Stoltz Leads 16 Qualifiers into Match-Play at the 101st Met Amateur Championship
Bernardsville, N.J.-John Stoltz of Concord fired consecutive sub-par rounds of 69 and 68 for a 36-hole total of 137 to capture the on-site stroke play medalist honors at today's 101st Met Amateur Championship at Somerset Hills Country Club in Bernardsville, NJ. Stoltz, a 19-year-old sophomore-to-be at St. John's University, carded a total of five birdies and a double bogey in the afternoon on his way to tying the day's low round of 68. He will carry the number one seed and will be joined by 15 other hopefuls who advanced to the match play portion of the championship. Stoltz will face Jerry Courville of Shorehaven in the first round who carded a birdie on the third playoff hole to beat out five other players for the final spot.
Stoltz credited his great rounds today to a flawless tee-to-green game as he hit more than 30 greens for the day. Today’s rounds did not beat his best in competition, which was an 8-under-par 64 at the 2001 MGA Junior sectional qualifying round at Town of Wallkill Golf Course.
Timothy Connors also carded a 3-under par 68 in the morning’s round followed by a one-over par 72 to finish with a two-round total of 140 and earned the second seed tomorrow in his first round match with Ronald Vannelli of Metuchen, who shot 146 (75-71). Last year’s runner-up Andrew Svoboda, of Winged Foot, fired a one-under-par total of 141 (72 – 69) to earn the third seed tomorrow in his first round match with 2002 Ike runner-up Allan Small, of Fairmount who shot 146 (72-74).
Other notables advancing to match play are 2003 Ike Champion Brad Tilley, of Sleepy Hollow (143), sectional qualifying medallist from New Jersey Michael Deo, of Stanton Ridge (145), 2002 MGA/MetLife Public Links Champion Peter Meurer, of Silver Lake (145), 2003 MGA Junior Champion Michael Quagliano, of Knollwood (145) and 2003 US Amateur sectional qualifying medalist Martin Catalioto, of Darlington (146). Three-time Met Amateur champion Jerry Courville, of Shorehaven finished at 147 (73 – 74) and survived the six man playoff for the final spot. Former Champions Jeff Putman of Somerset Hills and Greg Rohlf of Wykagyl both missed the cut.
Friday’s first round matches begin at 7:30 am and will be followed by the quarterfinal matches at 12:30 pm. The semifinals will commence at noon on Saturday and a 36-hole final on Sunday will determine this year's champion. The match play portion of the tournament will feature real time scoring provided by Blue Golf. Log on to the MGA's website, www.mgagolf.org, for tomorrow's real time score and for a complete analysis of today's action.
A complete list of today’s results is attached. For more information, contact Scott Peper or Gene Westmoreland of the MGA @ (914) 347-GOLF or visit the MGA website at mgagolf.org.
Click Here For Round 1 Results
Click Here For Round of 16 Pairings
