Laurel Links Welcomes Met Amateur
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 1, 2017) – Laurel Links Country Club in Laurel, N.Y., makes its MGA-championship debut this week as the area’s top competitors head to the outstanding links-style course on the North Fork of eastern Long Island for the 115th Met Amateur Championship, August 3-6. The MGA’s oldest championship once again features a deep field of decorated players, all aiming to add their name to a list of winners that includes historic names like Walter Travis, Jerry Travers, and Willie Turnesa.
Related: Pairings | Video Preview
The Met Amateur’s longevity is rivaled only by the U.S. Amateur and is played over four days, perhaps serving as the MGA’s most grueling championship. The top 16 advance to match play following 36 holes of on-site stroke play qualifying. Two rounds of match play follow on Friday to set up Saturday’s semifinal round. A champion is then crowned following a 36-hole final.
More Information: Met Amateur History | Met Amateur Records
Back Again
Dawson Jones of Jumping Brook, Ethan Ng of Fiddler’s Elbow, and Kieran Purcell of Essex County are all back this year following appearances in the semifinal of last year’s Met Amateur. Jones may be having the strongest summer of the trio, having won the NJSGA Amateur—which is contested over four rounds of stroke play. Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake and Thomas LaMorte of Haworth advanced are also back following quarterfinal appearances in 2016. LaMorte is having a standout summer, having won the New York City Amateur, finishing tied second at the Ike and third in the NJSGA Amateur.
Breakout Season
James Nicholas of Deepdale put an emphasis on his golf game through the winter and is seeing the dividends this summer. James, who enters his junior year at Yale this fall, claimed victory in the Arcola Cup just a few weeks ago and advanced to the semifinals of both the WGA and LIGA Amateurs. He also recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur, and tied for fifth earlier this summer at the Ike.
Ike & Am?
Matt Lowe of Colonial Springs is looking to become the 10th competitor to win both the Ike and Met Amateur in the same year, following his incredible win at Century in which he closed with a 10-under 61. David Pastore was the last to win the first two MGA majors of the year, doing so in 2014.
Match Play Masters
Christian Cavaliere of Mahopac maneuvered his way through match play to win the Westchester Amateur early this summer and looks for more match play success at Laurel Links. His finalist competitor, Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow is in the field as well, as is Long Island Amateur runner-up Michael Miranda of Bethpage.
The List Goes On…
The depth of the field continues with 2017 NJSGA Open champion Luke Graboyes of Watchung Valley, John Felitto of Echo Lake who has carded a tie for fourth and a tie for seventh in the NJSGA’s Open and Amateur championships and a tie for eighth in the Ike this year, annual top competitors Trevor Randolph of Arcola and Brian Komline of Black Oak, and Matt Mattare of Darlington who tied second at the Ike, finished as runner-up at the NJSGA Mid-Am and won this year’s GAP Open.
Trying Test
Laurel Links is sure to be an outstanding test of golf for the field. U.S. Open local qualifying (2007, 2009) and U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying (2010, 2015) have both taken place at the club, but only professional Bob Rittberger (in both 2007 and 2009) and Sam Bernstein (2015) of Century, who is in the field, registered sub-par scores at the end of qualifying.
Format
- 36 holes of on-site stroke play qualifying on Thursday to determine the 16 competitors for match play
- Two rounds of match play Friday, semifinals on Saturday and 36-hole championship match on Sunday
Laurel Links Country Club
- Opened in 2002 and is hosting its first MGA championship
- Has served as a challenging host site for multiple USGA qualifiers
- Designed by Kelly Blake Moran
- Links-style layout with native sandy areas and shrubs
- It’s 18th hole was included in the Modern Dream 18 Presented by Rolex
Coverage
- 9 and 18-hole updates during Thursday’s stroke-play qualifying
- Live hole-by-hole scoring for every match
- Social Media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates through the day; additional content on Facebook and Instagram
- Scoring, recaps, interviews and photos on mgagolf.org