2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying: Stonewall (Old)

Edwards/Kovach, Borst/McDonagh qualify

ELVERSON, Pa. — Eric Edwards of Charlotte, N.C. and Brock Kovach of Wyomissing, Pa. and Brendan Borst of Philadelphia, Pa. and Tommy McDonagh of New York, N.Y. earned the two available qualifying positions in U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying administered by GAP at Stonewall (Old) (par 70, 6,793 yards) Tuesday.

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Both teams advanced via a 3-for-2, sudden-death playoff alongside Kevin O’Brien of Lower Gwynedd, Pa. and Christian Matt of Springhouse, Pa. All three sides completed regulation at 6-under-par 64. The playoff utilized No. 9 (par 3, 216 yards). The qualifying sides advanced with two-putt pars. O’Brien and Matt made bogey and took the first alternate position. 

“We got our first taste of [the Championship] last year, and ever since then we wanted to get back,” Edwards, 30, said. “We were excited to play a great golf course and obviously compete again.”

“There’s nothing better than a USGA event,” McDonagh, 37, said. “This was it. It was a now or never moment.” 

The 12th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball will take place May 22-26, 2027 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

Both qualifying teams are seasoned partnerships forged from friendships made during college golf. Edwards and Kovach graduated from George Mason University in 2018. Borst and McDonagh are 2012 Penn State grads. 

“This is our guaranteed annual get together,” Kovach, 30, a member at LedgeRock Golf Club, said. “Selfishly, I love the Northeast golf courses and he likes coming up here to play other courses.”

“He’s married and has three kids, so I go to him,” McDonagh said. “We try to fit it in between each other.” 

A dazzling scorecard didn’t crystalize immediately for Edwards and Kovach. Starting on Stonewall’s back nine, the pair went out in 1 under. A pair of momentum-swinging birdie putts from Edwards on Nos. 1 and 2 put the wheels in motion. A birdie barrage from the team in their last three holes got them into the playoff. 

On No. 7 (par 3, 163 yards) Edwards knocked an 8-iron to 15 feet and canned the ensuing birdie. Kovach fueled the fire on No. 8 (par 4, 420 yards) after spearing an 8-iron from 143 yards to three feet. Edwards took advantage of the team’s final birdie chance after steering a 5-iron to five feet on No. 9 (par 3, 216 yards).

“I putted really well,” Kovack said. “[Eric] hit some really good approach shots and knocked down the putts. In this qualifying format, you’ve got to make putts.” 

Edwards and Kovach have settled into the mid.-am. golf scene. Post college, Edwards tried his hand at playing professionally on the mini-tour circuit for a year. He now works for Vangard as a Relationship Manager. Kovach captured the 124th Joseph H. Patterson Cup presented by Provident Bank earlier this month. He keeps his game sharp while working for Arch Insurance Group. The pair also keep USGA qualifiers circled on their calendar. 

“I couldn’t believe how well you are treated by the USGA,” Kovach said of playing in his first U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. “Playing in one just makes you want to play in as many as you possibly can.”

Borst and McDonagh have played in three U.S. Amateur Four-Balls (2017, 2020-21). They even made a run to the Round of 16 in their first event appearance. Since then, the team has been on a five year dry spell. A lack of opportunity to keep the game in tune amid family and work responsibilities is partly to blame.

On Tuesday, it all came together. 

“We played steady,” McDonagh said. “We were in every hole for the most part we were in it and we had looks.” 

Like their qualifying counterparts, Borst and McDonagh began their day on Stonewall’s back nine. Both players contributed a birdie each to turn at 2 under. The two combined again on Nos. 1, 2 and 3 to earn a chance to shootout for their own qualifying spot. 

On No. 1 (par 5, 508 yards), Borst dropped a 12-footer after rifling a 5-iron from 225 yards. On the next, No. 2 (par 4, 385 yards), McDonagh also holed a putt from 12 feet after lifting a sand wedge from 85 yards. On No. 3 (par 5, 563 yards), McDonagh’s rocket 3-wood from 280 landed long of the green in a bunker. He splashed out and made the ensuing 3-footer. 

The pair said that their respective games have improved since college. Borst, an Overbrook Golf Club member, has become more consistent and reliable, while McDonagh, who plays at Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk, Conn., admits to enjoying golf more instead of trying to force birdies.

GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 140,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.