Medalist Peter Barron
(NJSGA Photo)

Barron fired a two-under-par 70 in stroke-play qualifying, including the third hole-in-one of his career to earn the top seed in the 34th NJSGA Mid-Amateur Championship, for golfers 30 and under, on Tuesday, May 9 at Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck.

Barron’s 70 was one stroke better than Greg Goodman of Plainfield, 2005 champion Tom Gramigna of Tavistock and Brian Whitman of Knickerbocker. The low 16 players return Wednesday for match-play, which will continue with quarterfinal matches in the afternoon.

On Thursday, the players return for the two semifinal matches followed by the championship 18-hole match.

Trevor Randolph of Arcola, who won three of the past four Mid-Amateur championships and 2012 champion Brian Komline of Black Oak are not participating, playing instead in next week’s MGA Carey Cup matches in Ireland.

Barron was runner-up to Randolph in 2014 at Laurel Creek and in 2009 to Anthony Scelba of Deer Run here at Trump National in Colts Neck.

“You always want to play the best guys in the state,” said Barron, who lives in Mays Landing, a suburb of Atlantic City. “But it’s still a very solid field and anything can happen.

“It’s nice to be the top seed. I think I’ve been playing well and scoring well. In match play, it’s about patience. I’m really good at making pars and forcing my opponents to make bogeys.”

Barron’s hole-in-one was his first in a competitive environment. He hit a nine-iron from 156 yards on the third hole.

“I aimed it a little left and had a helping wind. It looked like it disappeared. I saw the pitch mark about 20 feet short and had to double check,” said Barron, who grew up in Gloucester Township and was a member of Methodist University’s 1998 Division 3 national championship team.

Three years ago, he won the Golf Association of Philadelphia Mid-Amateur and last year won the Delaware Open.

He has qualified for two U.S. Mid-Amateurs and made U.S. Open local qualifying three times, once winning the qualifier.

“About two weeks ago, I took some putting lessons and now I have a different grip and set-up. I’m still feeling it out. But now the ball is rolling instead of skidding. Today, I had to be patient. It was about fairways and greens and giving myself a good look at birdie from 150 yards. “

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