Hartmann Wins Second Met Open
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY-Rick Hartmann of Atlantic Golf Club joined an elite group of multiple Met Open champions by capturing his second title at the Hudson National Golf Club in Croton on Hudson, NY. Hartmann started the day with a four shot lead and posted a 71 to finish one stroke ahead of Brian Lamberti of Nevele. The event was sponsored for the 26th consecutive year by MetLife.
Starting the day eight shots back, Lamberti leapt into second place after posting a competitive and course record 64, which included a brilliant five under par 29 on the back nine. Having driven the ball well all week, Lamberti’s putter failed him on the first two days, but today he attested his seven birdies to a hot streak with the flat stick. “With the amount of puts I missed this week, I was definitely due to make a few today,” the 30-year-old assistant professional at Nevele Grand Resort said.
Making an early run at the title was 21-year-old Tyler Hall of Darlington (142-72=214), who was making his professional debut at The Met Open and started the day four shots behind Hartmann. Birdies on four of the first seven holes pulled him within one shot of the leader, however he made four bogeys on the back nine to finish with a 214 and in a tie for fourth place.
No fewer than ten former champs made the cut with several of them posting impressive rounds including Bill Britton, 1979 champion who fired a final round 69 and Darrell Kestner who also shot 69 and finished at 212, and tied for third with Richard Terga of The Bridge (LI), three shots back of Hartmann.
As for Hartmann, he needed clutch sand saves on 17 and 18 to win and kept his sense of humor despite the stressful situation. “I certainly made it interesting,” he said. “It would have been boring to just hit the green and two-putt.”
The victory placed the Atlantic head professional in an impressive group of multiple winners of the Met Area’s most prestigious event. Darrell Kestner (3 times), Bruce Zabriski (2 times), Bobby Heins (2 times), Jim Albus (2 times) are the only players who have won multiple Met Open titles over the last 34 years.
