Croton-On-Hudson, N.Y.--Playing in his first Met Amateur Championship, Johnson Wagner of Garrison GC showed the poise of a veteran and carded rounds of 68 - 67 for a five-under par total of 135 to claim medalist honors at today's 99th Met Amateur Championship at Hudson National Golf Club in Croton-On-Hudson, NY.

A member of the golf team and senior to be at Virginia Tech, Wagner hit 32 out of a possible 36 greens and "played the best two back-to-back rounds of his life".  Wagner, a caddie at Hudson National for the past three years, used his local knowledge and fed off the energy of playing with 5-time Met Amateur champion George Zahringer of Deepdale.  "It helped playing with George today.  I just hope I can go out and do the same tomorrow," the 21-year old said afterwards.

A six-man playoff was needed at 149 to determine the final two golfers who will make up the 16-man match play portion that begins tomorrow.  Matthew Finger of Bergen Community made a birdie on the first playoff hole but it took Thomas Yellin of Stanwich four holes to claim the final spot.  Three former champions, Greg Rohlf (143), George Zahringer III (148), and Jerry Courville Jr. (148) advanced to the match play portion as well as 2001 MGA/MetLife Public Links Champion Martin Catalioto, 2001 U.S. Public Links semi-finalist Mark Farrell of H. Smith Richardson and 2001 Ike runner-up Andrew Svoboda of Winged Foot.

The day's fireworks came from the pairing of Alan Specht of Wheatley Hills and Eugene Smith of Glen Ridge.  Specht aced the 211-yard par 3-second hole only to have his playing partner Smith equal the feat on the 175-yard par 3 eleventh. 

The first round begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. with 8 advancing to the afternoon quarter-final matches.  The semi-finals will start at 12:30 on Saturday with a 36-hole final starting at 7:30 on Sunday.