RYE, N.Y. (July 27, 2006) – Chris Scialo of New City, N.Y., and David Pastore of Greenwich, Conn., advanced to the finals today at the MGA/MetLife Junior Championship at The Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y.  Pastore moved on after a 4&3 victory over Robert Cronheim of Watchung, N.J., in his semifinal match.  Scialo defeated Andrew Cohen of Mamaroneck, N.Y., 3&1.  Scialo and Pastore will begin the final match at 12:30 p.m.

Pastore, who will be a freshman this fall at Greenwich (Conn.) High School, was the youngest player to advance to the semifinals. Pastore kept a lead throughout most of the match and remained one up after Cronheim birdied the 10th.  He kept the match close through the next few holes and was able to capitalize when Cronheim double-bogeyed the 15th hole.  Pastore made par to win the match, 4&3.  Pastore, whose parents are coaches at the First Tee site in Norwalk, will also play in the First Tee Open in August.

Scialo found himself in a tough match against an accomplished player in Andrew Cohen. Cohen, a recent graduate of Mamaroneck (N.Y.) High School, earned All State Honors in New York this past season and will be a freshman at Bucknell University in the fall.  The back-and-forth match saw each player maintain a lead for only short stretches.  Scialo, who has top ten finishes in both the 2005 and 2004 Carter Cups, took a one-up lead after 16, but bogeyed the par-five 17th.  Cohen birdied 17 to even the match and take it to the difficult par-four 18th.  Scialo put his tee shot in the fairway, while Cohen landed in the left rough and faced a tough, uphill shot to the green.  Scialo sealed the victory with a shot to within four feet of the hole.  After Cohen’s birdie attempt slid by the right side of the hole, Scialo drained his to win the match 1 up.

The finals are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, when Scialo will face off against Pastore.  For complete results for the today’s rounds, as well as Thursday’s pairings, please visit the MGA website at www.mgagolf.org.