DANBURY, CONN. (July 11, 2013) – It was all fairways and greens for Jacob Henny of Oak Hills on Thursday. The 17-year-old Norwalk, Conn., native used a scintillating straight ball to capture the 66th MGA/MetLife Public Links Championship at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, Conn., by three strokes with an impressive 36-hole score of 3-under 141.
 
“I struck the ball extremely well, especially in the second round," Henny said. "I think I hit 17 greens in the second round. I played really steady, was happy with my course management, and was able to limit my bogeys.”
 
Henny, who qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur a week ago and will play in the Met Junior next week, recorded four birdies in his first round (2-under 70) and four more in the afternoon to finish as the only player under par.

RELATED: Full Results | Photos | Video Interview with Henny
 
After the final round, Henny credited a lot of his success and clear mind to his longtime involvement with The First Tee of Metropolitan New York's facility at Fairchild Wheeler in Bridgeport.
 
“It does a lot of great things with golf,” he said, “but what it really does is teach you life skills. It really helps me with my mental game, being patient on the course, and just having a better attitude in general.”
 
As the winner, Henny earns an exemption into the Met Amateur at the Stanwich Club on August 1-4 and the Ike Championship next year. The five lowest finishers are exempt into next year’s MGA/MetLife Public Links at Charleston Springs Golf Course in Millstone, N.J.
 
It was Adam Larkin of MGA eClub – L.I., who flew out of the gates as the first round leader with a 3-under 69. But Larkin, who will enter his senior year at SUNY Farmingdale in the fall, was unable to keep his momentum going in the second round, bogeying three of his first six holes en route to a 75.
 
Nick Patrick Dilio of Casperkill, a member of the St. Peter’s College golf team, finished alone in third after rounds of 74-71 brought him into the clubhouse at 1-over (144). Tom McHugh of Mansion Ridge finished fourth with a score of 3-over 146.
 
Last year’s champion and two-time Public Links runner-up Eric LeFante of MGA eClub – N.J., finished near the top once again, placing fifth after rebounding with a championship low 4-under 68 in the second round (147 total). Frequent MGA competitor Dave Segot of Nassau Players tied LeFante for fifth place.
 
Jack Maerki of MGA eClub – L.I., Jackie Barnes of Centennial, Richard Feldman of Centennial, and Ryan Gabel of Casperkill all tied for seventh with scores of 148.
 
This was the sixth time Richter Park has hosted the MGA/MetLife Public Links. The scenic Connecticut track was once again a brilliant host and played to a par 72 of 6,723 yards.
 
The MGA/MetLife Public Links Championship is open to golfers who reside in the MGA district, have a Handicap Index of 8.0 or less, and do not belong to a private club.
 
Full coverage, including photos and videos, is available at mgagolf.org.