NYSGA Welcome

Welcome

On 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 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

The NYSGA

Officers, Committee and Staff

NYSGA Officers

President Henry Fust, Onondaga G&CC 1st Vice President Jamie Miller, Crag Burn GC 2nd President Doug Vergith, Chautauqua GC Treasurer Robert Smith, Highland Park GC General Counsel Peter Jones, Drumlins CC Secretary 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 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

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