MGA Hosts 2016 Media Day at Glen Oaks Club
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (April 26, 2016) – The MGA hosted its annual Media Day on Tuesday, April 26 Glen Oaks Club, welcoming local media members for a preview of the quickly approaching championship season.
Related: Media Day Photos | Video
After a welcome by MGA Director of Communications, Helen Stock, the MGA’s current Vice President Michael J. Sullivan made remarks about the MGA’s sponsors and their support for golf in the Met Area. He spoke on the longtime relationship with MetLife and their continued support of youth initiatives through the MGA Foundation. Sullivan also announced the Lexus Perfect Drive to the U.S. Open Sweepstakes and commented on continued relationships with Poland Spring and vineyard vines.
MGA Managing Director, Rules, Competitions & GHIN Services, Brian R. Mahoney provided a run-through of the MGA’s 2016 season, once again featuring stops at the top courses in the Met Area including Glen Oaks Club for the 101st Met Open.
The USGA’s Assistant Manager of Championship Communications Vanessa Zink then provided an update on the pair of USGA championships to be decided in the Met Area this season. First up is the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, taking place at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., May 21-26. The U.S. Girls’ Junior will then be hosted by Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., July 18-23. Both championships will feature a national telecast on FS1.
Following Zink, Stock returned to moderate a Q&A for the media, featuring five highly accomplished panelists: 100th Met Open and 2015 Met PGA Assistant Player of the Year Ben Polland of Deepdale, 2015 PGA Professional Player of the Year and 2015 Met PGA Player of the Year Matt Dobyns of Fresh Meadow, four-time MGA Player of the Year Honor Roll member and two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier Sam Bernstein, longtime Glen Oaks head professional Tim Shifflett, and Glen Oaks superintendent and two-time host superintendent of the U.S. Open at Bethpage, Craig Currier.
Guests each fielded a question before the floor was opened for the media as well. Polland and Dobyns spoke a lot about their success in 2015 and how they’ll look to carry momentum into the 2016 season. Polland reflected on his win in the 100th Met Open at Winged Foot and was pleased to see his name on the famed Walker L. Trammell trophy, while Dobyns spoke on prioritizing his family, membership, his staff and his own game as he continues to compete on the PGA TOUR. Bernstein reflected on his attempt to pass through professional qualifying schools and how he’s looking forward to figuring out the balance of work and golf this season.
Both Currier and Shifflett provided insight on how they see players facing Glen Oaks in August. Currier described the biggest changes at Glen Oaks following the recent four-year renovation (completed in 2014) as the removal of trees, new bunkering, and expanded green complexes. Shifflett remarked that the composite course to be used for the Met Open (Nos. 1-3 and 6-9 of White, Nos. 4-5 of Red and the complete Blue) contains a strong group of par 4s, and that the closing holes on the Blue Course will provide for a challenging and exciting finish.
At the close of the media session, attendees had the opportunity to preview the Blue Course and experience the test which competitors will face down the stretch of the 101st Met Open.
