MGA Media Day at Quaker Ridge
Ballo, Giuliani, Heins and Wilson Highlight MGA Media Day
Scarsdale, N.Y. (April 23, 2010) – Four reigning MGA champions answered questions and entertained a room full of members of the media and special guests at the MGA’s Media Day press conference on Thursday, April 22nd, at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. Quaker Ridge plays host to this year’s Met Amateur, the fourth time the historic Tillinghast design will host the prestigious event. Before the panel was introduced, the attendees heard from MGA Communications Manager Greg Midland, MGA President Al Small, MGA Tournament Director Brian Mahoney and Quaker Ridge President Alan Howard. Midland discussed the activity of the MGA communications department as well as announced that the 2010 MGA Media Guide has gone digital and is currently available online. The link is available below.
Defending Met Open champion Andrew Giuliani fielded questions on his first victory as a professional last year at Ridgewood Country Club and his time on the Golf Channel’s show, The Big Break Disney Golf. He also gave a status update on his game as he continues to develop his career as a professional. The 2009 Met Amateur champion, Carter Cup champion and MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year Cameron Wilson was also a featured guest. Wilson answered questions regarding his phenomenal ’09 campaign and spoke about his future as an upcoming freshman at Stanford University. Rounding out the young guns was Mike Ballo Jr., the 2009 Ike champion and senior on the St. John’s University golf team. Ballo discussed his pre-tournament preparations as well as his future in golf as both an amateur and professional.
The fourth member of the panel was four-time MGA champion and 2009 MGA Senior Open champion Bobby Heins. Heins responded to a number of questions related to his recent string of success, which includes winning the last two MGA Senior Opens as well as receiving the 2009 Met PGA Senior Player of the Year Award. Heins, who is also the swing coach for PGA Tour winner Johnson Wagner, discussed Wagner’s game and how he balances his job as head professional at Old Oaks Country Club with instructing Wagner on the road at events.
Also in attendance was George Zahringer III, one of the most decorated Met Area amateurs in history and a two-time MGA champion at Quaker Ridge, who also has six Hochster Memorials to his credit. Zahringer, who may try to win his sixth Met Amateur title this summer, stated how driving accuracy is extremely important at Quaker.
For more information on the 2010 Media Day, contact Bob Nielsen (bnielsen@mgagolf.org) or Greg Midland (gmidland@mgagolf.org) at the MGA.
