Elmsford, N.Y.- The year 2003 marks the 27th edition of the MGA/MetLife Men’s Net Team Championship. This year the tournament comes to the picturesque Rock Spring Club in West Orange, NJ, on June 24th, and is once again sponsored by MetLife

The “Met Net,” as it is commonly referred to, is open to two-man teams representing an MGA member club, who have USGA Handicap Indexes between 5.0 and 24.0, the team total not exceeding 40.0.  This year, more than 2,000 teams competed at the club level for the right to represent their club at one of the three sectional qualifying rounds held in the weeks preceding the tournament at Hampshire Country Club in Mamaroneck, NY, North Fork Country Club, in Cutchogue, NY, and Apple Ridge Country Club, in Mahwah, NJ.  From the qualifying emerged the 47 teams that will compete in the championship proper. Included in field are the defending champions Marty Doris and Stanley Meyerson of Sunken Meadow Country Club, and the team of Dennis Coffey and Warren Petraglia who will represent the host club, both exempt from qualifying. The format for the tournament is 18 holes stroke play, net better-ball against the field, with players competing at 90% of their Course Handicap.

The Met Net was created for the average golfer and is sometimes referred to as “the U.S. Open for Everyman.” However, the manner in which the tournament is conducted is anything but average.  Every phase of the tournament is conducted at a level comparable to other major MGA Championships, including on-site MGA officials, a formal scoreboard, an awards luncheon, quality awards and mementos, and complete press coverage.  Also well above average are the championship sites, which over the years, have included Quaker Ridge, Canoe Brook, Westchester, Plainfield, Metropolis, and Sleepy Hollow, to name a few. 

Following the 2003 MGA/MetLife Men’s Net Team Championship, the MGA and MetLife will host the traditional awards luncheon for players, MGA officials, and the press.

For more information on this year’s Championship contact Ryan McKenna or Gene Westmoreland of the MGA at (914) 347-4653 or visit the MGA’s website, www.mgagolf.org.