2015 MGA Mid-Am winner Trevor Randolph (MGA)

Randolph outlasted Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake to claim victory. Both came to the 36th hole standing at 3-under-par overall, but Randolph came through with par while Stamberger missed the green with his approach from the left rough and could not get up and down to force a playoff.

While Randolph has been a serious challenger in numerous MGA events, including a runner-up finish in the 2013 Mid-Am, he was relieved to finally come out on top. “I got the monkey off my back, that’s for sure,” said a relieved Randolph following his win.

For Randolph, putting was key en route to the win. “My putting was really solid the whole tournament,” he reported. “Typically out here, if you have a round without a three-putt, that’s really good—and I don’t think I had a three-putt the whole tournament. So, that helped and my wedge play was fantastic.”

Both Stamberger and Randolph had it going early, with Stamberger birdieing three of his first six holes to take a two-shot lead over both Randolph and first-round leader John Ervasti of Sleepy Hollow. Stamberger kept it rolling and moved to 7-under after birdies on Nos. 9 and 10. But, Randolph remained close.

“Mike got off to such a hot start and I kind of rode his coattails for a while there,” Randolph remarked. “He was just making everything, so seeing the putts go in helped me and I stayed within striking distance.”

Randolph birdied 12 to edge closer, before both players stumbled down the stretch. Stamberger played the final six holes in 5-over, while Randolph had one miscue on the par-3 16th, which he double-bogeyed. But, with the tournament on the line, Randolph knocked his drive to the center of the fairway, spun his approach just off the front of the green and easily two-putted to claim stake to the Westmoreland Cup.

Stamberger finished in solo second at 2-under 138 for the championship, being the only other player to finish under-par.

Ervasti carded a 76 on the final day to finish even-par. Joe Saladino of Huntington carded one of the best rounds of the day, shooting 3-under 67 to rise up the leaderboard and tie Ervasti in third place.

Jonathan Jeter of Nassau Players Club also fired a 3-under 67, to jump into a tie for fifth with Dave Boccia of Huntington and Bryan Pendrick of Mill River Club. Boccia posted one of just four under-par rounds on Tuesday.

Six players tied for 8th with a 143 tournament total: Jon Doppelt of Fresh Meadow, Dan Levinson of Bayonne, Rich Messina of Sands Point, Nick Desai of Baltusrol, Steven Tarulli of Hempstead and Michael Karger of Century.

Meanwhile, Tom Dicinti’s round began with excitement, as he carded a hole in one on the 10th, his first hole of the day. His ace came with a 9-iron from 145 yards. Though Dicinti said it has been a few years since he had a hole in one, this was the 10th of his career.

Nassau Country Club provided a stellar setting for the 9th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship. The club is no stranger to hosting MGA events, having hosted more MGA major championships than any other club with eight Met Amateurs, three Met Opens and two Ike Championships. Shortly after its greens were rebuilt in 2012, Nassau hosted the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 100 years after it hosted the national championship for the first time. It also hosted the 1903 U.S. Men’s Amateur. For the Mid-Am, Nassau played to a par 70, measuring 6,515 in the final round.

The 10th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship will be played at Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, Conn.

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