BRIELLE – On his first hole, Mike Stamberger pulled two tee shots so far to the left that he told his teen son and caddie, Jack, “Maybe I’ll just go to work.”
On his 18thth hole, Stamberger made a short putt for birdie to complete an incredible mid-round turnaround during Monday’s first round of the 122n.d New Jersey Amateur Golf Championship.
“I just kind of got the feeling,” Stamberger, 51, said after the two-time champion shot 3-under-par 69 on his home course, Manasquan River Golf Club, and is one stroke off the lead in this 72-hole. event.
The leaders with 68s are Chris DeJohn of Arcola, who has three top-10 finishes, and Texan Rhett Sellers of Fiddler’s Elbow, a rising senior at Rutgers making his debut in this New Jersey State Golf Association event.
Stamberger’s 69 has him in a three-way tie for third with Michael Brown of Rock Spring, the 2021 titlist, and Jack Simon of Rockaway River, who starred this past season at St. John’s.
Two collegians shot 70 and are tied for sixth: Elliot Parker of Suburban, a rising sophomore at Drew, and Erik Stevens of Hamilton Farm, who starred this past season at Monmouth.
Defending champion Will Celiberti of Arcola shot 73 and is tied for 13ththwhile Austin Devereux of Manasquan River, the 2020 winner, carded 75 and shares 26th.
Stamberger is stellar, but streaky, and the only player over the past 30 years to win back-to-back titles (2013-14). Last year at Rockaway River, the Brielle resident missed the cut with a 13-over 157.
Stamberger had seven birdies and four bogeys at the steamy Manasquan River in one of the most dramatic Amateur turnarounds of the past 20 years. He bogeyed Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5, then birdied Nos. 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 18. Thus, he played his back nine at 6-under 30.
The 36-hole finale has become increasingly difficult for players over the age of 30, especially if they have a job and family. Stamberger, though, lives a short walk from the course and could go home, eat, clean up, and change clothes between Wednesday’s third and fourth rounds. Wednesday’s temperatures are expected to be in the 90s.
“I can still play, it’s just that 36 holes, I don’t know, it’s going to be tough,” Stamberger said. He added, “I think it will be about how you play. Obviously, it’s easier if you’re playing well. If you’re struggling, it’s going to wear on you.”
DeJohn, in the final pairing of the day, 1:28 pm, had five birdies and one bogey on the 6,886-yard layout. The Ridgewood resident started on the back nine and had birdies on the 12thth13th14th and 18th.
“I just have to keep doing the same thing,” said DeJohn, 36, who last year finished a career-best third. “Keep the ball in front of me and make a few more putts.”
Sellers had never played Manasquan River, but he still managed an eagle and three birdies to go with one bogey. The left-hander eagled the par-4 14thth by driving the green and sinking a 30-footer.
“I took some notes that my coach gave me and tried to keep the ball in front of me, find fairways, hit greens,” said Sellers, 21. “Luckily, I was giving myself a lot of birdie looks and a few dropped. “
Brown was the model of consistency and the only player not to suffer a bogey among the 98 who posted scores. He had three birdies.
“Pretty tidy overall,” said Brown, 51, a resident of Maple Shade. “My putting was average. If I would have putted a little better, I would be very happy, but I’m quite pleased with the round today.”
122nd New Jersey Amateur Golf Championship
at Manasquan River GC, Brielle
Couple: 72; Yardage: 6,886
First of four rounds
Chris DeJohn, Arcola 68
Rhett Sellers, Fiddler’s Elbow 68
Michael Stamberger, Manasquan River 69
Jack Simon, Rockaway River 69
Michael Brown, Rock Spring 69
Elliot Parker, Suburban 70
Erik Stevens, Hamilton Farm 70
Thomas Guy, Eligo 71
Brian Hart, Deal 71
Adrian Jordan, Cobblestone 72
Jack Wall, Manasquan River 72
Mac Bredahl, Fairmount 72
Reed Greyserman, Hamilton Farm 73
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill 73
Johnny Bush, Plainfield 73
Will Celiberti, Arcola 73
Brandon Roche, Little Mill 74
Jeremy Wall, Manasquan River 74
Edmund Broderick, Fiddler’s Elbow 74
Dylan Gallagher, Rockland 74
Pat Wilson, Hamilton Farm 74
Chris Lawler, Riverton 74
William O’Neill, 74 Spring Brook
Nate Beck, Mountain Ridge 74
Christopher Housen, 74 Manasquan River
Richard Fitzsimmons, 75 Manasquan River
Tyler Lee, Ridgewood 75
Jason Lee, 75 Plainfield West
Joseph Giamanco, NJSGA E-Club 75
Graeme Hollingshead, 75 Trump Bedminster
Al Tenembaum, Rockland 75
Garrett Kessler, Mountain Ridge 75
Austin Devereux, Manasquan River 75
Travis Dix, Eagle Oaks 76
John Havay, 76 High Bridge Hills
Dean Greyserman, Hamilton Farm 76
Jack Irons, 76 Little Mill
Caleb Rossi, Galloway 76
Liam Pasternak, Essex Fells 76
Brendan Hansen, Spring Lake 76
Stephen Walsh, Baltusrol 76
Owen Rossman, NJSGA E-Club 76
John Meyers, Basking Ridge 77
Corey Brigham, NJSGA E-Club 77
James Arbes, Watchung Valley 77
Joey Lostumbo, Stanton Ridge 77
Tanner Little, Copper Hill 77
Stephen Wentz, Baltusrol 78
Eric LeFante, Somerset Hills 78
Brooks Sanidas, Cherry Valley 78
Anthony Campanile, 78 Deal
Jack Skirkanich, Rumson 78
Richie Reck, Jumping Brook 78
Brooks Harrington, Plainfield 79
Hunter Reese, NJSGA E-Club 79
Alex Patel, Mendham 79
Isaiah Williams, Heron Glen 79
Erik Grehl, NJSGA E-Club 79
Kevin Silvestri, NJSGA E-Club 79
Bill McGuinness, 79 Tavistock
Corey Katzen, Burlington 80
Niall Handley, Knoll 80
Jimmy Apostolico, Rockaway River 80
Randall Lazzaro, Trump Colts Neck 80
David Sampson, 80 River Vale
Connor Bekefi, Pine Barrens 80
John-Paul Hansen, NJSGA E-Club 80
Morten Gotterup, Rumson 80
Kieran Purcell, Essex County 80
Brian Whitman, Knickerbocker 80
Peter Byrne, NJSGA E-Club 81
Kyle Krannich, Spring Brook 81
Brandon Dalinka, The Ridge 81
Chris Konefal, Deal 81
Blake Barnes, Baltusrol 81
John Browndorf, 81 Deal
Harris Podvey, 81 Knoll
Kevin Shallcross, Echo Lake 82
Brent Norcia, Upper Montclair 82
Phil Ries, NJSGA E-Club 82
Matthew Porter, Colts Neck 82
Trevor Stenberg, NJSGA E-Club 83
Peter Kozubal, NJSGA E-Club 83
Brandon Valvano, North Jersey 83
Davis Weil, 84 Ridgewood
Alexander Carroll, 84 Galloping Hill
William Brett, White Beeches 84
Ethan Weinberg, NJSGA E-Club 85
Chris Kenny, Jumping Brook 85
Dan Chernosky, NJ National 85
Jeffery Yong, Hawk, Pointe 86
Gilbert Chang, Montammy 86
Noah Conforti, Spring Lake 87
Doug Monahan, Pine Barrens 87
Anthony Dinelli, Spring Brook 87
Charley Corme, Bel-Aire 88
Jongkil Hong, NJSGA E-Club 88
Adam Grosso, NJSGA E-Club 89
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Former champs in the mix at 122nd New Jersey Amateur Golf Championship