MGA photo

It was Zahringer’s fifth win in the Ike, the premier stroke play championship in the Met Area. Zahringer entered the second round of the 54-hole championship one stroke behind Andreas Huber of Garden City Golf Club, Larry Haertel Jr. of Greenwich and John Murphy of Brooklawn. A second-round 75 by Zahringer kept him within a stroke of the lead and put him in the final twosome with the 27-year-old Huber, the 2007 Long Island Amateur runner-up. During that final round, Zahringer took the lead on the second hole and never relinquished it, though Huber climbed back to within two with four holes to go.

Huber, who finished second, was the leader of a contingent of younger players in the final groups, which included 2005 Ike champion Andrew Giuliani of Van Cortlandt Park, 2003 Carter Cup winner Morgan Hoffmann of Arcola and Larry Haertel Jr., the 2006 New England Championship winner. But Zahringer, who will play in the U.S. Senior Open next week at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, rose to the top, carding a one-over 71 which included an even-par back nine.

However, Zahringer’s age and experience did not alleviate the pressures of big time competition that every player feels. “I felt the nerves a little more today than usual,” said Zahringer. “I haven’t been in the hunt in a while.”

Down the stretch, Zahringer played some of his best golf in recent years, especially on the back nine. He sunk a 45-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole that put him four strokes ahead of Huber. “That putt gave me a little momentum down the stretch; the pace of the putt was perfect and it gave me some breathing room.”

Huber had a chance after draining a 30-footer for birdie at 14 and then making par to Zahringer’s bogey at the 15th, which cut the lead to two strokes. But with a ten-foot putt for birdie at the 16th, Huber three-putted and lost a stroke. After his tee shot at the par-three 17th found the water hazard fronting the green, Huber made a five and Zahringer held a five-shot lead on the 18th tee.

Asked about his fifth Ike title and his record 11th MGA major championship, Zahringer said, “This is a great thrill, I would rank it up there with the Walker Cup and my Masters appearance [in 2003].” It is clear that age has not slowed one of the most accomplished players in MGA tournament history.

Full results follow: