New York's Ryan Rodriguez Wins 45th MGA/MetLife Boys Championship
BEDFORD, N.Y. (August 16, 2013) – Ryan Rodriguez certified his position as one of the top young golfers in the Met Area with a convincing 
victory today at the 45th MGA/MetLife Boys Championship at the Bedford Golf & Tennis Club in Bedford, N.Y. The 15-year-old played spectacular golf, defeating home-course mate Bear Carlson of Katonah, N.Y., 6 and 5.
RELATED: Full Results | Photos | Shot-By-Shot Final Match
Rodriguez, a native of Highland Mills, N.Y., who advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2013 Met Junior earlier this season, was a machine during his final match and never trailed. He jumped out to a quick 3 up advantage thanks to a few early birdies and never looked back, winning seven of eight holes during one stretch.
Rodriguez has been putting in the time and it certainly showed in this year’s championship.
“A lot of hard work and practice is how I won today,” he said. “Bear is a great player and I was fortunate to be the winner.”
Ryan will have his name engraved on the trophy next to a number of great MGA champions and has earned exemptions into the Met Junior and Carter Cup (MGA’s junior stroke play championship held annually at Baltusrol Golf Club) for the rest of his junior career. “It’s a real honor, this is a great tournament,” he added.
The match play only championship consisted of a starting field of 16 boys — competitors not yet 16 years of age who are students in good standing at an accredited school in the MGA district or who have playing privileges at an MGA member club. Rodriguez won a total of four matches in two days, which included a 4 & 2 victory Friday morning over James McHugh of Rye, N.Y., to capture his first MGA championship. Beford Golf and Tennis Club has hosted the MGA/MetLife Boys Championship every third year since 1989 and continues to be an outstanding venue.
The final between Rodriguez and Carlson was the first time the MGA used shot-by-shot GPS technology (using the Show Me Golfers App), which allowed the public to follow each shot played during the match. That information, as well as photos and full results, can be found on mgagolf.org.
- BY DAVID GORDON, MGA COMMUNICATIONS INTERN
