SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (August 5, 2006) – For the first time in its 104 year history the Met Amateur Championship will feature two teenagers in the final match. Seventeen-year-old Tommy McDonagh of Shorehaven and 19-year-old Kevin Foley of Somerville, N.J., will begin the 36-hole final match tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. over the Upper Course at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. The second eighteen will be played over the famed Lower Course at 12:15 p.m., a course which has hosted numerous U.S. Opens and the 2005 PGA Championship.

Tommy McDonagh, the reigning Connecticut Amateur champion, faced off against 2005 Ike Champion Andrew Giuliani of Van Cortlandt in his semifinal match.  Giuliani was never able to mount a charge against his younger opponent, mostly due to McDonagh’s hot putter.  Hole after hole, McDonagh made clutch putts to keep his slim lead over Giuliani.  After a birdie at the eighth hole, McDonagh played even-par golf over the back nine.  He drained his putt for par on the 17th and headed back to the clubhouse to wait for his opponent to emerge from the second match.

Kevin Foley, who had not played past the 15th hole during match play, was forced into extra holes after Roger Hoit made a tremendous birdie putt on the 18th hole to even the match.  Foley seemed to gain the advantage after his par at the 16th put him one-up, however, Hoit’s third shot from the 18th fairway was right on target.  Not to be outdone, Foley hit his second shot to within 20 feet on the first extra hole.  After Hoit made bogey, Foley two-putted for par and won the match.

Hoit and Giuliani, who jokingly referred to a rematch after yesterday’s quarterfinal matches, were not able to overcome the steady play of their younger opponents. The two had played in the final group at the Ike Championship and seemed destined to meet again, but McDonagh and Foley refused to be intimidated.  McDonagh, who will be a senior at the St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Conn., said he was able to keep his emotions in check while playing an accomplished opponent like Giuliani.  “I tried not to blow the match out of proportion.  I treated it like any other match because I knew I was the underdog.”

The one thing all the players had in common was their appreciation of Baltusrol Golf Club.  “I loved it, it’s absolutely perfect,” said McDonagh.  McDonagh and Foley will have the opportunity to play both courses tomorrow because for the first time in its history, the Met Amateur final will be played over two courses.