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Metropolitan Open

Golf tournament

Summary

Golf tournament

Field	Value
name	Metropolitan Open
establishment	1905
org	Metropolitan Golf Association
format	Stroke play
month_played	August
current_champion	Peter Ballo

| to-par = The Metropolitan Open is a golf tournament organized by the Metropolitan Golf Association. In the early 20th century it was one of the top events in the country and was retroactively given PGA Tour-level status.

History

The tournament has been played annually since 1905. It is the third oldest "open" golf tournament in the United States, after the U.S. Open and Western Open. It was staged for the first time in 1905 at Fox Hills Golf Club on Staten Island, which played the dual role of host and sponsor. In 1908, the Metropolitan Golf Association hosted the tournament for the first time. In 1914, Macdonald Smith shot recorded a 278 aggregate, the lowest score ever for a 72 hole tournament.

In the 1920s, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the event was "weakening" due to alleged neglect from the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA). In addition, the event was often held in the middle of the summer in the interior of New Jersey or New York. The weather tended to be very hot which discouraged players from attending the tournament and sponsors for supporting the event. In addition, all three local sections in the tri-state regions "didn't want it." However, in 1932 the MGA began scheduling the event immediately before the U.S. Open which was normally held in nearby northeast states. Most of the top golfers therefore played The Met Open as a warm-up for the national championship and the event's "prestige" increased. Some newspapers referred to it as one of the top five events in the world at the time, along with the U.S. Open, British Open, Western Open, and PGA Championship. In 1936, "most of the nation's outstanding stars" played in the event, including Gene Sarazen, Craig Wood, Paul Runyan, and leading amateur Jess Sweetser. A young Byron Nelson won the event, one of his first big wins. In 1939, it was regarded as "richer in tradition than any tournament except the National Open" by The Daily Times. In 1940, there was one of the most notable performances. Craig Wood scored at 264 (−16) total and won the event by 11 strokes over Ben Hogan. In addition, according to The Associated Press his 264 total was considered the second lowest 72-hole total any tournament ever, only behind Percy Alliss' 262 total at the 1935 Italian Open. He also broke the tournament record by 14 strokes, which had stood for 26 years.

In 1941, however, the Metropolitan Golf Association "discontinued" the event citing that it was a "financial burden." At the end of the decade, however, the organization renewed the event and it has evolved one the premier local events in the tri-state area. In 1976, the Met Open became one of the first tournaments to use a 3-hole aggregate playoff, a style now adopted by most of the major championships. The 2009 winner was Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of
victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue	Ref.	Met Open Championship
2024	Peter Ballo	215	−1	Playoff	Ethan Ng	Wee Burn
2023	Dylan Newman	209	−4	2 strokes	Mark Costanza (a)
Arcola
2022	Ryan Siegler	209	−4	3 strokes	Michael Graboyes
Max Greyserman
Tom Lovelady
David Pastore	Bethpage Black
2021	Andrew Svoboda	200	−10	2 strokes	Tom Lovelady	Hudson National
2020	Luke Sample (a)	205	−8	3 strokes	Paul Pastore
Ben Polland	Mountain Ridge
2019	Matt Dobyns	200	−13	2 strokes	Michael Graboyes	Piping Rock
2018	Andrew Svoboda	205	−11	1 stroke	Jack Wall (a)	Wykagyl
2017	Joshua Rackley	207	−6	2 strokes	Danny Balin
Matt Dobyns
David Schuster	Hollywood
2016	Mark Brown	206	−4	4 strokes	Cameron Young (a)	Glen Oaks
2015	Ben Polland	210	E	Playoff	Tyler Hall	Winged Foot (East)
2014	Grant Sturgeon	209	−7	3 strokes	Frank Bensel
Timothy Puetz	Trump Bedminster (Old)
2013	Mark Brown	209	−4	Playoff	Cameron Wilson (a)	Old Westbury
2012	Danny Balin	206	−9	1 stroke	Mike Ballo Jr.
Bobby Gage
Morgan Hoffmann
Ryan McCormick (a)	Plainfield
2011	Tyler Hall	206	−4	1 stroke	Bobby Gage	Sleepy Hollow
2010	Bob Rittberger	213	E	Playoff	Danny Balin	Bethpage Black
2009	Andrew Giuliani	210	−3	1 stroke	Jerry Courville, Jr.	Ridgewood (N.J.)
2008	Mark Mielke	205	−5	3 strokes	Heath Wassem	Fairfield
2007	Frank Bensel	207	−6	1 stroke	Rick Hartmann
Jim Herman
Bob Rittberger
Andrew Svoboda	Meadow Brook
2006	John Guyton	210	−6	Playoff	Rick Hartmann	Canoe Brook	title=Newsday 25 Aug 2006, page 60	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/710380821/	access-date=2022-10-25	website=Newspapers.com}}
2005	John Stoltz (a)	211		Playoff	Craig Thomas	Old Westbury
2004	Rick Hartmann	209	−1	1 stroke	Brian Lamberti	Hudson National	title=The Record 27 Aug 2004, page 31	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/499823458/	access-date=2022-10-09	website=Newspapers.com}}
2003	Andrew Svoboda (a)	209		5 strokes	Richard Massey	Metedeconk National
2002	Johnson Wagner	207		5 strokes	Rob Labritz	Winged Foot (West)
2001	Johnson Wagner (a)	206	−4	3 strokes	Rick Hartmann	Bethpage Black
2000	Michael Gilmore	207		1 stroke	Jerry Courville, Jr. (a)	Mountain Ridge
1999	Mark Brown	210		2 strokes	Charlie Bolling
Mat Cannon	Tuxedo
1998	Rick Hartmann	203	−7	1 stroke	Darrell Kestner	The Creek	title=The Daily Times 21 Aug 1998, page 33	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/723758132/	access-date=2022-11-11	website=Newspapers.com	language=en}}
1997	Mike Burke Jr.	214		3 strokes	Rick Hartmann	Plainfield
1996	Bruce Zabriski	208		12 strokes	Charlie Bolling
Mike Burke Jr.
Chris Dachisen
George Zahringer (a)	Stanwich
1995	Darrell Kestner	208		Playoff	Bruce Zabriski	Atlantic
1994	Charlie Cowell	208	−5	2 strokes	Rick Hartmann
Bill King	Ridgewood	title=Newsday 19 Aug 1994, page 100	url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/706887020/	access-date=2022-10-20	website=Newspapers.com}}
1993	Bruce Zabriski	204		4 strokes	Larry Rentz	Quaker Ridge
1992	Mark Mielke	207		1 stroke	Rick Vershure	Nassau
1991	Mike Dillfey	205		3 strokes	Jim Albus
Mel Baum	Hollywood
1990	Larry Rentz	204		6 strokes	Mel Baum
Rick Hughes
Tom McGinnis
Bruce Zabriski	Westchester
1989	Bobby Heins	210		Playoff	George Zahringer (a)	Bethpage Black
1988	Bobby Heins	210		1 stroke	Tom Joyce	Baltusrol
1987	Jim McGovern (a)	212		1 stroke	David Glenz	Winged Foot
1986	David Glenz	208		1 stroke	Tom Joyce	Nassau
1985	George Zahringer (a)	210		2 strokes	Bruce Douglass	Mountain Ridge
1984	Jim Albus	210		2 strokes	Rick Meskell	Old Oaks
1983	Darrell Kestner	212		4 strokes	Jeff Foxx
Don Reese	Old Westbury
1982	Darrell Kestner	207		4 strokes	Jim Albus	Montclair
1981	Kelley Moser	211		2 strokes	David Glenz	Knollwood
1980	George Bullock	209		Playoff	Dick Siderowf (a)	Woodmere
1979	Bill Britton	216		Playoff	George Bullock	Plainfield
1978	David Glenz	214		Playoff	Nick Manolios	Quaker Ridge
1977	Marty Bohen	214	−2	2 strokes	Austin Straub	Meadow Brook	last=White Jr.	first=Gordon S.	date=1977-08-26	title=Bohen Wins Met Open For 2d Year	newspaper=The New York Times	url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/26/archives/bohen-wins-met-open-for-2d-year.html	access-date=2020-01-09}}
1976	Marty Bohen	215	−1	Playoff	Lloyd Monroe
Jimmy Wright	Upper Montclair	date=1976-08-27	title=Bohen wins Met Open	pages=48	work=The Record	url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75367813/bohen-wins-met-open/	access-date=2021-04-08}}
1975	Carlton White	211		3 strokes	Carl Lohren	Metropolis
1974	Bob Bruno	209		2 strokes	Dave Smith	Middle Bay
1973	Peter Davison	286		1 stroke	Tom Joyce	Hackensack
1972	Don Massengale	288		Playoff	Ron Letellier	Stanwich
1971	Ron Letellier	279		1 stroke	Jimmy Wright	Fresh Meadow
1970	Jim Albus	288		Playoff	Jimmy Wright	Ridgewood
1969	Jimmy Wright	284		2 stroke	Mike Fetchick	Fenway
1968	Jerry Pittman	274		8 strokes	Jimmy Wright	Inwood
1967	Jerry Courville Sr. (a)	292		4 strokes	Billy Farrell
Ron Letellier
Stan Mosel
Rick Rhoads
Terry Wilcox	Winged Foot
1966	Tom Nieporte	277		3 strokes	Stan Mosel	Mountain Ridge
1965	Jerry Pittman	275		3 strokes	Wes Ellis
Jimmy Wright	Woodmere
1964	Jack Patroni	284		2 strokes	Wes Ellis
Al Feminelli	Briar Hall
1963	Wes Ellis	283		5 strokes	Doug Ford	Plainfield
1962	Miller Barber	282		Playoff	Tom Nieporte	Nassau
1961	Wes Ellis	289		2 strokes	Claude Harmon	Winged Foot
1960	Al Mengert	272		12 strokes	Wes Ellis	Ridgewood
1959	Jim Turnesa	286		1 stroke	Shelley Mayfield	Woodmere
1958	Bob Watson	279		3 strokes	Claude Harmon	Metropolis
1957	Wes Ellis	296		3 strokes	Shelley Mayfield	Plainfield
1956	Doug Ford	288		3 strokes	Mike Turnesa	Inwood
1955	Art Doering	285		Playoff	Al Brosch	Fenway
1954	Otto Greiner	290		1 stroke	Jay Hebert	The Knoll
1953	Pete Cooper	284		4 strokes	Pat Cici	Rockville Links
1952	Chet Sanok (a)	289		2 strokes	Dick Mayer
Jim Turnesa	Winged Foot
1951	Claude Harmon	275		2 strokes	Pete Cooper	Forest Hill
1950	George Stuhler	280		1 stroke	Claude Harmon	Garden City CC
1949	Jack Burke Jr.	274		6 strokes	Gene Sarazen	Metropolis
1941–1948: Not played due to financial issues
1940	Craig Wood	264	−16	11 strokes	Ben Hogan	Forest Hill
1939	Henry Picard	283	−1	Playoff1	Paul Runyan (2nd)	Metropolis
1938	Jimmy Hines	287		3 strokes	Sam Snead	Fresh Meadow
1937	Jimmy Hines	279		1 stroke	Henry Picard	Forest Hill
1936	Byron Nelson	283		2 strokes	Craig Wood	Quaker Ridge
1935	Henry Picard	284		4 strokes	Sid Brews	Lakeville
1934	Paul Runyan	287		1 stroke	Wiffy Cox
Walter Hagen	Echo Lake
1933	Willie Macfarlane	291		1 stroke	Paul Runyan	Winged Foot
1932	Olin Dutra	282		2 strokes	Walter Kozak	Lido
1931	Macdonald Smith	285		5 strokes	Gene Sarazen	Crestmont
1930	Willie Macfarlane	280		Playoff	Johnny Farrell	Fairview
1929	Bill Mehlhorn	288		3 strokes	Wiffy Cox	Lido
1928	Tommy Armour	278	−10	2 strokes	Johnny Farrell	Shackamaxon
1927	Johnny Farrell	296		1 stroke	Bobby Cruickshank	Wykagyl
1926	Macdonald Smith	286		Playoff	Gene Sarazen	Salisbury
1925	Gene Sarazen	295		1 stroke	Joe Turnesa	Grassy Sprain
1924	Mike Brady	292		2 strokes	Willie Macfarlane	Engineers
1923	Bob MacDonald	295		Playoff	Jim Barnes	Canoe Brook
1922	Marty O'Loughlin	309		3 strokes	Johnny Farrell	Lido
1921	Bob MacDonald	294		4 strokes	Pat O'Hara	Siwanoy	title=Bob MacDonald Wins Metropolitan Open Golf Championship	newspaper=Arizona Republican	page=1	date=July 29, 1921	via=Newspapers.com}}
1920	Walter Hagen	292		Playoff	Jim Barnes	Greenwich
1919	Walter Hagen	294		3 strokes	Emmet French	North Shore
1917–1918: Not played due to World War I
1916	Walter Hagen	307		Playoff	Jim Barnes
Charles Hoffner	Garden City GC
1915	Gilbert Nicholls	292		Playoff	Bob MacDonald	Fox Hills
1914	Macdonald Smith	278		9 strokes	Willie Macfarlane	Scarsdale
1913	Alex Smith	291		1 stroke	Tom McNamara	Salisbury Links
1912	Tom McNamara	293		4 strokes	Gilbert Nicholls	Apawamis	url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_McNamara_Wins_1912_Metropolitan_Open_at_Apawamis_Club.jpg	title=Tom McNamara Wins Metropolitan Championship	newspaper=Fitchburg Daily Sentinel	date=July 12, 1912	access-date=February 22, 2015}}
1911	Gilbert Nicholls	281		8 strokes	Jack Hobens	Englewood
1910	Alex Smith	301		2 strokes	John McDermott	Deal
1909	Alex Smith	306		2 strokes	Gilbert Nicholls	Wykagyl
1908	Jack Hobens	305		1 stroke	Alex Campbell	Baltusrol
1907	Not held
1906	George Low	294		2 strokes	Alex Smith	Hollywood
1905	Alex Smith	300		Playoff	Willie Anderson	Fox Hills

Sources:

1Picard and Runyan tied with a 70 at the end of the first 18-hole playoff while Ghezzi was eliminated with a 77. In the second playoff, Picard defeated Runyan 69 to 71.

References

(August 21, 1910). "Open Golf Tourney Starts At Deal Next Wednesday". The Washington Post.
(2012-03-08). "Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway History".
"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 23 Apr 1934, page Page 20".
"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 07 Feb 1936, page Page 23".
"The Morning Call 18 Feb 1935, page 21".
"Lincoln Journal Star 22 May 1936, page 17".
"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 25 May 1936, page Page 23".
"The Daily Times 25 May 1939, page 9".
"The Baltimore Sun 27 May 1940, page 13".
Field, Bill. (June 8, 2009). "In It For The Long Haul".
"108th Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway - Arcola".
"Siegler's Stretch Run Secures Met Open".
"Svoboda Shines At Hudson National".
"Sample Captures 105th Met Open at Mountain Ridge".
"Bogey-Free 66 Propels Dobyns to Met Open Title".
"Svoboda Secures Met Open for Second Time".
"Rackley Claims 102nd Met Open, Joins Latest Podcast".
"Brown earns third career Met Open title".
"Ben Polland Wins 100th Met Open".
"Grant Sturgeon Wins Met Open".
"Mark Brown Wins Second Met Open Title".
"Balin Wins 97th Met Open After Final Round 66".
"Tyler Hall Wins 96th Met Open at Sleepy Hollow".
"Giuliani Wins Met Open For His First Professional Title".
"Newsday 25 Aug 2007, page 26".
"Newsday 25 Aug 2006, page 60".
"The Record 27 Aug 2004, page 31".
"Newsday 24 Aug 2001, page 71".
"The Central New Jersey Home News 24 Aug 2001, page 31".
"The Daily Times 21 Aug 1998, page 33".
"Newsday (Nassau Edition) 21 Aug 1998, page 76".
"Newsday 19 Aug 1994, page 100".
White Jr., Gordon S.. (1977-08-26). "Bohen Wins Met Open For 2d Year". The New York Times.
"Major League Box Scores".
(1976-08-27). "Bohen wins Met Open". The Record.
"Record-Journal 27 May 1940, page 4".
"The Tampa Tribune 28 May 1939, page 16".
"The Spokesman-Review 29 May 1939, page 11".
"Wichita Falls Times 30 May 1939, page 7".
"The Herald-Sun 15 May 1938, page 27".
"Hartford Courant 24 May 1936, page 45".
"Miami Tribune 24 May 1936, page 26".
"Tampa Bay Times 28 May 1933, page 11".
"The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 17 Jul 1932, page Page 27".
"The Fresno Bee 17 Jul 1932, page 12".
"Hartford Courant 19 Jul 1931, page 31".
Trost, Ralph. (July 20, 1930). "Golfers to play off for title today: each scores total of 280". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Powers, Jimmy. (July 21, 1930). "MacFarlane wins met open title by two strokes". Daily News.
Trost, Ralph. (July 21, 1929). "Wild Bill Mehlhorn wins Met. open golf title on Lido course with 288". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trost, Ralph. (July 21, 1928). "Mastery of the half-shot makes Armour great golfer". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Gallico, Paul. (May 28, 1927). "Farrell's 296 wins Met open title". Daily News.
Trost, Ralph. (July 18, 1926). "Smith and Sarazen tie for Met. open: Will play off today". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trost, Ralph. (July 20, 1926). "Mac Smith and Gene Sarazen create golfing history". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trevor, George. (July 25, 1926). "Gene Sarazen's 70 pales before Mac Smith's dazzling 66". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trevor, George. (July 19, 1925). "Gene Sarazen revives memory of 1922 by winning Met. open title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trevor, George. (July 12, 1924). "Mike Brady realizes his heart's desire by winning Metropolitan golf title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trevor, George. (July 21, 1923). "MacDonald boots "Met." title away on last three holes as Barnes ties him". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trevor, George. (July 22, 1923). "Bob MacDonald overwhelms Jim Barnes by nine strokes in playoff for "Met." title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Trevor, George. (September 16, 1922). "Marty O'Loughlin nearly tossed away his title because of a gallery". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(July 29, 1921). "Bob MacDonald Wins Metropolitan Open Golf Championship". Arizona Republican.
Hicks, William Everett. (July 31, 1919). "Hagen and Barnes tie shows strange golf form reversals". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Hicks, William Everett. (August 1, 1919). "Hagen wins golf title for 3d time by beating Barnes". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Hicks, William Everett. (July 12, 1920). "Hagen's great closing round gives him Met. golf title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(July 15, 1916). "Three pros finish in a tie for Met. open golf title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(July 15, 1916). "Walter Hagen wins Met. open title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(July 10, 1915). "McDonald's great golf shot onhome hole tied Nichols for title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(July 11, 1915). "Gil Nichols wins Met. golf title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(August 7, 1914). "Macdonald Smith deprives brother of big golf title". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(August 15, 1913). "McNamara loses golf title to Smith by missing putt". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(July 12, 1912). "Tom McNamara Wins Metropolitan Championship". Fitchburg Daily Sentinel.
(July 14, 1911). "Britisher takes title in M.G.A. open golf event". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(August 27, 1910). "Metropolitan golf title retained by Alex Smith". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(September 18, 1909). "M.G.A. open championship captured by Alex. Smith". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(September 25, 1908). "Exciting finish at Baltusrol in Metropolitan open event". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(August 11, 1906). "George Low Metropolitan champion after five years of effort". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(September 16, 1905). "Smith and Anderson tie at Fox Hills". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
(September 17, 1905). "Alex Smith, Nassau pro, is M.G.A. open champion". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
"Met Open Championship Presented by Callaway History". Metropolitan Golf Association.
"100th Met Open 1905–2015 Winger Foot". Metropolitan Golf Association.

Wikipedia Source

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