Five Team Members Selected for French-American Challenge
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 16, 2024) – With the 21st French-American Challenge matches just over two months away, the Met Area has its first five team members selected for the squad that will take on the Ligue de Golf Paris Il-de-France, October 24-25 at Golf de Fontainebleau in Fontainebleau, France. Mark Costanza of Baltusrol, Ina Kim-Schaad of Deepdale, Matt Lowe of Bethpage, Catherine McEvoy of Innis Arden, and Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow have all accepted invitations to compete.
Related: French-American Challenge History
All five will look to continue their success as part of an International Team, having helped the MGA to a dominating win in the Carey Cup at Winged Foot last fall. Tilley, Kim-Schaad, and Costanza are the veterans of the group with five, four, and three respective appearances in international competitions. All three were part of the Met Area team’s 2022 come-from-behind victory in the French-American Challenge at Quaker Ridge Golf Club – the Met Area team’s first win since 1991. Lowe and McEvoy are making their second appearances in international competition.
Lowe, the current point leader on the MGA Player of the Year listing, has put together an especially strong 2024 season with wins in the Richardson Memorial and Mittelmark Invitational. He was low amateur in both the Long Island and New York State opens, finishing fifth and tied third, respectively, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Met Amateur.
Reigning MGA Player of the Year Costanza has played a limited schedule thus far in 2024, with his top finish being a tie for third in the New Jersey State Amateur. Tilley has also been limited in play, with highlights being competing in U.S. Open final qualifying and a tie for 10th in the Arcola Cup.
Meanwhile, Kim-Schaad’s summer has been highlighted by a win in the New York State Women’s Amateur, which earned her a spot in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She also finished tied seventh in the Women’s Met Amateur Championship and as the 2019 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion is exempt for the event next month.
McEvoy, winner of the inaugural playing of The Farrell in 2022, finished tied 14th in the Women’s Met Amateur Championship and was a semifinalist in National Golf Links’ Ladies’ Invitational. She also has the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur ahead, earning her spot in the field after a run to the Round of 16 last year.
The remainder of the Met Area team will be announced in the coming weeks.
The French-American Challenge was introduced as “Fred’s Cup” in 1990, named after sponsor and international jeweler Fred Joaillier. It was conducted annually from 1990-1998, and since 2000 has been played every other year while alternating between the Met Area and sites in France. It did not take place in 2020 due to COVID.
The competition features three sessions: four-ball and foursomes on the first day and singles matches on the second day. The French-American Challenge Am-Am precedes the matches, pairing each of the 20 team members with other amateurs in a best ball gross and net format.
Golf de Fontainebleau is hosting the French-American Challenge for the second time, last welcoming the matches in 2010.