Amateur Svoboda Wins By Five at the 88th MGA/MetLife Open Championship
Jackson, NJ…. Amateur Andrew Svoboda of Winged Foot shot a final round four-under-par 68 for a three round total of 209 to capture the 88th MGA/MetLife Open Championship by five shots today at Metedeconk National Golf Club. This is the second time in three years that an amateur has captured the title, as Johnson Wagner won in 2001, but returned as a professional to successfully defend in 2002. Svoboda becomes only the sixth amateur in the Open’s history to win the Met area’s premiere event.
After opening with rounds of 67-74 to share the lead with his final round playing partner Tony DeMaria of Willow Ridge, Svoboda began with birdies on the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th holes to pull ahead to five under at the turn, four strokes ahead of Richard Massey of Darlington, playing two groups ahead. Another birdie at the 11th put him at six-under-par, heading into the final holes with an almost insurmountable lead. “I started to feel pretty nervous right about the 12th hole,” said Svoboda, “I started to think about winning, which is not usually how I play.” The rare case of nerves showed on the par four 13th when he missed a short putt for par to drop to five under. He then settled down for pars on the next three holes. “Surprisingly, I felt pretty confident after that and felt pretty good over the ball.” His newfound confidence began to show as the St. John’s graduate and winner of seven college tournaments this past season came home with birdies on the 17th and 18th to finish at seven under par. Five strokes behind him was Canadian Tour Journeyman and New Jersey native Richard Massey, of Darlington, who took home the $23,000 1st prize check as he finished alone in second as the only other player under par.
Rounding out the top spots were Brian Lamberti of Branton Woods (71-74-71=216), who finished alone in third and Robert Deruntz of Cherry Valley 
(71-71-75=217), who finished alone in fourth. Tony DeMaria of Willow Ridge (69-72-79=220) finished tied for fifth with Kirk Satterfield of Deepdale (74-71-75=220). Jerry Courville Jr. of Shorehaven finished as the tournament's second low amateur at 223 (74-75-74).
Svoboda called it his “biggest win ever, no question,” and thinks it will weigh heavily in his decision on whether or not to turn pro in the near future.
A total of 63 golfers competed today after surviving yesterday's 36-hole cut of the low 60 players plus ties. The Met Open, a former major event, lists golfing greats Bryon Nelson, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen and Winged Foot’s head professional Tom Nieporte among its esteemed former champions.
A complete list of the final results is attached. For more information contact Dan Miesieski of the MGA @ (914) 438-1895 or visit the MGA website at www.mgagolf.org where final round real time scoring and complete statistical analysis, provided by Blue Golf, was available for all the competitors.
