USGA staffer captures New Jersey State Golf Association championship

EMERSON, N.J. – Brent Paladino expects to be razzed by his co-workers when he returns to his job at the United States Golf Association.

“I’ll be getting a few texts to bring in [food],” Paladino said, “and being asked where I’ve been the last few days.”

He spent three days winning the 103rd New Jersey Open Golf Championship, rallying during the recent final round to capture the title by one shot at steamy Hackensack Golf Club.

Paladino shot a sizzling 7-under-par 65 for an 11-under 205 to finish one stroke ahead of fellow pro Nick Bova of Hamilton Farm, who closed with 69 in the New Jersey State Golf Association championship. Paladino, 36, earned $20,000, so bringing a nice spread to the USGA office in Far Hills is the safe play.

Bova was in it until the par-4 18th, when he pulled his drive onto the rough of an adjacent hole and suffered a bogey. On the par-3 17th, he maintained his share of the lead with a par-saving 12-foot putt.

“It stinks, obviously,” said Bova, 38, a Hillsborough resident who earned $12,500. “To bogey the last hole today, and to make a double there [Tuesday] and lose by a shot, is pretty tough.”

The second-round leader, Troy Vannucci of Little Mill, and Jack Simon of Rockaway River, this year’s New Jersey Amateur runner-up, shared low amateur honors at 8-under. Simon shot 70, Vannucci 73, and they shared third with pro Danny Harcourt of Fiddler’s Elbow, who closed with 70.

Teen Thomas O’Neill, Hackensack’s club champion, made another good showing in front of the home crowd. O’Neill shot 70 for a 209 to tie for sixth with fellow amateur Chris DeJohn of Arcola, who closed with 71.

“It’s a dream week,” said O’Neill, 19, a Bergen Catholic graduate and incoming freshman at Holy Cross. “I had this date circled on my calendar for almost a year now. I’m just happy to perform and I had a lot of fun out there.”

Paladino lives in Hackettstown and is in his fourth year working for the USGA. He oversees in-house administration for championships, with a focus on helping golf organizations administer the approximately 700 qualifiers across the country.

This is Paladino’s third consecutive top-five finish at the State Open, as he was fourth last year and fifth in 2021. Each time, he climbed the leaderboard in the final round, and he started Wednesday’s final round five strokes off the lead and in a tie for 10th.

Paladino’s 65 was one shot shy of tying the course record, according to an NJSGA…