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100th Met Junior heads to Plainfield

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 13, 2017) – The highly anticipated 100th Met Junior Championship sponsored by MetLife will bring the Met Area’s top junior competitors to esteemed Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J., July 19-21, to battle for the prestigious Mandeville Trophy. The historic playing returns the nation’s oldest junior championship to its roots, as Plainfield hosted the Met Junior each of its first three years (1912-1914).

Related: Starting Times | Met Junior History | Met Junior Records

The Met Junior is conducted by the MGA Foundation with the support of MetLife. Over the years the event has produced a number of winners who have gone on to outstanding achievements on both the regional and national levels. Past winners of the Mandeville Trophy include Butch and Bill Harmon, Marc Turnesa, Andrew Svoboda, Mike Miller, David Pastore, and Cameron Young.

The championship is also a major component in the new MGA Junior Player of the Year Award, Presented by Callaway. The season-long race is beginning to take shape, with the winner of the Met Junior receiving 275 points.

While the championship officially begins July 19 with 36 holes of on-site stroke play qualifying, a Pro-Junior precedes the tournament on July 18. Following golf, past champions and players will enjoy a special celebratory dinner.

The event will be a remarkable occasion as the MGA becomes the only golf association to have its Open, Amateur, and Junior championships reach the century mark. The field is once again filled with the area’s top rising talents and Plainfield’s tremendous Donald Ross layout is sure to provide an incredible test of golf and determine a worthy champion.

Back Again
The field includes seven competitors that advanced to match play in last year’s Met Junior Championship: Johnny Bush of Cranford, N.J., Nathan Han of Somers, N.Y., Justin Lane of Woodstock, N.Y., Ethan Ng of New York City, William Rand of New York City, Stephen Sul of Old Bridge, N.J., and Sean Taylor of Westfield, N.J. Taylor and Ng both advanced to the quarterfinals. Jack Wall of Brielle, N.J., did not compete last year, but advanced to match play in 2015 and is in the field once again this year.

Match Play Veterans
After advancing to match play at the Met Junior Championship every year since 2014, it’s hard to believe Ng and Han are still just 17 and 16 years old, respectively. The two have been mainstays in the championship and aim to make deep runs this year. Ng has had hard luck in his matchups, being defeated by the eventual champion each of the past three years, while Han—a two-time MGA/MetLife Boys champion—is seeking his first victory in match play at the Junior.

Matching Junior Titles
Andrew Franzof Ridgefield, Conn., Jake Mayer of Scotch Plains, N.J., and Matt Minerva, Jr., of Elmsford, N.Y., will be shooting to add a new junior title to their resume. Franz won Connecticut’s Junior championship in 2016, Mayer won New Jersey’s Junior championship in 2015, and Minerva claimed the Westchester Junior last month, defeating former Met Junior titlist James McHugh in a playoff at Knollwood.

Building Steam
Several competitors have claimed quality finishes as of late and look to carry momentum to Plainfield. Andre Chi, an MGA eClub – Long Island member, finished fourth at the 70th MGA Public Links Championship, while Mayer finished tied sixth at the recent New Jersey State Open.

Format/Eligibility

  • 36 holes of on-site stroke play qualifying (July 19), with top 16 advancing to match play
  • Round of 16 and quarterfinals contested July 20, with semifinals and championship match taking place July 21
  • Field determined from four qualifiers held throughout the Met Area
  • Open to juniors who have not started attending college, are not yet 19 by August 2, and who reside in the MGA territory
  • Winner receives 275 points for the MGA Junior Player of the Year Award, Presented by Callaway

Plainfield Country Club

  • Founding member of the MGA
  • First three Met Junior Championships (1912-14) contested on the club’s original course (Ross’ design debuted in 1921)
  • Course highlighted by its rolling terrain and elevated greens with challenging contours
  • 2012 Met Amateur is the last MGA championship hosted by the club
  • Notably in the rotation as host of the PGA TOUR’s lead event of the FedExCup Playoffs
  • Will also host the inaugural Junior Presidents Cup this fall, September 25-26

Coverage

  • 9 and 18-hole scoring for stroke play qualifying
  • Live hole-by-hole scoring for each match
  • Social Media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates through the day; additional content on Facebook and Instagram
  • Scoring, recaps, interviews, and photos on mgagolf.org
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