By Chris Powers, MGA Communications Intern

GREENWICH, CONN. (August 2, 2013) – The 111th Met Amateur Championship final four stage is set at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn. and it features several top area players, including recent St. John’s graduate Pat Wilson of Panther Valley.
 
After defeating Michael Cochrane of MGA eClub – West/Fairfield 4 and 3 in his Round of 16 match this morning, Wilson won in similar fashion over yesterday’s stroke play medalist Sam Bernstein of Century. Bernstein went 1 up on the par-4 first hole, but after that Wilson never trailed again and carded three birdies on his way to a 4 and 3 victory. Wilson, who frequently appears atop MGA leaderboards, is looking for his first MGA victory.
 
“You just have to go out and play golf and if it goes your way, it goes your way, “ Wilson said. “So far it hasn’t, but you never know. Hopefully Sunday will be nice but I have to get through tomorrow.”
 
Although Wilson has yet to win, he is a staple in the top 10 in almost any event he plays in. His most recent finish was at the NJSGA Open, where he placed alone in seventh. He also tied for seventh at this year’s Ike and was solo second at this year’s NYC Amateur. Wilson, who plans to turn pro later this summer, is hoping to earn an exemption in the Met Open with a victory at the Met Amateur.
 
 “I’ve been struggling this summer but this back nine I started to hit it better so maybe this will be what I need to get it done,” he added.
 
Wilson will take on Iona College senior Dylan Newman of Bonnie Briar who upset defending champion Ryan McCormick of Suburban in his round of 16 match, 1 up. He would go on to the second round to take on another member of the St. John’s golf team, Dylan Crowley of Glen Cove. It would take only 15 holes for Newman to punch his ticket to the final four, defeating Crowley 5 and 3 in a match he never trailed in. Newman felt it was his ball striking that made all the difference today.
 
“I’m actually hitting the ball really well with my irons,” Newman said. “I hit a bunch of really tight shots, I mean 4-iron, 6-irons, 5-irons to within likefive feet, all day.”
 
Newman recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur at Rockrimmon Country Club, which certainly helped with his confidence today.
 
“I know I can be there with the best of the best,” he said. “I just got to keep hitting the ball well, putting it well and stroking it and we’ll see what happens.”
 
The third match of the afternoon also failed to reach the 16th hole thanks to the spectacular play of Stu Kaufman of Westchester. After defeating last year’s runner-up Matt Mattare of Bethpage 7 and 5, Kaufman took down John Jackopsic of MGA eClub – West/Fairfield 5 and 4. The Elon University junior, like Wilson, is also looking for his first MGA victory.
 
Kaufman will take on Trevor Randolph of Arcola in the other semi-final matchup. Randolph, a 3-time club champion at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, had a grueling match in the morning with current MGA Player of the Year points leader and Ike runner-up Max Buckley of Westchester. It took 21 holes and a birdie on the par-4 3rd hole for Randolph to advance. In his second round match he would have to defeat a former Met Amateur champion, Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake. He would do just that, but this time it would only take 19 holes. Randolph nearly holed out from the 1st fairway and tapped in for birdie to win 1-up.
 
The first match between Wilson and Newman will go off the first tee at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. Randolph and Kaufman’s match will follow at 11:40 a.m. Livehole-by-hole scoring will be provided for both matches.