2022 NYS Men's Amateur Four-Ball Championships by NYSGA

2022

NEW YORK STATE MEN’S AMATEUR & SENIOR AMATEUR FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leatherstocking Golf Course - Cooperstown, New York May 22 - 23, 2022

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2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

ABOUT THE NYSGA NYSGA Officers

NYSGA Staff

President - Henry Fust, Onondaga G&CC

Bill Moore Executive Director

1st VP - Jamie Miller, Crag Burn GC 2nd VP - Doug Vergith, Chautauqua GC Treasurer - Robert Smith, Highland Park GC General Counsel - Peter Jones, Drumlins CC

Andrew Hickey Assistant Executive Director

Secretary - Iris Stanek, Lancaster CC

Dan Thompson Director, Marketing and Partnerships

NYSGA Executive Committee

Jack Travers Assistant Director, Rules & Competitions

Shawn Baker, Oak Hill CC Lee Bearsch, Binghamton CC John Burns, Niagara Falls CC John Cooney, Olde Kinderhook GC Joseph Enright, Lancaster CC Ryan Gabel, Trump National - HV Jim Gifford, Mohawk GC Megan Grehan, Hudson National GC Brent Herlihy, Glens Falls CC Lawrence Lessing, The Creek Christy Schultz, Oak Hill CC Frank Suits, Cortland CC Brian Williams, Winged Foot CC Warren Winslow, Western Turnpike GC

Mark Ackley Manager, Course Rating Deb Spilman Manager, Special Events & Volunteer Operations Fred Wilkes Communications Intern Parker Gauthier USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern Michael Dirkes USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern

NYSGA Committee Norm Amyot Michael Aquino Fred Arliss Larry Arliss Gary Assad John Barry John Bartholomew David Beattie Al Belair Vic Bergsten Marci Bevilacqua Doreen Biviano John Blain Vincent Bonvino Chris Boynton Timothy Brady David Braunscheidel Gene Bullis John Bullis Ted Casey Sue Chambers Michael Chianelli Cory Ciambella Brian Clark Matt Clarke James Coleman Andrew Conway James Cook Darrell Cornett Thomas Cotter George Cretekos Jerry Danielski John Davis Garrett Davitt Gordon Dewey Todd Dischinger Patric Donaghue Renato Donato Mike Donnelly Dick Dorgan Ryan Drake

Michael Drennen Georgia Dusckas Tom Eckert Wayne Eckhardt Joe Enright Laurie Enright John Ernst Vie Evans Karen Feldman Mary Beth Fiore Mark Fitzgerald Michael Fitzgerald Georgette Folley Adrian Forzani Tim Frank John Gaffney Richard Galvin Bill Geider Brad Griffin Tom Hahn Julie Hamm David Hayes Joe Hazard Sherry Heath Patrick Henry Jeff Holmes Braden Houston John Hudacs Al Huggard Don Hurley Ed Kaczor Robert Kawa Tim Kayes Mary Ann Keeler Stephen Keeler Jeffrey Kennicutt Edward Koslick John Kulesa Peter Lalla Nan Lanahan Tom Lanahan

Rod Lindstrom Bill Loehr Janis Luce Ron Mack Patrick MacRae Susan Marsh Robert Martin Ronald Mason Patricia Mayne Jim McConnell Theresa McGibbon Thomas McGibbon Pat McKenna James McKillip Patrick McNierney Sean McPhee Richard Meath Brian Merritt James Meyers Gene Meyle Ginny Meyle Matthew Micheli Bill Moore Matthew Moran Bill Moreland Albert Mowery Jack Mulvey Art Munson Jim Murrett Thomas Oles Thomas Owen Rocco Palmieri Brandon Payne Mark Perry Noah Poskanzer Richard Prestopnik Joe Pucello John Quijano Nick Raasch John Raunick John Reagan

Tom Reidy Joseph Riccio James Roff Robert Rosen Sean Rotella Tony Scarpello Chris Schmidt Carl Schultz Tim Schum Dan Scott Martin Siefka Robert Simms Sue Sims Sarah Simson Jaspal “Ricky” Singh, M.D. David Smith John Sniezyk Ron Socash Don Sommerville Joseph Sorrento Jerry Stahl Edward Stanek Tom Steele Peter Stoj Joseph Strykowski John Sullivan Levin Sullivan Gale Sutton Thelma Taylor David Vaneenenaam Jerry Vereeke Mona Wasserman Rich Weber Bryan Whooten Steve Wilber Richard Wilson Doug Young Jon Zucarelli

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WELCOME On behalf of the entire New York State Golf Association, welcome to the 11th New York State Men’s Amateur & Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championships! The NYSGA is pleased to join with the leadership and staff of Leatherstocking Golf Course to provide a memorable challenge in crowning New York State’s top men’s amateur four-ball teams. We are proud to return to this classic Devereux Emmet layout in Cooperstown, which has been the host site of many memorable New York State Championships throughout the decades, including the 1958 and 1962 Women’s Amateur, the 1964 Men’s Amateur, the 1972 Men’s Senior and the 2001 Men’s Mid-Amateur. Since 2013, Leatherstocking has hosted our Men’s and Men’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championships. We certainly anticipate an exciting and memorable competition over the next several days, and the golf course and setup will surely challenge the players to utilize their full ability and skill. I’d like to offer our thanks and appreciation to the management, club and pro shop staff, and especially the course grounds crew, whose combined efforts have provided us with this wonderful championship venue. Finally, I’d like to thank our NYSGA staff and fantastic team of tournament volunteers, who work tirelessly to provide a first-class experience and support the talented players that participate in our competitions. We hope you enjoy this year’s championship and we appreciate your support of our association and tournaments. If there’s anything that we can do to make your experience more enjoyable, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the NYSGA staff. Sincerely,

Henry W. Fust, President New York State Golf Association

2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

LEATHERSTOCKING GOLF COURSE

Leatherstocking Golf Course is located in Cooperstown, New York

The Leatherstocking Golf Course resides at The Otesaga Resort Hotel, a member of the Historic Hotels of America and a National Register for Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The hotel is located on the southern shore of Lake Otesgo, creating impeccable waterfront views. In 1909, the owners of The Otesaga wanted to provide their guests with the great American pastime of golf. Devereux Emmet was hired to design an 18-hole course adjacent to the hotel. The course is set up at 6,401 yards and is played to a par of 72. Leatherstocking Golf Course is one of The Otesaga’s top attractions and one of the top resort golf courses on the East Coast. The course has homed many amateur championships throughout its’ history, including the 1958 & 1962 Women’s Amatuer, as well as the 1964 Men’s Amateur, 1972 Men’s Senior, and the 2001 Men’s Mid-Amateur. Since 2013, Leatherstocking has hosted the Men’s Amateur and Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championships.

Thank you to the staff at Leatherstocking for hosting this year’s championship!

Tim Quirk, PGA Director of Golf

Mike O’Neill

Golf Course Superintendent

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THE COURSE

PAR FOUR 340 YARDS 322 YARDS

PAR FOUR 392 YARDS 372 YARDS

PAR THREE 200 YARDS 193 YARDS

PAR FIVE 513 YARDS 483 YARDS 2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE COURSE

PAR FOUR 396 YARDS 386 YARDS

PAR FOUR 362 YARDS 350 YARDS

PAR FOUR 404 YARDS 391 YARDS

PAR FOUR 375 YARDS 340 YARDS

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THE COURSE

PAR THREE 186 YARDS 158 YARDS

PAR FOUR 384 YARDS 362 YARDS

PAR FIVE 560 YARDS 532 YARDS

PAR THREE 137 YARDS 122 YARDS 2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE COURSE

PAR FOUR 342 YARDS 324 YARDS

PAR FOUR 285 YARDS 254 YARDS

PAR FIVE 462 YARDS 452 YARDS

PAR FOUR 366 YARDS 348 YARDS

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THE COURSE

PAR THREE 182 YARDS 146 YARDS

PAR FIVE 515 YARDS 505 YARDS Each hole includes yardages for both the open and senior divisions. All course photos included are courtesy of Leatherstocking Golf Course.

Players on #18 tee during the 2021 NYS Men’s Amateur & Sr. Amateur Four-Ball Championships.

2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

PAST CHAMPIONS

PLAYER INFORMATION Entries The Championship is teams consisting of two male amateur golfers who are members of the NYSGA, defined as (1) belonging to an NYSGA member club or (2) as a 2022 NYSGA eClub member (NYS residency required). Players must have an active USGA Handicap Index issued through a licensed golf club.

Format This Championship will be conducted over 36 holes of four-ball stroke play. There will be a net and gross winner in each division.

Divisions There are two divisions in this Championship: the 11th NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship (all ages) and the 10th NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship (ages 55+).

Ties The team in each Championship with the lowest score for 36 holes will be the champion. In the event of a tie in the Championship, a sudden-death playoff will be held immediately following play.

Schedule of Events Saturday, May 21 // Practice Rounds Sunday, May 22 // Round 1, Shotgun start at 1:00pm Monday, May 23 // Round 2, Shotgun start at 9:00am

Coverage Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @NYSGA1923. Check out full photo galleries from all NYSGA tournaments and events at nysga.smugmug.com

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2021 CHAMPIONSHIP

DWYER AND STOPERA CLOSE OUT WITH A 62 EN ROUTE TO TITLE Michael Dwyer and Michael Stopera won the 10th New York State Men’s Amateur Four-Ball title.

Michael Dwyer and Michael Stopera (Edison Club) surged up the leaderboard with a 10-under 62 in the final round to win the 10th NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Leatherstocking Golf Course. PLACE

NAME

CLUB

SCORE

M. Dwyer / M. Stopera

Edison Club

68-62--130 (-14)

J. Gifford / D. Russo

Mohawk GC / Schuyler Meadows CC

64-67--131 (-13)

B. Monroe / K. Vandenberg

Lakeshore Y&CC / Tuscarora GC

65-67--132 (-12)

B. Hanes / D. Hanes

Crag Burn GC

67-66--133 (-11)

C. Purcell / T. Salmon

Shaker Ridge CC

73-61--134 (-10)

J. Hirsh / B. Virkler

Kanon Valley CC / Yahnundasis GC

67-67--134 (-10)

The Schenectady county duo edged another pair of local area players by a stroke to win the two-person championship. They started the day four strokes back, and teed off almost two hours before the final pairing. The side took care of the scoreable par 5s on the classic Devereux Emmet design, with eagles on nos. 4, 11, 14 (a short par 4) and 15. They settled for birdie on the par-5 18th over Otsego lake, and had only one other birdie on the opening hole. “Whenever we had an eagle putt, we capitalized, which was great. Nothing was outside of ten feet, they were all six to eight footers,” Dwyer noted. “We caught fire there and weren’t really thinking about it. Michael Stopera (Left) and Michael Dwyer (Right) on the #18 green during the NYS Men’s Four-Ball.

When we were out there we didn’t really think we were going to win the golf tournament,” Stopera said. Jim Gifford (Mohawk Golf Club) and two-time NYS Men’s

Senior Amateur champion Dan Russo (Schuyler Meadows Club) took the early lead after shooting 8-un2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2021 CHAMPIONSHIP der 64 in round one. They had a few chances to force a playoff down the stretch, but came up just short after an eagle putt skirted by the cup on the eighteenth. The duo finished at 13-under 131. “It’s super nerve-wracking. Knowing the guys in the last group and how good they are, we just expected them to make birdies. We didn’t want a playoff, because we hadn’t played in an hour and a half,” the winners said of score watching as the final groups finished up. Brad Monroe (Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club) and Kevin Vandenberg (Tuscarora Golf Club) finished in third at 132. They were paired with Gifford / Russo, and matched their final-round 67. 2018 champions Billy and David Hanes (Crag Burn Golf Club) finished in fourth at 133. Rounding out the top-5 was Corey Purcell and Tom Salmon (Shaker Ridge Country Club), along with Jim Hirsh (Kanon Valley Country Club) and Bill Virkler (Yahnundasis Golf Club) at 134. Purcell and Salmon were the only team who bettered the winning team’s score, firing a new tournament-low individual round of 61, topping the opening round score by Nick Dilio / Ryan Dan Russo (Left) and Jim Gifford (Right) during the final round of the NYS Men’s Four-Ball at Leatherstocking Golf Course. They would go on to finish second.

Gabel, who won the 2019 tournament. The side from Shaker Ridge collaborated for seven birdies and two eagles (including the final hole) en route to the NYSGA Men’s Four-Ball record.

“I don’t think about setting records for anything, so to do that is just incredible to be a part of it.” It was the easiest it can be. It wasn’t even a thought, we were just playing and having a good time,” said Salmon on the historic round. Purcell nodded in agreement. With the victory, Dwyer / Stopera each earned exemptions into the 2021 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at Schuyler Meadows Club in August. Stopera earns an exemption into this year’s Mid-Am at Shaker Ridge Country Club in September, where he’s also a member. “It’s a great tournament, and a great one to win. We’re super excited for the exemption at Schuyler Meadows in our area,” said Dwyer,

Brad Monroe (Left) and Kevin Vandenberg (Right) during the final round of the NYS Men’s Four-Ball at Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown, N.Y. on May 24, 2021.

who is still too young to compete in the MidAm.

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2021 CHAMPIONSHIP

BATTLE AND SORCI WIN SENIOR FOUR-BALL IN DRAMATIC PLAYOFF Mark Battle and Chris Sorci won the 9th New York State Men’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball title.

The 9th NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship came down to the wire last year at Leatherstocking, with two teams having to decide the champions in a sudden-death playoff. PLACE

NAME

CLUB

SCORE

M. Battle / C. Sorci

Ravenwood GC / NYSGA eClub - Roc.

67-64--131 (-13)

K Ogden / W. Sarkis

Oak Hill CC / Canandaigua CC

64-67--131 (-13)

M. Clarke / B. Rosen

Cazenovia CC / CC of Buffalo

71-65--136 (-8)

J. Hamburger / D. Lynch

McCann GC / Nassau Players Club

69-69--138 (-6)

J. Miosi / M. Grace

Brookfield CC

68-70--138 (-6)

Mark Battle (Ravenwood Golf Club) and Chris Sorci (NYSGA eClub – Rochester) outlasted the defending champions Ken Ogden (Oak Hill Country Club) and Wade Sarkis (Canandaigua Country Club) after Sorci made a par on the second playoff hole, the uphill par-4 second. The Rochester teams were paired together during the final round, with Ogden / Sarkis starting three strokes ahead. Battle / Sorci made birdies on the first four holes of the round, while the defending champs had a slower start. “At that point I said, game on, let’s go,” Battle said, who captured the title once before in 2013 with a past partner. Mark Battle (RIght) and Chris Sorci (Left) during the final round of the NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball at Leatherstocking Golf Course.

“It was tooth and nail the whole way.” An eagle on the reachable par-4 14th by Battle tied them up with their competitors. Ogden / Sarkis made a few

great putts from 15-17 to enter the final hole with a one stroke lead. “We thought we had them a couple of times and then stuff just came out of the woodwork,” Sorci said of the defending champ’s clutch putting on the closing holes.

2022 NYS MEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

2021 CHAMPIONSHIP But the eventual winners made birdie on the home hole, and a par by the others forced a tie and playoff between the two veteran teams. “It was a real test of nerves. To be able to do that kind of stuff and play like Chris and I did, at our ages and under the gun a little bit. It’s really gratifying,” Battle said of the dramatic victory. “It really feels cool to win. I have a district win, and now one with the state,” said Sorci, referring to his RDGA Senior Match Play title from 2018. 2016 champions Matt Clarke (Cazenovia Country Club) and Bob Rosen (Country Club of Buffalo) Wade Sarkis (Left) and Ken Ogden (Right) during the final round of the NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball at Leatherstocking Golf Course.

finished in third at 136.

Two teams tied at 138 including 2018 NYS Men’s Super Senior champ Jim Hamburger (McCann Golf Course) and Dennis Lynch (Nassau Players Club) as well as 2017 winners Bob Branham (Canaswacta Country Club) and Kevin Webb (Mendon Golf Club). “It’s a great backdrop, this place is so cool,” Battle said of the Otesaga Hotel and Leatherstocking. “I really had a great time and I said the only thing that’s going to make this better is a win. It’s a perfect end to a day.

Bob Rosen (front left) and Matt Clarke (right) during the final round of the NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball, they would go on to finish third.

Players on the #16 green during the final round of the NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball.

Players on the #2 green during the opening round of the 9th NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball.

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