ELMSFORD N.Y. (July 13, 2009) – Four local players, including a past Met Junior champion, are in the field at the 84th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, which begins today in Norman, Oklahoma. The championship format is 36 holes of stroke play qualifying Monday and Tuesday for the field of 156 amateur public links players from around the world. Following Tuesday’s second round of stroke play, the top 64 scorers will advance to match play, with the 36-hole final match taking place on Saturday, July 18.

Representing the Met Area is a quartet of accomplished public links players, led by 2008 Met Junior Champion Anthony Aloiof Plainsboro, N.J. The 19-year-old Aloi plays on the golf team at Furman University in South Carolina. Another collegiate player in the field is former Met Junior standout Chris Scialo (above) of New City, N.Y. Scialo, 21, is a rising senior on the golf team at Towson University in Maryland, and was runner-up at the 2006 Met Junior at Apawamis.

Rounding out the Met Area competitors are 23-year-old Ryan Hom of New York, N.Y., and 22-year-old Scott Miller of Wyckoff, N.J. Both players are regulars in MGA championships.

The 84th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship is being held at the 7,289-yard, par-71 Jimmie Austin/OU Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma, on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. Live scoring for stroke play and match play is available on www.mgagolf.org.