Rumson-Fair Haven graduate Charlie Edler holds up the trophy he won by capturing the Met Junior Championship held at the Fairmount Country Club in Chatham. It was the first MGA (Metropolitan Golf Association) title for the Dartmouth University-bound Edler. BRIAN VAN DER HEIDE/MGA Charlie Edler, who concluded his career at Rumson-Fair Haven High School as one of the most consistent golfers in Shore Conference history, is busily preparing to make his debut for Dartmouth College this fall.
Edler has been practicing regularly over the summer and is coming off a stellar performance in the 94th Met Junior Championship at the Fairmont Country Club in Chatham. He battled through six rounds of match play — in just three days — and went on to win the country’s oldest junior championship with a 3&2 final win over Dylan Crowley of Glen Cove, N.Y. It was Edler’s first Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) title. The MGA represents more than 500 golf clubs in the tri-state area.
In the opening round, Edler faced a tough competitor, his high school rival from Christian Brothers Academy, Ethan Wall, and the two battled back and forth before Edler emerged victorious.
“That really set the tone for the whole tournament,” he said. “It was a tough match, and we both played very well. It got me going, and I was able to stay under par in every match after that.”
The Fair Haven resident also edged Matthew Lowe, the MGA boys champion, in a semifinal match-up. Edler raced out to a quick lead and was up by three after eight holes, a lead he never relinquished. In the finale against Crowley, Edler got off to another quick start and was again up by three after eight holes. Crowley cut it to two down on the back nine, but Edler birdied the 15th to go back ahead by three with just three holes remaining. It was all over on 16 as both players parred and Edler was the 3&2 winner. “We played a lot of golf in a short period of time,” he said. “The key for me was staying consistent and making par.”
Edler is coming off an outstanding career with the Bulldogs that saw him make a big splash right from the start. As a freshman, he won the Monmouth County championship. The following year he knocked off Seton Hall Prep’s John Hartman, the defending champ, to win the state individual title. He also led RFH to the NJSIAA Group II team crown.
He set the Monmouth County scoring record as a junior when he fired a 67 at Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck. Edler also won the Shore Conference tourney, edging Wall and Ryan McCormick of Mater Dei, and ended up sixth in the state.
This spring Edler again helped the Bulldogs to a Group II state title. Along the way, he again won the Shore Conference, this time at Sea Oaks Country Club in Little Egg Harbor. He finished second in the Monmouth County Tournament, but the title stayed in the family because his younger brother John, a sophomore at RFH, won.
Earlier this summer, Edler shot a 72 at the New Jersey State GolfAssociationAmateur Championship at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.
Next week, Edler will play in a U.S. Amateur Golf Association qualifier at the Battleground Country Club in Manalapan. The following week he will head to Springfield for the Carter Cup at Baltusrol Golf Club. Edler leaves for New Hampshire and Dartmouth in early September.
The Big Green will play in five tournaments this fall to prepare for the spring season, which is scheduled to begin in March.
“I’m excited and I want to set the bar high from the start,” Edler said. “My goal this fall is to win a college tournament.”