Michael Korcuba of Medford Village Country Club eyes his drive on No. 16 (par 5, 523 yards).

Jersey boys shine in Mid.-Am. Qualifier at Galloway National

  GALLOWAY, N.J. — Mike Korcuba of Medford Village Country Club and Jim Engler of Sea Oaks Golf Club each carded a 4-over-par 75 to share medalist honors in a Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifier presented by Callaway Golf at Galloway National Golf Club (par 71, 6,653 yards).

  The co-medalists, playing in the morning, topped the leaderboard of 117 players hoping to grab one of 28 qualifying spots and ties on Thursday. The wind intensified as the day wore on, contributing to a cut line that stopped at 82.

  Both Engler and Korcuba came away with not only a new accomplishment, but also with high praise for the host venue.

  “Obviously, I was very impressed with the golf course. It was my first time playing it. I’ve played a lot of top golf courses and Galloway is near the top for sure,” Engler, 43, of Barnegat, N.J. “I think each hole is really memorable and the condition of the course was superb as well.”

  Korcuba, who last played competitively at Galloway National in a U.S. Middle-Amateur Qualifier, came off the course with a personal best. While it wasn’t his best ball-striking day, the Sicklerville, N.J. resident caught fire with his putter. He estimated his round included less than 30 putts.

  “I didn’t really leave myself with good, makeable birdie putts, but the putter got me out of jams all day,” Korcuba said. “My first hole was No. 10, where I made a 10-footer to save par and then did it again on 11. Nothing was lipping out. I was dead center of the hole all day.”

  Korcuba finished his round in winning form, first with a birdie at No. 7 (par 4, 393 yards) followed by a miraculous bunker shot on No. 8 (par 3, 179 yards). On the former, he drilled a 7-iron 148 yards to 12 feet. Korcuba followed with a sand shot from a downslope in the right greenside bunker on No. 8 to two feet.

  The par 3, 141-yard No. 2 was the host of Engler’s round highlight. After hitting a 7-iron to eight feet, he knocked it in for birdie. The par 5, 535-yard 9th hole spoiled a chance at outright medalist honors. Engler blocked his drive right, chipped out and then caught a fairway bunker with his third shot. With 50 yards to the flagstick, Engler found the green and three-putted for double bogey.

  “At that point, I kind of realized I was in [the Championship proper],” he said.

  After taking time away from the game, both of the co-medalists are finding their groove at the right time.

  Korcuba’s new job title, Telaid’s Vice President of Enterprise Accounts, has led to more opportunities for the 45-year-old to play golf. He spent time on the West coast this winter, playing courses in both California and Las Vegas.

  “I’ve played more golf with my new job because we’ve got more clients that enjoy the game and I’m able to spend more time with them that way,” said Korcuba. “Also, my wife is in a position where she can take care of our son, who is 8, that gives me flexibility to play more.”

  Engler is reverting back to his college golf form as of late.

  “I played on scholarship at Seton Hall. I then gave up golf for about 15 years,” Engler said. “I worked and raised my family.” He returned to competitive golf in 2006.

  Engler, a two-time Sea Oaks club champion attempted to qualify at Radley Run Country Club for last year’s Middle-Amateur, but fell short. Qualifying for the Middle-Amateur means he will get his first true taste of GAP competition outside of the BMW GAP Team Matches, where he plays for Sea Oak’s first team in Division A.

  While Korcuba possessed prior playing experience at Galloway National, he won’t be able to say the same when he heads to St. Davids on May 20-21 for the Championship proper.

  “I’ll have to get over there and see what it’s all about. I’ll have to learn it,” he said.

   Engler will share that feeling of unknown when he arrives at the venue.

  “Haven’t’ played St. Davids, but I’m definitely looking forward to it. I think there are very few Associations across the country that affords their members the facilities that we play. I’ve heard a ton of great things about St. Davids so I’m really looking forward to it.”

  The final Middle-Amateur Championship Qualifier will take place Monday, May 4 at Meadowlands Country Club.

  The Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Middle-Amateur Championship started in 1984, three years after the USGA created the U.S. Mid-Amateur as a formal championship for post-college amateurs.   The Association followed suit with the USGA in creating a Mid-Am, but initially differed in its administration of the tournament in a couple of respects.

  The most obvious difference was the age requirement. Prior to 2001, the GAP Middle-Amateur was for players 30 years of age and older.

  The Association’s Executive Committee reviewed and revised that age requirement in 2001 to match the USGA's guidelines of 25 years of age or older for eligible players. Also at that point, the Committee changed the format of the event to a two-day stroke play tournament (instead of a one-day medal play event) with a cut to the low 70 players and ties after the first round. The field begins with 132 players.

Golf Association of Philadelphia
  Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 151 Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.