ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 13, 2009) – Defending champion Peter Kim of Metuchen, N.J., advanced to the semifinals of the 41st MGA/MetLife Boys Championship at Gardiner’s Bay Country Club following two impressive victories. Matt Josephs of Palisades, N.Y., Mark Reilly of Babylon, N.Y., and Michael Giannico of Blue Point, N.Y., will join Kim in the semifinals, which are scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

Kim’s romp through the first day of the championship began with a 5 & 3 victory over Sean Byrne of Rockville Centre, N.Y., in the Round of 16. He followed that up with a 5 & 4 win over Erick Alonso of Haworth, N.J., in the quarterfinals. Kim’s opponent in the semifinals will be Matt Josephs, who also had an impressive day on the course. He beat Steven Pederson of Scotch Plains, N.J., 6 & 4, in the Round of 16 and followed that up with a 4 & 2 victory over Vincent Martino of West Orange, N.J.

The third semifinalist, Mark Reilly, took down Ethan Wall of Brielle, N.J., 6 & 5, in the first round. The 2008 Long Island Boys champion returned to the course in the afternoon to take on 13-year-oldMatthew Lowe of Farmingdale, N.Y., who finished tied for 19th at the MGA/MetLife Public Links Championship on July 7. In the much anticipated match-up, Reilly took the early lead en route to a 5 & 4 victory.

The fourth semifinalist, Michael Giannico, had the toughest match of the day against Erik Bringsjordof Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. In a see-saw battle, Giannico was able to pull out a victory in 19 holes to advance to the quarterfinals, where he defeated Kevin Rawding of Morristown, N.Y., 6 & 5. Giannico will take on Reilly in the second semifinal match.

The MGA/Met Life Boys Championship is open to any boy, not yet 16 years of age, who is a student in good standing at an accredited school in the MGA district or who has playing privileges at an MGA member club. Seven of the sixteen boys competing in the championship also qualified for and competed in the 92nd Met Junior Championship, held last month at Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Harbor, N.Y.

The semifinals begin at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, with the 18-hole final match taking place in the afternoon. Follow all the semifinal and final action with live scoring updates on mgagolf.org.