Phil Ries Claims 68th Pre-Senior Championship in Dramatic Finish
WAYNE, N.J. –– Phil Ries of the NJ Golf E-Club won the 68th Pre-Senior Championship at Preakness Hills Country Club, finishing at even-par (71-73, 144) to claim the title in a dramatic final-hole finish.
Lead changes defined the final round at Preakness Hills Country Club, with Ries, Thomas Lee and Michael O’Connell trading positions throughout the morning. In the end, it was Ries who emerged victorious on the 6,483-yard layout, making a clutch par on the final hole to claim the championship during his final year of eligibility.
“Anytime you get a win, it feels good,” Ries said. “I don't want to think about being 54, but last year was my first year going at it, and I got into the final group. I think I learned some things from that.”
Ries, who started the day at 1-under par after finishing just behind John Probst in the opening round, quickly made his presence known with a birdie on No. 5. He followed with bogeys on Nos. 6 and 8 before a birdie on No. 10 moved him back to 1-under for the championship and into the lead.
“On this course you've got to draw it for a righty,” Ries said. “I started hitting the ball a little right to left and started hitting more fairways today than I did yesterday.”
“I stayed patient,” Ries continued. ‘I just didn't overreact to anything I did, and it worked out.”
Lee, meanwhile, matched Ries' momentum with birdies on Nos. 3 and 5. After a bogey on No. 6, he made the turn at 1-under overall, pulling even with Ries at the top of the leaderboard.
The two continued to battle throughout the back nine. Lee surrendered a stroke with a bogey on No. 13, allowing Ries and O’Connell to join him at even-par overall. Ries settled in with a string of consecutive pars from holes 12 through 15 to maintain his position near the top.
The championship appeared to swing decisively on the 16th hole. Lee made par on the 185-yard par 3, while Ries made a costly bogey, giving Lee the outright lead at 1-under and dropping Ries to even par alongside O’Connell.
Both players then birdied the 17th, setting up a dramatic finish with Lee holding a one-shot advantage heading to the final hole.
“[Lee] played great all day,” Ries said. “We kind of just kept our focus and didn't really check leaderboards. I made a bogey on hole 16, and I figured I had to be a little more aggressive on the 17th tee shot, which worked out. Then I made a birdie, but he made it right back.”
Lee's troubles on No. 18 began with his tee shot, which found the water and forced him to play his second from the drop area. He responded with a clutch recovery, sticking his second shot close to the hole and giving himself a chance to salvage the hole.
Ries, meanwhile, found the right side of the green with his tee shot and positioned himself well to get up-and-down for par. He calmly converted the seven-foot par putt to win the championship.
“I think the tough thing is finishing a tournament, especially on this hole and that pin,” Ries said.
Adding to the significance of the moment, Ries had his nephew, Brayden, carrying his bag throughout the final round. The pair navigated the pressure-filled closing stretch together.
“It's great because you have conversations that take your mind off the game and try not to get nervous, try to manage your nerves. So, it was everything I hoped it would be,” Ries said.
The victory marks another strong showing for Ries, who finished third in last year’s championship during his first attempt at the Pre-Senior Championship.
“I've been playing in New Jersey events a long time,” Ries said. “When I started playing, I didn't play college golf or anything like that. So, the goal was always to make the event, and then when you get to the event, make a cut.”
“It’s been great playing New Jersey golf, and just to finally break through and get a New Jersey win is unbelievable.”
Rounding out second place was O’Connell, who fired in five consecutive pars on his back nine to finish the tournament at 1-over par (73-72, 145). Lee finished at 1-over-par (72-73, 145) to finish T-2 alongside O’Connell.
NJ Golf Social Media
For the latest updates and news, visit njgolf.org or follow New Jersey Golf on Facebook, X and Instagram at @njgolf1900.
