Donte Groppuso (MET Golf Photo)
In his first appearance in the event, Donte Groppuso of Wiltwyck made the best first impression by winning the 122nd Met Amateur at Somerset Hills Country Club, defeating Christian Cavaliere of Hudson National 1-up.
It's the second straight year a debutant has won the event. Josh German of Meadow Brook won at Friar's Head last year, also beating Cavaliere. After a top-ten finish in the Ike in June, this is Groppuso's first MGA victory. Cavaliere is a three-time runner-up in the Met Amateur.
After a three-hour and 40-minute lightning delay on Sunday afternoon, Groppuso won the final two holes of the 36-hole final to turn a 1-down deficit into a 1-up win. Groppuso won No. 17 with a two-putt par, then on No. 18, he recorded another two-putt par and won the match after Cavaliere missed his par putt.
"I thought he was going to make it. He didn't miss [par putts] all day. He was so tough. He made every comeback I didn't give him," said Groppuso. "And I was preparing myself for a playoff. When he missed it, I didn't even get the opportunity to do anything. My brother just picked me up. I don't think it will ever sink in. It will, but not for a while."
"I had a good number in with my wedge after finally hitting the fairway on [the 18th hole]. I put a good wedge shot on it, and luckily, I two-putted and got away with the win," noted Groppuso.
On the par-4 17th, Groppuso two-putted from above the hole on No. 17 to secure his par, while Cavaliere short-sided himself left and could not get up and down for par. With the match tied heading into the 36th hole, both competitors found the fairway off the tee.
Cavaliere's ball came to rest in a divot, and his ensuing approach shot spun off the front of the green; Groppuso's second shot on 18 landed about 12 feet above the hole. Cavaliere chipped to inside six feet; Gropposure then left his putt inside of two feet which was conceded. Cavaliere set up for par to attempt to extend the match but the just skirted the hole, ending the match.
Groppuso, with his younger brother Gavin on the bag, was two down after the first three holes of the afternoon 18. The 22-year-old made par on the par-4 seventh before birdieing the par-5 ninth after his approach came to rest a foot from the hole.
"I dreamed of having this opportunity to win something big like this at the highest level as an amateur and spending it with [my family]," said Groppuso, who is heading into his senior year at Florida Southern College. "Especially my little brother. Being able to hug him as my caddie, there are no words to describe it."
In the morning 18, 14 of the 18 holes were won. Cavaliere won five on the opening nine to lead 4-up at the turn. Cavaliere built his 4-up lead via a run of four birdies in a row on holes three through six.
Groppuso won five of the first six on the back and the 18th, leveling the match. After Cavaliere won No. 12, Groppuso won No. 13, and 14 with pars before leveling the match with a lengthy birdie putt on No. 15.
With his win in the Met Amateur, Groppuso is exempt into the U.S. Amateur, which Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota will host starting on August 12.
ABOUT THE
MET Amateur
The competition is open to male Amateur
members of MGA Member Clubs who have a
current USGA Handicap Index of 5.0 or less
and to those exempted by the MGA
Committee. All entrants are subject to the
MGA Rules and Regulations.
Format of play:
18 hole sectional qualifying round.
Qualifiers
play 36 hole on-site qualifying round,
determining 16 players for match play.
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