RUMSON, N.J. (August 7, 2014) - The semifinal matches have been set at Rumson Country Club for the 46^th MGA/MetLife Boys Championship. 16 talented junior golfers played in a match play bracket today to determine the final four and they will play 18-hole matches again tomorrow to determine the ultimate champion.

The only afternoon match to reach the 18^th hole was won by Erik Stauderman of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The 14-year-old won his morning match 3 & 2, but in his second match he was 1-down going into 16 against Michael Brennan Jr. of Oyster Bay, N.Y. “I made a big birdie on that hole to get it to even,” Stauderman said. After tying the 17^th, he made a clutch three-foot putt on 18 for par to win the match. “I was shaking,” he said. “I just kept my head right over the ball and never even looked, just listened for the sound of the cup.” Stauderman feels good heading into tomorrow's semifinal match, which will certainly be a tough one against Rumson Junior Club Champion Christopher Gotterup of Little Silver, N.J.

Gotterup won his morning match 3 & 2 and it set up a meeting with 13-year-old Nathan Han of Somers, N.Y. in the second match. While the young Han stayed with it for most of the afternoon, the home course advantage proved to be big for Gotterup. “It helped a lot on the greens today because they are old and hard to read,” Gotterup said. “Caddying here and playing here helps a lot.” It certainly helped Gotterup today as he also won his afternoon match 3 & 2. Gotterup says in order to win tomorrow he has to make birdies and pars. “It would be big. It would be pretty cool winning here,” he said. 

Winning his two matches today and cruising into the semifinals was Brent Ito of Ardsley, N.Y. The 15-year-old won his morning match 6 & 5 and then defeated Bobby Weise of Freehold, N.J., 5 & 4. Ito won the opening hole and never trailed or lost a hole the rest of the match. His win sets up an excellent semifinal match against Andrew Purse of Greenwich, Conn. tomorrow. Purse took a much different route to the final four then Ito did,winning his first match 1 up and his second 2 & 1 over Ethan Ng of New York, N.Y. He said it was a 70-foot put for birdie on the par 4 15^th that won him the match. After the putt he went 1-up, halved the 16^th, and then won the 17^th to claim victory. 

Stauderman and Gotterup will go off the first tee at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, and the match between Purse and Ito will follow them at 7:39 a.m. The final match will go off at 1 p.m. 

Live scoring will be provided for tomorrow’s semifinal and final matches. Follow all the coverage at mgagolf.org