Chernosky And Maertz Easily Win Mixed Pinehurst Championship
As both a team and as individuals, Noelle Maertz of Hyatt Hills and Dan Chernosky of Mercer Oaks seem to have more than their share of close finishes.
Three times they had played together in Mixed Pinehurst events and three times, they were the runner-up team. Maertz is a three-time semifinalist losing to eventual champions in the NJSGA Women’s Amateur and Chernosky was a runner-up in the NJSGA Tournament of Club Champions in 2014.
“There was some unfinished business there,” said Chernosky, who caddies on weekends at Libery National.
The duo left no doubt about winning the 51st NJSGA Mixed Pinehurst Championship on Thursday, June 1, firing a seven-under-par 65 to win the event by four shots over the teams of Kelsey Solan of Galloping Hill and Tom Tangtiphaibantana of Moggy Brook and Lauren Heiba of Neshanic Valley and Jonathan Hackett of Royce Brook.
The event took place at Hawk Pointe Golf Club in Washington.
“We had so many close calls we needed to stay aggressive throughout the day. From experience, we knew other teams could sneak up on you and pass you,” said Chernosky, 42, a music teacher at Cranford High School.
After going two-under on the front side, the pair birdied five of the nine holes on the back nine to win handily.
“It feels good to finally win again,” said Maertz,23, who won the NJSGA Women’s Public Links championship as a teenager in 2012 at Knob Hill G.C. Just two weeks ago, Maertz and Tara Fleming were runners-up at the NJSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship at N.J. National.
“I dedicated this to my grandmother, Irene Petrocelli, who passed away this week. She always played golf with me when I was young. I had her initials on my ball today,” said Maertz, who played golf at Wagner University.She now works in outside operations aat Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus and is able to get in practice time when she can.
For the day, Chernosky and Maertz carded eight birdies and one bogey. The two met at Hyatt Hills when Maertz was a high school star at Mother Seton Regional and Chernosky was coaching a high school team and have been playing together ever since..
“Noeelle hits the ball so long off the tee, I was always in position to get to the green. I had a good feeling about today. It’s a nice open course and we were also able to rely on Noelle’s putter,” Chernosky said.
