Mike Meisenzahl Earns First Professional Victory

Mike Meisenzahl of Medford, N.J. and Little Mill C.C.,the runner-up to Mike Deo in the 2009 NJSGA Amateur championship, sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole on Thursday, March 7, to win for the first time on the Golfslinger.com Tour and earned the winner's check of $1,000.

Meisenzahl and Dan McCarthy of Syracuse, N.Y. tied at five under par 67 on the Osprey Creek course at Martin Downs Country Club in Palm City, Fla. , then halved the first hole with par-4s. Moments after Meisenzahl made his long putt, McCarthy missed one along a similar line but from a slightly shorter distance. Tyler Kitson of New Providence, N.J. was fifth with a 70.

In regulation, Meisenzahl, finishing late in the day, birdied the last three holes to catch McCarthy. Meisenzahl earned $1,000 from the $5,330 purse. It was just his fifth Golfslinger start, the fourth this month. McCarthy, playing early, made eight birdies, a bogey and a double bogey. Second among 41 starters, McCarthy received $610. He has $28,737.78 and eight wins since joining Golfslinger in October, 2007.

In 2012, Meisenzahl won the Arcola Cup at Arcola C.C. in Paramus.

Meisenzahl, 25, is a 2006 graduate of Shawnee High School and finished second in the state high school championship in 2004. He was named All-American as a senior. He played collegiately at James Madison University and attended PGA Tour Q-School for the first time in 2011. He has won four club championships at the Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor.

The Golfslinger.com Tour has three more 18-hole tournaments next week, raising the totals to 24 this year and 979 since starting in August, 2004. For information, go to www.minorleaguegolf.com.