied from two-strokes down.

third round. Mehlhorn responded with

Smith’s first round 67 gave him a five-stroke advantage,

a 68 (with a four-under-par front-nine in 33) in the final

but Sarazen caught him with a 68 in the third round. The

round to defeat Cox by three strokes. Cox actually beat

championship was contested on Salisbury #3, which is

Mehlhorn by four strokes on the final day, but was too

now part of Eisenhower Park.

far behind early to catch up.

1927 1929

Bill Mehlhorn and Wiffy

After failing several times

1930

in recent years, Johnny

Cox were tied after three

Willie MacFarlane played the last three holes in

Farrell broke through at Wykagyl,

birdie-birdie-par to edge Johnny Far-

coming from three strokes behind over

rell by two strokes in a second playoff

the last three holes. Momentum changed

round after the players matched 70’s

at the 16th when leader Bobby Cruickshank drove out of

in the first extra round. Both MacFarlane and Farrell

bounds, then muffed his tee shot on the 17th hole. On the

had defeated Bobby Jones in playoffs for the U.S. Open

final green, Farrell sank a 12-foot putt and then Cruick-

title. MacFarlane led most of the way in the second play-

shank missed from five-feet, giving Farrell the title.

off round, just as he had done in the closing stages of tournament proper. Farrell rallied with birdies on the 15th

1928

Tommy Armour, winner

through 17th holes to force the playoff. The pair turned

of the U.S. and Canadian

in matching cards of 280 for the first 72 holes.

Opens the previous year, led by seven strokes at the start of the final day and 1931

shot a pair of 71’s, enough to withstand

Above: The always impeccable attired Johnny Farrell won the Met Open in 1927.

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1931

Macdonald Smith finished

1934

with a new course record

Young Paul Runyan, star of the previous winter tour,

66 and a 71, the latter played in a driv-

calmly sank a five-foot putt on the 18th

ing rain, to win by five strokes. Smith

green to win the Met Open by one

led from start to finish, pulling away

stroke. Walter Hagen, who last won in

from Johnny Farrell after 36 holes despite five three-putt

1920, and Wiffy Cox, the early leader, tied for second.

greens on the final day. Gene Sarazen rallied to be second,

In the final round, Craig Wood fired a 66 and shattered

one stroke ahead of Farrell and Willie MacFarlane.

the course record 67 established by Wiffy Cox in the first round and tied by Johnny Kinder in the second round.

Wood finished fourth, two behind Runyan.

Barnstorming Californian

1932

Olin

Dutra,

imitating

Gene Sarazen’s finish in the U.S. Open

Henry Picard, a tall, Massa-

at Fresh Meadow, played his final two

1935

rounds in 68 and 65 strokes, seven

at Hershey, entered the last round with

under par. In fourth place and trailing Rumson professional

a four-stroke lead, but gave most if it

Vic Ghezzi by five strokes entering the final round, Dutra

back on the second hole when his re-

fired a course record, seven-under-par-65 at Lido to win

covery from the side of a bunker sailed over the green,

by two-strokes. Dutra’s 72-hole 282 was seven strokes bet-

through the tree branches, and down a concrete road,

ter than Bill Mehlhorn’s course record 289 at Lido in 1929.

stopping alongside a gutter. He rallied on the back nine

chusetts-born professional

and restored his lead. South African Sid Brews rallied

1933

with a 33 on the back nine to finish second.

The forty-three-year-old veteran Willie MacFarlane

of the Oak Ridge Golf Club in Tucka-

Young Texas-born Byron

hoe, N.Y. birdied the last two holes to

1936

edge American Ryder Cup player Paul

sional at Ridgewood, sank a clutch

Runyan by one stroke. His 291 total was three strokes

five-foot putt for bogie on the 16th

better than Bobby Jones and Al Espinosa carded during the

hole at Quaker Ridge to preserve his

1929 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Defending champion

two-stroke lead. Craig Wood finished second, two

Olin Dutra aced the 10th hole during his third-round 70,

strokes behind Nelson, with Paul Runyan one stroke

but a closing 76 left him strokes behind the winner.

behind him. Nelson made a spectacular par 4 on the

Nelson, assistant profes-

Opposite: Young Texan Byron Nelson credited his 1934 Met Open win as one of the most important of his career.

He would win the Masters the next year and go on to become one of the most decorated players in the game.

1938 –24–

Nelson sank a chip from 60 foot on the 18th green at Quaker Ridge in front of huge crowds to preserve his lead in over Craig Wood and Paul Runyon, winning the event that would change the course of his career.

last hole, almost sinking a 60-foot chip after his ball

and home professional Paul Runyan of

struck a spectator standing near the green. Nelson’s

Metropolis deadlocked at 283. Ghezzi

final round 71 gave him a 72-hole total of 283. He

gained two strokes on both his rivals

credits the win with launching his career.

with a final round 70, but shot a 77 in the first playoff round to drop out of

Sam Snead shot rounds of

contention. Picard birdied the 18th hole to tie Runyan

68 and 65 to take an al-

at 70, and forced a second playoff round. Picard took a

most insurmountable lead, but then a

quick lead in the second extra round, and led Runyan

deluge flooded the Forest Hill Field

by as many as four strokes before bogeying two of the

Club’s course and wiped out his 65.

final three holes, carding 69 to his rival’s 71.

1937

Snead couldn’t maintain that kind of pace, and shot his worst round of the tournament in the final round, opening

Craig Wood, professional at

the doors for Hempstead-born Jimmy Hines, who finished

1940

with two 70’s to edge Henry Picard, who suffered two

records for a major tournament, shooting

three-putt greens near the end of the round. Hines’ total

rounds of 64-66-68-66—264 at Forest

of 279 fell one stroke short of the Met Open record.

Hill to win by 11-strokes over Ben

Winged Foot, shattered all

1938

Hogan, who finished five strokes ahead of the rest of the Jimmy Hines became the

field. His sixteen-under-par finish broke the Met Open

first professional to repeat

record by fourteen strokes. The gallery of almost 2,500

since Walter Hagen nearly twenty years

was greater than any in recent years. His first-round 64

prior. He started the final round even

was the lowest ever in the Met Open, and his 36-hole

with U.S. Open champion Ralph Gul-

and 54-hole scores equaled the lowest ever in any Amer-

1938

ican tournament of consequence.

dahl, Hines carded a 72 in a steady downpour to give him a three-stroke victory over Sam Snead, with Guldahl

The Met Open was not played from 1941-48

another two strokes behind. Snead took a 7 on the seventh hole when his tee shot went through a fence and

1949

out of bounds.

Metropolis

professional

Jackie Burke, Jr., set sev-

eral new Metropolis course records For the second time in its history, three

while winning the Met Open by 5

professionals had to play off for the Met

strokes. His second-round 64 set a new

Open crown. After 72 holes, Henry Picard, Vic Ghezzi,

competitive course record, and his final round 67 gave

1939

1940

Opposite: 1949 Met Open champion Jackie Burke –29–

him a Metropolis record 72-hole score of 274. 47-year-old

1953

Gene Sarazen rallied to finish second.

Pete Cooper of Century took the lead after the

third round and drew away to a fourGeorge Stuhler of Cedar

stroke victory. After the tournament,

Hill parlayed booming

he left the Metropolitan-area to play on

drives, three consecutive 69’s, and an

the Tour for a few years, then retired to “become a

eagle at the sixth hole to edge Claude

farmer and raise hogs, tobacco, and peanuts.”

1950

Harmon by one stroke. On the sixth hole in the afternoon, a young boy rushed out onto

Otto Greiner broke a dead-

the fairway and picked up a ball. “My daddy said I

1954

could have it,” he protested.

72nd hole. After Hebert drove into the

lock with Jay Hebert on the

right rough and hit his second shot

1951

Masters champion Claude

across the fairway into more rough, then

Harmon shot rounds of

pitched too strong, then came up short, Greiner was able to get down in 3 from a greenside bunker.

67-69-69-70, overcoming a two-stroke 1951

deficit in the final round to edge Pete Cooper by two strokes. Cooper suffered

Art Doering birdied the

two double bogie 6’s on the incoming nine to squander

1955

his lead. Clarence Doser tied for third despite being hit

Brosch after 72 holes, then held off

on the leg by an errant tee shot during the second round.

Brosch’s charge in the playoff five days

final two holes to tie Al

later. Trailing by five strokes in the

1952

Chet Sanok became the

playoff, Brosch holed a 5-iron for an eagle 2, but a birdie

first amateur to win the

on the 18th hole left him one stroke short.

Met Open. The 6’3”, 220 pound former caddie shot a final nine 34 to overcome

1956

Dick Mayer and Jim Turnesa. In trouble

PGA champion Doug Ford fired a course-record 66,

on the par-5 17th hole, his 4-iron approach from under

seven-under-par at wind-swept Inwood,

trees struck an overhanging limb, then caromed off the

to come from five strokes behind and fin-

bank of the green and finished 15 feet from the hole.

ish three strokes ahead of 54-hole leader Mike Turnesa. In the rough five times and in

Opposite: 1951 Met Open champion Claude Harmon

1955 –30–

bunkers four times, Ford needed just 24 putts for his sen-

1960

sational round.

Al Mengert shot four consecutive rounds in the 60’s

(69-68-67-68 = 274) to win the Met Wes Ellis led after each

Open by 12 strokes over Wes Ellis.

round to capture his first

Mengert started his third round with a

professional victory over a Plainfield

birdie 3 followed by an eagle 2, holing a 143-yard 8-iron

course that might have been the most

for the eagle. The victory allowed Mengert to complete a

rugged ever played in the Met Open

Jersey Slam — New Jersey Open, New Jersey PGA, and

that was buffeted by twenty-mile-an-hour winds. Ellis’

Met Open at Ridgewood. Mengert described his success

final score of 296 left him three shots ahead of the field.

in one word — “Confidence.”

1957

Defending champ Doug Ford was with the Ryder Cup team and missed the championship. This championship

Scoring was much more

1961

earned Plainfield its reputation as the “Green Monster.”

difficult at Winged Foot in

1959

1961, and former Winged Foot assisBob Watson took his first

tant professional Wes Ellis carded a 72-

job in the Met Area as an

hole score of 289 to recapture the Met

assistant to Jackie Burke at Metropolis.

Open title. Ellis and his closest pursuers all struggled

His second-round 64, seven under par,

through the final two rounds over the East Course, and

equaled Burke’s record for the course

Ellis ultimately won with a par 4 on the last hole despite

1958

driving into an adjacent fairway.

and propelled Watson to a three-stroke victory. Claude Harmon rallied from six strokes behind with a finalround 68, but couldn’t catch Watson.

1962

Future Tour player, but then

an

assistant

at

Jim Turnesa, the first of

Apawamis, Miller Barber defeated

the famed Turnesas to win

Tom Nieporte of Piping Rock by

an MGA title, caught Shelley May-

seven strokes to win an 18-hole play-

field with a third-round 69 that fea-

off. Barber trailed Nieporte by five strokes after 36

tured an eagle 3 on the fifth hole, a

holes, but finished with rounds of 70 and 69 to force

holed-out forty-yard approach, and three birdies over

the playoff. Eddie Famula of Galloping Hill finished

the last four holes, then out-dueled Mayfield 74-75 in

one behind, the victim of a first-round 75, but three

the final round.

strokes ahead of Wes Ellis.

1959

1960

Opposite:Wes Ellis captured the Met Open three times....

–33–

1963

1966

“Green Monster” at Plain-

Tom Nieporte carded final rounds of 67 and 69

field, shooting a competitive course

to capture the Met Open by three

record 283 to win by five strokes (he

strokes on a rainy and misty day at

led by eight after three rounds). In

Mountain Ridge. Nieporte’s most spec-

doing so, Ellis became the fourth golfer ever to win the

tacular shot was a chip-in for par at the par-3 seventh hole

Met Open three times. Ellis and runner-up Doug Ford

after his tee shot landed near a bench at the eighth tee

were among many who complained that the pins could-

and his recovery left him short of the green. He finished

n’t have been placed in more exacting positions.

the 72 holes seven-under-par at 277.

1964 1964

Wes Ellis tamed the

56-year-old Jack Patroni,

1967

the gray-haired profes-

Jerry Courville became the second amateur to

sional at Apawamis, shocked everyone

win the Met Open with a wire-to-

when he came from four-strokes be-

wire victory at Winged Foot West.

hind Wes Ellis after 54 holes to shoot

Courville was four strokes ahead after

an even-par 71 as his younger rivals fell back. Former

36 holes, then shot rounds of 75 and 74 in driving rain

winner Bob Watson commented afterwards, “This is the

to maintain his margin. To combat the weather,

best thing ever to happen to golf in our district.” The

Courville played the final rounds wearing heavy rain

championship was held at Briar Hills, now the site of

trousers and a visor to prevent the rain from fogging

Trump National Westchester.

his eyeglasses.

1965

Jerry Pittman, the assis-

1968

tant at Westchester Coun-

Jerry Pittman won the Met Open title at Inwood

try Club, won top honors in 1965 with

with his 274 total eight strokes ahead

impressive rounds of 69-68-67-71–

of runner up Jimmy Wright. Pittman

275, three strokes better than Jimmy

set a new course record with a 65 in

Wright and Wes Ellis, as three of the leading local profes-

the third round. During an 11-hole span in the final

sionals pushed each other. Wright, then an assistant at

round, he and playing partner Wright carded an amaz-

Winged Foot, made up 6 strokes on Pittman with a final

ing 14 birdies! Pittman noted that “It was a great day for

round 65.

Oklahoma,” as he, Wright, and the third-place finisher all were born in the Sooner state.

Opposite: 1966 Met Open champion Tom Nieporte

1967

–34–

1969

Fourth in the national

1972

PGA Championship ear-

Don Massengale fired a four-under-par 68 in rain

lier in the year, Jimmy Wright broke a

and fog to come from eight strokes

36-hole deadlock with Tom Nieporte

behind and catch third-round leader

with a third-round, then played a “safe”

Ron Letellier. Visibility was so poor

round of 73 in the afternoon to hold off the charge of Mike

that neither player could see the last green as they ap-

Fetchick in the final round to win by two strokes. Low am-

proached. The rain continued during the playoff, and

ateur honors went to Pete Bostwick, Jr., the world open

Letellier putted poorly on the softened greens, giving

court tennis champion.

the advantage to Massengale, who won by three strokes with a 72.

1970

Wright deadlocked at 288

As

officials

mopped

after four rounds. Albus’ margin of vic-

1973

tory in the playoff came on the par 3 17th

with huge bath towels so the contestants

hole. After watching his shots spin back

could finish in a heavy downpour,

from pin high on the sloping green in previous rounds,

Georgia-born Peter Davison, a teaching

Albus decided to use one club more (a 7-iron) and punch

assistant at Woodmere, carded a 73 that allowed him to

his shot low into the green. Wright, noting Albus’ club se-

maintain the one-stroke advantage he held over Tom

lection, but not the type of shot he played, followed suit and

Joyce, assistant professional at Stanwich, since the second

airmailed the green, an error that led to a decisive bogey.

round. The officials had to move the cups on the 16th

Albus birdied the hole and won the playoff, 72 to 73.

and 18th holes to higher ground between rounds.

1971

1970

Jim Albus and Jimmy

After seeing his six-hole

1974

lead vanish during the

water from the greens

The Met Open was conducted for the first time

second round, Ron Letellier sank an

at 54 holes in 1974, and was won by

18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to

Bob Bruno of Pelham at seven under

beat Jimmy Wright by one stroke.

par. Howie Johnson was tied with

Letellier holed birdie putts of 60, 60, and 40 feet in a

Bruno after 36 holes, but took an 8 on the 10th hole

morning round 69, reclaiming the lead and holding off

when he hooked his drive out of bounds, then hit into

a challenge from Jimmy Wright, who took the lead at

water, and ultimately three-putted the green.

the 13th hole.

–36–

Carlton White, a 26-

1975

year-old assistant profes-

1978

The Met Open was the first major championship

sional at Washington Valley, NJ, shot a

to be played at Quaker Ridge since

final round 70 in the rain to pull away

1936. The leader after each of the first

from his rivals and win the Met Open

two rounds was Winged Foot’s Tom

by three strokes. The final round was played in light rain,

Nieporte, who used a three-wood off the tee to avoid the

and that may have helped White pull away from early

trees. The final round belonged to Nick Manolios and

leader Jack Kiefer, Bill Collins, and Carl Lohren. White

Winged Foot assistant David Glenz, and was decided in

planned to use his purse money to travel to some of the

a three-hole aggregate playoff when Manolios drove

PGA Tour events that fall and the following spring.

into the trees on the second hole and took a double bogie.

1976

Martin Bohen won a three-man

three-hole

1979

Bill Britton, a 23-year-old from Staten Island who

aggregate playoff against home profes-

had been a professional for only five

sional Lloyd Monroe and Jimmy Wright,

weeks, parred the sixth hole of a playoff

after the trio had deadlocked at 215.

with George Bullock to become only

Following birdies on the first two holes, Monroe played it

the second player to have won both the Met Amateur

safe on the treacherous 3-South and bogeyed, allowing

and Met Open (following Jerry Courville). Britton had

Bohen to win with birdies on the second and third extra

been the first public links player to win the

holes with putts of 15 and 25 feet. Bohen had been the

Met Amateur, and became the second to

36-hole leader, but shot 75 in the final round and was

win the Met Open. The other was his long-

caught by both Wright (73) and Monroe (71).

time mentor, Jim Albus.

1977

The 6-foot, 4-inch Martin Bohen of Spook Rock

1980

George Bullock came

became the first man in 39 years (and

back to win a playoff on

fourth overall) to win the Met Open in

the fifth extra hole, defeat-

consecutive seasons. The former PGA

ing Dick Siderowf, one of

Tour player shot a 72 in the final round when most play-

the nation’s top amateurs. Bullock was an as-

ers struggled with the dense woods and large greens at

sistant at Century where Siderowf, twice a

Meadow Brook. He overcame 36-hole leader Tom

British Amateur winner, was a member.

Ulozas (77) and posted a two-under-par 214. At the

Siderowf lost his opportunity to win when he missed a

time, the two Met Open victories were the only wins of

two-foot putt for par on the 18th green. Bullock squan-

his professional career.

dered a four-stroke lead with a third-round 74.

–37–

1975

1976

1981

Kelley Moser shot a final

1983

round 70 that included

The storyline in 1983 was very similar to 1982,

three birdies and two bogies on the back

with Darrell Kestner shooting a final

nine to post a two-stroke victory over

round 73 to win the championship by

David Glenz. After Moser bogied the

three strokes. Kestner became only the

seventeenth hole, Glenz’s tee shot on Knollwood’s famous

fifth player to win the championship in back-to-back

18th hole landed in a divot, costing him a bogie instead of

years, and was sponsored by the members of the Century

the chance to draw even with Moser.

Country Club to play on the PGA Tour.

1982

Newcomer to the area

1984

and Virginia native, Dar-

Jim Albus hooked his shots through, around,

rell Kestner took a four-stroke lead into

and over the trees at Old Oaks, missed

the final round at Montclair, and shot a

five greens and six fairways, and three-

73, far short of his two-round score of

putted the last two holes, yet won the

134. Nobody challenged, however, and Kestner’s 207 won

Met Open by two strokes. Despite his difficulties, he

the championship by four strokes.

shot 69 in the final round, and his 210 score for 54

1981

Above: Power Pairing — George Zahringer, Jim Albus and Darrell Kester played together at the 1982 Met Open. Kestner won, and would repeat again in 1983 with Albus and Zahringer taking the next two titles in ’84 and ’85.

–38–

holes made him the only player in the field to equal par.

way. Defending champion David Glenz narrowed the

“I didn’t intend to make it that exciting. I could hear

gap with birdies on the last two holes, but fell one

the blood flowing,” he said after finishing.

stroke short of McGovern.

1985

“My mind made promises my body couldn’t keep,”

1988

Bobby Heins sank birdie putts of 20 and 25 feet on

said George Zahringer III after falling be-

the 16th and 18th holes to snatch vic-

hind early. But Zahringer came from four

tory away from Tom Joyce. Heins’ final

strokes down with a final round 68 that

round 68 made him the only player in

left him with a two-stroke victory. In doing so, he became

the field to shoot par over the rain-soaked Lower course

the third amateur to win the Met Open, and the first to win

at Baltusrol. A deluge overnight prompted MGA officials

the Met Amateur and Met Open in the same season.

to allow the players to use preferred lies in both of the last two rounds, a first in Met Open history.

1986

A fifty-yard bunker shot that stopped, then backed

Bobby Heins defended

up to within four inches of the cup, won

1989

the championship for David Glenz. Rain

feating George Zahringer II by two

fell steadily throughout the final day, and

strokes in a three-hole aggregate-score

the lead alternated between the three professionals in the

playoff. Heins started the final round

final group, Glenz, Tom Joyce, and Jim Albus. Glenz’s

four strokes behind Zahringer, who had just one bogie

bunker shot was the difference, helping him to a 69 (and

over the first two rounds, but four in the third round and

208), and a one-shot victory over Joyce. Joyce started the

two more in the playoff. This marked the first time the

final round with a three-stroke lead.

MGA conducted the Met Open over a public course, and

his title successfully, de-

brought Bethpage Black into the Championship spotlight.

1987

Jim McGovern, a senior at Old Dominion Univer-

Larry Rentz shot a seven-

sity, became the fourth amateur to win

1990

the Met Open, and the third to do so at

ond

Winged Foot. On or tied for the lead

unchallenged to win by six strokes

over the first two rounds, McGovern started slowly in

and break the tournament record by

the final round, bogeying three of the first six holes.

three strokes with a 54-hole score of 204. One of the

McGovern told himself to “Slow it down, take it easy,”

longest hitters in the Met Area, Rentz eagled two holes

and responded with two-under-par golf the rest of the

of at least 500 yards during his record round.

–39–

under-par 64 in the sec-

round, then sailed home

1985

1991 1987

Mike Diffley achieved the

1992

first major victory of his

Mark Mielke holed putts of 34 and 51 feet on the

professional career, and became the

16th and 17th holes to overcome a

first lefthander to win the Met Open.

three-stroke deficit to edge Rick Ver-

After bogeying the sixteenth hole, he

shure by one stroke. Mielke started the

appeared on the verge of losing again, but a gutsy par

day with a one-shot advantage, but dropped back and was

putt on the 17th and a birdie on 18 gave him a three-

playing for second place before the four-shot turnaround

stroke victory. His final round 72 gave him an aggre-

gave him the victory. Mielke noted that someone told him

gate 205, eight under par.

his 51-foot putt took nine seconds before falling in.

Below: p. 40 – Larry Rentz celebrating his 1990 win at Westchester Country Club. –40–

1993

Before the championship

1996

started, the consensus

Bruce Zabriski, in his first year as teaching profes-

among the professionals was that even

sional at Westchester Country Club,

par would win over the tough Quaker

shot eight-under-par 208 at Stanwich

Ridge course. But Bruce Zabriski

to win by 12 strokes, equaling Al

equaled the course record 66 in the second round, then

Mengert’s margin a victory in 1960. “It took me a few

sealed victory with a 67 in the final round. Zabriski, who

years to realize you can score well even if you don’t

had played on the PGA Tour the preceding year, shot

hit the ball perfectly. Today I felt the only one who

six-under-par 204, and beat Larry Rentz by four strokes.

can beat me was myself,” Zabriski commented after

The victory was Zabriski’s fourth victory of the season

his dominating performance.

in the Met Area.

1994

Charlie

Cowell,

1997

who

Mike Burke, Jr., started the final round tied for 13th

worked on the grounds of

place, but “charged” with a final round

the Ridgewood Country Club eleven

67 that included six birdies to win by

years prior, returned in 1994 to win a

three strokes over second-round leader

close battle with Bill King and Rick

Rick Hartmann. A Met Amateur champion almost two

Hartmann by two strokes. The champion was decided on

decades prior, Burke finished two strokes under par over

the 11th hole when Cowell sank a short birdie putt and

the tough Plainfield course. He needed only 26 putts

Hartman bogeyed after driving into the trees.

using his long-handled putter. The Met Open purse was raised to $100,000 for the first time in the MGA’s

1995

1994

Centennial season.

Darrell Kestner won his third Met Open after a

three-hole aggregate playoff against

Rick Hartmann, who

Bruce Zabriski that was decided when

1998

Zabriski double-bogeyed the 17th hole.

Tour for 10 years, finally broke

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so mentally exhausted because

through to win the Met Open. Starting

this golf course is so treacherous,” Kestner said of the At-

the final round five strokes behind the

lantic Golf Club course.

played on the European

leaders, he shot a seven-under-par 63 at The Creek.

He finished the 54 holes at 203, one stroke better than Darrell Kestner, who said of Hartmann, “He is now the premier player in the area.” The victory was Hartmann’s fourth of the season.

–41–

1996

took the lead with a birdie while his closest competitor, Jerry Courville Jr., bogied. Courville, who was attempting to emulate his father’s feat of winning the Met Open as an amateur, fell one stroke short.

2001

Johnson Wagner became the first amateur

since George Zahringer III in 1985 to win the Met Amateur and Met Open in the same season. The 21-year-old collegian started the final round six strokes behind Rick Hartmann, and shot a five-birdie 66 over Bethpage Black. He caught Hartmann after 12 holes, and had a three-stroke lead after 16 holes.

THE MET OPEN:

“Off The Record” Willie Anderson, runner-up in the inaugural (1905) Met Open, was the reigning U.S. Open champion.

In 1911, Oswald Kirkby fired a second-round 68, and eventually finished even with U.S. Open champion Johnny McDermott.

Robert McDonald tied the 1915 tournament with a sensational chip from the side of steep bank to the right of the green, above a bunker, almost holing the shot.

1916 was the first year there was a Pro-Am (one pro, one amateur) before the championship.

1999

Neither a six-stroke deficit nor heavy morning rains

Johnson Wagner won

could stop Mark Brown, who shot a

2002

course record 65 at the Tuxedo Club

consecutive MGA major champi-

to win the Met Open. The rain de-

onship at Winged Foot West. Starting

layed the final round by two hours, and made the

the final round with a three-stroke

greens more receptive, and Brown was on target all day,

lead, the newly-turned professional took a double bogey

carding eight birdies in his round. Defending cham-

on the third hole, but responded with three consecutive

pion Rick Hartmann lost his chance when he triple-

birdies. He was the only player under par for the

bogeyed the par-3 17th hole.

championship.

an unprecedented fifth

In 1919, Louis Costello of Quogue hit his drive over a hill, but could not find it and took a two-stroke penalty; later a committeeman found a caddie with three balls he could not account for, including Costello’s, and the penalty was rescinded.

2000

players within two strokes of the lead.

and a former Met Junior Champion,

An unprecedented field of 112 in 1920 was second only to the U.S. Open.

But as the day progressed, two emerg-

shot a first-round 67 at Metedeconk

Before the final round

2003

began, there were nine

Amateur Andrew Svoboda, a senior at St. John’s

U.S. open winner Gene Sarazen shot 84-75-84-77–320 at Lido in 1922.

ed as contenders late into the day. The

National and never trailed, winning the

15th hole proved pivotal for Michael Gilmore, who

Met Open by five strokes. Richard Massey of Darlington,

In 1925, U.S. Open winner Willie Macfarlane dropped out because of blistered hands, but a deluge postponed the first round, and he “came back in.” He shot 154 playing with hands covered with tape, then a 79 in the third round and withdrew.

Above: Johnson Wager and Commissioner of Parks Bernadette Castro following Wagner’s first Met Open win as an amateur at Bethpage.

He would win again as a pro the next year, and become the only player to ever win The Met Slam – Ike, Open and Amateur in the same year.

–42–

a veteran of the Canadian, South American, and South

on the 18th green at Canoe Brook

African tours, finished second and collected the winner’s

North for a birdie-4 and a 67 that tied

share of $23,000 from the $125,000 purse. The following

him with Rick Hartmann. He then de-

year Svoboda would win the Met Amateur at The Stan-

feated Hartmann with a birdie-4 on

wich Club, winning 4 & 3 against Tyler Randol.

the third hole of a three-hole aggregate playoff, the 12th hole, which he had eagled during

2004

the final round.

With a second-round

Heavy rains forced the

the Met Open, a position he had

2007

achieved three times previously. He

round, but the members at Meadow

appeared heading for victory after 10 holes, but then

Brook were very gracious in allow-

had to overcome a furious charge by Brian Lamberti,

ing the MGA to use their course one

who shot a course-record 64 (including a back-nine

additional day. Frank Bensel of Century birdied the

29). Hartmann bogied three holes on the back nine,

final two holes to grab a one-stroke victory from four

then secured a one-stroke victory with clutch bunker

of the region’s most respected professionals. Benefit-

shots on the final two holes.

ting from experience gained playing in the U.S.

cancellation of the first

Open at Oakmont earlier that season, Bensel shot

2005

John

Stoltz

shot

three rounds of 69, rolled in a slippery, downhill putt

a

of 12 feet to claim the victory.

course- record 64 in the

second round to take a three-stroke lead over several local professionals

2008

who had played in the PGA Champi-

Forty-six-year-old Mark Mielke of Mill River set

onship at Baltusrol the week before. But after five-

a new record of 16 years between Met

putting the sixth green, Stoltz held off challenges from

Open victories, shooting rounds of

Mark Mielke, Darrell Kestner, and Craig Thomas, de-

65-71-69 (five under par). Despite

feating the latter in a three-hole aggregate playoff with

his opening 65, Mielke was three stroke behind 25-

a birdie on the final hole.

year-old Tim Hegarty of Sleepy Hollow, whose 62 was the lowest score in Met Open history. At the end,

2006

In 1926, Mac Smith and Gene Sarazen played two extra 36-hole “rounds” before Smith fired a course record 66 in the fourth extra round to beat Sarazen’s 70.

Johnny Farrell and Willie Macfarlane, who tied after 72 holes, had both beaten Bobby Jones in U.S. Open playoffs.

Sam Snead made his “major tournament debut” in 1937 Met Open; he shot 68 in the first round, but then had a course record 65 “washed out” in second round.

Sam Snead, Jimmy Thomson, and Lawson Little took part in driving contest after the first round in 1938.

67, Rick Hartmann put

himself in the lead after 36 holes in

Macfarlane borrowed Gene Sarazen’s niblick to get out of an excavation to the right of the 14th green.

John Guyton, an assistant professional at

Mielke held a three-stroke advantage over late–charging

Trump National Westchester, placed a 40-

Heath Wassem of Fenway.

In 1940, Craig Wood’s 130 for 36 holes tied the American record for “tournaments of consequence;” his 264 was the lowest ever in a “topnotch tournament.” Ben Hogan was three under the tournament record, yet second by 11 strokes. Wood played before a gallery of close to 2,500 for the final round.

Four Turnesa brothers played in both 1949 and 1950 (Mike, Joe, Jim, and Doug in 1949, Mike, Phil, Doug, and Willie in 1950).

On the sixth hole in 1950, a red-haired child ran out and took Art Wall’s ball, saying his father said he could do it; it took a lot of persuasion to get the ball back.

In 1951 Clarence Doser was hit by an errant shot on the seventh hole, then used cane to tie for third place. Pete Cooper shot 30-33–63 in his first Met Open, birdieing 5 of the first 6 holes.

A 36-hole senior competition was played during the first 36 holes in 1952, and was won by Bill Mehlhorn.

1958 winner Bob Watson shot a second round course record 64 in fog and drizzle.

In 1959, Al Mengert took an 11 on the 18th hole at Woodmere that prevented him from making the 36 hole cut; in 1960 at Ridgewood, he shot 69-68-67-68 to win by 12 strokes and complete the Jersey Slam (New Jersey Open, NJPGA, and Met Open).

Claude Harmon shot a first round 67 in 1962, holing four putts 15-25 feet long.

Gray-haired Jack Patroni was 56 years, 9 months when he won in 1964.

In 1967, 69-year-old Bill Mehlhorn shot an 83 in the first round, as perhaps oldest player ever.

Jerry Pittman finished 65-69, 14 under, in 1968, his round including two eagles and 25 putts.

Former Yankee pitcher Ralph Terry of Roxiticus aced the fourth hole in 1969, but did not make the 36-hole cut.

yard approach from the rough one foot from the hole

1969 winner Jimmy Wright had finished fourth in the PGA earlier that year.

In 1970, Art Thomas was penalized 6 strokes, 2 for arriving late, and 4 for carrying 15 clubs for 2 holes.

–43–

2009

Andrew Giuliani, son of

2012

former New York City

Danny Balin of Burning Tree shot a final round

Mayor Rudy Giuliani, played steady

66 to overcome a seven-stroke deficit

golf down the stretch to win by one

and steal the spotlight from 20-year-

stroke over Jerry Courville, Jr. Giuliani

old Ryan McCormick and 15-year-

followed a birdie at the 10th hole with pars the rest of

old Cameron Young, amateurs who had made the

the way to card a three-under-par 210 at Ridgewood.

headlines on the first two days of the championship.

The Met Open was Giuliani’s first win as a professional.

Balin watched as McCormick three-putted the 18th green to fall out of a tie for the lead.

2010

Bob Rittberger parlayed consistent play, three

Fourteen years after win-

rounds of 71 in windy and often rainy

2013

conditions over the Black Course at

Mark Brown came to the 54th hole

Bethpage Park to earn a spot in a

with a one-stroke lead over amateur

three-hole aggregate playoff with Danny Balin who

Cameron Wilson, a senior at Stanford

played more erratically, shooting rounds of 69-76-68.

and a former Met Amateur and MGA Ike Champion.

Rittberger birdied the first playoff hole, while Balin

Brown overshot the green and bogied, while Wilson

missed the green for bogey. After bogeys by both on the

came up short in a deep front bunker, but recovered

next hole and a missed birdie attempt by Balin on the

close to the pin. In the three-hole aggregate playoff

third hole, Rittberger had the title in hand. Met Ama-

Brown won with a par and two birdies. MGA Player of

teur Champ Evan Beirne finished 3rd.

the Year Mike Miller shot a final round 67 in his pro

ning his first Met Open,

debut to finish third.

2011

Tyler Hall shot a finalround 67 to finish at 14-

With five holes to play

under par and win the champ-

2014

ionship, but had to struggle over the

Grant Sturgeon, an assistant profes-

last three holes to hold his position.

sional at Winged Foot, trailed Mike

After three-putting the 16th green, he had to play the

Ballo, Jr. of Woodway by three

17th hole from the adjacent second fairway. His ap-

strokes. Sturgeon responded with birdies on the next

proach to the final green missed right, and he had to

three holes while Ballo bogied two of those holes, giv-

save par with a 15-foot putt. The final round was de-

ing Sturgeon a two-stroke lead he preserved with pars

layed for three hours by lightning and heavy rain.

on the final two holes.

in the final round,

Left and opposite: Andrew Giuliani, 2009 winner at Ridgewood, gets some hugs from mom after his first professional victory.

–44–

WINGED FOOT

GOLF CLUB A landmark Met Open shines an overdue spotlight on Winged Foot’s East Course STORY BY BILL FIELDS

W

INGED FOOT is a renowned club with an abundance of riches.

As 1991 Met Open champion Mike Diffley says, “It’s mind-boggling to have two courses that good on the same property. They’re

among the best on the planet.”

To many, though, Winged Foot’s East course has always been silver to the West course’s gold.

Of the two wonderful A.W. Tillinghast designs on the Mamaroneck, N.Y., site, the West is the brawny big brother, a five-time U.S. Open site—it will host its sixth in 2020—that offers a relentlessly tough challenge. The East, slightly shorter but with arguably more fascinating green complexes and a world-class quartet of par 3s, has existed in the long shadow of the West’s championship history, which also

Opposite: Winged Foot East — Hole No. 10 –47–

includes a PGA Championship, two U.S. Amateurs, a Walker Cup, and a record seven Met Opens. In contrast, the East has held fewer national events: the U.S. Women’s Open in 1957 and 1972 and the 1980 U.S. Senior Open.

The broader exposure and rugged reputation of Winged Foot West —that became home to its first Open in 1929 after storm damage to the East — which is reflected in its position ahead of the East in course rankings. Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Courses has the West at No. 9 and the East at No. 59. On Golfweek’s roster of the Top 100 Classic Courses has the West No. 16 and the East No. 34.

But the East, which reopened in May after the completion of a two-stage restoration by architect Gil Hanse, is ready to shine as never before. “The East absolutely sparkles,” says Brian Mahoney, managing director of rules, competitions and GHIN services for the Metropolitan Golf Association. “The changes are very positive, and people love what they see.”

The 100th Met Open will be a coming-out party for the rejuvenated course, which also will be the primary host of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Winged Foot’s membership has already discovered how a fine layout established in 1923 has been improved.

“I had a funny conversation with a member the other day,” Hanse said in mid-June. “He told me he went over to play the East but couldn’t get on and had to settle for the West.”

To Hanse, whose architectural restoration credits include the North course at Los

Above: A.W. Tillinghast

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Angeles Country Club and Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., his task at Winged Foot East was clear.

“Anytime we approach a great, old historic course, first and foremost is to figure out what did the original architect do,” Hanse says. “In this case, it was Tillinghast. How can we restore portions that had been lost over time, and how can we use his design characteristics to update the course to match the requirements of the modern game? Whatever success we have enjoyed doing restoration work, it’s all been predicated on that philosophy.”

A key element of the work on the East was redoing the greens to USGA specifications for agronomic reasons. Architecturally, a handful of putting surfaces were modified: Nos. 3, 8, 11, 14 and 15. To return them to what Tillinghast had created almost a century ago, Hanse relied on historical photos and data and the recollections of member Neil Regan.

Course superintendent Rabideau was an integral part of the process.

I know I am a better architect for having had the opportunity to study those green complexes. They really are incredible.”

The restoration also included some tree removal—most notably on the eighth and 12th holes—and the repositioning of fairway bunkers on some holes. “If Tillinghast wanted to challenge the golfer at 220 yards,” says Hanse, “we looked at where we could move that bunker out to 280 or 290 to cope with how far the modern golf ball goes. Where it made sense, we did. You don’t want to stick a bunker at the proper distance but over a ridge where you can’t see it.”

For the Met Open, Winged Foot East will measure between 6,772 and 6,850 yards and play to a par 70. The second and eighth holes, par 5s for member play, will be rigorous par

Above: Architect Gil Hanse over saw the impeccable restoration to Winged Foot East.

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4s. There won’t be any adjustments on the par 3s—there doesn’t need to be.

“There is great variety,” Hanse says of the East’s par 3s. “From a setting or beauty standpoint, I’m sure there are more dramatic ones. But as far as playing characteristics and the questions they ask, I can’t think of a better set.”

The one-shotters—Nos. 3, 6, 13 and 17—are easy to appreciate, even when their challenges mar your scorecard. On each, the pitched putting surfaces are artful but vexing targets.

Two, the third and 13th, measure less than 150 yards from the back tees. “A lot of people joke that the 13th is the easiest par 5 in America,” says longtime Winged Foot member and MGA official Gene Westmoreland. “If you polled the members, many would pick it as their favorite hole on the whole property.” Guarded by bunkers and a deep depression left of the green, No. 13 is one of those holes that fits the eye and the land.

The sixth is longer, 194 yards, whose green has one of the East’s most perilous false fronts.

“It’s a terrorizing green,” says Westmoreland. “It’s fair, but don’t make a mistake. “If you’re above the hole and don’t have a really good touch, there is nothing stopping the ball. It’s going down the hill.”

No. 17 can play up to 227 yards. It is the only hole on the East without a bunker, and it doesn’t need one. If one was to simulate the target with china, the green would be a small saucer and the daunting grass depression left of it would be a large gravy boat. Someone trying to win the Met Open won’t think he is on holiday if his tee shot goes into that 15-foot deep predicament.

Survive the penalty hole and now comes the beefed-up 18th hole. Formerly

Above: Betsy Rawls, winner of the 1957 U.S. Women’s Open on the East Course.

Below: Roberto DiVincenzo won the inaugural 1980 U.S. Senior Open, also contested on the East Course.

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a maximum of 417 yards, a new tee stretching the finisher to 480 yards was constructed.

“It’s probably the only place we took a little more liberty with stretching things,” Hanse says. “Most of the holes, like on many old courses, greens and tees are close together. But if we were going to do it once, why not stretch out 18?”

The new tee will likely be used two of three rounds in the Met Open. “Where 18 was perceived as a birdie hole at 417 yards, now it really has some teeth to it,” Mahoney says.

Adds Westmoreland: “If the 18th lacked some of the championship vigor you’d like to see, it lacks absolutely nothing now.”

When competitors get on No. 18 and they see the English scholastic-style clubhouse looming beyond the final green, they will know they have been in a battle. They also will be eager to do it all over again. That is the essence of a great course.

Reprinted from The Met Golfer (Aug-Sept).

Winged Foot East — Hole No. 6

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MET OPEN

CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS CHAMPIONS MOST WINS

4 – Alex Smith (1905, 1909, 1910, 1913) 3 – Macdonald Smith (1914, 1926, 1931) Walter Hagen (1916, 1919, 1920) Wes Ellis (1957, 1961, 1963) Darrell Kestner (1982, 1983, 1995)

WINNERS OF MET OPEN AND MET AMATEUR IN THE SAME YEAR

1985 – George Zahringer III 2001 – Johnson Wagner 2002 – Johnson Wagner WINNERS OF MET OPEN AND MET AMATEUR

Bill Britton, Mike Burke Jr., Jerry Courville Sr., Jim McGovern, Andrew Svoboda, Johnson Wagner, George Zahringer III WINNERS OF MET OPEN AND IKE IN THE SAME YEAR

1967 – Jerry Courville Sr. 2002 – Johnson Wagner WINNERS OF MET OPEN AND IKE

WINS BY AN AMATEUR

1952 – Chet Sanok, Winged Foot (West) 1967 – Jerry Courville Sr., Winged Foot (West) 1985 – George Zahringer III, Mountain Ridge 1987 – Jim McGovern, Winged Foot (West) 2001 – Johnson Wagner, Bethpage (Black) 2003 – Andrew Svoboda, Metedeconk 2005 – John Stoltz, Old Westbury WINNERS OF MET OPEN AND U.S. OPEN

Tommy Armour, Olin Dutra, Johnny Farrell, Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Alex Smith, Craig Wood

Jerry Courville Sr., Mike Diffley, Andrew Giuliani, Johnson Wagner, George Zahringer III BACK-TO-BACK WINNERS

WINNERS OF MET OPEN AND PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

1909-1910 – Alex Smith 1916-1919-1920 – Walter Hagen 1937-1938 – Jimmy Hines 1976-1977 – Martin Bohen 1982-1983 – Darrell Kestner 1988-1989 – Bobby Heins 2001-2002 – Johnson Wagner

Tommy Armour, Jack Burke Jr., Olin Dutra, Doug Ford, Walter Hagen, Henry Picard, Paul Runyan, Gene Sarazen, Jim Turnesa

Alex Smith – Wykagyl, 1909 Jackie Burke – Metropolis, 1949

WINNER OF THE MET OPEN, AMATEUR AND IKE IN THE SAME YEAR

16 years – Mark Mielke, 1992 & 2008

2002 – Johnson Wagner

Above: Martin Bohen won back-to-back Met Opens in 1976-’77

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HOME CLUB PRO WINNERS

LONGEST TIME BETWEEN WINS

HIGHEST WINNING TOTAL (72-HOLE TOURNAMENT)

AGE

309 – Marty O’Loughlin, 1922, Lid

OLDEST WINNER:

56 years, 9 months – Jack Patroni, 1964 YOUNGEST WINNER:

21 years, 5 months – Johnson Wagner, 2001 21 years, 6 months – John Stoltz, 2005

MISCELLANEOUS LOWEST SCORES, 72 HOLES (72-HOLE TOURNAMENT)

264 – Craig Wood, 1940, Forest Hill LOWEST FINAL ROUND (54-HOLE TOURNAMENT)

SCORING

63 – Rick Hartmann, 1998, Creek 64 – Brian Lamberti, 2004, Hudson National

LOWEST SCORES, 18-HOLES:

LOWEST 54 HOLES BY AMATEUR

62 – Timothy Hegarty, 2008, CC of Fairfield 63 – Pete Cooper, 1951, Forest Hill 63 – Rick Hartmann, 1998, Creek 63 – Joe Horowitz, 2011, Sleepy Hollow

206 – Johnson Wagner, 2001, Bethpage (Black) LOWEST 72 HOLES BY AMATEUR

289 – Chet Sanok, 1952, Winged Foot (West)

LOWEST SCORES, 36-HOLES

LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY (IN 54-HOLE TOURNAMENT)

130 – Craig Wood, 1940, Forest Hill 132 – Larry Rentz, 1990, Westchester

12 strokes – Bruce Zabriski, 1996 5 strokes – Johnson Wagner, 2002

LOWEST SCORES, 54 HOLES (54 HOLE TOURNAMENT)

LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY (IN 72-HOLE TOURNAMENT)

203 – Rick Hartmann, 1998, Creek 204 – Larry Rentz, 1990, Westchester 204 – Bruce Zabriski, 1993, Quaker Ridge

12 strokes – Al Mengert, 1960 HIGHEST WINNING TOTAL (54-HOLE TOURNAMENT)

216 – Bill Britton, 1979, Plainfield

Above: George Zahringer III, Jerry Courville Sr, Bill Britton

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MOST TOP 10 FINISHES

14 – Johnny Farrell 13 – Willie MacFarlane 12 – Jim Albus MOST TOP 10 FINISHES BY AN AMATEUR

8 – George Zahringer III MOST TIMES AS LOW AMATEUR

9 – George Zahringer III 6 – Chet Sanok YOUNGEST LOW AMATEUR

15 years, 9 months – Cameron Wilson, 2008 17 years, 7 months – Sam Bernstein, 2009 MOST TIMES HOST CLUB

7 – Winged Foot (1933, ’52, ’61, ’67, ’87, 2002, 2015) 5 – Plainfield (1957, ’63, ’79, ’97, 2012)

MET OPEN CHAMPIONS YEAR

CHAMPION

SITE

YEAR

CHAMPION

SITE

YEAR

CHAMPION

1905 1906

Alex Smith George Low

Fox Hills Hollywood

1940

Craig Wood

Forest Hill

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Kelley Moser Knollwood Darrell Kestner Montclair Darrell Kestner Old Westbury Jim Albus Old Oaks George Zahringer (a) Mountain Ridge David Glenz Nassau Jim McGovern (a) Winged Foot Bobby Heins Baltusrol Bobby Heins Bethpage (Black) Larry Rentz Westchester Mike Diffley Hollywood Mark Mielke Nassau Bruce Zabriski Quaker Ridge Charlie Cowell Ridgewood Darrell Kestner Atlantic Bruce Zabriski Stanwich Mike Burke Jr. Plainfield Rick Hartmann The Creek Mark Brown Tuxedo Michael Gilmore Mountain Ridge Johnson Wagner (a) Bethpage (Black) Johnson Wagner Winged Foot (West) Andrew Svoboda (a) Metedeconk National Rick Hartmann Hudson National John Stoltz (a) Old Westbury John Guyton Canoe Brook Frank Bensel Meadow Brook Mark Mielke Fairfield Andrew Giuliani Ridgewood (N.J.) Bob Rittberger Bethpage (Black) Tyler Hall Sleepy Hollow Danny Balin Plainfield Mark Brown* Old Westbury Grant Sturgeon Trump National – Bedminster (Old)

The Met Open was not played in 1907

1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916

Jack Hobens Alex Smith Alex Smith Gil Nichols Tom McNamara Alex Smith Macdonald Smith Gil Nichols Walter Hagen

Baltusrol Wykagyl Deal Englewood Apawamis Salisbury Links Scarsdale Fox Hills Garden City GC

The Met Open was not played from 1917-18 due to WWI

1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

Walter Hagen Walter Hagen Bob MacDonald Marty O’Loughlin Bob MacDonald Mike Brady Gene Sarazen Macdonald Smith Johnny Farrell Tommy Armour Bill Mehlhorn Willie MacFarlane Macdonald Smith Olin Dutra Willie MacFarlane Paul Runyan Henry Picard Byron Nelson Jimmy Hines Jimmy Hines Henry Picard

North Shore Greenwich Siwanoy Lido Canoe Brook Engineers Grassy Sprain Salisbury Wykagyl Shackamaxon Lido Fairview Crestmont Lido Winged Foot Echo Lake Lakeville Quaker Ridge Forest Hill Fresh Meadow Metropolis

The Met Open was not played from 1941-48

1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980

Jackie Burke Jr. George Stuhler Claude Harmon Chet Sanok (a) Pete Cooper Otto Greiner Art Doering Doug Ford Wes Ellis Bob Watson Jim Turnesa Al Mengert Wes Ellis Miller Barber Wes Ellis Jack Patroni Jerry Pittman Tom Nieporte Jerry Courville Sr. (a) Jerry Pittman Jimmy Wright James Albus Ron Letellier Don Massengale Peter Davison Bob Bruno Carlton White Martin Bohen Martin Bohen David Glenz Bill Britton George Bullock

Metropolis Garden City CC Forest Hill Winged Foot Rockville Links The Knoll Fenway Inwood Plainfield Metropolis Woodmere Ridgewood Winged Foot Nassau Plainfield Briar Hall Woodmere Mountain Ridge Winged Foot Inwood Fenway Ridgewood Fresh Meadow Stanwich Hackensack Middle Bay Metropolis Upper Montclair Meadow Brook Quaker Ridge Plainfield Woodmere

SITE

Credits: The MGA would like to thank the following for their contributions to the Met Open 100th celebration: Laurie White (videos); Larry Hasak (program design); Bill Quirin and Bill Fields (program copy); Barry Sloan, Larry Lambrecht (course photography), Barry Sloan and USGA (photos); Winged Foot Golf Club (host club) and the MGA staff members who devoted many hours of preparation for this event.

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Winged Foot East — Hole No. 11