PREVIEW: 124th Amateur Championship at Essex County C.C.
WEST ORANGE, N.J. - Essex County Country Club, the birthplace of New Jersey Golf in 1900, will host the 124th New Jersey Amateur Championship presented by Provident Bank July 7-9, 2025. Fittingly, Essex County hosts the Amateur as the association celebrates its 125th anniversary and for the first time since the club hosted since the centennial season of 2000.
In addition to etching their name into the record books, this year’s champion will also earn an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship, raising the stakes and prestige of an already storied event.
Founded in 1887, Essex County boasts an unmatched historical legacy. The West Orange club is the oldest in New Jersey and the sixth oldest in the United States. It is one of 25 founding clubs of the USGA, and one of 10 founding clubs of NJ Golf. Essex County began as a hunt club in the nearby Hutton Park section of West Orange, where the first golf course opened in 1894. In 1917, the club moved to its current location where A.W. Tillinghast designed the "first course on the mountain.”
Across the years of 1925 and 1926, two other legendary architects, Seth Raynor and Charles Banks, redesigned the course while keeping seven original Tillinghast holes.
This year’s competitors will encounter a recently restored golf course, a project led by the team of Gil Hanse. Notable renovations by Hanse’s team included a redesign of the first hole, modifications to the second hole, reconstruction of all bunkers throughout the course (including new drainage and sand), in addition to new bunkers placed according to the course’s original layout. Putting greens were expanded to reclaim portions of surfaces lost over the years, and a targeted tree-removal project was completed. All told, the magnificent renovations combined with its usual pristine conditions will present Essex County as the ideal playing experience and test of golf.
The DROP Podcast: Don McCabe & the 124th NJ Golf Amateur Preview at Essex County CC
Inside the Field
The field of players is a testament to the strength of golf in the Garden State. Numerous champions and top players from throughout the state will vie for the Edwin M. Wild Championship trophy across three days and 72 holes of stroke play. Rounds 1 and 2 will take place on July 7 and 8, respectively, with the field cut to the low 40 scorers (plus ties for 40th place). Those who make the cut will play 36 holes on July 9 – a final day known for its test of skill, endurance, and patience.
A record 579 entries were accepted, a total of 96 players secured their spots in this year’s championship through seven qualifiers held at Rossmoor Golf Course, Galloping Hill Golf Course, Hawk Pointe Golf Club, Francis Byrne Golf Course, Mendham Golf & Tennis Club, Suneagles Golf Club, and Riverton Country Club. They are joined by 29 exempt competitors, rounding out a highly competitive field for the championship proper.
The 2025 field features four past champions, headlined by defending titleholder Reed Greyserman.
Reed Greyserman - 2024
Austin Devereux - 2020
Michael Stamberger - 2013, 14
Corey Brigham - 2002
The slate of 2024 NJ Golf Champions in the field includes the reigning NJ Open Champion Derek Gutierrez of Plainfield West, Junior Champion Michael Asselta of Ramsey, Senior Champion Mike Paduano of Eagle Oaks, Pre-Senior Champion Gregg Angelillo of Baltusrol, Public Links Champion Ricky Calve of Colts Neck, and 2024 South Jersey Cup Champion Anthony Campanile of Deal.
A contingent of 2025 NJ Golf champions are also represented. Four-Ball Champion teammates Henry Bolster and Sean Vowells of Canoe Brook join Mid-Amateur Champion John Havay of High Bridge Hills in the Amateur Championship field.
Additionally, a quartet of former NJ Players of the Year will be on hand at Essex County. Troy Vannucci of Little Mill (2023), Trevor Randolph of Arcola (2016), Michael Stamberger of Manasquan River (2011, 2014) and Pat Wilson of Hamilton Farm (2013) look to build on their past successes.
Play will begin on Monday, July 7 with starting times at 7:30 a.m. Full coverage across all of NJ Golf’s social channels and web site will be available throughout the week.
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.
