Former Champion John Stoltz Leads at 98th Met Open Sponsored By MetLife at Old Westbury
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (August 20, 2013) – The morning wave is complete at Old Westbury Golf and Country Club in Old Westbury, N.Y., at the 98th Met Open Championship sponsored by MetLife today and it is John Stoltz of Concord Monster in the lead by a shot after firing a 1-under 70. Stoltz won the Met Open as an amateur in 2005, the last time it was played at Old Westbury.
“I’ve been looking forward to it for awhile. I love this place,” Stoltz said. “It brings back great memories, this was my first big win as an amateur and just in general as a player.”
Stoltz got himself to 3-under par late in his round, but hiccups on 17 and 18 brought him back to 1-under. He said he felt good with how he played and hopes to keep it going into tomorrow.
“I’ve been working on my game hard so hopefully I can come through and play well this week,” he added.
A large group of players stand just one shot off of Stoltz’s lead at even par 71 including former champion Jim McGovern of White Beeches. McGovern won the event as an amateur in 1987 at Winged Foot.
The low amateur round of the morning belonged to this years NJSGA Amateur Champion Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake. The 41-year-old carded six birdies and five bogeys en route to a roller coaster round of 1-over 72.
Former three-time champion Darrel Kestner of Deepdale fired a 2-over 73, which puts him just three shots back. Kestner also won the event at Old Westbury like Stoltz, but his win came in 1983, part of his back-to-back Met Open victories.
The afternoon wave of players have all teed off including one of the feature groups of the day led by newly turned professional Mike Miller of Knollwood. He will play alongside 2013 Met Amateur Champion Pat Wilson of Panther Valley and 2012 Met Amateur Champion and 2012 Met Open low amateur Ryan McCormick of Suburban.
- BY Chris Powers, MGA Communications Intern
