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Sleepy Hollow Golfer to Defend Senior Title

ELMSFORD, N.Y. – Sleepy Hollow's John Ervasti, the defending Metropolitan Golf Association Senior Amateur Champion, will defend his title against 167 challengers Monday and Tuesday at the 85th MGA Senior Amateur Championship at the Metedeconk National Golf Club Jackson, N.J.

Ervasti, 57, became the first player in MGA history to complete the “senior slam” by capturing the Senior Amateur Championship in addition to his MGA Senior Open title in 2010. The Senior Amateur event will include players 55 and over and is the first event on the 2012 MGA calendar and MGA’s fourth-oldest championship.

“It’s always a good feeling to be the defending champion, because you have a win in the bag,” Ervasti said. “I don’t think it changes a lot as far as playing the actual tournament. You have to do the same thing. You have to prepare and do it. But it’s a nice feeling.”

Ervasti said that being paired in the first round with 11-time MGA major winner George Zahringer III, who is playing in his first MGA Senior Amateur, should help elevate his game.

“I’ve played with George a number of times and it’s great because he’s a phenomenal player and, for me, he’s a good person to watch play. I believe good golf begets good golf," Ervasti said.

Other top entrants in the field include 2008 MGA Senior Open low amateur Jim Graham and 2008 MGA Senior Amateur runner-up Joe Sommers, both of the Winged Foot Country Club in Mamaroneck.

The MGA Senior Amateur is open to players with USGA Handicap Indexes of 8.0 or lower. The field will play 18 holes on Monday, after which a cut will be made and the low 30 scores and ties will advance to the second round. Prizes will also be awarded to winners in each of four age categories. The championship will conclude with 18 holes of stroke play on May 8.

Complete coverage of the MGA Senior Amateur is available at www.mgagolf.org, including live scoring for the final round.

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