Arcola Awaits 108th Met Open
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 16, 2023) – The Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway makes its first-ever appearance at Arcola Country Club in Paramus, N.J., August 22-24. The Met Area’s top professionals and amateurs will once again aim to capture the historic Walker L. Trammell Trophy and make their mark on MGA history, while professionals also have their sights on the $36,500 winner’s share of the $200,000 purse.
Arcola hosted its first MGA major in 2018 with the Met Amateur and in 2019 welcomed the Governor Hugh L. Carey Challenge Cup for its first MGA international team match. After serving as the U.S. Amateur stroke-play co-host in 2022, it now steps into the spotlight for the region’s premier championship. The parkland layout will serve as a stern test, playing long and requiring a deft touch on and around its famously fast greens. At the end of 54 holes, no doubt a worthy champion will rise to the top at Arcola.
Related: Pairings | Met Open History | Met Open Records
Field Breakdown
The field contains 135 players, with 89 professionals and 46 amateurs set to compete.
Past Champions
There are 15 past champions in the field aiming to get their hands on the Walker L. Trammell Trophy once again:
Ryan Siegler, TPC Jasna Polana (2022)
Andrew Svoboda, Golf Club of Purchase (2021, 2018, 2003)
Matt Dobyns, Meadow Brook (2019)
Josh Rackley (2017)
Mark Brown (2016, 2013, 1999)
Danny Balin, Fresh Meadow (2012)
Tyler Hall, Upper Montclair (2011)
Bob Rittberger, Garden City (2010)
Frank Bensel, Century (2007)
John Guyton, Rockville Links (2006)
John Stoltz, Concord Resort (2005)
Mike Gilmore, Winged Foot (2000)
Mike Burke, Jr., Montammy (1997)
Darrell Kestner, Deepdale (1995, 1983, 1982)
Bobby Heins, Old Oaks (1988, 1989)
Back-to-Back
Ryan Siegler of TPC Jasna Polana is back to defend his title from Bethpage Black. Seven times has a player won back-to-back Met Open titles, with Johnson Wagner being the last to do so in 2001-02.
Rare Air
Three-time champion Andrew Svoboda has had a strong year already, winning the Connecticut PGA Championship in May, and in June competing in both the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club and the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, where he made the cut. With a victory, Svoboda would match Alex Smith (1905, 1909, 1910, 1913) for the most career wins in the Met Open.
Amateur Accomplishments
Eight times has an amateur won the Met Open Championship, with Luke Sample of Old Oaks being the last to do so in 2020.
Major Careers
Only Jerry Courville, Sr., George Zahringer and Johnson Wagner have won all three MGA majors - the Ike, Amateur, and Open - over the span of their careers. Wagner is the lone player to possess all three majors at once, having won five in a row beginning with the Met Amateur in 2001. Two players in the field, Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow and David Pastore of Golf Performance Center, own two legs of the feat, having won the Ike and Met Amateur in their careers.
In the Mix
While now PGA TOUR standout Cameron Young owns the most top-10 finishes in the last 10 Met Opens with six consecutive from 2013-18, Svoboda and Pastore own the most of those in the field, with four. Mike Ballo Jr., of Westchester, Matt Dobyns of Meadow Brook, Michael Graboyes of Watchung Valley, Tyler Hall of Upper Montclair, Sunny Kim of Clearview Park, James Nicholas of Westchester, and Josh Rackley all have a trio of top-10 Met Open finishes in the last 10 years.
2023 Met Area Champions in the Field
Danny Balin, Fresh Meadow – Met Pro Championship
Mike Ballo, Jr., Westchester – Westchester PGA
Peicheng Chen (a), Rock Hill – New York State Open
Ryan Coughlin (a), Westchester – Westchester Amateur
Chris DeJohn (a), Arcola – Travis Invitational
Melan Dhaubhadel (a), MGA eClub NJ - Ike
Paul Dickinson, Atlantic – LI PGA
Frank Esposito, Jr., - Mountain Ridge, NJ Senior PGA
Thomas Finn (a), Nassau – Hebron Amateur
Bobby Heins, Old Oaks – Westchester Senior Open
Matt Lowe (a), Bethpage – MGA Public Links
James Nicholas, Westchester – Long Island Open, Westchester Open
Brent Paladino, Fiddler’s Elbow – NJPGA Charity Clambake, NJPGA Match Play, NJSGA Open
Andrew Svoboda, Golf Club of Purchase – Connecticut PGA
Past MGA Player of the Year Winners in the Field
Brad Tilley, Sleepy Hollow – 2022
Mark Costanza, Baltusrol – 2021, 2020
James Nicholas, Westchester – 2017
David Pastore, Golf Performance Center – 2014
Michael Miller, Knollwood – 2012, 2011
Andrew Svoboda – 2003
Tour Notes
The field includes a number of players with past and current professional experience on a number of tours, including PGA TOUR winner and seven-time Korn Ferry Tour winner Jason Gore of Hamilton Farm, back-to-back Met Open runner-up Tom Lovelady of Silo Ridge, Korn Ferry Tour competitor James Nicholas of Westchester, PGA TOUR Latinoamerica competitor Josh Goldenberg of Atlantic, and Minor League Golf Tour career earnings lead and past MGA/MetLife Boys’ champion Sunny Kim of Clearview Park.
Upping the Prize
The MGA last year upped the purse for the Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway, increasing it by $50,000 to $200,000. This moved the winner’s share from $27,500 to $36,500. The increase elevated the always exciting opportunity for professionals and is thanks to continued support from MGA partners including championship partner Callaway.
Money Leaders
Since 2003, Andrew Svoboda stands as the top earner in the Met Open. Another top finish could place Svoboda over $100,000 earned in the championship in the 21-year span.
$90,830 – Andrew Svoboda (2021, 2018, 2003 (a))
$86,754 – Danny Balin (2012)
$81,748 – Mark Brown (2016, 2013)
$79,342 – Frank Bensel (2007)
$73,733 – Tyler Hall (2011)
$72,584 – Ben Polland (2015)
$71,435 – Matt Dobyns (2019)
Coming Down the Stretch
The excitement around the MGA’s yearlong race for the MGA Jerry Courville Sr. Player of the Year Award truly heightens around the Met Open as the event offers the most points available for a local event. This year, seven of the top nine on the listing are in the field: Christian Cavaliere of Hudson National (1st/690 pts), Matt Lowe of Bethpage (2/580), Jack Simon of Rockaway River (4/497), Peicheng Chen of Rock Hill (5/477), Chris DeJohn of Arcola (7/376), Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow (8/350) and MGA eClub - NJ member Melan Dhaubhadel (9/345).
Late Push for Junior POY
Wins in the Met Junior and Carter Cup have Barnes Blake atop the race for the MGA Junior Player of the Year Award, Presented by Callaway. Blake is off to college at Georgetown, but Thomas Finn and Reed Greyserman – Nos. 2 and 3 on the points list – are in the field at Arcola with the opportunity to earn a lot of points. Blake currently owns a 205-point lead over Finn.
Format
• Three days, 54 holes of stroke play
• Field cut to low 54 scores & ties after 36 holes
Coverage
• Live hole-by-hole scoring throughout the championship
• Social media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates throughout the day; additional content on Facebook and Instagram.
• Scoring, recaps, photos, and videos on mgagolf.org.