99
’S AMA EN
UR TE
NYS M
th NYS MEN’S ANNUAL
ONONDAGA 2022
AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AUGUST 9TH-11TH, 2022
ONONDAGA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB FAYETTEVILLE, NEW YORK
Souvenir Program
Table of Contents Welcome to Onondaga.................................2 Onondaga Officers and Board of Directors..................................3 NYSGA Welcome.............................................4 The NYSGA Committee and Staff............5 Amateur Championship History...............8
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Past Champions and Records of the New York State Men’s Amateur Championship..................................................12 Conditions of Play...........................................20 Schedule of Events.........................................21 2021 NYS Men’s Amateur Recap...............24 OGCC History...................................................28 Memorable Names from OGCC................32
M&T Bank is proud to sponsor the New York State Men's Amateur Golf Championship.
Memorable Events OGCC............................35 History of Men's Amatuer at OGCC.........36 Past Presidents................................................42 Course Holes.....................................................44 OGCC Thank You's..........................................71
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Onondaga Golf & Country Club Officers Joseph T. Mancuso Patrick T. O’Connor John L. Clark Nancy Caple Johnston Stephen J. Gorczynski
Welcome from the
O
Board of Directors
n behalf of the members, management team and staff of Onondaga Golf & Country Club, we welcome you to the 99th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship. We are honored to have the opportunity to host this prestigious event and to have New York’s top amateur golfers competing at OGCC. We recognize and appreciate the effort every golfer has made to be here, and we look forward to hosting a memorable event. OGCC has hosted a number of other high-profile amateur events including the New York State Men’s Championship in 1940 and 1961, as well as the New York State Women’s Championship in 1937, 1948 and 1949. In fact, our own Dr. Nick Raasch, a recent Syracuse District Golf Association Hall of Fame inductee, won the event in 1966 and was at the time, and may still be, the youngest player to ever win the Championship at 17 years old. Our Walter Travis designed course celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. The course has gone through several renovations over the years with the most recent completed by renowned Canadian 2 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
Onondaga Golf & Country Club’s Golf Professional Ryan Hammerle, Golf Course Superintendent Robert Pierpoint, General Manager Mark H. Davies, Club President Joseph T. Mancuso and Assistant Manager Adam M. Davies.
golf course architect, Ian Andrew. Ian brought his extensive course restoration experience and his familiarity with Walter Travis designs to our most recent renovation. The improvements focused on lengthening the course to keep pace with current technology, redesigning several greens, and adding and repositioning bunkers on just about every hole, with a focus on returning the course to its original Walter Travis style. Our Clubhouse opened in 1926 and the Club will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2023.
President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary Treasurer
Board of Directors Adam B. Brown John L. Clark Richard W. Cook Charles W. Davoli Peter J. DiLaura Meredith R. Figler Darren B. Fuller Robert J. Galusha Stephen J. Gorczynski Elizabeth A. Hartnett Peter G. King Douglas J. Logan Joseph T. Mancuso Gregory Mills Patrick T. O’Connor
We very much appreciate the participants, families, NYSGA officials and volunteers who have provided their time and effort to be here in Central New York for this great event. Our goal is to provide all with a welcoming and hospitable atmosphere here in Fayetteville. Good luck to all of the competitors and best wishes for an enjoyable event. Sincerely, The OGCC Board of Directors and Management Team New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 3
The
NYSGA
Welcome
O
n behalf of the entire New York State Golf Association, welcome to the 99th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship at Onondaga Golf & Country Club!
The NYSGA is pleased to join with the leadership and staff of Onondaga to provide a memorable challenge in crowning New York State’s top men’s amateur players. It has been over sixty years since the Men’s Amateur tournament was last hosted at Onondaga, and many changes and improvements have taken place at the club since the early 1960’s. We are proud to return to this classic Walter Travis design, and showcase the hilly and pristine layout that has been at the helm of Syracuse golf since the club was first established over a century ago. Onondaga has been the host site for many memorable and dramatic New York State Championships throughout the decades, including two previous Men’s Amateurs, first in 1940 won by seven-time champion Ray Billows of Poughkeepsie over Willie Turnesa of Elmsford, and then in 1961 when Rochester legend Don Allen claimed his first of six state titles by defeating three-time winner John Konsek of Buffalo. All four of these individuals have been inducted into the New York State Golf Hall of Fame. In addition to those historic Men’s Amateurs, Onondaga has hosted Women’s Amateurs in 1937, 1948 and 1949, a Men’s Mid-Amateur in 2013, and
4 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
Officers, Committee and Staff Men’s Senior Amateurs in 1940 (the inaugural championship), 1983 and, most recently, in 2015. We anticipate another exciting and memorable competition over the next several days, and are confident that the venerable golf course and championship setup will surely challenge the players to utilize their full ability and skill throughout the 72 holes of stroke-play competition. As President of the NYSGA, as well as a longtime member of Onondaga, I’d like to offer our sincerest thanks and appreciation to General Manager Mark Davies and Assistant General Manager Adam Davies, Head Golf Professional Ryan Hammerle and his staff, Golf Course Superintendent Rob Pierpoint and his crew, and the rest of the clubhouse and administrative staff whose combined efforts have prepared us for this wonderful championship week. Also, thank you to the Board of Directors and the entire Onondaga Golf & Country Club membership for their support of the championship. 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
NYSGA Officers President 1st Vice President 2nd President Treasurer General Counsel Secretary
Henry Fust, Onondaga G&CC Jamie Miller, Crag Burn GC Doug Vergith, Chautauqua GC Robert Smith, Highland Park GC Peter Jones, Drumlins CC Iris Stanek, Lancaster CC
NYSGA Executive Committee
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 – Hudson Valley 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 GC Warren Winslow, Western Turnpike GC
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
NYSGA Staff Listing
Bill Moore, Executive Director Andrew Hickey, Assistant Executive Director Dan Thompson, Director, Marketing and Partnerships Jack Travers, Assistant Director, Rules & Competitions Mark Ackley, Manager, Course Rating Deb Spilman, Manager, Special Events & Operations Fred Wilkes, Communications Intern Parker Gauthier, USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern Michael Dirkes, USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern
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
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 5
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Men’s Amateur Championship
Buffalo’s Brookfield Country Club. Urzetta would win the U.S. Amateur Championship title in 1950, where he defeated renowned amateur Frank Stranahan in 39 holes at the Minneapolis Golf Club. Urzetta, not interested in tour golf, became an assistant golf professional in 1954 and in 1956 joined CCR as their head golf professional, where he would remain for the next 37 years.
T
In 1978, a young golfer named Jeff Sluman won the state amateur by four strokes over Radford Yaun at Jamestown’s Moon Brook Country Club. Sluman turned professional in 1980 upon graduating from Florida State University, but wouldn’t find immediate success on the PGA Tour. At the age of 30 he won his first tournament, the 1988 PGA Championship at Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma. Sluman went on to win five PGA Tour events from 1991-2001, and is now a enjoying a successful career on the PGA’s Champions Tour where he has won six times.
History
he New York State Golf Association’s first responsibility, upon its formation in 1923, was to conduct N.Y.S. Men’s Amateur Championship. Previously it had been noted by Grantland Rice that New York was the only state in the 48 without a state golf association, and thus no governing body to administer the state’s amateur golf championship. Sherrill Sherman of Utica was voted the first president of the NYSGA at the association’s first meeting at the Yahnundasis Golf Club and he quickly approved Garden City Golf Club’s request to host the inaugural playing of the N.Y.S. Men’s Amateur Championship. In the finals at Garden City, Edmund Driggs of Cherry Valley Country Club defeated S. Clifton Mabon of Garden City Golf Club 8&7 in a 36 hole match to become the first champion. Since this first playing, the championship’s format has changed three times. From 1923 until 1969, the championship was decided by match play. In 1970, the decision was made to go to 72 holes of stroke play, until it was switched back to match play in 1992. But in 2009 the format was once again changed to 72 holes of stroke play, as it remains today. The number of participants who have attempted to qualify has increased immensely as golf’s popularity has grown. In 1923, 61 entries were fielded at Garden City as compared to 1992, when a record of 726 golfers registered to qualify to compete in the championship at Drumlins Country Club. Throughout the years the NYSGA has been fortunate to witness the transformation of many amateur golfers from great players into champions. Included below you will find a brief description of some of these golfers whose wins in this championship have propelled them on to fruitful careers in the game of golf. In 1935, a young Ray Billows of Poughkeepsie won 8 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
in his debut Winged Foot Golf Club’s West Course. Billows’ was a true ‘rags to riches’ Cinderella story in golf. At the time he was 21 and worked as a printing clerk making $17 a week. He arrived at Winged Foot in a $7 car, slept on the clubhouse porch to save money for a caddie, and ended up winning over one of the greatest fields in state golf history. Billows went on to have a terrific amateur golfing career, winning a record seven N.Y.S. Men’s Amateur Championship titles, getting to the U.S. Amateur Championship finals three times, and representing the U.S. in the Walker Cup matches at St. Andrews in 1938 and at Winged Foot in 1949.
Ray Billows
Another prominent PGA Tour player, Joey Sindelar, would etch his name on the Ganson Depew Cup in 1980 with a record breaking performance at Vestal Hills Country Club in Binghamton. Sindelar, a collegiate All-American at Ohio State University, fired a four-round total of 280 (8-under) to beat Jeff Sluman by seven strokes. Sindelar turned pro in 1980 and won the first of his seven PGA Tour events at the Greater Greensboro Open in 1985. Sindelar’s record four-round total would stand until Dominic Bozzelli shot a blistering 277 (11-under) to claim his second consecutive title in 2012 at Elmira Country Club.
Sam Urzetta
Another past champion who would make a name for himself in the amateur circuit was Rochester’s Don Allen. The former Colgate University golf captain defeated the defending champion John Konsek in 1961 at Onondaga G&CC to claim the first of his six titles. This first win was very meaningful to Allen, since he considered Konsek to be the most talented golfer he had ever seen. Allen would go on to represent the United States in two Walker Cup Matches, the first at Baltimore Country Club in 1965 and the second at Royal St. George’s Golf Club in 1967. The majority of the past champions would play as amateurs for the entirety of their careers, although a select few would turn to the professional ranks and find success. Sam Urzetta, another successful Rochester golfer, won the 1948 championship at
Joey Sindelar with his son Jamie.
Edmund Driggs with Charles Blair MacDonald New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 9
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1937 Oak Hill CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Past Champions of the New York State
Men’s Amateur Championship 1923 Garden City CC Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City
1941 CC of Troy Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Most Victories
1925 Lido CC Jack Mackie Jr., Inwood
1927 Oak Hill CC Arthur Yates, Rochester 1928 Biltmore CC (West) George Dawson, Harrison
1944 Lake Placid Club Joe Ruszas, Albany
Most Times Hosted by a Member Club
1930 Lakeville CC Jack Mackie Jr., Inwood 1931 Oak Hill CC Phil Perkins, Fox Hills 1932 Niagara Falls CC Tommy Goodwin, Rye 1933 Garden City CC Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City
1936 Bellevue CC Tommy Goodwin, Rye
1943 Lake Placid Club Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
1945 Oak Hill CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Ray Billows
1929 Mohawk CC Maurice McCarthy, Mt. Vernon
1935 Winged Foot (West) Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
1942 Niagara Falls CC Alex Stevenson, Niagara Falls
7 / Ray Billows (1935, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1949) 6 / Donald Allen (1961, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1972, 1973) 4 / Tommy Goodwin (1932, 1936, 1946, 1953) 3 / Edmund Driggs (1923, 1933, 1934) 3 / John Konsek (1958, 1959, 1960) 3 / Billy Shields (1951, 1952, 1955) 3 / William Tryon (1962, 1965, 1968)
1926 McGregor Links CC Al Brodbeck, Bronxville
Tommy Goodwin
Youngest Champion
17 / Nick Raasch (1966) 17 / Yaroslav Merkulov (2009) 17 / Will Thomson (2018)
12 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
1939 Siwanoy CC Richard Chapman, Larchmont 1940 Onondaga G&CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Championship Records
1924 Orchard Park GC Lee Chase, Buffalo
1934 Sagamore GC Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City
Match Play Format (1923 – 1969, 1992 – 2008) Stroke Play Format (1970 – 1991, 2009 – 2021)
1938 Oak Ridge GC Willie Turnesa, Elmsford
Oldest Champion 44 / Joe Gagliardi (1956)
6 / Oak Hill Country Club (1927, 1931, 1937, 1945, 1987, 2011) 6 / Yahnundasis Golf Club (1946, 1953, 1958, 1968, 1988, 2007) 4 / Country Club of Troy (1941, 1959, 1984, 2006) 4 / Elmira Country Club (1957, 1969, 1983, 2012) 3 / Dutchess Golf & Country Club (1956, 1972, 1997) 3 / Albany Country Club (1977, 1990, 2010) 3 / Bellevue Country Club (1936, 1975, 2014) 3 / Knollwood Country Club (1951, 1963, 1986) 3 / Moon Brook Country Club (1955, 1978, 1995) 3 / Onondaga Golf & Country Club (1940, 1961, 2022)
1946 Yahnundasis CC Tommy Goodwin, Rye 1947 Westchester CC Richard Mayer, White Plains 1948 Brookfield CC Sam Urzetta, Rochester 1949 Syracuse Yacht & CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie 1950 Binghamton CC Mike Dudik, Endicott 1951 Knollwood CC Billy Shields, Albany 1952 Wolfert’s Roost CC Billy Shields, Albany 1953 Yahnundasis CC Tommy Goodwin, Rye
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 13
1954 Fairview CC Robert Monk, White Plains
Winner of NYS Men’s Amateur & NYS Junior Amateur
1955 Moon Brook CC Billy Shields, Albany
Mark Balen (1973 Junior; 1979 Men’s Amateur) Dominic Bozzelli (2007 Junior; 2011, 2012 Men’s Amateur) Terry Diehl (1966 Junior; 1969 Men’s Amateur) Tommy Goodwin (1932, 1933 Junior;
1956 Dutchess G&CC Joe Gagliardi, Larchmont
1932, 1936, 1496, 1953 Men’s Amateur)
1959 CC of Troy John Konsek, Buffalo
John Konsek (1957 Junior; 1958, 1959, 1960 Men’s Amateur) Leonard Lasinsky (1983 Junior; 1991 Men’s Amateur) Yaroslav Merkulov (2008, 2009 Junior; 2009 Men’s Amateur) Nick Raasch (1965 Junior; 1966 Men’s Amateur) Ben Reichert (2015 Junior; 2019 Men’s Amateur) Matthew Stasiak (2005 Junior; 2014 Men’s Amateur) Radford Yaun (1972 Junior; 1976 Men’s Amateur)
1960 Locust Hill CC John Konsek, Buffalo
Winner of NYS Men’s Amateur & Junior Amateur in Same Year
1961 Onondaga G&CC Don Allen, Rochester
Tommy Goodwin (1932) Yaroslav Merkulov (2009)
1962 Glens Falls CC William Tryon, Elmira
Most Masters Appearances
1957 Elmira CC Jack Veghte, Gloversville 1958 Yahnundasis CC John Konsek, Buffalo
1963 Knollwood CC Don Allen, Rochester 1964 Leatherstocking GC Don Allen, Rochester 1965 Lancaster CC William Tryon, Elmira 1966 The Concord Course Nick Raasch, Syracuse 1967 Nassau CC John Baldwin, Plandome 1968 Yahnundasis GC William Tryon, Elmira 1969 Elmira CC Terry Diehl, Rochester 1970 Locust Hill CC Don Allen, Rochester 14 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
3 / Donald Allen (1965, 1966, 1967) 2 / Ray Billows (1939, 1940) Don Allen
1972 Dutchess G&CC Don Allen, Rochester 1973 The Concord Course Don Allen, Rochester 1974 Wayne Hills CC George Burns, Jericho 1975 Bellevue CC Alan Foster, Syracuse 1976 Grossinger’s CC Radford Yaun, Jamestown 1977 Albany CC Rich Serian, Troy 1978 Moon Brook CC Jeff Sluman, Rochester 1979 Drumlins CC (East) Mark Balen, East Aurora 1980 Vestal Hills CC Joey Sindelar, Horseheads 1981 Wanakah CC James Roy, Syracuse
Consecutive Victories
1982 McGregor Links CC David Boeff, Ontario
3 / John Konsek (1958, 1959, 1960) 2 / Don Allen (1963, 1964) 2 / Don Allen (1972, 1973) 2 / Ray Billows (1940, 1941) 2 / Dominic Bozzelli (2011, 2012) 2 / Edmund Driggs (1933, 1934) 2 / Kyle Hess (2002, 2003) 2 / Billy Shields (1951, 1952) 2 / Tim Straub (1987, 1988)
1983 Elmira CC William Boland, Jr., Troy 1984 CC of Troy George Zahringer, Sands Point 1985 Ridgemont CC Christopher Lane, Binghamton
Most Walker Cup Appearances 2 / Donald Allen (1965, 1967) 2 / Ray Billows (1938, 1949) 2 / Sam Urzetta (1951, 1953)
1971 Cavalry Club Mike Slipko, Niagara Falls
1986 Knollwood CC Jay Gunning, Colonie
Joey Sindelar
1987 Oak Hill CC (East) Tim Straub, East Aurora New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 15
1988 Yahundasis GC Tim Straub, East Aurora
Highest Winning Total (72 Holes)
1989 Vestal Hills CC Tim Marsh, Endicott
298 (+10) / Donald Allen (1973)
1990 Albany CC Joe Wilson, Rochester
277 (-11) / Dominic Bozzelli (2012) 280 (-9) / Joey Sindelar (1980) 280 (-8) / James Allen (2022)
Lowest Winning Total (72 Holes)
1991 Brook-Lea CC Leonard Lasinsky, Syracuse
Lowest Final Round by Champion
1992 Drumlins CC (East) Todd Dischinger, Syracuse
66 / James Allen (2022) 67 / Mark Balen (1979) 67 / Dominic Bozzelli (2012) 67 / Will Thomson (2018)
1993 Seven Oaks GC Jeffrey Peck, Clifton Springs
Widest Margin of Victory
1994 Cobblestone Creek CC David Bonacchi, Rochester
(During Match Play Era 1923-1969, 1992-2008)
13 & 12 / Kevin Haefner (2001) 13 & 11 / Joe Ruszas (1944) 11 & 10 / Dirk Ayers (1995)
1995 Moon Brook CC Dirk Ayers, Jamestown 1996 Links at Hiawatha GC Michael Valicenti, Elmira
Longest Match
39 Holes / Ray Billows def. Johnny Ward (1949)
1997 Dutchess G&CC Greg Rohlf, New Rochelle 1998 Pinehaven CC Bryan Smith, Kingston 1999 Wanakah CC John Gaffney, Buffalo 2000 Monroe GC Michael Valicenti, Elmira 2001 Seven Oaks GC Kevin Haefner, Rochester 2002 Transit Valley CC Kyle Hess, Buffalo 2003 Ravenwood GC Kyle Hess, Buffalo 2004 Wiltwyck GC Matt Thomas, Blasdell 16 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
Dominic Bozzelli
2006 CC of Troy Andrew DiBitetto, Rochester 2007 Yahnundasis CC John Duthie, Lansing 2008 Pinehaven CC Jeff Wolniewicz, West Seneca 2009 Ravenwood GC Yaroslav Merkulov, Penfield 2010 Albany CC Doug Kleeschulte, Kingston 2011 Oak Hill CC (West) Dominic Bozzelli, Pittsford 2012 Elmira CC Dominic Bozzelli, Pittsford 2013 Schuyler Meadows Club Matt Stasiak, Clarence 2014 Bellevue CC Luke Feehan, Carmel 2015 Kaluhyat GC Trevor Sluman, Rochester 2016 Mohawk GC Tyler McArdell, Baldwinsville
Most Runner-up Finishes
4 / Ray Billows (1936, 1942, 1946, 1952) 3 / Tommy Goodwin (1937, 1938, 1955) 3 / John Ward (1949, 1956, 1958) 3 / Donald Allen (1962, 1965, 1974) 2 / Chris Blyth (2018, 2019) 2 / Andrew DiBitetto (2004, 2007) 2 / Ralph Howe III (1987, 1988) 2 / Jake Katz (2010, 2011) 2 / Dr. Edward O’Keefe (1964, 1968) 2 / Lloyd Ribner (1948, 1950)
2005 Ontario GC James Scorse, Churchville
2017 Bethpage Black Adam Condello, Fairport 2018 Irondequoit CC Will Thomson, Pittsford 2019 Crag Burn GC Ben Reichert, East Amherst 2020 Suspended for COVID-19 pandemic
Will Thomson
2021 Schuyler Meadows Club James Allen, Scarsdale New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 17
Congratulations to the competitors, Club Members, and Staff on this wonderful event!
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18 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 19
Conditions of Play The Field
The field is comprised of approximately 144 players, including sectional qualifiers and exempt players. The field is cut after 36 holes of play to the low-40 players and ties.
Format and Ties
The championship will be conducted in two stages, at stroke play: 1. Sectional qualifying – 18 holes. Non-exempt players must qualify through one of the sectional qualifying sites. 2. Championship – 72 holes* *If a tie exists at the end of 72 holes, the champion will be determined by a hole-by-hole playoff.
Ganson Depew Cup
The champion will be awarded possession of the Ganson Depew Cup for one year.
SECTIONAL QUALIFYING SCHEDULE
All non-exempt players must qualify to earn a spot in the Championship. • Albany* | Colonie G&CC | Tue, July 5 • Binghamton* | Links at Hiawatha | Sun, July 3 • Buffalo | Lancaster CC | Wed, July 6 • Corning* | Corning CC | Sun, June 26 • Finger Lakes* | Wayne Hills CC | Sat, July 9 • Jamestown* | Chautauqua (Lake) | Sun, June 26 • Long Island* | Bethpage (Yellow) | Mon, July 11 • Mid-Hudson* | Red Hook GC | Wed, July 6 • N. Country* | Malone GC - East | Sat, July 9 • Rochester* | Mendon GC | Mon, June 27 • Syracuse | Timber Banks GC | Thu, July 14 • Utica/Rome* | Yahnundasis GC | Thu, July 7 • Watertown* | Watertown GC | Sat, July 2
Players Exempt from Qualifying
Players in the following categories are exempt into this year’s Championship. • E1. Winners of the NYS Men’s Amateur Championship from the last 20 years • E2. From the 2021 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 20th place • E3. Winners of the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship from the last 10 years • E4. From the 2021 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 10th place • E5. Winners of the 2022 NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championships • E6. From the 2022 NYS Boys’ 18U Amateur Championship, the 5 lowest scorers and ties • E7. Winner of the 2022 NYS Boys 14U Amateur Championship • E8. From the 2021 NYS NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship, the 5 lowest scorers and ties • E9. Winner and runner-up of the 2022 NYSPHSAA Boys’ Golf Championship • E10. Most recent (as of August 9, 2022) winner or low amateur (*professional events) of the following regional championships: • Apogee Investment Management Championship • BDGA Buffalo District Individual Championship • CCR Invitational • CRAGA Capital Region Amateur Championship • Delaware County Amateur Championship • Dutchess County Amateur Championship • LIGA Individual Championship • MGA Ike Championship • MGA MET Amateur Championship • MGA MET Open* • NYC Amateur • NYS Open* • RDGA Rochester District Individual Championship • SDGA Gerry Ashe Memorial • TCGA Amateur Championship • Ulster County Amateur Championship • Watertown City Championship • WGA Westchester Individual Championship • E11. From the 2022 Monroe Invitational, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 20th place • E12. From the 2022 Porter Cup, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 20th place • E13. Players ranked in the top-3000 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) • E14. Players qualifying for most current (as of August 9, 2022) USGA Championships • E15. Host club exemptions • E16. Special exemptions as selected by the NYSGA
SCHEDULE
Monday, August 8 – Practice Rounds Tuesday, August 9 – Round 1, 18 holes Wednesday, August 10 – Round 2, 18 holes Thursday, August 11 – Rounds 3 & 4, 36 holes
20 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 21
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“I played okay in the second two rounds but I saw that I was kind of still hanging in there and then the weather delay just changed everything,” Allen said. “It just turned the tournament from surviving and making pars to you have to make a lot of birdies.” After the two-and-a-half-hour stoppage in play, Reichert and Allen continued to match scores through the rest of the front nine. As they made the turn, Reichert maintained a one-stroke lead. Allen birdied ten before rattling off a stretch of four consecutive birdies on holes twelve through fifteen and eventually taking sole possession of first place. Reichert kept it close, though, as he strung together three consecutive birdies of his own on holes twelve through fifteen.
2021
2021 Champion James Allen
NYS Men's Amateur Recap
J
ames Allen of Scarsdale Golf Club prevailed in rounds three and four to win the 98th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship at Schuyler Meadows Club last August.
Allen finished the 2021 championship at eight-under 280, firing a six-under 66 in his final round to claim his first New York State title. “This is amazing. I’ve wanted to win this tournament for so long,” Allen said. “I thought it would be such a cool thing to win the state championship. Any state title is amazing. It was such an amazing week. I had so much fun here and especially this last round, that’s something I’m not forgetting any time soon.” After the third round on Thursday morning, Allen was one stroke behind the 2019 and defending champion, Ben Reichert, of NYSGA eClub - Western NY, who sat at five-under. The two stayed within one stroke of each other for the entire fourth round. A major thunderstorm rolled through during the final eighteen holes in the afternoon, dramatically softening the course and allowing for more player-friendly greens. 24 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
“After (the rain delay) there was no wind and it completely softened so every green you could completely fire and every pin without any worries, so birdies went from hard to get to very easy to get,” Allen said. After fifteen holes, Allen was ahead by one stroke. He bogeyed the sixteenth, while Reichert parred to even the score at eight-under. They traded pars on seventeen, setting up a dramatic final hole of the championship. Reichert’s second shot from the fairway flew just over the green and into the rough, setting up a difficult downhill chip towards the cup. His chip rolled past the hole, and he two-putted for bogey. “Unfortunately, I had a bad swing at the wrong time on 18. I still didn’t think it could go long but it is what it is,” Reichert said. “I’m obviously disappointed right now, but definitely, at the end of the day, more positives than negatives to take away.” Allen’s second shot landed to the right side of the green, setting up a near 30-foot birdie opportunity. Knowing he could two-putt his way to victory, he softly nestled his first putt to within a couple feet of the hole, and tapped in a par to win the championship. “I was not thinking of birdie,” Allen said. “That was a 30-footer with six feet of break, downhill. All I was really focused on was just to lag it up, keep it high enough. I didn’t want to just rocket it down the hill.” Allen’s dramatic victory came on the heels of a 36-hole tournament he participated in earlier in the week. He earned a special exemption into this year’s NYS Men’s Amateur, and arrived at the classic Deveraux Emmett designed course for the first time on Tuesday morning without playing a practice round.
2019 Champion and 2021 Runner-Up Ben Reichert
“This has been a crazy week,” Allen said. “I had to drive up in the morning before I played so I was coming into this place completely blind with basically just the hope of just trying to play well, not really thinking about winning much. I just came out and tried to play well and the course was really difficult.” Continued... New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 25
He noted that he started to feel comfortable with the course towards the midway point of his third round. After the rain delay softened up the course, he felt locked in for his final round. “I spent a lot of time preparing, looking at the course on satellites, mapping it out. I felt like I had a pretty good sense of that,” Allen said. “The last time I made four (consecutive) birdies I was like 13, so that was something I’m not really used to. That tied my all-time best for most consecutive birdies in a round.”
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On the other hand, Reichert had a spectacular final three rounds (66, 68, 70) after shooting five-over 77 on the first day. Aside from his Porter Cup victory two weeks ago, it had been a while since he had strung together something like his twelve-under 204 on the final 54 holes. “It was a good week. After I got off to a tough start, I came back pretty strong,” Reichert said. “I had struggled for a while. I’m definitely starting to move in the right direction, no doubt about that. With this being my last amateur event I obviously wanted to win it but I’m looking forward to the next step.” Reichert noted that he didn’t have a great feel for his swing coming down the stretch, though he was able to nearly match Allen’s stretch of birdies, highlighted by a hole-out on fifteen from the right-side bunker. “I’ve always been a good bunker player,” Reichert said. “I’d much rather be in the bunkers around the greens than the rough, especially around here. I had a pretty clear picture of where I wanted to land it and executed it perfectly. But I had someone playing just as good as me.” Aiden Spampinato of Locust Hill Country Club finished in third place at five-under 283. Sean Puleo (284) of the host club Schuyler Meadows and Matthew Ferrari (286) of Met PGA Junior Golf Club rounded out the top five. DJ Griffiths of NYSGA eClub Southern Tier finished sixth at 287. Third Place Finisher Aiden Spampinato
Five players tied for seventh at 290: Luke Basile (MGA eClub - Hudson Valley), Jim Gifford (Mohawk Golf Club), Jeff March (Penfield Country Club), Jamie Miller (Crag Burn Golf Club) and Kyle Downey (Locust Hill Country Club), who led during the first two rounds of the championship after posting an opening-round 66.
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The low 20 golfers and ties during the 2021 championship earned an exemption into the 99th NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at Onondaga Golf and Country Club. 26 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 27
Onondaga Golf & Country Club
History
THE BEGINNING
T
he Onondaga Golf Club was founded in 1898 with 74 charter members. In 1904 the Club was formally incorporated as the “Onondaga Golf and Country Club” under the laws of New York State. The stated purposes of the Club are “maintaining…golf links, tennis grounds, croquet grounds, a club house and (providing for) other lawful games and amusements.” Among the original members were names such as Hiscock, Vann, White, Cowie, Dey, Gridley and Peck, some of the betterknown citizens of the area. From the original 74 members the Club continued to grow. The 200 members on the 1900 membership roll increased to 592 members in 1926. The Depression took its toll on all golf clubs and Onondaga membership declined to a low of 275 members in 1933. From the Depression forward to 1960, membership rebounded to 400-plus members, which is the current level. In 1904 the Board decided upon an “Indian Head” as the Club insignia. The original insignia was fashioned after the great Onondaga Indian Chieftain, Captain George (1815-1873). The Club adopted Yale blue and Harvard red as its colors.
28 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
THE CLUBHOUSE
The original clubhouse was located on property near the current Elmcrest Children’s Home in Syracuse. It was a simple wagon shed and served as a locker room. At the end of 1898, a modest clubhouse was built at a cost of $300 at that same location with a partition for separate facilities for men and women. The Club moved to its current site several years later and modified the original Van Schaick farmhouse as its new clubhouse. The original Club property on Genesee Street was leased with an option to purchase in 1900. Additional property was purchased over time. Water rights were secured from the Erie Canal for use in course maintenance (non-potable) in 1909. In 1920, the property to the west of the fifth hole, which was owned by the Club (Marvelle Road), was subdivided into residential lots and made available for purchase by Club members. In 1921, the Club investigated the idea of building a new clubhouse. Construction on the current clubhouse began in 1925 and was completed in 1926.
The new clubhouse included a small pro shop located immediately north of the current carport. Rooms on the second floor were available to members for overnight stays. The Onondaga Room to the left of the main entrance was the dining area. The Erie Room, east of the living room, was built as an open porch. In 1956 the swimming pool and cabana were constructed to meet the growing demands of the Baby Boomers and the migration to the suburbs. The pool area was renovated in 2008 with the cabana architecture changed to reflect the style of the main clubhouse and with pavers replacing flagstones around the pool.
In 1963 the Seneca Room was added for casual dining. The current pro shop was also constructed at that time. Most rooms have been renovated (some several times) and the upstairs has not been available for overnight stays in over forty years. The current and past renovations, including a “History Hall,” were all constructed with the thought of preserving the architectural heritage of the building while improving functionality. Continued...
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 29
THE GOLF COURSE
CLUB PROFESSIONALS
The original nine-hole golf course was located on property currently occupied by Elmcrest Children’s Home. David Campbell, a local citizen, designed a nine-hole course built on the current club property in 1901. Additional property across Genesee Street was leased and another nine-hole layout built in the early 1900’s. The Club continued to purchase property on the north side of Genesee Street and acquired sufficient property for an 18-hole layout. Famed golfer and golf architect Walter Travis was selected to design a new course in the later part of the 1910’s. A June 1, 1917 Syracuse Post-Standard article reported that Travis spent two days examining the Onondaga Golf & Country Club property with “a practiced eye” and “expressed enthusiasm over the possibilities of the grounds.” With the acquisition of additional land, construction of the course began in the spring of 1919 under the “direct supervision of...the golf course designer, Walter J. Travis, of Garden City, L.I.” The Onondaga Golf & Country Club’s course is a significant part of the enduring Travis legacy of nearly 60 golf courses that bear his distinctive touch, and illustrate his genius for creating a course that can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. After some delay due to World War I, the new course was ready for play in 1921.
In 1917, the popularity of golf was increasing in the area. John Jones was hired as the golf professional at Onondaga, but he also believed he would need some help. As a result, for most of his tenure Mr. Jones had golf assistants. In 1927, assistant William Mitchell, historically the best known of all Onondaga professionals, took over. Mr. Jones remained at the Club as the greenskeeper until 1937. Mr. Mitchell was a native of Rochester and began his career as caddie master at Oak Hill Country Club. He had many impressive victories in Central New York events, some in Rochester and Western New York. He also qualified for the PGA championship five times. One of his most memorable rounds was on July 29, 1963, where Mr. Mitchell had a record breaking round at Onondaga of 63!
Course Designer Walter Travis
In 1986, Russell Schreiber was made aware of an opening for an assistant golf professional position at a private club in the suburbs of Syracuse, New York. Mr. Maurer received a recommendation from a mutual friend and hired Mr. Schreiber after a phone conversation. When Mr. Mauer left in 1988, Mr. Schreiber took over as club professional. This began what would turn out to be a thirty two year association for Mr. Schreiber with Onondaga. He was
In 2008, the course was completely renovated under the guidance of Ian Andrew, a golf course architect based in Toronto, Canada. Ian was selected due to his experience in old course renovations and his familiarity with Walter Travis concepts. Consequently it was decided to lengthen the course where possible (to stay current with technology changes) and redesign the 4th and 8th greens to reflect Travis principles. A major focus of this renovation also included a review of all bunkers on the course. New bunkers were added, others repositioned or eliminated -- all with the focus of returning the course to its original Travis style. All bunkers were rebuilt. The remaining Travis greens were reshaped to their original design. More recently designed holes were modified to incorporate Travis concepts. Ian Andrew was effusive in his praise of Onondaga. He was unaware of another East Coast country club, designed by nationally prominent clubhouse and course architects that has maintained the historic character of both its golf course and clubhouse.
30 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
Mr. Mitchell’s assistant, Earl Mauer, took over in 1973. He spent 15 years as the professional at Onondaga until 1988 when he moved to become the pro at a club north of Tampa.
OGCC 1956
one to always help golfers improve their game and make sure they had an enjoyable time on the golf course. Mr. Schreiber decided to head out west to California in 2018 and for the fourth time, the assistant professional was promoted to head professional. Ryan Hammerle has been part of the club for a total of 16 years but took over as the head professional in 2018. After graduating from the SUNY Delhi Professional Golf Management Program in 2008, Ryan joined us full-time. As the head golf professional, Mr. Hammerle is very active with instruction, working with the junior golf programs and tournaments. Another part of his job is the day to day operations within the pro shop. In 2020, he was awarded the Central New York Private Club Merchandiser of the Year Award. As a player, Ryan’s first professional win was here at Onondaga in May 2015 with a round featuring eight birdies, on his way to 68 and a five-shot victory. In his 16 years, Ryan has not only been on the golf side of things but he also worked in the clubhouse helping with day-to-day operations during the winter from 2012 to 2016. We are excited to have Ryan here at the club, he not only represents the club as a fine player and a fine teacher but most importantly a fine gentleman. Ryan’s wife Brianna is a teacher in the Speech Pathology Department at Syracuse University, they have a four year old daughter, Makenzie who is super cute and a handsome one year old son, Maxwell.
OGCC 2022
Memorable Names at OGCC Nick Raasch If you were to ask Nick Raasch who the youngest New York State Amateur champion in history is, a gentle shake of his head and humble laugh would be his only acknowledgment of the achievement. Nick won the New York State Amateur in the summer of 1966 when he was only 17 years old and a rising senior at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. However, his accomplishments on the golf course both preceded and followed this extraordinary win as a teenager. Nick’s impressive collection of titles began with winning several local Junior tournaments, including the New York State Junior Amateur in 1965. He led his high school team to state championships in both 1965 and 1966, while also earning the title of individual state champion during his junior year. He then brought his impressive talent to the collegiate level, eventually becoming captain of the Penn State men’s golf team and participating in two NCAA championships. In his senior year at PSU, he was awarded the Ernest B. McCoy Award for Academic and Athletic Excellence, named after a long-time athletic director at the school. Nick returned to the Syracuse area after graduating college to attend SUNY Upstate Medical University—he has given over 40 years of service to the CNY community as a wellrespected practicing diagnostic radiologist. He has been a member of Onondaga Golf & Country Club for 49 years, boasting 11 Club Championship titles, as well as multiple victories 32 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
in Member-Member, Member-Guest, and Father-Son tournaments. All of Nick’s remarkable achievements were highlighted in 2000 when he was inducted into the Jamesville-Dewitt High School Hall of Fame. For the last several years, he has volunteered as a rules official with the New York State Golf Association. More recently, Nick was a 2022 inductee into the Syracuse District Golf Association Hall of Fame and has become a volunteer assistant coach for the LeMoyne College men’s and women’s golf teams. One of Nick’s proudest moments was when he had the honor of being invited to play in a charity exhibition at Drumlins East Course in September 1967 with Jack Nicklaus, John Ward, and host pro Jack McPhee. He says that Jack was most gracious, and that both the power and height of his shots were incredible. As Nick says, “Jack Nicklaus could hit a 2-iron as high as a wedge.” (He won’t tell you this, but Nick shot the low score of the foursome that day.) Nick and his wife, Janet (DaRin), still reside in Fayetteville, NY, and have been married for 49 years. They have three children and ten grandchildren. As his son, Scott (pictured below with Nick) shares, “The game of golf has always meant more to my dad than low scores and trophies. To him, ‘how’ you play is more important than ‘how well’ you play. He taught me that golf is a true test of character, and some of the most important life lessons I’ve learned have been while standing next to him on the course.” To date, Nick Raasch is the only athlete to ever hold the three separate titles of New York State individual high school champion, New York State Junior Boys champion, and New York State Amateur champion all at the same time. And all of us here at Onondaga Golf & Country Club are very proud to claim Nick as one of our own. Continued...
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 33
Memorable Names continued...
Memorable Events at OGCC
John Ward
John Ward had an amazing list of accomplishments on the golf course throughout his life. He shot an 89 at the age of 13, and a 65 at the age of 60! His victories spanned Onondaga County Juniors in his late teen years to numerous Senior events.
Onondaga has hosted several statewide tournaments including:
1937
He attended Syracuse University where he was the captain of the golf team. They won the State Collegiate title three years in a row and he was on the NCAA All-American Golf Team two years in a row. In 1942, he was the CNY Amateur Champion, played in the Canadian Open and the Bellevue Member-Guest before he enlisted in the Air Corps.
New York State Men’s Amateur Tournament Men's Seniors (inaugural tournament played concurrently with Men's Am)
John was the runner up in the NYS Amateur Championship three times, a semifinalist in the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1950 and played in The Masters in 1951. In 1960-1961 he served as the President of the NYSGA. John set or broke many course records, played in countless Member-Guest events, Amateur vs. Pro events, played with amateurs, pros, celebrities and friends.
1948 John Ward left
Best of Luck to all New York State Amateur Participants from The OGCC Honorary Members:
Nick & Caroline Brust Don & Barbara Burns Butch & Bobbie Falso William Hutchens Phil & Sue Kessler John & Cyndy Morrissey Gay & Fran Pomeroy Avery & Kathleen Sinclair
New York State Women’s Amateur Tournament
1961 New York State Men's Senior Tournament
2013 New York State Senior Amateur Tournament
2022
New York State Women’s Amateur Tournament
1940 New York State Women’s Amateur Tournament
1949 New York State Men’s Amateur Tournament
1983 New York State Mid-Amateur Tournament
2015 New York State Men’s Amateur Tournament
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 35
A Look Into The Past….
Men’s Amateurs At Onondaga
O
nondaga Golf & Country Club has long been an exceptional steward for tournament golf in the Central New York region over the decades.
The venerable club has held over ten NYSGA championships since its inception in 1923, including two historic New York State Amateurs. In 1940, Ray Billows of Poughkeepsie won his third NYS Amateur title at Onondaga, knocking off the 1938 New York State and U.S. Amateur champion Willie Turnesa of Elmsford, 8 and 6. The two would eventually face off again a decade later, this time for the U.S. Amateur title in 1948, where Turnesa got the better of Billows in the all-Empire State finale. In fact, Billows was unable to capture the U.S. Amateur title during his impressive amateur career, although he made the finals in 1937, 1938, and 1949 (no tournament was held between 1942-45 due to WWII).
Seven
mpion Ray
ur's Cha Time Amate
Billows
36 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
Billows collected seven titles between his breakout tournament in 1935 at Winged Foot which dubbed him the “Cinderella Kid”, to 1949 when he captured the Ganson Depew Cup one final time at Syracuse Yacht & Country Club, now Lakeshore in Cicero. (He won in 38 holes versus former NYSGA and Onondaga G&CC president John Ward, which is the tournament record for longest championship match).
In 1961 at Onondaga, Don Allen of Rochester won the first of his six NYS Amateurs between 1961-1973. He was a young recent graduate of Colgate University and had never gotten past the quarterfinals in his previous attempts. His breakthrough came against three-time champion John Konsek, who had won 27 straight matches in state tournament play going into the 1961 Men’s Amateur. By winning the three previous years, Konsek became both the youngest winner in tournament history at 18 (prior to Onondaga member Nick Raasch’s win in ‘66 at age 17) and set a record for longest streak of victories that still stands. Billows and Allen still rank first and second for most NYS Amateur victories in the championship’s 98 year history. The next most after the duo is Tommy Goodwin at four (1932-1953).
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 37
All four of the finalists from these two tournament years have been inducted in the New York State Golf Hall of Fame. Allen and Billows in 2012, Konsek in 2015, and Turnesa in 2018. This year, when the flagship tournament returns to Onondaga for the first time in over 60 years, competitors in the field will face a much different layout and format from when the tournament was last held on the links in Fayetteville, however there’s little doubt that the historic Walter Travis layout will provide another fair, but difficult test for the state’s top amateurs.
38 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
OGCC 1961
Legendary!
Past Presidents of The Onondaga Golf & Country Club are proud of Its 124-year history in The Heart of New York State Its timeless and historic Walter Travis designed golf course Its record as the site of many US Open qualifying rounds, Syracuse District Golf Association tournaments for Men, Women, and Seniors: and the Annual OGCC Junior Invitational
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HELPING YOU REACH YOUR FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS GOALS FOR WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU
Its welcoming spirit to all who love the game of golf …and Its hosting of The New York State Men’s Amateur Tournaments 1940 ~ 1961 ~ 2022
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OGCC Past Presidents Stephen E. Chase 1988-1989
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Richard A. Konys 2016-2017
William W. Porter 1998-1999
Richard A. Russell 2008-2009
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42 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
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Hole
1
Par 4 / 339 Yards
This is a fine starting hole that can be easy or it can kill a round. Unless one drives very long, a good drive is to the top of the hill. On the second shot, favor the front of the green and do not miss the green left.
44 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 45
Hole
2
Par 4 / 423 Yards
Hole
This is known as one of the toughest par 4’s in the State. It’s an uphill dogleg right with the elbow lined with traps and trees that will catch the “sucker shot.” Except for the very strong player, one should play to reach the green in three. Place your drive to allow your second shot to be within the 100-yard mark. Then play your approach to be safely past the front of the green. 46 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
3
Par 4 / 418 Yards
It’s not the breeze it looks to be. Try to place your drive to center fairway, never left of center unless you can be sure of reaching the corner of the dogleg. Play for the front center of the green as most shots will run after landing.
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 47
Hole
With out-of-bounds along the entire left side of the fairway and green, this hole can be trouble. Keep right. A safe tee shot leaves you a difficult second with an excellent chance to end up in one of the traps or in the woods behind the green. If your second shot cannot get safely home, a front left placement is more desirable.
5
Par 4 / 396 Yards
Hole
This is hardest par 3 on the course. Remember the wind and always use enough club. The green is at least two clubs deep; favor the right half.
48 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
4
Par 3 / 215 Yards
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 49
Hole
6
Par 3 / 151 Yards
This hole is all carry. Be sure to use enough club and never forget the wind. The tremendous green makes this hole seem simple; however, four sharply sloping sides into rough and deep traps catch the careless. The green is not only large but slippery.
Hole
7
The target for your drive is the tall spruce far out on the right. Avoid the left rough because of the slope and resulting difficult lies. Aim your second shot for center or right fairway because the ball will kick left. A third shot, if short, should be center or right as a fourth shot from the left rough is the more difficult.
Par 5 / 550 Yards
50 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 51
Hole
8
Par 3 / 196 Yards
Hole
Slicers are at a disadvantage. Drive past the corner. When planning your second shot, remember to be far enough left of center fairway to avoid the cluster of trees on the right fairway at the 180-yard mark. Be careful not to be too long on the green. A long downhill putt is dangerous. Be sure to use enough club. Trouble is short, both left and right, and also wide left along the entire length of the green. Get on the green and chose your line carefully.
52 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
9
Par 5 / 563 Yards New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 53
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Hole
10
“Not far, but straight” is the key. Woods on the left and big trees on the right will do in the inaccurate. Traps left and behind the terraced green add to one’s dilemma.
Hole
11 Par 4 / 371 Yards
Par 4 / 366 Yards
Short and tricky. Thick woods on the left and rough on the right extend the full length of the downhill fairway. A long drive is not necessary, but a very careful second shot is. The sharply sloping front and right side with left and rear traps complicate the approach to this wide shallow green. Sloping away from the golfer, it is the hardest one on the course to approach. 56 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 57
Hole
12 Par 4 / 423 Yards
Hole
This is a great hole. It calls for a good drive up the right side. Be careful of the big trap 200 yards out on the right. The fairway will move the ball to the flatter left side. A long second shot to the green should be aimed at its right side. If you miss the green on the left, you will have a difficult recovery.
13 Par 4 / 388 Yards
This is a difficult hole. The tee shot must be long to carry the hill. Favor the right side as the ball will kick left after landing. This is good because an approach from the left is safer. If the pin is in front, a shot short of the pin or even short of the green is better than being long. The resulting downhill putt is dangerous, particularly if it’s from the back edge. 58 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 59
Hole
The huge green makes for a fine target, but it’s guarded by a large pond in front, traps all around and out-of-bounds on the left. Know the carrying distance of your clubs. Forget the water and swing smoothly.
14 Par 3 / 205 Yards
Hole
This one separates the men from the boys. The first half of the fairway is uphill. It requires a long second shot to the narrow green guarded by traps on both sides and a sharp downhill slope at the rear. An accurate second shot short of the green is still better than one that is pin high but off the green.
15 Par 4 / 440 Yards
60 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 61
Hole
16 Par 4 / 290 Yards
Hole
This is an easy hole. It’s easy enough for a par, but sometimes if you are careless, easier for a seven. Select your drive to put your ball at your best distance, one that allows for your most accurate second shot, be it 60-degree wedge or a soft seven or eight. Do not forget the wind; the very small green has trouble all around. 62 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
17
This hole calls for position, position, position! Place your drive down the left center; your second shot to the right side, whether over the hill or not; your third to the center of the green or, if you cannot reach it, center fairway short of the green. Avoid the left rough the entire length of the hole.
Par 5 / 558 Yards
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 63
Hole
18 Par 4 / 366 Yards
Put your drive up the left side of the fairway, avoiding the “cliff” on the right. If you cannot reach the green with your second shot, place it front center avoiding the yawning right bunker. If you can reach the huge green with your second shot, remember it is two or three clubs deep. Take care not to three-putt. 64 | New York State Men’s Amateur Championship
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 65
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Good luck to all! Stickley Furniture welcomes New York’s top amateur golfers to our beautiful Onondaga Golf & Country Club. Congratulations on your achievement!
In loving memory of Stickley CEO Alfred J. Audi, former New York State Super Senior Golf Champion, here on the course at O.G.C.C.
stickley.com
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE NY STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
OGCC
Program Thank Yous
The O’Connor Family Welcomes the NYS Amateur to Onondaga!
Special Thank You to Onondaga Golf & Country Club
Anne and Fran O’Connor Kathleen and John O’Connor Ellen and Patrick O’Connor
Mark Davies
Thank you to the entire Onondaga G&CC team for making the 2022 NYS Amateur a successful championship and all the members and volunteers that provided a great venue. General Manager
Ryan Hammerle PGA Professional
Rob Pierpoint
Golf Course Superintendent
Adam Davies
Assistant General Manager
Bob Etter
Executive Chef
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duplionline.com/careers New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 71
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CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK!
To all participants and to OGCC for hosting this prestigious event.
Visit us at: www.thompsonandjohnson.com
Congratulations to Onondaga Golf & Country Club, hosting the 99th NYS Amateur Golf Championship.
Essential to Your Business ALBANY BUFFALO GARDEN CITY NEW YORK CITY ROCHESTER SARATOGA SPRINGS SYRACUSE UTICA WESTCHESTER One Lincoln Center, Syracuse, NY 13202 • 315.218.8000 • BSK.COM
We’d like to recognize our partner regional associations for the exceptional work they do in promoting the game of golf.
AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATIONS
Buffalo
Triple Cities
Syracuse
Rochester
Long Island
Westchester
Metropolitan
United States
PGA SECTIONS
New York State Men’s Amateur Championship | 75
Good Luck Golfers!
Mac Cadaret 100 Madison Street STE 1620 Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 609-7755 Securities and Advisory Services offered through Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor and Member FINRA/SIPC. Cadaret Brokerage Group and Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc. are separate entities.
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