New Jersey Amateur Golf First Round Leader Pat Wilson: ‘Just Have Fun’

DENVILLE — Pat Wilson is in his first full season as a re-entered amateur and is rediscovering his love for golf.

“Now I’m here just enjoying a beautiful day,” Wilson said.

Wilson, 31, had a great first day at 121^st New Jersey Amateur Golf Championship Monday at sunny Rockaway River Country Club.

Wilson, who lives in Florham Park, shot 4 under par 68 and holds a one-shot lead over teenager Dean Greyserman, a Short Hills resident who also represents Hamilton Farm.

Arcola’s Chris DeJohn, who won the prestigious Arcola Cup at his Bergen County course last week, shot 70 and is tied for third in the three-day, 72-hole event hosted by New Jersey State Golf Association. NJSGA E-Club’s Melan Dhaubhadel also shot 70.

Seven players are tied for fifth with 71: This list includes Greyserman’s brother Reed, also representing Hamilton Farm, as well as Arcola’s Will Celiberti, Spring Lake’s Brendan Hansen, NJSGA E-Club’s Max O’Hagan, Cole Ekert of Fairmount. , Matt McCormick of Deal and Benjamin Ortwein of Oak Hill.

Defending champion Michael Brown of Rock Spring has scored 72 cards on this strokemaker’s course and is tied for 12th place in a tournament culminating in Wednesday’s 36-hole final. Brown had three birdies and three bogeys.

“A pretty solid round, but a few loose shots in short play,” said Brown, 49, a Maple Shade resident. “So I have to be more orderly with my short game to be in contention.”

Wilson, a 2014-2019 pro who qualified for the US Open in 2015, is the main contender. He had six birdies and two bogeys on a course he hadn’t played in over a decade.

Wilson, who now sells commercial insurance, is enjoying his amateur status after his time playing mini-rounds turned his joy for golf into resentment.

“Just have fun, try to play well and let the good things happen,” Wilson said. “I have a different perspective on golf now. I like that, and that’s what I’m really here to do. Have fun and have the best time possible and I hope to play as well as possible.

Dean Greyserman’s game continues to rise. Hailing from a stellar golfing family, Greyserman, 18, a freshman at Stanford, had four birdies and a bogey.

“I hit the ball really well, the best I’ve hit in a few months,” said Greyserman, whose brother, Max, won the State Open in 2014 and the State Amateur in 2015. I left with the putter. My putter burned a lot of edges, but overall I hit the ball really, really well.

Greyserman, despite his young age, has the experience to make a run for it. Two years ago he was amateur runner-up to middle schooler Austin Devereux and said: “It will come in handy the rest of the week.”

121st New Jersey Amateur Championship

At Rockaway River CC, Denville

By: 72; Footage: 6,816

First of four towers

Pat Wilson, Hamilton Farm 68

Dean Greyserman, Hamilton Farm 69

Chris Dejohn, Arcole 70

Melan Dhaubhadel, NJSGA E-Club 70

Benjamin Ortwein, Oak Hill 71

Max O’Hagan, NJSGA E-Club 71

William Celiberti, Arcole 71

Reed Greyserman, Hamilton Farm 71

Brendan Hansen, Spring Lake 71

Cole Ekert, Fairmont 71

Matt McCormick, Case 71

Barnes Blake, Baltusrol 72

Jack Irons, small windmill 72

Tyler Galantini, Montclair 72

Garrett Kessler, Mountain Ridge 72

Gregg Angelillo, Baltusrol 72

Michael Brown, Rock Spring 72

Troy Vannucci, Little Windmill 72

William Huang, Springdale 73

Eric Lasota, Cols Neck 73

Anthony Campanile, Deal 73

Trevor Randolph, Arcole 73

James Arbes, Watchung Valley 73

Edmund Broderick, Fiddler’s Elbow 74

Joey Lostumbo, Stanton Ridge 74

Ryan Lee, Valley Creek 74

Arav Patel, Forsgate 74

Thomas McCarthy, Essex County 74

Ricky Calve, NJSGA E-Club 74

Cameron Bell, Panties 75

Arjun Malik, Forsgate 75

Doug Ergood, Tavistock75

Peter Barron, Galloway National 75

Jimmy Wolfe, Mercer Oaks 75

Spencer Weiner, NJSGA E-Club 76

Elliot Parker, Suburb 76

Jason Battle, Raritan Valley 76

Eric LeFante, Somerset Hills 76

Adam Fuchs, Colony 76

Vincent Apostolico, Rockaway River 76

Jimmy Apostolico, Rockaway River 76

Austin Devereux, Manasquan River 76

John Havay, High Bridge Hills 76

Zach Mueller, Trump Colts Neck 76

Caleb Rossi, Galloway National 76

Davis Weil, Ridgewood 76

Sean Flanigan, Town and Country 76

Alex Menges, Jumping Brook 76

Dan Keenan, Little Windmill 76

Lance Hollingshead, Trump Bedminster 77

Mike Paduano, Eagle Oaks 77

Brian Hart, Deal 77

Matt Panzella, Panties 77

Ryan Cass, Canoe Brook 77

Ronald Fischang, Neshanic Valley 77

Erik Stevens, Farm Hamilton 77

Michael McCrone, Stanton Ridge 77

Michael Stamberger, Spring Lake 77

Johnny Bush, Plainfield 78

Dylan Gallagher, Rockland 78

Noé Conforti, Spring Lake 78

Nathan Drogin, Mountain Ridge 78

Corey Brigham, NJSGA E-Club 78

David Weiniger, NJSGA E-Club 79

Vincent Palazzolo, Colts Neck 79

Shane Quinn, New Jersey National 79

Jack Simon, Rockaway River 79

Gavin Rau, Neshanic Valley 79

Jason Lee, Plainfield West-9, 79

Joseph Manganiello, Hamilton Farm 80

Brad Mills, Laurel Creek 80

Isaiah Williams, Heron Glen 80

Adam Satkowski, Bowling Green 80

Al Tenembaum, Rockland 81

Conor Handley, Rock Spring 81

Stephen Lindholm, North Jersey 82

Tim Daily, New Jersey National 82

David Hirschhorn, Forsgate 82

Brett Inserra, NJSGA E-Club 82

Jack Skirkanich, Rumson 82

Matthew Kronisch, Charleston Springs 83

Chris Konefal, Deal 83

Niall Handley, Knoll 83

Adam Grosso, NJSGA E-Club 83

Brian Keane, Mercer Oaks 84

Blaine Lafferty, Little Windmill 85

Evan Danchenka, NJSGA E-Club 86

Finbar Bonner, Manasquan River 86

Steve Wilcox, Due Process 86

John Butler, NJSGA E-Club 87

Garret Stenberg, Spring Stream 87

Maxwell Sorger, Montclair 87

Jacob Schenkman, NJSGA E-Club 89

John Browndorf, Deal WD

Gage Wolfle, NJSGA E-Club WD

Lucas Artigliere, Mont Tabor WD

David Sampson, River Vale WD

Thomas Lee, NJSGA E-Club WD