Three Share Lead After Day One of 38th New Jersey Senior Open Championship
UNION, N.J. ––– Amateurs Kevin Frank out of Little Mill Country Club, Jamie Slonis out of Tavistock Country Club and Michael Stamberger out of Manasquan River Golf Club finished 1-under par 71 on Tuesday to share the top spot on the leaderboard at the 38th New Jersey Senior Open Championship at Suburban Golf Club in Union, NJ.
Slonis, who successfully defended his Senior Four Ball Championship last week at Rumson Country Club alongside partner Tom Gramigna, played a consistent opening round, punching in 15 pars and two birdies for the day.
Slonis sank both of his birdies on the front nine, starting with a birdie on the 361-yard, par-4, first hole, and then again on the 472-yard, par 5 fifth hole, the second-longest on the course.
“I hit quite a few fairways, so I was able to keep the ball in front of me. Not too much stress,” Slonis said.
Stamberger, a two-time New Jersey Amateur Champion, had a similar outing to Slonis, with a solid 13 pars and three birdies.
Paired with reigning Senior Open Champion Dave McGovern and Hollywood Golf Club’s Kevin Weyeneth, Frank credited his playing partners for keeping him level-headed throughout the day.
“It’s exciting. This is my first senior event. I just turned 54, and I hadn’t made a go of it on the senior stuff yet,” Frank said. “I said to Dave [McGovern], coming down 18, ‘I bet there’s going to be a lot of low scores.’ I’m thinking 5, 6, 7-under, so I’m surprised. But I feel good and excited to see what we can do tomorrow,” he finished.
Frank’s round-best five birdies, including one on the 359-yard Par 4, 17th hole, surmounted an opening bogey on hole No. 1.
Jim McGovern, of White Beeches Golf and Country Club, 2024 Senior Open Champion Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol Golf Club, and Montclair Golf Club’s Vince Ramagli were the morning tee time players who finished the day at an even-par, 71. McGovern, a 2026 New Jersey Golf Hall-of-Fame inductee, is familiar with the top of the Senior Open leaderboard, having finished within the top-10 in the past two years.
“I gave myself a lot of chances. I didn’t take full advantage, but I’m glad to be where I’m at,” said McGovern. “I had a couple other good chances that I almost thought were going to go in, but that’s the nature of the beast.”
Ramgali was one of three to birdie the par-4 sixth hole, while Angelillo and McGovern both birdied four holes total. Their sharp shooting lifted them to the top five of the leaderboards. Angelillo and Frank were among the many players who noted the impeccable conditions of Suburban Golf Club.
“Love the course. The conditions, I thought, were really easy and the greens rolled nice. Beautiful club, it was fun,” said Frank.
The top 40 players at 6-over par, 77, or better, will move on to the final round of the Senior Open on Wednesday, May 27, at Suburban Golf Club. Single tee times begin at 8 a.m.
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