20 Players Qualify for Met Open at Nissequogue
ST. JAMES, N.Y. (July 29, 2014) – Nissequogue Golf Club in St. James, N.Y., played host to 135 players vying for the 13 (plus ties) qualifying spots for the 99th Met Open Championship at Trump National - Bedminster.
Patrick McCarthy of Garden City Golf Club earned medalist honors and ran away with the first qualifying spot, shooting an impressive 5-under 67, despite the physically demanding terrain during a hot afternoon.
Alex Edfort of Neshanic Valley Golf Club played a beautiful round in the morning and set a solid score of 2-under 70 to maintain the second qualifying spot throughout the day.
Not far behind were amateur Mike Shine of Minisceongo, Peter Springstead of Hackensack, and amateur Erick Alonso of Darlington with scores of 1-under 71. Alonso is fresh out of the Met Junior Championship, where he made it into the round of 16. He’ll play in Wednesday’s Carter Cup at Baltusrol.
Players with an even-72 also qualified. Such players included P.J. Cowan of Eisnenhower Park, Colin Dolph of North Hempstead, Anthony Aruta of Staten Island Golf Practice Center, Adam Fuchs of Bethpage, Scott Hawkins of Glen Head, amateur Johnson Ko of Bethpage,and Christopher Gabriele of Mill River. Gabriele has had a great season thus far as he recently earned the Long Island Junior Boy’s Champion title and made it into the quarterfinals of the Met Junior Championship, sharing medalist honors in stroke play with a 5-under 139 total score.
The final players to earn spots had scores of 1-over 73. Kirk Oguri of Half Hollow, amateur Steven Tanen of Mill River, amateur Richie Kelly, Jr. of Bethpage, amateur Matthew Yun of Douglaston, Lawrence Scortichini , Jr. of Nissequogue, amateur Andrew Demarco of MGA-eClub-L.I., amateur Dylan Crowley of Glen Cove, and amateur John Yu of Bethpage will gear up for the Met Open. Crowley, a talented senior from St. John’s and member of the Big East Championship team recently played in the final U.S. Public Links at Sand Creek Station and also looks to compete in the U.S. Amateur from August 11-17 at Johns Creek in Georgia.
A total of 20 players qualified and will battle it out to take home the trophy in the 99th Met Open Championship at Trump National - Bedminster on August 19-21.
Nissequogue played to a par 72 at 6,524 yards.
