Local Pros Eye Spots at Torrey Pines
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 19, 2008) - The road to the 2008 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif., began in early May when the MGA conducted four local qualifying rounds throughout the Met Area. More than 350 local and national players attempted to advance to the sectional qualifying stage, including a number of prominent professional and amateur Met Area players. Among the 27 qualifiers were five former Met Open champions, one former MGA/MetLife Public Links champion and one former Carter Cup-MGA Junior Stroke Play champion. All qualifiers earned a spot at one of 14 sectional qualifying sites throughout the country, including the Met Area site at Old Oaks CC and Century CC, both in Purchase, N.Y., on June 2.
The first local qualifying round was conducted at the Bedens Brook Club in Skillman, N.J., on May 8. Jim Famula of Basking Ridge, N.J., and Brian Bergstol of Mount Bethel, Pa., led the way with even-par 72s. Two-time NJPGA Player of the Year Frank Esposito of Monroe, N.J., also qualified with a one-over 73, as did Robert Cronheim of Watchung, N.J., one of three amateurs to advance out of Met Area local qualifying. Carl Alexander of Bedford, N.Y., fired a three-under 69 to lead the qualifiers at Manhattan Woods GC in West Nyack, N.Y., on May 13. Also advancing out of that field were two former Met Open champions, John Guyton of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., (2006) and John Stoltz of Roscoe, N.Y. (2005). Former Carter Cup champion Morgan Hoffmann of Saddle Brook, N.J., claimed the final qualifying spot at this site in a playoff.
Ridgeway CC in White Plains, N.Y., hosted the May 14 local qualifying round where Rob Labritz of Harrison, N.Y., the 2006 New York State PGA champion, fired a four-under 67 to lead the field. Two-time MGA/MetLife Public Links champion Mark Farrell, who turned professional in 2007, took the second qualifying spot with a 67. Former Met PGA Professional champion Greg Bisconti of South Salem, N.Y., also advanced out of Ridgeway. The final local qualifying round in the Met Area, held at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, N.Y., on May 15, featured three former Met Open champions among the nine qualifiers: Andrew Svoboda of Larchmont, N.Y. (2003), Mike Gilmore of Locust Valley, N.Y. (2000), and Mark Mielke of East Norwich, N.Y. (1992). Click on the links below for full results from each of the four local qualifying rounds.
All local qualifiers advance to one of 14 sectional qualifying sites held throughout the country in early June. The MGA will conduct it’s sectional qualifying round on Monday, June 2, at Old Oaks CC and Century CC, both in Purchase, N.Y. Sectional qualifying is the final stage before the 108th U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., on June 9 - 15. For more information please contact Gene Westmoreland (gwestmore@mgagolf.org) or Bob Nielsen (bnielsen@mgagolf.org) at the MGA office, 914-347-4653.
Final Results - U.S. Open Local Qualifying Rounds:
