Randolph & Wilson Set to Compete in 111th Met Amateur Final
GREENWICH, CONN. (August 3, 2013) – Trevor Randolph of Arcola didn’t give Stu Kaufman of Westchester much of a chance in the semifinals of the 111th Met Amateur. The 40-year-old Wyckoff, N.J., resident went crazy at The Stanwich Club despite a steady drizzle, firing a stunning six birdies and an eagle in only 14 holes to beat Kaufman, 6 & 4 to advance to the final match on Sunday. He’ll meet recent St. John’s graduate Pat Wilson of Panther Valley, who took out Dylan Newman of Bonnie Briar, 3 & 2, at 7:15 a.m.
“I was hitting it where I was looking, and I made a bunch of putts,” Randolph said. “It was great, everything seemed to be working.”
A day after upsetting Met Area standout Max Buckley of Westchester in 21 holes, Randolph jumped out to an early lead, birdying three of his first four holes to take an immediate 3 up lead. When Kaufman holed out for eagle from the fairway on the par-4 10th to reduce Randolph’s lead to three, a bogey on the next would make it four again. Randolph clinched the match on the par-5 14th with a brilliant eagle three.
“This is a lot of fun,” said Randolph, who is a three-time reigning club champion at Congressional down in Bethesda, Maryland. “I know Pat, we’re friends and we’ve played some golf together, it will be a good match.”
Wilson, who has already collected several top 10 finishes on the year, played steady golf for the beginning holes, and jumped out to a 3 up lead with a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth hole. Newman, who was playing arguably the hottest golf in the tournament heading into the semis, would trim Wilson’s lead to two with a spectacular up-and-down par save on the tenth, but wouldn’t be able to push further.
“The ball striking was not there,” Wilson said. “But I was able to make a couple par saves that were really good. The back nine I played a lot more solidly.I just grinded it out.”
Wilson also said having has his brother, Cory, caddying for him this week has been a vital part of his success.
“It’s great having him on the bag, he knows me better than anyone else,” he said. “He’s really been helping me with my alignment, which I’ve been struggling with. I trust him, he knows my game really well.”
The final 36-hole match for the MGA’s oldest championship between Wilson and Randolph will begin at 7:15 a.m. The second 18-holes will begin at noon. Live hole-by-hole scoring will be provided for both rounds.
This is the third Met Amateur held at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn. The course, known for impeccable course conditions and incredibly speedy greens, also hosted the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, won by George Zahringer III (a five-time winner of the Met Am).