Reed Greyserman Wins 70th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship in Thrilling Playoff

June 24, 2025 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

A home-club advantage turned legendary—Greyserman delivers a clutch finish few saw coming.

Reed Greyserman delivered a hometown triumph for the ages, emerging victorious in a three-man playoff to claim the 70th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey. With the win, Greyserman becomes the first player to lift the prestigious Ike trophy on home turf since Greg Rohlf did so in 1998 at Wykagyl Country Club.

Playoff Drama at Hamilton Farm

The final round on Tuesday, June 24, saw fireworks from three elite amateurs—Greyserman, Mike Rothberg (Mill River), and Nathan Han (MGA/USGA GC)—who each finished 54 holes tied at 9-under-par 207. Han carded a scorching 7-under 65, Rothberg posted a 66, and Greyserman closed with a 68 to force the playoff.

The playoff featured three holes—Hamilton Farm’s par-3 7th, par-4 8th, and par-5 9th—and tested the nerve and shotmaking of the contenders. Greyserman played them flawlessly, opening with a steady par and following it up with back-to-back birdies to seize control. Rothberg, despite starting with a bogey, clawed back with a birdie and nearly forced sudden death with an eagle try on the final playoff hole that narrowly missed.

Greyserman’s two-birdie finish sealed a remarkable home-club victory, delighting the local gallery and stamping his name into the championship’s storied history.

A Championship with Deep Roots

First played in 1953 and founded by New York Daily News sportswriter Dana Mozley, the Ike has become the Metropolitan area’s signature amateur stroke play event. After waning during the late 1970s and early 1980s due to a lack of sponsorship, the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) revived the championship in 1986 at The Tuxedo Club. Since then, it has seen a renaissance, producing unforgettable performances and cultivating top amateur talent.

The 2025 edition marks the 40th Ike contested under the MGA’s stewardship, and Hamilton Farm’s championship course provided a fitting stage for its milestone moment.

A Decade of Iconic Finishes

Greyserman’s triumph adds to a recent stretch of dramatic Ike conclusions. In 2024, Peicheng Chen fired a brilliant 65 at Nassau to capture the title. A year prior, Melan Dhaubhadel triumphed in a playoff at Brooklawn. The 2020 edition saw Mark Costanza chip in for eagle to win at Country Club of Darien, and PGA TOUR star Cameron Young went back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.

Hamilton Farm, one of New Jersey’s premier championship venues, now etches its name into this rich legacy.

Looking Ahead

With the Ike’s popularity and competitive quality continuing to surge, Greyserman’s win represents the next chapter in a championship that has become synonymous with excellence in amateur golf. As rising stars and seasoned players look to leave their mark on the Ike, the bar continues to rise—alongside the drama and prestige that define this cornerstone event on the MGA calendar.

About the The Ike

Reed Greyserman Wins 70th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship in Thrilling Playoff

The Ike tournament was founded in 1953 by Daily News sportswriter Dana Mozley and nurtured through the years by Mozley and former MGA President George Sands. Although always immensely popular, the event suffered during the late 1970s and early ‘80s a...

Most Popular Articles

GOLF'S LONGEST DAY: 2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying Monday June 8

Jun 5, 2026Follow along from 10 locations - our team is on the ground looking for the best stories

2026 U.S. Open Final Qualifying: A final rundown from Golf's Longest Day

Jun 8, 202612 amateurs qualified for Shinnecock at 10 sites around the country on June 8. Two of them were medalists.

2026 NCAA Men's Golf Championship: Live Coverage, Field & Daily Updates from La Costa

Jun 3, 2026Auburn defeats UCLA at La Costa to capture its second NCAA men’s golf championship in three years.

Stanford Wins 4th NCAA Women's Golf Title, Tops USC

May 26, 2026The Cardinals closed a dominant week at La Costa with another match-play crown — their fourth national title

RESULTS: Scottish Men's Amateur Championship

May 31, 2026Champion. 🏆 Greg Holmes lights up Gullane with a record-setting 62 en route to the Scottish Men's Amateur title

Filters

Related Tournament

The Ike

View Details

Loading latest news...

Loading article...