Former Colts Neck High School star Eric LeFante was the medalist winner at the Sectional Qualifying Round for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship held at Trump National in Colts Neck. LeFante carded a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 to take medalist honors by two strokes.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur will be held at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Pennsylvania on Sept. 6-11.
LeFante won the MGA Public Links Championship in 2012.
Fresh off his Metropolitan Golf Association Junior Championship victory, Howell High School’s Dawson Jones followed it up by qualifying for next month’s 99th Met Open Championship.
Jones carded a 1-under-par 70 on the Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield on July 21 to finish in a tie for second overall in the qualifying round. In all, 20 golfers advanced to the Met Open Championship that will be held on Aug. 19-21 at Trump National-Bedminster.
Christian Brothers Academy stars Jeremy and Ethan Wall also advanced. Jeremy Wall shot a 71 to tie for fourth, and Ethan Wall carded a 73 to tie for 12th.
At the qualifying round held at the Morris Country Golf Club in Morristown on July 22, locals Jimmy Dengler of Rumson and Chris Mazzuchetti of Red Bank also qualified for the Met Open.
Dengler tallied a 1-under 69 to tie for second, and Mazzuchetti shot a 1-over 71 to tie for seventh place.
Fans of professional wrestling know Hulk Hogan, and they have that chance to talk to him when iPlay America hosts The Hulkster for an intimate chat, “Uncut,” at 3 p.m. on Aug. 2.
“Hulk is an icon of professional wrestling. No one in the region has brought him in for an opportunity like this,” said Jessica Schwartz, director of marketing for iPlay America, which is on Schanck Road in Freehold Township.
Hogan was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) inducted Hogan into its Hall of Fame in 2005. Hogan is a 12-time world champion — six times with World Wrestling Federation/WWE and six times with World Championship Wrestling. He earned numerous other championships and awards during his career.
In addition to being a professional wrestling star, he is also a television and movie star.
Fans can bring their questions about his experiences and matches as a member of WWE and anything else they want to know. iPlay America will offer three packages: General Admission, VIP and Platinum.
General admission tickets are $39.95 and include the question-and-answer session and a $10 iPlay America game card.
The VIP package includes a general admission ticket to the question-and-answer session, early entry to iPlay America’s Event Center, a photo with Hogan, a pre-signed 8×10 photo, an iPlay America iRide Plus band and a $25 iPlay America game card for $149.95.
The Platinum package offers a unique experience beginning at 1:30 p.m., including lunch and beverages with an open bar serving beer and wine for those 21 and older, a meet and greet with photo opportunity, a 16×20 photo to be hand signed during the meet and greet, seating in the first three rows for the question-and-answer session, and a $25 iPlay America game card for $249.95. Ticket holders ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder for this package.
For more information, call 732-577-8200 or visit iPlayAmerica.com.
Freehold Elite Gymnastics athletes distinguished themselves at the USAIGC/IAIGC World Gymnastics Championship. The meet involved more than 1,350 gymnasts from five countries — the United States, Bermuda, Canada, South Africa and United Kingdom. The meet was held in Orlando, Fla.
The first day of events featured several gymnasts from Freehold Elite Gymnastics, and they had a strong competitive performance. Amelia King, 9, placed fourth on floor exercise (9.325) and in the top-10 allaround (36.475). Olivia Gehman, 7, placed third on vault (9.35). Samantha Ifantis, 7, tied for seventh on floor. Grace Jordan, 8, placed eighth on both balance beam (8.9) and vault (9.35). Maria Telitsa, 8, was fourth on vault (9.45). Allison Sack placed fourth on floor (9.325)
Freehold Elite Gymnasts shined in the Bronze level competition as well. Madison Doran, 13, placed fourth on bars and in the top-10 all-around. Arizona Reynoso, 11, finished eighth on floor. Cami Hobart, 8, finished sixth in the all-around, third on vault and bars and fifth on floor. Ruthie Albanese was fourth on bars. Katie Santise placed fifth on bars and secured a top-10 all-around finish. Angelina Sanchez placed fifth on floor. An exciting end to the bronze competition was Katelyn Glick, 7, winning the championship title on the vault.
Freehold’s Gold level athletes took their turn competing against some of the world’s strongest gymnasts. The Freehold Elite Gymnastics Gold level team (Arah Godbole, Isabella Schaeffer, Alyssa Rivera and Kristin Esposito) took second place in the events.
Godbole, 15, finished second in the allaround with a score of 35.7. Bella Schaeffer, 15, was close behind in fourth with a 35.4. Both Godbole and Schaeffer went on to compete in event finals. Schaeffer placed fourth on vault and fifth on beam. Godbole finished fourth on beam and floor.
“This year has not been easy, but the gymnasts always put in 110 percent,” coach and co-owner Katelynn Liteplo said. “I could not ask for a better group of gymnasts to work with.”
Freehold Gymnastics, established in 1992, now offers two locations in Monmouth County — 4345 Route 9 North in the Pond Road Shopping Center in Freehold and 6 Paragon Way in Freehold.
Freehold Gymnastics offers classes, and pre-team and team training seven days a week for children ranging from 18 months (Parent and Me) through high school. In addition to its USAIGC competitive teams, the club also competes in the Jersey Optional Gymnastics Association (JOGA).
For additional information on classes, camp or birthday parties, contact the club at 732-294-9559 or Freehold Elite at 732-400-8555.
The Central Jersey Baseball Academy is hosting a Defensive Skills Camp for advanced instruction focused on position-specific skills. Players can select from Advanced Pitching, Catching or Infield curriculum.
The two-day camp provides advanced instruction for players eager to progress to the next level of play.
The camp will take place August 23-24 at Byron Johnson Park in Upper Freehold, and registration is online only at http://www.centraljerseybaseball.com/Playe r-Development-Programs.html.