Stellar Field Set for 103rd Met Open
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (August 15, 2018) – The Met Area’s top players will gather at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, N.Y., August 21-23 for the highly anticipated 103rd Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway. In all, 143 of the region’s top professionals and amateurs will compete for the title in hopes of etching their name on the prestigious Walker L. Trammell trophy.
Related: Pairings & Starting Times | Preview Video | History | Records
While Wykagyl stands among 16 clubs to have hosted all three MGA Majors—the Ike, Amateur, and Open—this is the Open’s first appearance at the club since 1927. Most recently, the club has welcomed the Ike in 2013 (won by Cameron Wilson) and the Amateur in 2007 (won by Greg Rohlf).
The classic layout traverses the property’s hills, valleys, and rock outcroppings to provoke thoughtful play the entire round. The club owns a rich championship history and with Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam having won LPGA events at the club and Alex Smith and Johnny Farrell claiming previous Met Opens at Wykagyl, the stage will be set to produce another incredible titlist in the Met Area’s premier open championship.
Field Breakdown
The field consists of 143 competitors: 101 professionals and 42 amateurs.
Past Champions
A total of 19 past champions are in the field this year, including the winners from 12 of the last 13 playings:
Josh Rackley, Tam O’Shanter (2017)
Mark Brown, Tam O’Shanter (2016, 2013, 1999)
Ben Polland, Deepdale (2015)
Grant Sturgeon, Arcola (2014)
Danny Balin, Westchester (2012)
Tyler Hall, Upper Montclair (2011)
Bob Rittberger, Garden City GC (2010)
Mark Mielke, Unaffiliated (2008, 1992)
Frank Bensel, Century (2007)
John Guyton, Rockville Links (2006)
John Stoltz, Black Oak (2005)
Andrew Svoboda, Engineers (2003)
Mike Gilmore, Winged Foot (2000)
Mike Burke, Montammy (1997)
Darrell Kestner, Deepdale (1995, 1983, 1982)
Mike Diffley, Pelham (1991)
Bobby Heins, Old Oaks (1989, 1988)
Jim McGovern, White Beeches (1987)
George Zahringer, Deepdale (1985)
2018 Met Area Champions in the Field:
Colby Anderson, Nassau – Long Island Amateur
Danny Balin, Westchester – Westchester PGA Championship
Alex Beach, Baltusrol – NJPGA Asst. Spring Championship
Frank Bensel, Century – Met PGA Senior Match Play Championship
Christian Cavaliere, Mahopac – Westchester Amateur
Michael Graboyes, Watchung Valley – Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship
Marc Issler, Toms River – New Jersey Open
Jonathan Jeter, Nassau Players – MGA Public Links, Havemeyer Invitational
Matt Lowe, Colonial Springs – NYC Amateur
Dave McGovern, Brooklake – NJPGA Head Pro Championship
Mike Meehan, Old Westbury – Long Island PGA Championship
James Nicholas, Arcola Cup
Brent Studer, Metedeconk National – NJPGA Senior PGA Professional Championship
Grant Sturgeon, Arcola – NJPGA Match Play Championship
Andrew Svoboda, Engineers – Long Island Open, New York State Open
John VanDerLaann – Connecticut State Open
Cameron Young, Sleepy Hollow – Westchester Open
Former MGA Player of the Year Honorees in the Field
James Nicholas, Westchester – 2017
Stewart Hagestad, Deepdale – 2016
Cameron Young, Sleepy Hollow – 2015
David Pastore, Fairview – 2014
Max Buckley, Westchester – 2013
Michael Miller, Knollwood – 2012, 2011
Cameron Wilson, Shorehaven – 2009
George Zahringer, Deepdale – 10-time, most recently 2007
Andrew Svoboda, Engineers – 2003
Fresh off the PGA Championship
Danny Balin of Westchester and Matt Dobyns of Fresh Meadow enter the Met Open following an appearance in the year’s final major at Bellerive after top finishes in the PGA Professional Championship earlier this summer. Balin eyes a second title in the Met Open, while Dobyns seeks his first. Both tied for second last year at Hollywood, two shots behind Rackley.
The Open Triple?
Back in the Met Area as a professional at Engineers, Andrew Svoboda is looking to become the first-ever player to win the Long Island Open, New York State Open and Met Open in the same season. Danny Balin is the last to win both the New York State Open and Met Open in the same year (2012), while you have to go back to 1998 and Rick Hartmann to find the last player to win both the Long Island Open and Met Open in the same season. Svoboda has also played eight events on the Web.com Tour this year, with his best finish being a T-14 in the Price Cutter Charity Championship.
Pro Debut
A number of players will make their pro debut at the Met Open, including Brendan Davis of Fiddler’s Elbow, Ike champion Michael Graboyes of Watchung Valley, Evan Grenus of Sterling Farms and Matt Lowe of Colonial Springs.
Wonderful Times at Wykagyl
Several players already own fond memories at Wykagyl and look to build upon those in the Met Open. Just last year, Danny Balin claimed the Westchester Open at the club, while David Pastore finished second with his effort bolstered by a course-record setting 63. Meanwhile, Cameron Wilson claimed the Ike at Wykagyl in 2013 and Marc Issler finished as runner-up in the Met Amateur at the site in 2007.
Always Good to be Home
A number of players that honed their game in the Met Area and now own professional tour experience—including Web.com, Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamerica—will look to capture the Met Open title in their return to the region. This includes Max Buckley, Kevin Foley of Raritan Valley, Max Greyserman of Crestmont, Ryan McCormick of Suburban, Mike Miller, David Pastore, Ryan Snouffer of Essex County, and Cameron Wilson.
Met Open Money
Thanks to continued support from MGA partners including championship partner Callaway Golf, the Met Open’s total purse remains strong, once again standing at $150,000 for its 103rd playing. Thanks to 11 made cuts since 2005, Danny Balin leads professionals in earnings at the championship dating back to 2003. The winner’s share has stood at $27,500 since 2007.
$81,554 Danny Balin
$77,623 Mark Brown
$75,542 Frank Bensel
$61,808 Tyler Hall
$52,312 Mark Mielke
Always in the Mix
Dating back to 2010, both Danny Balin and Cameron Young have both registered five top-10 finishes in the Met Open. Tyler Hall owns the next best mark, finishing inside the top 10 on four occasions, while Mike Ballo, Jr., Frank Bensel, Mike Miller and John Stoltz own three such finishes in the same period.
Making the Cut
John Guyton owns the longest active streak of playing and making the cut at the Met Open, having done so every year since 2009. Cameron Young’s six consecutive cuts made comes next, while Grant Sturgeon and Jimmy Hazen have made each of the last five and Rob Labritz has completed 54 holes in four consecutive years.
Cumulative Counting
Of the players that have made the cut in each of the last four playings, Cameron Young owns the low cumulative score at 1-under-par. Rob Labritz and Grant Sturgeon follow with cumulative totals of 15 and 16-over-par, respectively. In that time, Young has grabbed low amateur honors outright twice, shared the honor at Hollywood with James Nicholas in 2017, and has been second low amateur on two other occasions.
Format
- Three days, 54 holes of stroke play
- Field cut to low 54 scores & ties after 36 holes
Coverage
- Multiple scoring station updates for the first two rounds (Tuesday, Wednesday)
- Live hole-by-hole scores during the final round (Thursday) for the majority of groups
- Social Media: @MGA1897 on Twitter for updates through the day; additional content on Facebook and Instagram
- Featured Hole Video: Periodic video coverage on Facebook Live for select holes
- Scoring, recaps, interviews, and photos on mgagolf.org