BEDFORD, N.Y. (August 15, 2013) – Four boys under the age of 16 have advanced through the first two rounds of the 45^th MGA/MetLife Boys Championship on a spectacular sun-filled Thursday at the Bedford Golf & Tennis Club in Bedford, N.Y.

Bear Carlson of Katonah, N.Y., who plays most of his golf at the extraordinary Bedford club, made par on the 18^th to beat fellow Katonah native Christian Cavaliere 1-up. James McHugh of Rye, N.Y., who played just 11 holes in his morning match, defeated Addison Cilmi of Waccubuc N.Y. in the afternoon in thrilling fashion. McHugh hit a sliding 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to extend his championship run and move on to the semifinals.

Joining McHugh and Carlson as semifinalists is Ryan Rodriguez of Highland Mills, N.Y., who defeated 12-year old John Driscoll III of Ridgewood, N.J., the youngest player in the field. Rodriguez used an eight-hole stretch of which he claimed seven holes to secure his own spot in the Friday’s semifinal matches.

Brent Ito of Ardsley, N.Y. and Aidan McDermott of Pleasantville, N.Y. took their match to extra holes to determine who would take the final spot. Both players played 19 holes in their morning matches, and after another 20 grueling holes in the afternoon, Ito defeated McDermottt when he made par on the second extra hole. He will face Carlson in the first match tomorrow, followed by Rodriguez against McHugh.

Today’s rounds played at Bedford played to a par 72 of 6,557 yards. Bedford has hosted the MGA/MetLife Boys Championship every third year dating back to 1989.

The MGA/MetLife Boys Championship was first played in 1969, and is open to boys 16 and under. The boys go through 18-hole sectional qualifying, after which the top 16 advance to the all-match play championship.

The semifinal matches begin at 7:30 a.m. Live hole by hole scoring will be provided for both rounds tomorrow and our brand new shot-by-shot tracking is available for the final match on www.mgagolf.org.