Sea Island, G.A.-Roger Hoit of Baltusrol, and Mark Thompson of Plandome both advanced to the second round of Match Play at the 2004 U.S. Mid Amateur Championship at the Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, GA. Hoit defeated Jon Veneziano of Mount Dora, FL 1 up to advance to today’s match against Bryan Norton of Mission Hills, KS. Thompson had an easier time of it, disposing Brooks Newsom of Portland, OR, 5 and 3.

Sea Island, GA.-Roger Hoit of Baltusrol, Mike Reardon of Tuxedo, Mark Thompson of Plandome and Bryan Pendrick of Mill River (LI) all advanced to the first round of Match Play at the 2004 U.S. Mid Amateur Championship after 36 holes of stroke play qualifying on Saturday and Sunday October 2, 3.

McCann’s team of Cathy Patterson and Pamela Alley proved to be a complementary match as they teamed up to shoot a 7-under par 66 (37 – 29) and capture the 20th MGA/MetLife Women's Net Team Championship in a playoff over the Silver Lake Ladies team of Krista Price and Mary Gormley, at Morris County GC in Convent Station, NJ.  

Alley’s clutch net birdie on the first playoff hole sealed the victory for McCann, whose sizzling team net 29 earned a spot in the playoff. The defending champions Lisa Delzio and Terri Lyons of Mahopac fired a 69, finishing four shots back.

Sea Island, GA-Fourteen top local amateurs have earned a spot in this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship which begins this week at Sea Island Golf Club in Sea Island, GA.  Heading the list will be 1997 Champion Ken Bakst of Friar’s Head who still has an exemption into the Championship. Among the Met Area players who earned their spot via sectional qualifying, are current MGA Player of the Year points leader, Peter Meurer of Silver Lake, and current Westchester Amateur champion Mike Readron of Tuxedo.

This year marks a special occasion for the MGA/MetLife Women’s Net Team Championship, which will be held for the third time at the club founded by women, Morris County Golf Club in Convent Station, New Jersey.  The 20^th renewal of the event often referred to as “the U.S. Open for the average golfer” will be held on Friday, October 1^st with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

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 26^th consecutive year by MetLife.

The Metropolitan Golf Association, Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association and Ligue de Paris are pleased to announce that luxury watchmaker Baume & Mercier will return as sponsor of the 2004 French American Challenge Matches scheduled for October 19-21 at Plainfield Country Club in Plainfield, NJ.  Baume & Mercier also sponsored the event when it was last held in Paris in 2002 at Joyenval Golf Club.

Purchase, N.Y.-It was just last week reigning New Jersey State Open Ed Whitman of Knickerbocker CC shared the lead after the first  round of the Met Area’s premiere event, The Met Open at Hudson National, only to finish in a tie for 21st place. Today, Whitman found himself in a similar position in the MGA/Senior Open after posting a first round 69, along with Kevin Morris of Westchester Hills.

It is with deep regret that the MGA  must note the passing of former President John F. Kelsey Jr. on Friday, August 27, 2004.  Mr. Kelsey was 80 years old and served as MGA President in 1989 and 1990.

As part of its ongoing series of junior initiatives, the MGA Foundation conducted  a junior golf clinic at Winged Foot Golf Club on Thursday, August 19^th.    The clinic was sponsored by MetLife, which has a long history of supporting MGA Junior programs.

Fifty youngsters from the Theodore Young Community center in Greenburgh, NY, ranging in