MET Sr. Open: Storms suspend 1st round
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (August, 27, 2012)- Torrential rain and lightning wreaked havoc on the first round of the MGA Senior Open at Garden City Country Club. At 1:06 p.m., play was halted as a driving thunderstorm passed through the area and dumped nearly two inches on the property in just over an hour, and at 2:20 p.m. MGA officials decided to halt play for the day.Amateur Jamie Shapiro is three shots off the lead
The championship will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday with just more than half of the 168-player field still to complete their first rounds. Once the entire first round is complete, the field will be re-paired for the final round, which will begin immediately.
When players came in, head professional Jack Drugaof Shinnecock Hills stood alone at the top of the leaderboard after a 2-under 68. Druga made the turn at 1-over par but heated up on the back nine, where he reeled off three straight birdies on 15, 16, and 17 to card an inward 33.
“I actually played well on the front nine, I just wasn’t making birdie putts,” Druga said. “Then I came right out and birdied No. 10, and after that putt I had a good feel for the greens. I made a good putt on 15, about a 12-footer, and then on the par-five, 16, I was just off the green in two and hit a good chip.”
Sean Garrityof Griff Harris is currently alone in second place behind Druga after a 1-under 69. Peter Meurer of Staten Island Practice Facility and amateur Jamie Shapiro of Engineers are three back of Druga after 1-over 71s. Mike Turnesa Jr. of Rockville Links and amateur James Graham of Winged Foot both fired 72s, while amateurs Ed Gibstein of Engineers and Bruce Berman shot 73.
Rounding out the current top 10 of players who finished are Dave Gosiewski of Noyac, amateurs Scott Singer of MGA eClub, N.J., and Dan Dinan of North Jersey, who all finished with 3-over 74s.
All groups up to the 1:08 p.m. times were able to begin their first rounds. And although Garden City Country Club drained remarkably well, officials determined that it wasn’t fit for competition. Play will resume on Tuesday at 8 a.m. and the second round will follow in the afternoon, immediately after round one is complete.
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ABOUT THE MET Senior Open
36-hole stroke play championship for professionals
and amateurs who are members of an MGA
club and have a current USGA Handicap Index of 5.0
or less.
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