Met Area's Amateur Talent Takes on Baltusrol
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (July 28, 2015) – The MGA’s oldest championship heads to Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., on July 30 – August 2 when 67 of the Met Area’s finest will compete in the 113th Met Amateur Championship.
The championship returns to Baltusrol for the first time since 2006, when Tommy McDonagh of Shorehaven captured his first of his two Met Amateur titles. This year’s championship will be played on the Upper Course, and the field is full of the area’s best players looking to secure a win at Baltusrol.
Competitors will take on 36 holes of stroke play qualifying on Thursday, July 30th to determine the 16-man match play field. Matches begin on Friday, July 31st and continue through the weekend.
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Returning to the field after a runner-up finish last year at The Creek is Matt Lowe of Colonial Springs. Lowe completed his freshman year at Richmond University and has finished in the top-10 at the Ike and LIGA Open since he’s been home for the summer. Another force in the field to watch is Sam 
Bernstein of Century, the 2015 Arcola Cup winner and a semifinalist at the 2014 Met Amateur who is coming off of a recent 2nd place finish at the New York State Amateur.
Bernstein of Century, the 2015 Arcola Cup winner and a semifinalist at the 2014 Met Amateur who is coming off of a recent 2nd place finish at the New York State Amateur.
Tommy McDonagh of Shorehaven returns to Baltusrol seeking a third Met Amateur title - McDonagh defeated now web.com Tour player Kevin Foley in 2006 at Baltusrol and also won at Somerset Hills in 2011, defeating Joe Saladino of Huntington. Saladino, a two-time MGA Player of the Year and a semifinalist at last year’s Met Am, brings his strong match play experience to the field as he searches for an MGA win.
After finishing second at the Ike (his first MGA event ever), Stewart Hagestad of Golf & Body NYC will compete in another MGA championship. A newcomer to New York, Hagestad played collegiately at USC and has experience from competing in five U.S. Amateurs under his belt.Seton Hall golfer David Cha of MGA eClub- NYC will challenge the field again after capturing the MGA Public Links Championship just a few weeks ago. Public Links runner-up Kyle Brey of Bethpage also earned a spot in the final field.
Three sets of brothers are competing in the Met Amateur, including Kyle and Kurt Brey of Bethpage, Sam and Will Bernstein of Century, and Luke and Michael Graboyes of Twin Brooks. Stephen Pastore, the youngest brother of last year’s winner David Pastore, is in the field as well. Talented players Gregg Angelillo, Nick Desai, Thomas Urcioli, and John Voestch make up a strong contingent of Baltusrol members who will take on their 
home course in the Met Amateur.
home course in the Met Amateur.
Other players to watch include a number of former MGA champions: 2014 Carter Cup winner Erick Alonso of White Beeches, reigning MGA Mid-Am champion Niall Handley of Essex Fells, and 2014 MGA/MetLife Boys winner Brent Ito will look to add another trophy to their collections. 
Trevor Randolph of Arcola, the 2014 & 2013 New Jersey Mid-Am winner also returns to the field looking to better his runner-up finish at the 2013 Met Amateur at Stanwich. Ryan Snouffer of Panther Valley looks to continue his strong 2015 season as well – Snouffer claimed the Brae Burn Invitational and finished 3rd at the Ike and 5th at the New Jersey Open.
Trevor Randolph of Arcola, the 2014 & 2013 New Jersey Mid-Am winner also returns to the field looking to better his runner-up finish at the 2013 Met Amateur at Stanwich. Ryan Snouffer of Panther Valley looks to continue his strong 2015 season as well – Snouffer claimed the Brae Burn Invitational and finished 3rd at the Ike and 5th at the New Jersey Open.
With names like these in the field, the Met Amateur promises to provide excitement as these top players compete on Baltusrol’s challenging Upper Course. After 36-holes of stroke play, the field will be narrowed down to the low 16 scorers who will advance to match play to determine the eventual champion. The MGA conducted five sectional qualifying rounds throughout the Met Area to determine this year’s final field.
The Met Amateur is rivaled only by the U.S. Amateur in terms of longevity and is one of the most respected and historic regional amateur championships in America. It was first played in 1899 and has delivered winners like Johnson Wagner, Andrew Svoboda, Jerry Courville Sr., Walter Travis, and George Zahringer III.
The MGA will provide 9 and 18 hole scoring throughout Thursday’s stroke play qualifying, and live scoring throughout the matches beginning on Friday. For scoring and full coverage on the Met Amateur, please visit www.mgagolf.org.
About the MGA: The Metropolitan Golf Association was founded in 1897 and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest amateur golf associations representing more than 500 clubs in the tri-state Metropolitan Area. Through a network of more than 300 volunteers, and a full-time staff operating out of its Golf Central headquarters in Elmsford, N.Y., the Association fulfills its role as a true non-profit service organization. Through a variety of unique, relevant, and innovative services for member clubs and area golfers, the MGA has established itself as a leader among local and national golf organizations.
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