Kevin Rakowski Medals in Public Links Qualifier at Harkers Hollow GC
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - Kevin Rakowski carded a 4-over par 74 to earn medalist honors at Harkers Hollow Golf Club Wednesday, as six players qualified for the 87th New Jersey State Golf Association Public Links Championship. In a small field of just 28 golfers, Rakowski’s 4-over was two strokes clear of the next-best competitor.
“My driver worked well,” said Rakowski. “It’s a short course, but you have to hit a lot of drivers. Because the greens are small, you need to hit wedges in. Driver was good, the wedges were good. That was pretty much it.”
Rakowski set the tone for his round by making a birdie on the opening hole. After driving it into the right rough, he hit a 6-iron over trees to 12 feet and drained the putt. It was Rakowski’s only birdie of the round. He also made five bogeys and 12 pars, en route to a 37-37=74.
Rakowski’s medalist performance earned him a spot in the Public Links Championship, which will be a 36-hole contest on August 18th at Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg.
Congratulations to Kevin Rakowski, who fired a 4-over 74 today at our Harkers Hollow Public Links Qualifier to claim medalist honors. 🏅
— NJSGA (@NJSGA1900) August 4, 2021
Rakowski looks forward to competing in the Championship at @GolfBallyowen - his favorite NJ course! pic.twitter.com/U1VvS5CIDZ
“It’s my favorite course in Jersey,” Rakowski said of Ballyowen. “It’s been a while, so I’m definitely looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good time.”
Six players qualified for the championship at Ballyowen. Mark Lyszczasz and Matt Oskey shot 6-over, Calvin Ralph shot 7-over, and Joseph Mallory and Frank Longo shot 9-over. The final Public Links Championship qualifier is slated for Thursday morning at Francis Byrne Golf Course in West Orange.
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