Qualifying: 106th Met Junior & 55th MGA Boys' Championships
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 13, 2023) -- The Met Area's rising stars are once again vying for spots in the MGA's junior championships, with this year's 106th Met Junior Championship Sponsored by MetLife taking place at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, N.J., July 17-19, and the 55th MGA/MetLife Boys' Championship returning to Gardiner's Bay Country Club on Shelter Island, July 27-28.
Related: Junior History | Boys' History
The Met Junior stands as the oldest junior championship in the country and owns a rich history from winners like Frank Strafaci and Butch Harmon to more recent champions like two-time MGA Player of the Year Mark Costanza and current PGA TOUR player Cameron Young. The Boys' Championship holds a distinguished list of champions though it's nearly half as old, with winners including now-area professionals such as Greg Bisconti and Tyler Hall to now four-time MGA champion Luke Sample.
This year's concurrent qualifiers once again take place at three sites throughout the Met Area with players aiming to earn their spot in the respective championships.
June 13 - Redding Country Club, Redding, Conn. - WGA Junior & Boys' Championships
Jacob Lee of Rye Brook, N.Y., led the field with a 2-over 73, with his round including a trio of birdies. Four players were just one shot back, while 13 players overall advanced to the Met Junior with scores of 6-over 77 or better. Josh Yan of Newburgh, N.Y., was one of those four in at 74, posting the low score among five qualifiers for the Boys' Championship.
Results
June 20 - Soldier Hill Golf Course, Emerson, N.J.
Cormack Meldrum of Morristown, N.J., and TJ Betlow of Short Hills, N.J., lead the field shooting a 2-under 69. Meldrum carded four birdies for the round and posted a bogey-free 34 on the back nine while Betlow carded seven birdies for the day. 12 players earned an invite to the Met Junior posting a 74 or better. Samson Landers of Little Silver, N.J., lead the four qualifiers for the Boys' Championship. A bogey-free back nine gave Landers the edge over the rest of the field. Results
June 21 - Smithtown Landing Country Club, Smithtown, N.Y. - LIGA Junior, Boys' & Girls' Championships
Anthony Naples of Miller Place, N.Y., posted the lone sub-par score, shooting 1-under 71 to lead 13 qualifiers to Echo Lake. The qualifiers all shot scores of 4-over 76 or better to advance. Meanwhile, Michael Clifford-Levy of East Hampton, N.Y., led the five Boys' qualifiers with an even-par 72. Three total Boys' competitors also qualified for the Junior, while the five qualifiers shot 8-over 80 or better to advance to Gardiner's Bay.
Results