ELMSFORD, N.Y. (June 23, 2025) – Five young women representing the MGA’s Youth on Course chapter recently competed in the 23rd Women’s Met Amateur at Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., June 16-17. Claire Lu, Maddie Chang, Yasmin Oralkhan, Hailey Yap, and Julia Kret all made the cut in the 54-hole stroke play championship.
The MGA partners with Youth on Course to provide junior golfers discounts at participating facilities throughout the Met Area. Youth on Course members can play over 35 partner courses for as little as $5 per round.
Related: Women’s Met Amateur Results | Recap
Lu led the field for a stretch during the final round before finishing two shots back of champion Olivia Deakins of Ardsley Country Club. Lu, who is 18 years old, has been a member of Youth on Course for the last two years after her father signed her up for the program. Lu has become a regular at Ash Brook Golf Course through the program.
“I like how they make it affordable for juniors to play. I wouldn’t be here without Youth on Course,” said Lu. “With Youth on Course, I have been able to get a lot of practice,” noted Lu.
Chang was the youngest player in the field at just 13 years old. The seventh grader has been a member of Youth on Course for the last six years and plays Mosholu a lot through the program. During the championship, Chang improved her score with each round, from a 79 in the first round, followed by 78-76 on the championship’s final 36-hole day to finish in the top 20.
“[Youth on Course] offers good support for junior players. I love how they make the game more accessible for juniors,” said Chang after her final round. “You can really progress once you get started with the program.”
Finishing one shot behind Chang was Oralkhan. The 15-year-old regularly plays at Dyker Beach in Brooklyn. “I like that the membership allows us to play a lot of golf courses, including Bethpage. Youth on Course helped me prepare for the tournament with the ability to practice and play.”
Yap, who won the WMGA/MGA Women’s Public Links Championship by five strokes in May, credits Youth on Course for giving her the ability to play and practice enough to play in tournaments like the Public Links and the Women’s Met Amateur.
“[Youth on Course] has allowed me to play more often at different courses. That’s what I like most about the program,” said the 14-year-old.
The MGA Foundation has partnered with Youth on Course since 2019. Local members are teeing it up daily and have played more than 4,500 rounds just this year. For more information on the MGA Foundation’s partnership with Youth on Course, please contact Lou Cutolo at lcutolo@mgagolf.org.
