By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Mike DiMeglio has no plans to pursue a professional golf career.
But the Princeton High graduate does like to compete. And when his competitive juices start flowing the way they did when he and Anthony Aloi partnered in the New Jersey State Golf Association Four Ball Championship, DiMeglio is out to win.
”This was the first team event ever for us together,” said DiMeglio, who will be a senior at the University of Hartford. “In all the years we have played tournament golf we never played a team tournament. It was the first ever for me. So to link up and do so well was really rewarding.
”I work at the New York Golf Center in the afternoons and in the morning I am with First Tee at Cadwalder Park in Trenton doing lessons for the kids. So I don’t have too much time for recreational; golf. My passion and pride and being committed is through the roof. I love the environment that tournament golf gives up. For us the first time together to win was outstanding and I look forward to us defending our title.”
Aloi has been having a great summer on the golf course. The West Windsor-Plainsboro South graduate, who will be a senior at Furman University, has already won the state Public Links title and this week will be playing in the United States Amateur. DiMeglio has not been out as much due to his other commitments, but made the most of his first tournament with a partner.
”We drove to North Jersey to pre-qualify and got paired up against the kids we wound up playing in the final,” DiMeglio said. “We shot 63 and they shot 66. We got to the tournament and there were another 40 teams there. We had 18 holes of stroke play to cut the field to 16 and bracket match play. We played two matches the following day and then the semifinals and finals the day after.”
DiMeglio and Aloi won their first match, 7 and 6, and then were 4 up after nine holes in the second round when rain came to shorten that match, which sent them to the semifinals.
”We played two Knickerbocker members in the semis,” DiMeglio said of the duo from the host course. “They gave us a great run for our money and took us to the 18th hole before we won. And then we played Pat (Wilson) and Jeremy (Quinn) in final and that went to the 18th hole as well.”
For the 2006 Princeton High graduate, the win was a nice way to end his summer golf season. While he still has a year left at Hartford, he is out of eligibility for the golf team. His road since PHS has kept him close to golf, although he has no thoughts of playing for a living.
”I went to Mercer County College out of high school and got 12 credits and that started my clock toward eligibility,” DiMeglio explained. “I moved to Florida and went to IMG and spent year and half down there training and playing tournament golf. Once I got to Hartford I only could play as a sophomore and junior.
”Those two years went OK. I averaged 79 in college. It is tough playing college golf, especially in the Northeast. Get up there and play right away. Then in the spring play at some phenomenal courses in great locations, but you had to jump right into competitive golf from the snow and that would plague your all around scoring average.”
DiMeglio spends his summer working at NY Golf and helping with First Tee to spread golf into the inner city.
”With First Tee and working I don’t have much time to play,” DiMeglio said. “I qualified the State Am and the State Open. I missed the US Am qualifier by one stroke. I am optimistic about golf. Anthony is the other extreme. He works so hard and puts so much time into it and he knows he wants to continue and play professionally. I respect his game and what he wants to do with the game. He works hard at it and has a vision.
”He has the US Amateur right now. I’d love to be there. I had two years where I missed by one shot and three shots. I want to play these events as an amateur. I don’t want to play as a pro. It is too much. I play for my love of the game.”
DiMeglio will continue to play events when he can fit them in his schedule and also continue in his quest to play in the US Amateur.
”Too many people let the game tear them apart,” DiMeglio said. “This my second year with First Tee and teaching inner city youth. I go to help the kids because I love the game and the kids. The game teaches respect and honor. It is rewarding to me.
”Winning the (Four Ball) is something I will remember all my life. But watching these kids and their love for the game grow is also something I will always remember. I have a soft spot for helping the kids out and make sure they respect the game.”
And no matter where his golfing career takes him, DiMeglio will always have the title that he and Aloi won together.
”Not only is this win important for me and Anthony, but this trophy will sit at Mercer Oaks for a year and our names will be on it forever,” DiMeglio said. “My hope is that it might inspire some other people to strive for a win like that. Mercer Oaks is where I play all my golf and I am glad that trophy is there.”
