ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 8, 2012) – A summer of outstanding MGA competition continues with the 44th MGA/MetLife Boys Championship, which will be held Thursday, August 9 and Friday, August 10 at Gardiner’s Bay Country Club in Shelter Island Heights, N.Y. The match play-only championship consists of a starting field of 16 boys—competitors not yet 16 years of age who are students in good standing at an accredited school in the MGA district or who have playing privileges at an MGA member club.

Headlining this year’s field is the 2010 runner-up in this championship, David Lee-Tolley of New York, N.Y. Lee-Tolley was unable to compete in last year’s MGA/MetLife Boys Championship at Rumson, and this year represents his final opportunity to take home the trophy in this event (he turns 16 just a few days after the championship). Lee-Tolley played in last month’s Met Junior, winning one match, and was a co-medalist in the Boys Championship sectional qualifier at Shorehaven with a round of 1-over 72. His fellow medalist at that qualifier, Vincent Palazzolo of Colts Neck, N.J., is also in the field.

Other players to watch at Gardiner’s Bay include a youngster who has already made some noise in MGA events this year, Solomon Thompson of Scarsdale, N.Y. At just 12 years old, Thompson is the youngest player in the field but made it all the way to the Round of 16 at last month’s Met Junior at Nissequogue, losing to eventual champion Scott Kim. Last week, he competed in his first Carter Cup at Baltusrol.

Other notable players coming into the championship in good form includeGerry Machedon, who took qualifying medalist honors at Port Jefferson Country Club and will have high expectations for playing in the Boys Championship not far from his home in South Setauket, N.Y. Other qualifying medalists looking to do well at the Boys are Justin Chae of Summit, N.J., Jim Smoot Jr. of Huntington, N.Y., and Cameron Chottiner of Westport Conn.

To emerge with the Boys Championship title, the champion will have to win four matches over the course of two days and contend with the ever-changing winds at the historic and scenic Gardiner’s Bay Country Club layout.

This year’s championship will be the 10th time that Gardiner’s Bay has hosted the event, and at just under 6,400 yards and with a par of 70, the course offers a terrific setup for these talented youngsters. Given the rich history Gardiner’s Bay has with the MGA and junior golf, this year’s playing of the MGA/MetLife Boys Championship should be one to remember for years to come.

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