Jeff Labrador is 2009 Player of the Year; Samlo wins Match Play

The Filam Golfers Association (FAGA) concluded their final outing of the season with the Match Play finals at Pine Ridge in Coram, NY which saw Samantha Lopez-Edwards edge out George Javier, 5 and 4.

It was a defining moment for Lopez-Edwards, who shot a gross 87 (net 61) and in the process also bagged the final major trophy of the year – Champion of Champions.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted – to be the best match player this season,” Lopez-Edwards said. “George is a great player and he gave all his best. But I guess I am the lucky one today,” she continued.

Lopez-Edwards came up short last year when she lost the match play finals to Ronnie Racuya on the final hole in a nerve-wracking match.

"Cool" is all Jeff Labrador can say when informed he won the Player of the Year award after the round at Pine Ridge. But little did he know that he won by a mere 12.5 points over Lopez-Edwards.

To put that into perspective, a missed putt at both Hickory Hills and Long Island National, where he won by a stroke would have changed the landscape of the LeaderBoard.

But that's golf - as one would put it aptly. And golf is the only reason Labrador ferries the Long Island Sound from his home in Connecticut to play his best game all the time. 'Nuff said.

From left: Efraim Carballo, Jeff Labrador, Bong Alorro, Jerry Pabalan, Samantha Lopez-Edwards, Nick Salubayba