18 Players Qualify at Port Jefferson for Met Open
PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (July 22, 2015) – A total of 18 players qualified at Port Jefferson Country Club in Port Jefferson, N.Y. for the 100th Met Open Championship from a starting field of 141.
Related: Full Results | Road to Winged Foot
Leading the field, Mike Midgette of Bethpage was one of two players to finish under par. Midgette, Nassau County Community College golf team alum, birdied four holes, including his last, to notch a 1-under 71.
Sharing medalist honors at 71 with Midgette was St. George’s professional Jimmy Hazen. Though he was one-over walking up to the 18th tee, Hazen played the last hole perfectly - crushing a drive and then softly landing a 9-iron on the green from 177 out. After sinking a long putt for eagle, Hazen jumped to the top of the leaderboard. Following his round, the St. George pro looked forward to next month’s Open.
“This is obviously all of our favorite tournaments,” Hazen noted. “It’s really the premier event you can play, and having it at Winged Foot just makes it even more special.”
Recording scores of even-par 72, Michael Furci of West Sayville, amateur Michael Miranda of Pine Ridge, amateur Gerry Mackedon of Port Jefferson and amateur Brendan Lemp of MGA eClub – New Jersey will also head to Winged Foot next month to take on the field.
One stroke behind at 1-over 73 were amateur Johnson Ko of Bethpage and Jerry Courville Jr. of Shorehaven. Ko recovered after double bogeying 9, bouncing back to shoot 1-under on the back. Courville, Jr will look to etch the family name on the trophy a second time, after his father, Jerry Courville,Sr., won the 1967 Met Open Championship, also hosted by Winged Foot Golf Club.
2-over 74 yielded qualifying spots to amateur Brendan Hunter of Patriot Hills,amateur Dennis Lynch of Nassau Players Club and Mitch Gray of Pelham.
Tied at 3-over 75 and rounding out the qualifiers were amateur Max Kern of Bethpage, Christopher Cappella of Hampshire, Corey Brigham of Beacon Hill, Lawrence Scortichini Jr. of Nissequogue, Paul Selvaggio of Wykagyl, amateur Matthew Yun of Douglaston, and amateur Eric Lefante of Colts Neck.
On a sunny and breezy day in eastern Long Island, Port Jefferson played to a par of 72 at 6,707 yards.
The MGA will conduct one final qualifier for the Met Open Championship tomorrow at Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell, N.J.
