Cavaliere, Theodorakis advance to 99th Met Championship final
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (July 14, 2016) - Christian Cavaliere of Katonah, N.Y., and Max Theodorakis of Danbury, Conn., each claimed hard-fought 1-up victories in this morning's semifinal matches at the 99th Met Junior Championship sponsored by MetLife and are now squaring off in the title match at The Patterson Club.
Connor Daly of Bronxville, N.Y., took the early lead over Cavaliere as both found trouble on the par-4 second hole. Cavaliere countered with birdie-3 on the fourth to square the match. Daly reclaimed his advantage with a par-4 on the eighth before the duo halved the next five holes. Cavaliere birdied the downhill par-3 14th to pull even, while a par earned him a 1-hole lead through 16. Halves with par on the final two sent Cavaliere to the finals.
Meanwhile, Theodorakis tallied back-to-back birdies for a 2-up lead through five, but his competitor John Felitto of Mountainside, N.J., claimed wins on Nos. 6 and 11 to square the match. Theodorakis reclaimed the lead with a birdie on the par-4 13th, and went 2-up following his par-4 on the 15th. Felitto quickly bounced back by claiming the 16th with a par 4. Theodorakis found trouble off the 17th, but Felitto's approach gave him a tough greenside bunker shot. Both competitors made bogey, leaving Theodorakis 1-up. On 18, Felitto knocked his approach to just four feet, but Theodorakis matched him, putting his just outside Felitto. Theodorakis drained his birdie try to seal the 1-up victory.
The MGA is providing live scoring for the championship match, which has a 1 p.m. start.