ELMSFORD, N.Y. (February 20, 2009) — Former Met Open and Met Amateur champion Andrew Svoboda of Old Oaks Country Club fired a final-round 64 en route to his first win on the NGA Hooters Tour at the Rock Springs Ridge event in Apopka, Fla., on February 18 (Final Results). Svoboda, who played in last year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif., earned $10,909 and is currently in third place on the NGA Hooters Tour Money List.

Former Ike champion and MGA Player of the Year Andrew Giuliani of Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course has found success on the Gateway Tour in Florida since turning professional. He finished in 5th place at the Blinks Forest Golf Club event on February 11 in Wellington, Fla. (Final Results) On February 18, Giuliani continued his strong play with a t-11th finish at the Fountain Country Club event in Lake Worth, Fla. (Final Results) Through six events on the Beach Winter Series, Giuliani is 12th on the Gateway Tour Money List. John Stoltz of the Concord, the 2005 Met Open champion, is also playing on the Gateway Tour and is fifth on the money list after five top-20 finishes in six events.

A number of Met Area professionals were in Florida in late January to compete in the PGA of America’s early season competitions. C.J. Reeves of Century CC in Purchase, N.Y., captured the TaylorMade-adidas PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on January 22. On the men’s side, Frank Esposito of Brooklake CC in Florham Park, N.J., finished t-2nd at the TaylorMade-adidas PGA Stroke Play Championship, also at PGA Golf Club.

Reeves birdied the first playoff hole to win the Women’s Stroke Play, her second victory in the only competition conducted just for women by the PGA of America. Kammy Maxfeldt of Birchwood CC in Westport, Conn., was also in the playoff and finished tied for second, while Marjorie Jones of the GC of Chelsea Piers in New York City finished t-5th. Elizabeth Certo of Willow Ridge CC in Harrison, N.Y., and Angela Aulenti of Sterling Farms GC in Stamford, Conn., both finished t-8th.

Esposito, a two-time NJPGA Player of the Year, finished t-2nd at the PGA Stroke Play Championship, two strokes back of the winner, Rick Schuller of Chester, Va. Greg Bisconti of Saint Andrew’s GC in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., finished one stroke behind Esposito and t-4th. Two former Met Open champions also finished in the top 10, Frank Bensel (t-6th) of Century CC and Mark Brown (t-9th) of the Tam O’Shanter Club in Brookville, N.Y. Sixteen Met Area professionals made the cut at PGA Golf Club.

 

 

PGA Stroke Play Championship - Final Results

 

PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship - Final Results