MGA Press Releases
Bedford, N.Y.--After rain suspended yesterday's championship final after only four holes, play resumed at 8:00 am this morning in this year's MGA/MetLife Boys Championship.
Larry Haertel, of Greenwich, CT, took a 1-up over David Held, of Roslyn, NY, into today's action. Held quickly drew the match back to even with a birdie on the par-4 seventh, which is where the two young competitors remained at the turn.
Haertel resumed his 1-up advantage as Held failed to make par on the par-3 10th. Haertel struggled to keep his narrow lead as Held got the match back to all square with only three holes to play. But Haertel showed the determination of a champion and regained the lead by making a solid par at the short par-4 17th.
Held had his chance to send the match to extra holes, with Haertel in the hole with an up and down par-4, when he stuck his approach on the par-4 home hole. However, it was not meant to be as Held's 8-foot birdie bid slid past the hole, giving Haertel a 1-up victory in what the 15-year old later called, "the most exciting match in my career."