CHATHAM, N.J. (June 30, 2014) – Joe Mercurio and Marc Swanson of Centennial Golf Club won the 38th MGA/MetLife Men's Four-Ball Championship today at Fairmount Country Club in Chatham, N.J., after firing a net 14-under par 58.

Marc and Joe weren't sure how they would play this morning, or if they would even make it to the event after a hectic night that carried over into the early morning. Marc is a firefighter in New York and had been up until 3 a.m. fighting a blaze. Joe, a retired firefighter, wasn't sure how much Marc would have left in the tank for today's championship. The pair ended up having more than enough energy to take the trophies home with them today.

Coming in close second was the team from Sprain Valley, Craig Burrows and Keith Wilster who carded a solid net 12-under par 60. Hunter Semels and Harry DiSimone of Laurel Links shot a net 11-under 61 and took third place after a match of cards. Semels is a staple at MGA Championships and shot a 67 on his own ball today.

John Schneider and Bill ioLonardi of Blue Eagle Golf Club, the 2012 winners, fell short on the match of cards and finished fourth.

Finished tied for fifth with matching scores of net 10-under were Fred and Vincent Dicrescento of Esquire Golf Club and the Broadway Golf Association’s team of Joseph Schwan and Robert Whitney.

Farimount Country Club played to a par 72 at 6,249 yards today.

Entry into the MGA/MetLife Men's Four-Ball Championships requires qualifying on the club level before teams can participate in one of the MGA's Sectional Qualifying Rounds. The competition is a two-man team event, and each player must have an active USGA Handicap Index that does not exceed 20.0 at the time the team attempts to qualify at the club level, and the combined Handicap Index of the team may not exceed 36.0. The format of play at the club qualifying, sectional qualifying and championship levels is 18 holes of stroke-play on a net better-ball basis. 

The MGA announced this spring the re-branding of the event, previously known as the MGA/MetLife Men’s Net Team Championship. For more than 30 years, this popular event has provided scratch golfers and high-handicappers alike with a first-class championship experience. The MGA/MetLife Men’s and Women’s Four-Ball Championships still focus on players of all skill levels, and the events are now conducted by the MGA’s charitable Foundation.