Stewart Hagestad’s September to remember continues with Crump Cup victory

PINE VALLEY, N.J. – Stewart Hagestad is having a September to remember.

Hagestad added the prestigious Crump Memorial Tournament to his recent haul of trophies Saturday, defeating defending champion Stephen Behr Jr. in a playoff at Pine Valley Golf Club.

Hagestad, 32, was a member of the U.S. side that won the 49^th Walker Cup at the Old Course in St. Andrews on Sept. 3. Then he claimed the U.S. Mid-Amateur championship on Sept. 13, at Sleepy Hollow in N.Y., winning the title for a third time, 3 and 2 over Evan Beck.

Stewart Hagestad kisses the Robert T. Jones, Jr. Memorial Trophy after winning the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y. on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)

Hagestad’s Crump Memorial began in dramatic fashion with a hole-in-one at Pine Valley’s famed par-3 10^th hole (known as the Devil’s Asshole) as he posted rounds of 71-72 and tied for third in 36-hole stroke-play qualifying. (Beck earned medalist honors with a pair of 68s and a 36-hole total of 4-under 136.) Tropical Storm Ophelia forced the tournament committee to shorten the weekend match play to 18 holes of stroke play to determine the champion.  All non-championship flights were canceled.

Hagestad shot 3-over 73 in difficult conditions at Pine Valley, ranked No. 1 on Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses list. He made par at the first hole, the first playoff hole, to secure the win over Behr of Alpharetta, Georgia, and claim the 98^th Crump Cup.

Matthew Sughrue of Arlington, Virginia, shot a 1-under 69 to win the Senior Crump Cup. Bob Royak of Alpharetta, Georgia, finished second with a 74.