By David Gordon, MGA Communications Intern

GREENWICH, CONN. (August 1, 2013) – The 111th Met Amateur Championship kicked off Thursday as 59 top Met Area amateurs played through tough conditions at the challenging Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn.  Steady rain towards the end of the morning leaked into the afternoon rounds, eventually causing a brief suspension of play and making the 7,100 yard par-72 course even more challenging. Sixteen players grinded through the weather, and were able to advance through 36 holes to match play.  
 
On one of the busiest golf days of the summer in the MGA's oldest championship, 2011 Met Amateur runner-up Sam Bernstein of Century posted a remarkable 5-under score of 139 to take home the number one overall seed and medalist honors. Bernstein posted the low morning round of 2-under 70, and finished his second round one stroke better despite the rainy conditions.

RELATED VIDEO: Bernstein Talks About His Medalist Performance
 
“The rain definitely affected me, I bogeyed the last hole of my first round and the first hole of my second round, and I was about to bogey the next hole before the rain delay was called which was a good thing for me. I settled down and made the 15-footer when I got back out there…and the rest was history.”
 
Boston College golfer John Jackopsic played superb golf to earn the second seed in match play, firing a total score of 2-under 143. 2003 Met Amateur champion Mike Stamberger of Spring Lake, defending champion Ryan McCormick of Suburban, and 2013 Long Island Open runner-up Dylan Crowley of Glen Cove all shot even par to also qualify.
 
The sixth seed belongs to Westchester’s Max Buckley, who has already placed second at the Ike this year and third in the Westchester Open at Manhattan Woods. Matt Mattare of Bethpage, last year’s runner-up, tied with Buckley at 1-over par 145 and will have the seven seed when match play begins.
 
Michael Cochrane of MGA eClub - W/CT and Pat Wilson of Panther Valley will have the eighth and ninth seeds after shooting scores of 147. Cochrane birdied four of his first eight holes but was slowed down by the rain on his back nine. Stu Kauffman of Westchester and Trevor Randolph of Arcola shot totals of 4-over, good enough to qualify tenth and eleventh.
 
Dylan Newman of Bonnie Briar and Derrick Kim of Bowling Green will have the 12th and 13th seeds after firing 5-over totals of 149. Newman used an exceptional afternoon round of one-under 71 to sneak into the match play field.                 

                                                                                                                There was much excitement in the late afternoon as a playoff determined the final three spots. Four players finished their 36 hole day at 6-over 150 and battled through asudden death playoff on the 18th hole for three spots. Ethan Wall of Manasquan River, Hans Albertsson of Winged Foot, and Long Island Amateur champ Matthew Lowe of Colonial Springs round out the sixteenfinalists.
 
The number one ranked golf course in Connecticut according to Golf Digest, The Stanwich Club has held numerous MGA events, as well as a U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and the 104th Met Amateur in 2004, when PGA professional Andrew Svoboda took home the trophy. Infamous for its astonishing layout and lightning-quick greens, it’s an outstanding host course for the most coveted amateur championship on the Metropolitan Golf Association schedule.
 
Notable players who missed the cut include two-time MGA Player of the Year Joe Saladino of Huntington, 2012 MGA Mid-Amateur champion Mark Henderson of Saint Andrew’s, and last year’s semifinalist Harrison Shih of Alpine.
 
The Round of 16 and quarterfinals will be played at Stanwich on Friday to slim the field down to semifinalists. Live hole-by-hole scoring will be provided for every match. Look for some incredible action among the exciting matches when play resumes at 7:30 a.m.