UPDATED: JULY 25, 2013: It was a battle for Long Island yesterday as Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., and Matt Lowe of Farmingdale, N.Y., went head to head through 19 holes in yesterday's Round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur. Both juniors took turns leading the match, but neither of them got more than a 1-up lead. After pushing the match to one extra hole, it was Liu who ended the match with a birdie on their 19th hole. Liu, the stroke-play medalist and last year's runner-up, advances to the Round of 32 where he will take on John Augenstein of Owensboro, Ky.

RELATED: Round of 32 Scoring| U.S. Junior Website | Read the U.S. Junior Preview

2013 Met Junior champ Cameron Young of Scarborough, N.Y., won his match in the Round of 64 3 & 1. Young won the second hole of the match, and was able to keep the lead throughout his 17 hole match. He secured his spot in the Round of 32 with a birdie on the par-3 17th hole to end the day. Young is up against Tyson Reeder of Edmond, Okla., in the Round of 32 today.

Will Bernstein of New York, N.Y., put up a strong fight in his match, extending it to 19 holes, but eventually falling on that last hole to lose his match. Theo Humphrey of Greenwich, Conn., and Jeremy Wall of Brielle, N.J., were also ousted in the first round.

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ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 24, 2013) - Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y. and Cameron Young of Scarborough, N.Y., teammates on the victorious MGA Carey Cup team this past April, led all players in the stroke play qualifying portion of the U.S. Junior Amateur, proving yet again that some of the best junior golf in the country resides in the Met Area.

RELATED: Round of 64 Live Scoring

Liu, who won the U.S. Junior in 2010 and finished as a runner-up a year ago, took home medalist honors after an incredible two round total of 136 (8-under) to lead the field. Liu also recently finished as a semifinalist at the British Amateur in late June.

“To be medalist is a good honor,” said Liu, who is participating in his fifth Junior Amateur championship. “It’s something to be happy about. You take these two rounds, know that you’re playing well, and go forward.”

Young, coming off a victory at the Met Junior Championship a week ago, posted a two round total of 138 to finish alone in second. Liu and Young will be the No. 1 and 2 seeds heading into match play, respectively.

RELATED: Stroke Play Results | U.S. Junior Website | Read the U.S. Junior Preview

Several other top Met Area juniors will join Liu and Young into match play. Met Junior runner-up Jeremy Wall of Brielle, N.J., finished T29; 2011 MGA/MetLife Boys champ Theo Humphrey of Greenwich, Conn., fought back from a first round 79 and fired a 2-under 70 to finish T45; Met Junior quarterfinalist Will Bernstein of New York, N.Y. survived a playoff and will also move on to match play.

2010 MGA/MetLife Boys champion Matt Lowe of Farmingdale, N.Y., won a thrilling 4-for-1 playoff early Wednesday morning for the final match play spot and will take on Liu in the Round of 64.