Solan, Boyd team to win 53rd Mixed Pinehurst Championship
Kelsey Solan of Moggy Brook Golf Course and Stephen Boyd of Baltusrol Golf Club have both won a NJSGA championship before, but each time when teamed with another player.
Today, Solan and Boyd joined forces and enjoyed tremendous success, as the pair combined for five birdies en route to firing a four-under-par 68 to win the 53rd NJSGA Mixed Pinehurst Championship at New Jersey National Golf Club in Basking Ridge.
Lauren Heiba of Royce Brook and Jonathan Hackett of Rutgers took second place with a 74, followed by the tandem of Sarah Relyea of Valley Brook and Justin Niemeier of Ridgewood at 75.
The low net prize went to Dona and Robert Wallerius of Crystal Springs with a 62.
In the Senior Flight, Sue Dahabsu of Colts Neck and Bill Turkot of Hollywood took low gross honors with a 78 while Lisa and John Jaskowski of Forsgate won low net with a 67.
Last year, Solan won the NJSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship with Fran Gacos of Copper Hill, and in 2015 was runner-up to Taylor Totland of Hollywood in the NJSGA Women’s Amateur. After she graduated three years ago from James Madison University (where she was a member of the golf team) she went to work for the USGA. She currently serves as the USGA Coordinator of Rules Engagement.
Boyd won the NJSGA Father & Son Championship with his son, Brian, in 2002. The duo also won the Met Father & Son in 2004. In 1982, Boyd was also part of a winning team that won the MGA’s “Met Net” team Championship, now known as the MGA Four-Ball, with his father, Robert.
He also won the Senior Division of the New York City Amateur on 2017 and 2018.
“We met at an event last summer at Baltusrol and we said this pairing has an opportunity to win something,” said Boyd, 67, a former MGA president who resides in Morristown. “We pretty much hit driver all day and got off to a fast start. On the first hole (they began on No. 1), Kelsey put a seven iron to four feet and we had our first birdie.”
The team notched three birdies on their first nine holes, but the highlight of the round came later on the par-4, No. 14 where Solan holed a 30-foot left-to-right birdie putt. Their lone bogey came on the par-five No. 13.
“Those early birdies gave us the confidence. We were very comfortable with each other’s game. Neither of us got in trouble all day. We were both consistent, so it was easy to keep things going,” said Solan, 25, who also lives in Morristown.
Boyd, 67, praised New Jersey National’s conditions.
“We loved the course and the conditions. The greens rolled beautifully and were very challenging as always. It was a very enjoyable day.”
