SUMMIT, N.J. (August 23, 2006) – Rick Hartmann of Atlantic won the Met Open in 1998 and 2004, and now at age 47 he is well-positioned to join the select ranks of three-time champions. However, to do so he’ll have to hold off two younger challengers who are eager to make their marks in the Met Area. Hartmann shot a three-under 69 today, for a two-day total of five-under-par 139. Also at 139 are two New Jersey assistant pros, first-round co-leader James Herman, 28, of Trump National-Bedminster and 26-year-old Anthony Aruta, a Staten Island native who now works at Bayonne Golf Club.

Hartmann, who finished eagle-birdie in yesterday’s first round, closed with three consecutive birdies today. “I didn’t hit it very well early in the day, but I hung in there and really finished strong. The greens are a little soft, and that makes them very receptive to approach shots,” he said..

Aruta is playing in his first Met Open, but is no stranger to being in contention. The former assistant at Richmond County Country Club finished high in several events on the New England and Grey Goose Tours earlier this season, and will play with Harm during Thursday’s final round.

“I haven’t been in a final group in an event this big as a professional, so this is a first for me,” said Aruta. Still, Aruta has reason to be confident. “I just like the golf course. The greens are good, it’s a beautiful design, and I’m just grinding and trying to keep it in the right spots around the greens.”

The trio of leaders sits one stroke clear of Garden City Golf’s Bob Rittberger, who had a second straight 70 today for a two-round total of four-under-par 140. One stroke farther back at three-under 141 is reigning Connecticut Open champion Nick Cook of Mill River (Conn.), who finished t-5th in this event last year. 

“I’ve played pretty solid. It’s kind of tough out here, especially around the greens, where the pins, especially today, were very difficult” said Cook. For the long-hitting Cook to make a move tomorrow, he’ll have to convert on the par fives. “I played the par fives on the front nine pretty well today, I had an eagle and a birdie.”

Sixty-seven players made the cut of seven-over-par 151, including seven former champions.  First-round co-leader Cory Muller of Siwanoy slipped to a tie for sixth after a one-over 73 today, and is tied with 1992 Met Open champion Mark Mielke of Mill River (N.Y.) and 2006 New Jersey State Open champion Jason Lamp.

As the wind picked up at midday, the course played tougher than in the first round, where it yielded 32 rounds of par or better. Sixteen players shot under par in the second round, and only 20 players stand at even par or better going into tomorrow. 

Other notables who made the cut include last year’s champion John Stoltz of the Concord, who stands at 146 after a second-round 73, and his 2005 opponent in the playoff, Craig Thomas of Muttontown, who is at 143 after an even-par round of 72 today.

Among the four amateurs to make the cut are Montclair’s Michael Deo and Neshanic Valley’s Kevin Foley, who are both at five-over-par 147. Foley, who was a finalist in August’s Met Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club, had a 77 today after a strong opening round of two-under 70.

The final round of the Met Open will begin at 7:00am, with the leaders teeing off at 11:40. Visit www.mgagolf.org. for live scoring throughout the final round.