The Maryland State Golf Association will conduct the 101st Maryland State Open from Monday, July 11th to Wednesday, July 13th, at Manor Country Club in Rockville, MD. The format is 54 holes of stroke play, with all players playing 36 holes and a cut to the low 40 scorers and ties for the final round. The perpetual silver trophy will be engraved with the champion’s name, and the low amateur will earn the Harry Pitt Trophy.
Designed by William Flynn and renovated by Arthur Hills, Manor Country Club opened in 1922, and the Championship course was built in 1926. The course stretches out to 6,717 yards playing from the black tees giving any golfer a challenge with rolling terrain, some tall fescue, and difficult greens.
There are several past champions in this year’s field. Defending champion and 2022 Amateur champion Jake Griffin, 2020 champion Josh Speight, 2019 champion Davis Lamb, 2012 and 2016 champion Sean Bosdosh, 2014 champion Patrick McCormick, 2009 champion Matthew Bassler, and 2007 champion Billy Wingerd are all competing in this year’s Maryland Open. Other notable players include last year’s runner-up Kevin Grady and two-time Maryland Amateur champion, Billy Peel (2019, 2020). Also, Medalist from the 2022 Maryland Amateur Championship, Marshall Meisel, is in the field. This year 59 golf clubs are being represented in the Open. Argyle Country Club leads with ten golfers competing in this championship. The host site, Manor Country Club, has seven golfers competing in the championship. The youngest competitors in the field are Adam Green, Jack Stamato, and Dustin Stocksdale, all of whom are 16 years old. The oldest player in the field is Tom Winegardner, at 61 years old.
Fifty-four of the 131 competitors were exempt from qualifying, while 77 players from the four qualifying sites filled the remaining spots. The first was at Hunt Valley Country Club on April 28th, where Andrew Sorvero shot two-over-par (73) for the day. On May 2nd, at Northwest Golf Course, Jay Mulieri was the day’s low man by carding a five-under-par round (67). In the third qualifier at Hobbits Glen Golf Club on May 9th, Dan Falls shot 4-under-par (68) to claim the top spot. At the final qualifier on May 17th, at Queenstown Harbor – River Course, Brad Riley and Jacob Ferrari both shot 2-under -par (70) to share the top spot.
The Maryland Open is open to male amateur members of MSGA member clubs with a handicap index of 7.1 or less; to male professionals who are Middle Atlantic PGA members or registered apprentices; to male professionals employed by member clubs; and to male professionals who are residents of Maryland.
Pairings, starting times, and scoring are available here.
