Lutherville, Md. — The Maryland State Golf Association will host the 103rd Maryland Amateur Championship at Manor Country Club in Rockville from Thursday June 6 through Sunday June 9. The last time the club hosted the championship was 2015, when one of Manor CC’s own members, Ben Warnquist, won the title. Manor CC has three of its members playing in the championship.
MSGA Past President Tom Whelan and 2015 Maryland Amateur Champion Ben Warnquist
The Maryland Amateur is open all male amateur members of the MSGA Member Clubs who have a current USGA Index of 7.1 or lower. The MSGA hosted four qualifying rounds at the Country Club at Woodmore, the Golf Club at South River, Mount Pleasant Golf Course, and Queenstown Harbor Golf Links – River Course. With 54 players already exempt for the tournament, 84 spots were up for grabs, and 366 players from around the state attempted to qualify to play for the Amateur Championship title at Manor CC.
Pre-Qualifying
On Thursday April 25 at the CC at Woodmore, competitors only ended up playing 17 holes because No. 15 was closed due to a watershed restoration project. The course was adjusted to a par 68 for the qualifier. Two members from Columbia CC, Nicholas Graziano and Douglas Hurson, earned medalist honors by shooting 1-under-par rounds of 67. On Monday April 29 at the Golf Club at South River, Daniel Mills out of Kenwood Golf and Country Club led the way with the only even-par round of 71 for the day. After starting off his first nine holes with a 3-over-par total of 39, he turned it around on the back nine by carding a 3-under-par total of 32. On Monday May 6 at Mount Pleasant Golf Course, eight players finished in red figures, but Ben Shields from Hunt Valley CC was the lowest man. He turned in a 3-under-par round of 68. On Tuesday May 21 at the Queenstown Harbor GL’s River Course, Jake Roth out of Lakewood CC shot the lowest round of the day with a 6-under-par round of 66, and he went without making a single bogey.
Family Matters
The championship also has several family ties in this year’s field. David Nocar’s son, Conner, earned his way into the field by qualifying at Mount Pleasant GC. Tom Winegardner and his son, Charlie, also find themselves competing next Thursday. The Mulieri brothers, Michael and Jay, are competing again to see who can break their 1-1 tie in Amateur Championship victories. Lastly, Brendan Peel will see if he can snag a win away from his brother, Billy.
Defending the Title
Out of the field of 138 players, nine of them are former champions: David Nocar (2002), Michael Mulieri (2008), Jay Mulieri (2009), Josh Eure (2012), Ben Warnquist (2015, 2017), William Peel IV (2019, 2020), Brad Whitaker (2021), Jake Griffin (2022). Defending champion, Kevin Grady of Rolling Road Golf Club, will look to retain his title next week. Grady is guaranteed a spot in the match play portion of the tournament, the remaining field members will compete in stroke play qualifying on Thursday, June 6 for a chance at 31 spots to fill out the match play bracket.
Kevin Grady will look to defend his title at Manor CC.
Who is going to get their hands on the coveted championship cup and have their name written in the history books of the Maryland State Amateur Championship?
