2016 French - American Challenge

2016 French - American Challenge MGA/WMGA vs. Ligue de Golf de Paris

The MGA entered the international arena in 1990 with the founding of the French-American Challenge, or FRED’s Cup. Named for its founding sponsor, the international jeweler FRED Joaillier, the event pits teams of top men and women representing the MGA and WMGA against men and women amateurs of the Ligue de Paris.

This year, players will compete at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Conn., on October 17-18. The French - American Challenge is contended over Four-ball, Foursomes, and Singles matches between the six-man/four-woman teams.

MEET THE TEAM

Stewart Hagestad

Deepdale Golf Club, Age: 25

The former University of Southern California golf team member has had a hot 2016 season, highlighted by exciting victories at the Met Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur.

During the final round of the U.S. Mid-Amateur, Hagestad was 4-down with 5 to play, but battled back in dramatic fashion to win the title on the first playoff hole.

This will be Hagestad’s second appearance on a MGA international team. Hagestad also earned with a 3rd place finish at the MGA Ike and a 2nd place finish at the Arcola Cup.

Tara Fleming

New Jersey National Golf Club, Age: 49

Fleming was a member of the LPGA Tour from 1991-1993. She placed 10th in the Corning Classic in 2016 and has participated in numerous USGA events, including 4 U.S. Opens, 2 Mid-Amateur Championships, 1 Women's Four-Ball Championship and 2 Women's State Team Championships, finding success in 2013 as the playing Captain for the victorious New Jersey team.

Some recent accomplishments include winning the Garden State Women's Round Robin Match Play Championship, a Runner-Up finish at the New Jersey State Women's Mid-Amateur and a semifinal appearance at the New Jersey State Women's Amateur.

Trevor Randolph

Arcola Country Club, Age: 43

Randolph has had a busy 2016 season having captured titles at the Hochster Memorial, Travis Invitational, and NJSGA Mid-Amateur. On top of those victories, he had runner-up finishes at the NYC Amateur and Bergen County Am, and placed T-4th at the MGA Ike, and T-3rd at the Arcola Cup. Randolph was a member of the French - American Challenge Team in 2014 and was also a member of the 2015 Carey Cup Team.

Ina Kim

Deepdale Golf Club, Age: 33

The former Northwestern golf team member has had a very successful 2016, winning the WMGA/MGA Women’s Amateur Championship and the WMGA Stroke Play Championship.

Paul Pastore

Griff Harris Men's Club, Age: 20

Pastore has had a strong summer finishing tied as the 3rd low amateur at the 101st Met Open and earning a T-7th finish at the MGA Ike. He also qualified for match play in the 2016 U.S. Amateur. Pastore is the younger brother of former MGA Player of the Year David Pastore.

Kelly Sim

Alpine Country Club, Age: 16

At only 16, Sim already has quite the record of victories and accomplishments as champion of the the 2015 & 2016 NJSIAA Girls’, the 2016 AJGA Junior Golf Hub, and the 2015 NJ State Women's Amateur. Sim also competed in the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship in 2015 & 2016.

Ethan Ng

Fiddler's Elbow Country Club, Age: 16

Ng is ranked in the top 50 in the Polo Golf Junior rankings. He won the 2016 MGA Carter Cup and was runner-up to Hagestad at the Met Amateur. Ng qualified for his first U.S. Amateur this season and finished as a quarter-finalist at the Met Junior. In 2015, Ng posted a victory at the Lessing’s AJGA Classic and was a member of the victorious Williamson Cup team.

Kyra Cox

Centennial Golf Club , Age: 16

Cox is already very established in the Met Area at her young age. This season she qualified for her first two USGA championships: the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women's Amateur. In April, Cox competed in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals and in 2015, she was the New York State Women's Amateur Champion.

Brian Komline

Black Oak Golf Club, Age: 42

Komline earned a victory this season at the Bergen County Amateur, while also finishing as runner-up at the Eagle Oaks Invitational, 3rd at the Hochster Memorial, and T-3rd at the NJSGA Amateur. He also made it to the Round of 16 at the Met Amateur and finished as runner-up to Randolph at the 2016 NJSGA Mid-Amateur. Komline is no stranger to MGA international teams as he has played on two Carey Cup teams (’13 & ’15) and is on his third French American Challenge team (’08, ’12 & ’16).

Darin Goldstein

Noyac Golf Club, Age: 35

The reigning Long Island Golf Association Player of the Year captured the 2016 LIGA Amateur title. Goldstein has had a number of strong finishes this season including a quarter-final appearance at the Travis Invitational, a semifinal appearance at the Havemeyer Invitational, and a T-3 finish with Randolph at the Arcola Cup. Goldstein also qualified for the U.S. Amateur and advanced to match play in the U.S. Mid-Amateur. This will be Goldstein’s second appearance on a MGA International team - competing on the 2015 Carey Cup team last season.

Co-Captain - Allan Small

Al Small is a former MGA President as well as a ten-time MGA International Team member.

Co-Captain - Valerie DePiro

An accomplished player herself, DePiro is the President of the WMGA.

Honorary Captain - MGA President Steve Boyd

Spectators are welcome to come follow the matches at The Stanwich Club. Keep up with the action on the MGA's social media channels, including live coverage on Twitter (@MGA1897) and Snapchat (mgagolf1897), and visit www.mgagolf.org to see which team will be taking home the trophy.

Created By

Metropolitan Golf Association

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