Photo By Kyle Coburn/NAPGT :: Story by Matt Byrne

Andrew Svoboda of Larchmont, NY, captured the North Fork Bank New York State Open Championship at Bethpage Black July 17–19.

Ranked third on the NAPGT money list, Svoboda took the Mark Grossinger Etess trophy with a two under par three-day total of 211. He was the only player to remain under par for 54 holes- a feat he owed in some part to his superior play off the tee.

“I drove it really good at Bethpage and whenever you can drive it really good at a course where there’s a lot of rough it’s a big advantage,” he said while warming up at this week’s Atlantic Open in Plymouth, MA.

Trailing only Dustin Cone and Geoffrey Sisk, Svoboda has taken home a total of $13,229 so far after winning the Atkinson Open June 8 and tying for sixth at the Blackstone Open July 10.

Although trailing slightly in the money standings, Svoboda possesses the lowest scoring average and tops the list of par breakers for the tour, shooting an average score of 68.83 and breaking par for 29.6 percent of his holes played.

Svoboda, a long-time member at Winged Foot, showed evident respect for Bethpage, saying it was “an honor” to play in the tournament, and that he hopes to play well this fall at Q School.

Hoping to make another worthy effort in Plymouth, MA, today, Svoboda teed off to play the first of the day’s 36 holes at Atlantic Country Club with birdies in mind.

“Keep hitting a lot of good shots, leave yourself a lot of birdie putts and hope you make them,” he said.