Mamaroneck, N.Y.-Andrew Svoboda’s reasoning behind turning down the $23,000 first prize check at last year’s MGA/MetLife Open was that it was his dream to win the U.S. Amateur on his home course, Winged Foot. With the country’s most distinguished amateur golf event coming to the Met Area next week, and Svoboda playing the best golf of his young career, his dream most certainly could be realized.

Svoboda’s dominating performance at last week’s Met Amateur is just another strong showing in a tremendous season. His semifinal finish at the British Amateur at St. Andrews in early June was the best finish at the event since Dick Siderowf claimed the his second title in 1976. A second consecutive victory at the Mittlemark Invitational, and four top five finishes, including a second place finish to George Zahringer of Deepdale at the Canon/Ike Championship, solidifies his status as the area’s hottest player.  

Zahringer’s impressive victory in the Ike, along with his record in USGA events, most recently winning the 2002 U.S. Mid Am, certainly places the 51-year-old as a force to be reckoned with. The list of Met Area participants also includes 3-time All-American Chris Nallen of Panther Valley CC in New Jersey.  Nallen is widely considered a favorite after another solid season for the Arizona Wildcats golf team. In fifteen appearances this season, Nallen posted a 69.79 stroke average, which is the lowest single-season average in school history. He won a school-record four tournaments in 2003-04 and has five additional top-10 finishes, earning him Ping First-Team All America honors. 

Darlington’s Tyler Hall is also having a solid season. Hall a recent graduate of the University of Kansas recently finished second in the stroke play portion of the prestigious Western Amateur, winning one match before falling to two-time U.S. Public Links Champion Ryan Moore. In addition, Hall won the Hochster Memorial, finished second to Fairmount’s Allan Small, who is also in the field, and finished third to Zahringer in the Ike.

Other local qualifiers include 2003 Ike Champion Brad Tilley (Sleepy Hollow), 2004 MGA Junior and “Carter Cup” Champion Pat Fillian, Gary Blados (Gardiner’s Bay), Martin Catalioto (Tuxedo), Nick Cook (Mill River), Matt Davidson (Peddie School), John Keller (North Hills), Matt Kleinrock (Forest Hills), Dan Macdonald (Plandome), Tim Schmitt (Meadow Brook), Todd Shagin (Darlington)and Abbie Valentine (Quogue Field)