EDISON, N.J. – It was a gutsy victory for Derek Gutierrez on Thursday as he claimed the 104th New Jersey Open Championship, winning by three strokes at Plainfield Country Club. He’s the first amateur to win since Mark Costanza won in 2020.
Gutierrez, 19, marks the youngest champion since Max Greyserman won in 2014 at Essex County Country Club. He also becomes only the 14th amateur to win the storied major championship.
“It feels great,” Gutierrez first said. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it’s a big relief. It was a lot of fun out there. The win gives me a lot of confidence going into my next tournament and into the fall season at Rutgers.”
“I’m proud of Derek and he has really been working his tail off to get to this moment,” Rutgers men’s golf’s head coach Rob Shutte said. “I know that he’s humbled by this victory and all of Rutgers Nation is excited for him. He’s excited to keep on working and we can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”
Going into the day, the Rutgers University rising sophomore owned a five-stroke lead. Despite the significant lead, the win didn’t come without some challenges. He struggled on the front nine, carding bogeys on two of his first three holes.
“I was missing it right all day,” Gutierrez added. “I was trying to take one shot at a time. I knew I had a little bit of a cushion, so I wasn’t too crazy, but I just tried to stay patient like I said earlier this this week.”
On the back nine, 2023 Amateur Champion Jack Wall made a run, clocking birdies at 12 and 13 to get within one stroke of Gutierrez, who bogeyed 10 and 13. Gutierrez bounced back, draining a much-needed long putt for birdie on 17.
“I think the shot that secured me the win was my putt on 17,” Gutierrez said. “I had a 30-footer, a double-breaker up the hill. I made that one which was big. It gave me a 3-shot lead going into the last hole. That shot not only calmed my nerves, but was the shot of the week for me.”
Despite an errant drive on 18, Gutierrez remained poised, getting on the green in regulation. He lagged his birdie putt within tap-in range. Gutierrez capped off his victory with a par on 18 and a collective applause erupted from the crowd.
“It was surreal, I didn’t feel anything,” Gutierrez said. “I was more shocked. I knew I had a little cushion so that 4-footer did not seem super long….
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