Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) IKE Championship "The Ike"
50th "IKE" Stroke Play Champion
PLAINFIELD, NJ (June 28, 2005) -- Andrew Giuliani, son of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani won the 50th MGA Ike Stroke Play Championship, presented by Canon USA in an exciting three hole playoff over Michael Stamberger at Plainfield Country Club in Plainfield, NJ. Giuliani, the runner up in the 2003 MGA Junior, who will be a freshman at Duke University in the fall was quick to call the MGA’s most prestigious amateur stroke play event, one that has been captured by the likes of George Zahringer, both Jerry Courville Sr. and Jr., and Johnson Wagner, his greatest individual accomplishment.
“Individually this is my best accomplishment and considering what the MGA stands for, it being the most respected Golf Association in the country, and the names on the trophies this is pretty special. It hasn’t set in yet.”
Stamberger, a member of Plainfield, courageously tried to hold on to home court advantage during the back nine of the final round, making birdies on 12, 14, 15 and 17. However, his putter failed him on the tournament’s 54th and final hole, after rolling his 45 foot lag putt short and missing the ensuing 4-foot par attempt. Giuliani made a clutch up and down, pumping his fist as his 7-foot par putt went in.
First round leader Michael Reardon of Tuxedo struggled in the second round with a 79, but came back with a respectable 74 for a fourth place finish and paired with Kirk Kashevaroff to finish second in the team championship.
In a true test of golf, 43 golfers endured one of the most humid days of the summer through 36 holes on Plainfield, a Donald Ross gem and a grueling test. Giuliani at 19, became one of the youngest Ike Champions in the tournament’s history.
There were 43 golfers who carded rounds of 76 or better (the low 40+ ties) to continue onto today’s 36-hole final. Also at stake was the Team Championship which was awarded to Plainfield (Stamberger and Brett Rosely) the two individuals representing the same club with the lowest 54-hole combined total, their 445 total bested Tuxedo by 9 strokes.
For complete results, click on the tournament link above (amateurgolf.com membership required).
ABOUT THE
The Ike
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 after
The
Daily News dropped its sponsorship. In 1986, the
MGA
(with the financial support of MetLife) purchased the
rights to the Ike. With the MGA’s involvement, the
event regained its stature and quickly became the
area’s premier stroke-play amateur event. The Ike
today attracts more entries than any other MGA
championship for individuals. The Ike is Open to
male
golfers who are members of an MGA member club.
54-hole stroke play championship with a cut after
the first round.
View Complete Tournament Information