BLOOMFIELD – Reed Greyserman has given the New Jersey Amateur Golf Championship its first pair of title-winning brothers.
Greyserman, 19, won the 123rd Amateur on Wednesday with a record-setting performance to join his older brother, Max, who won it in 2015 and is in his first year on the PGA Tour.
“I was there when Max won, and he’s doing awesome,” Greyserman said. “Obviously, the goal is to be where he is.”
Greyserman, an incoming freshman at Princeton, was a wire-to-wire winner and finished at 14-under 270 at renovated Forest Hill Field Club. The Short Hills resident shot 3-under 68 during Wednesday morning’s third round and 72 in the afternoon finale for the record-setting 270 and three-shot victory.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Greyserman, who plays out of Hamilton Farm and previously had two top-five finishes. “To finally get it done here is everything.”
Liam Pasternak, 17, of Essex Fells, bidding to become the first high schooler to capture the title, was runner-up at 11-under 273. Pasternak was in Wednesday’s final pairing with Greyserman and shot 68 and 70.
“I thought it went really well,” said Pasternak, who in May won the New Jersey high school Tournament of Champions as a junior at Morristown. “I felt really confident.”
This should be remembered as the “New Jersey Brothers Amateur,” because Jeremy Wall, 29, of Manasquan River also was vying to join his younger brother, Jack – the defending champion – and deliver back-to-back sibling titles. Jeremy closed with 69 and 70 to tie for third at 10-under.
Mark Costanza, 35, of Baltusrol, bidding to become just the seventh player to win the State Open and State Amateur, also tied for third at 10-under. Costanza, State Open titlist in 2020, rallied with 67 and 69 to reach 10-under.
The New Jersey State Golf Association switched the Amateur from match play to stroke play in 1971. The previous record for lowest 72-hole score was set by two-time champion Dawson Jones in 2019 with a 15-under 273 at Neshanic Valley. Jones’ 15-under remains the lowest score relative to par, and Greyserman’s 14-under is tied for second with Jones’ 14-under in 2017 at Tavistock.
The five former champions made a collective stellar showing this week, all finishing among the top 12. Jack Wall of Manasquan River was eighth at 5-under after carding 68 and 70. Will Celiberti of Arcola, the 2022 titlist, was ninth at 4-under after shooting 66 and 70.
Two-time champion Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake tied for 10th at 1-under after a 71 and 70. Corey Brigham of NJSGA E-Club, the 2002 titlist, and Austin Devereux of Manasquan River, the 2020 titlist, tied for 12th at even par. Brigham shot 68 and 70 and Devereux had 70 and 74.
Greyserman once again fought off a challenge with a strong finish in the final round. Leading Costanza by two shots, he birdied the 15th and 16th holes. On the 16th, a 160-yard par-3, he hit an 8-iron to within two feet and sank the birdie putt.
“I knew where the scores were at,” Greyserman said of the leaderboard, adding, “After the birdie on 16, it was smooth sailing coming in.”
123rd New Jersey Amateur Championship
At Forest Hill FC, Bloomfield
Par: 71; Yardage: 6,550
Final
Reed Greyserman, Hamilton Farm 64-66-68-72-270
Liam Pasternak, Essex Fells 68-67-68-70-273
Jeremy Wall, Manasquan River 67-68-69-70-274
Mark Costanza, Baltusrol 71-67-67-69-274
Eric LeFante, Somerset Hills 70-72-65-69-276
Benjamin Ortwein, Oak Hill 71-70-68-69-278
Troy Vannucci, Little Mill 69-71-68-70-278
Jack Wall, Manasquan River 74-67-68-70-279
Will Celiberti, Arcola 73-71-66-70-280
Mike Stamberger, Spring Lake 74-68-71-70-283
Anthony Gallardo, Suburban 73- 68-71-71-283
Corey Brigham, NJSGA E-Club 74-72-68-70-284
Dylan Gallagher, Rockland 69-74-75-66-284
Austin Devereux, Manasquan River 70-70-70-74-284
Andrew Giuliani, Trump Bedminster 72-72-70-71-285
Ricky Calve, Colts Neck 78-66-67-74-285
Daniel Cassidy, Trump Colts Neck 72-71-72-71-286
Chris Dejohn, Arcola 72-72-72-70-286
Trevor Randolph, Arcola 72-74-70-71-287
Thomas O’Neill, Hackensack 65-77-70-76-288
Arav Patel, Forsgate 68-76-71-74-289
Tanner Little, Copper Hill 71-71-72-76-290
Anthony Campanile, Deal 75-70-74-71-290
Stephen Wentz, Baltusrol 71-73-76-71-291
Barnes Blake, Echo Lake 72-74-75-70-291
Jason Bataille, Raritan Valley 71-72-75-75-293
Griffin LaLonde, NJSGA HS E-Club 72-69-72-80-293
Sean Vowells, Canoe Brook 74-71-73-76-294
Drew Mulcahy, Baltusrol 68-71-76-79-294
Greg Scalley, Forest Hill 74-72-76-73-295
Ethan Lee, Colts Neck 71-75-77-73-296
Elliot Parker, Suburban 74-71-76-75-296
Graeme Hollingshead, Trump Bedminster…
