"Carter Cup" Champion
MAMARONECK, NY (August 3, 2005) -- Morgan Hoffman of Wyckoff, NJ, survived soaring heat and a demanding 36 holes over the West and East courses of the famed Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY, to claim the 3rd annual Carter Cup/MGA Junior Stroke Play Championship title in a playoff with Dan Abbondandolo of Oyster Bay, NY. Hoffman won the title with a par on the first playoff hole, the par 3- 10th on the West Course, after both players posted three over par 145’s for the 36 hole championship to top the field of 51 select junior golfers.
Traditionally held at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ, this year’s championship was graciously hosted by Winged Foot because of the arrival of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol next week.
The Carter Cup is named in honor of 20-year-old Michael J. Carter, an accomplished junior player and standout member of the Delbarton School golf team who was tragically killed in a car accident in 2002. Carter was also junior club champion at both Baltusrol and Winged Foot Golf Clubs and was an up-and-coming golf team member at Penn State.
Hoffman, who qualified for the U.S. Amateur this week and is sure to be one of the youngest players in the field, is the reigning New Jersey State Junior champion. He posted an even par 71 in the morning round on the West course to share the lead with James Arbes of Westfield, NJ. Abbondandolo, an 2005 MGA Junior Championship semi-finalist was one shot back with a 72.
Three over par coming into the final hole in the afternoon, Abbondandolo saved par after a wild approach shot hit a maintenance building. “I hit my drive about 310 yards and my second shot hit a shed and wound up about 90 yards out,” explained Abbondandolo. “I made a good up and down to save par.”
Hoffman, even for the tournament and in the lead playing 16 finished bogey, double bogey and 16 and 17 to lose three shots. After missing a birdie putt on 18 that would have cinched the title the two went to a sudden death playoff.
On the first hole of the sudden death, Abbondandolo’s 12-foot par putt lipped out after he watched Hoffman almost chip in for birdie. Hoffman, who stood confidently over his putt, drained his attempt from two feet to claim the 2005 “Carter Cup” MGA Junior Stroke Play Championship.
“I was really just going for the green and trying not to make mistakes,” said a tired yet elated Hoffman. I am really proud to have won such a great title against some very good golfers.”
The winner of The Carter Cup gets a qualifying exemption to the 2006 Ike Championship at Fresh Meadow Country Club, Lake Success, NY.
For complete results, click on the tournament link above.
ABOUT THE MET Carter Cup
36 hole junior stroke play championship, by
invitation only. The Carter Cup is named in honor of
Michael Carter, a junior club champion at the Baltusrol
and Winged Foot Golf Clubs, a standout player on the
Delbarton School golf team in Morristown, N.J., and an
up-and-coming member of the Penn State golf team,
who died in a car accident in 2002.
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