Locals Compete at 96th Annual Metropolitan Golf Association Open Championship

Until Aug. 25, players from throughout Westchester County will compete in the 96^th Annual Metropolitan Golf Association Open Championship.

The championship is being hosted for the first time at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, which is also celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year.

The club’s 18-hole course, which overlooks the Hudson River Valley and is par-70 and 6,845 yards, has plenty of space for the 144 professional and amateur golfers participating in the championship.

The second round of the tournament begins today. The finals and trophy presentation will take place on Thursday.

Here’s a list of the local players competing:

• Frank Bensel of Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y. Bensel won the 2011 Connecticut Open in July.
• Andrew Giuliani of Trump National-Westchester in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. As an amateur, Giuliani won the 2005 Ike Championship and the 2007 Hochster Memorial.
• Mike Diffley of Pelham Country Club in Pelham Manor, N.Y.
• Mike Gilmore of Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
• Bobby Heins (1988 & ’89) of Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y.
• Michael Quagliano, of GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, N.Y.
• Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow
• Greg Bisconti of Saint Andrew’s Country Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., who won the 2011 Met PGA Championship and Westchester Open
• David Young and his son, 14-year-old son Cameron Young, Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Cameron won the 2011 Carter Cup at Baltusrol and the 2011 Westchester Amateur. He is the youngest player in the championship.

Amatuer players also will compete, including:

Met Amateur runner-up Sam Bernstein of Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y and 2010-2011 Yale University golf team captain Tom McCarthy of Saxon Woods Golf Course in Scarsdale, N.Y.