Silvestri Seals 92nd Public Links Championship in Playoff
GALLOWAY, N.J. –– Kevin Silvestri of Hominy Hill Golf Course emerged victorious in a sudden-death playoff Wednesday afternoon, capturing the 92nd Public Links Championship at Seaview Golf Resort’s Bay Course.
Silvestri finished the 36-hole championship at 5-under-par (67-70, 137) before defeating John Meyers of Neshanic Valley Golf Course on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to claim the title.
“I've been playing in these for a really long time,” Silvestri said after the win. “To finally come through and win one is really special.”
Silvestri wasted little time establishing himself as a contender, shooting a 4-under-par 67 in the opening round to share the lead with Brandon Capone, of Mercer Oaks Golf Course.
His first-round scorecard featured seven birdies, including back-to-back birdies to close both the front and back nines and put him firmly in contention heading into the afternoon round. Silvestri would go on to birdie all but one of the par-fives throughout his two rounds.
“My game suits this course very well,” Silvestri remarked. “Typically, I drive it pretty straight, and my wedge game is pretty good, but I was actually a little loose with the driver today.”
“Fortunately I was missing in all the right places and I made a ton of putts. I was seeing the line really well today,” Silvestri continued.
Silvestri's second round began with a bit more adversity. Starting on the back nine, he carded two bogeys and only a single birdie on No. 18, the 480-yard par-5, to make the turn at 3-under total.
Rather than allowing the early struggles to derail his round, Silvestri quickly responded.
“I was able to just kind of stay even- keeled, and everything kind of came good the last nine,” Silvestri said.
After making the turn, Silvestri recorded consecutive birdies on Nos. 3 and 4, kickstarting a bogey-free finish that kept him in contention. Silvestri steadily worked his way through the remaining holes before finishing at 1-under-par 70 for his second round. Silvestri was the only player in the field to fire in two rounds under par.
“You had to keep attacking and I did enough of that to at least get in the playoff,” Silvestri said.
While Silvestri held his position near the top of the leaderboard, Meyers made a charge of his own during the second half of the day.
After opening with an even-par 71 and four strokes back from the lead, Meyers put together one of the day's strongest rounds, firing a 5-under-par 66 without recording a bogey in the afternoon wave. Five birdies brought Meyers to 5-under total, while a clinching birdie putt on No.9 sealed his spot in a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff against Silvestri.
The championship was ultimately decided on the first hole, where Silvestri found the fairway off the tee before hitting a strong approach shot that left him approximately 10 feet from the pin.
Meyers, meanwhile, found the fairway bunker with his tee shot and was unable to reach the putting surface with his second, sending his approach into the greenside bunker.
Meyers recovered with a strong up-and-down, but Silvestri calmly two-putted for par to secure the victory and claim the 92nd Public Links Championship.
“The playoff makes it extra dramatic,” Silvestri said. “What a way to win.”
“I've had a lot of support over the years from friends and family, you know, always checking in and seeing how things are going. It's nice to get this one for them too,” Silvestri finished.
Rounding out the leaderboard in third place was Austin Briggs, Brandon Capone and Evan Stoker who finished the day at 2-under total.
One of the day's biggest moves came from Austin Briggs of the NJ Golf E-Club, who bounced back from a difficult opening round with a strong second-round performance and recorded the low score of the day with a final round 6-under par, securing a third place spot at 2-under par (75-65, 140).
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