NYS MEN’S AMATEUR
Yahnundasis Golf Club | July 7–10, 2025
Welcome!
Welcome to the 102nd NYS Men’s Amateur Championship and Yahnundasis Golf Club.
The NYSGA takes our responsibility seriously in conducting New York’s amateur championships, which began in 1923 with the NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at the Garden City Golf Club. It is a role entrusted to the NYSGA by our membership, one we do not take for granted.
The NYSGA remains committed to elevating each New York State amateur championship. This is accomplished through strengthening our relationships with NYSGA member clubs, adopting new and creative ideas to deliver an elite player experience, and assembling the strongest fields New York can offer.
We saw these efforts elevate in 2024 when four NYS amateur championships: Men, Women, and Junior Boys & Girls — earned the right to become USGA Exemption Events. These NYSGA champions are now invited to compete in their corresponding USGA championship.
The 102nd edition of the NYSGA’s flagship tournament, the NYS Men’s Amateur Championship, will be contested at Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford, July 8-10. The venerable Walter Travis design has hosted six previous Men’s Amateur titles: 1946, 1953, 1958, 1968, 1988, and 2007. The course also held the Men’s Mid-Amateur in 1998 and 2017, four NYS Women’s Amateur championships in 1932, 1950, 1977, and 2018, and Men’s Senior tournaments in 1946 and 2023. Established in 1897, the historic Utica area club was the NYSGA’s founding site in 1923.
Most importantly, I want to recognize the players who have dedicated much of their lives to the pursuit of their dreams in golf. Your infectious love for the game has a wider reach than you may know, offering inspiration for the next generation of golfers. Thank you for showing us what is possible.
Good luck this week!
Jamie Miller
NYSGA President
The NYSGA
Officers, Committee, & Staff
NYSGA Officers
President – Jamie Miller, Crag Burn GC
1st Vice President – Doug Vergith, Chautauqua GC
2nd Vice President – Rich Weber, Brookfield CC
NYSGA Executive Committee
Shawn Baker, Oak Hill CC
Lee Bearsch, Binghamton CC
John Burns, Niagara Falls CC
Robert Clark, Yahnundasis GC
Brett Cooper, The Seawane Club
Karen Feldman, Columbia G&CC
Ryan Foster, Schuyler Meadows Club
Henry Fust, Onondaga G&CC
Jim Gifford, Mohawk GC
Megan Grehan, Hudson National GC
Brent Herlihy, Glens Falls CC
Brian Kumiega, CC of Buffalo
Lawrence Lessing The Creek
Tom Owen Corning CC
Brian Williams, Winged Foot GC
Course Rating Volunteers
Norm Amyot
Michael Aquino
Al Belair
Vic Bergsten
David Blakelock
Chris Boynton
Dave Braunscheidel
Gene Bullis
John Bullis
Ted Casey
Sue Chambers
Cory Ciambella
Joy Denzak
Gordon Dewey
Patric Donaghue
Tom Eason
Karen Feldman
Michael Fitzgerald
Georgette Folley
Adrian Forzani
Bill Gilbert
Tom Hahn
Joe Hazard
Patrick Henry
John Hudacs
Bob Kawa
Mary Ann Keeler
Stephen Keeler
Ken Kopra
Secretary – Shawn Baker, Oak Hill CC
Treasurer – Robert Smith Sunset Ridge GC
General Counsel – Joseph Mancuso, Onondaga G&CC
NYSGA Staff Listing
Bill Moore, Executive Director
Andrew Hickey, Director, Operations
Dan Thompson, Director, Marketing & Partnerships
Jack Travers Director, Rules & Competitions
Michael Dirkes, Assistant Director, Rules & Competitions
Jack Margaros, Manager, Media
Jack Corcoran, Manager, Regional Associations & Junior Golf
Deb Spilman, Manager, Special Events & Operations
Mark Ackley Manager, Course Rating
Michael Donnelly, Tournament Director, WNY
Peter Stoj, Tournament Director, ENY
Luke Lynch, Competitions Fellow
Dan Kekis USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Communications Intern
Brady Byrdwell, USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Tournament Operations Intern
Jimmy Hazen, USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Tournament Operations Intern
Leah VandenBerg, Marketing & Communications Intern
Tournament Committee
Janis Luce
Susan Marsh
Ronald Mason
Patricia Mayne
Jim McKillip
Rick Meath
Jim Meyers
Gene Meyle
William Moreland
Jack Mulvey
Arthur Munson
Jim Murrett
Rocco Palmieri
Bob Raimo
John Raunick
John Reagan
William Robertson
Sean Rotella
Thomas Russell
Tony Scarpello
Richard Silverstein
David Smith
Donald Sommerville
Jami Sorrento
Michel Trudeau
Jerry Vereeke
Gale Warren
Warren Winslow
Valerie Wood-MacRae
Fred Arliss
Bill Barret
Marci Bevilacqua
Timothy Brady
John Burns
Ted Casey
Sue Chambers
Cory Ciambella
Brian Clark
Daval Coleman
Andrew Conway
John Cooney
Thomas Cotter
George Cretekos
William Curtin
John Davis
Mike Donnelly
Dick Dorgan
Georgia Dusckas
Thomas Eckert
Joe Enright
Laurie Enright
John Ernst
Vie Evans
MaryBeth Fiore
Timothy Frank
Henry Fust
Brad Griffin
Gary Hackett
John Hudacs
Scott Johnson
Dennis Kardach
Mary Ann Keeler
Stephen Keeler
Edward Koslick
Diane Kullmann
William Loehr
Theresa McGibbon
Tom McGibbon
Sean McPhee
Gene Meyle
Ginny Meyle
Thomas Owen
Brandon Payne
John Quijano
Nick Raasch
Thomas Reidy
David Schalekamp
Robert Simms
John Sniezyk
Jerry Stahl
Edward Stanek
Iris Stanek
Peter Stoj
Joe Strykowski
Thelma Taylor
David VanEenenaam
Doug Vergith
Mona Wasserman
Bryan Whooten
Jeffrey Wilson
Warren Winslow
Douglas Young
Jon Zucarelli
MEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
History
The 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 initial 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 during his debut at 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.
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 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.
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 still enjoying a successful career on the PGA’s Champions Tour where he has won six times.
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. It was broken again in 2022, when a 19-year-old Charlie Berridge fired 14-under over 72 holes at Onondaga Golf & Country Club during his championship debut.
2023 marked the NYSGA’s centennial season and the 100th playing of this flagship tournament, hosted by New Rochelle’s Wykagyl Country Club.
Sherrill Sherman
Ray Billows
Don Allen
PAST CHAMPIONS OF THE NYS Past Champions of the New York State
Men’s Amateur Championship
Men’s Amateur Championship
1923 | Garden City CC
Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City
1924 | Orchard Park GC
Lee Chase, Bu alo
1925 | Lido CC
Jack Mackie Jr., Inwood
1926 | McGregor Links CC
Al Brodbeck, Bronxville
1927 | Oak Hill CC
Arthur Yates, Rochester
1928 | Biltmore CC (West)
George Dawson, Harrison
1929 | Mohawk CC
Maurice McCarthy, Mt. Vernon
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 GC
Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City
1934 | Sagamore GC
Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City
1935 | Winged Foot (West)
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
1936 | Bellevue CC
Tommy Goodwin, Rye
1937 | Oak Hill CC
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
1938 | Oak Ridge GC
Championship Records
Most Times Hosted by a Member Club
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)
3 | Wanakah Country Club (1981, 1999, 2024)
Most Victories
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)
Ray Billows
Winner of NYS Men’s Amateur & NYS Junior Amateur
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)
Willie Turnesa, Elmsford Edmund Driggs
Tommy Goodwin (1932, 1933 Junior; 1932, 1936, 1946, 1953 Men’s Amateur)
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)
Winner of NYS Men’s Amateur & Junior Amateur in Same Year
Tommy Goodwin (1932)
Yaroslav Merkulov (2009)
Siwanoy CC | 1939
Richard Chapman, Larchmont
Onondaga G&CC | 1940
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
CC of Troy | 1941
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Niagara Falls CC | 1942
Alex Stevenson, Niagara Falls
Lake Placid Club | 1943
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Lake Placid Club | 1943
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Lake Placid Club | 1944
Joe Ruszas, Albany
Oak Hill CC | 1945
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Yahnundasis CC | 1946
Tommy Goodwin, Rye
Westchester CC | 1947
Richard Mayer, White Plains
Brookfield CC | 1948
Sam Urzetta, Rochester
Syracuse Yacht & CC | 1949
Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie
Binghamton CC | 1950
Mike Dudik, Endicott Knollwood CC | 1951
Billy Shields, Albany
Wolfert’s Roost CC | 1952
Billy Shields, Albany
Yahnundasis CC | 1953
Tommy Goodwin, Rye Fairview CC | 1954
Robert Monk, White Plains
Moon Brook CC | 1955
Billy Shields, Albany
Dutchess G&CC | 1956
Joe Gagliardi, Larchmont Elmira CC | 1957
Jack Veghte, Gloversville
Yahnundasis CC | 1958
John Konsek, Bu alo
1959 | CC of Troy
John Konsek, Bu alo
1960 | Locust Hill CC
John Konsek, Bu alo
1961 | Onondaga G&CC
Don Allen, Rochester
1962 | Glens Falls CC
William Tryon, Elmira
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
1971 | Cavalry Club
Mike Slipko, Niagara Falls
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
Je Sluman, Rochester
1979 | Drumlins CC (East)
Mark Balen, East Aurora
Youngest Champion
17 | Nick Raasch (1966)
17 | Yaroslav Merkulov (2009)
17 | Will Thomson (2018)
*difference of months/days
Oldest Champion
44 | Joe Gagliardi (1956)
Most Walker Cup Appearances
2 | Donald Allen (1965, 1967)
Highest Winning Total (72 Holes)
298 (+10) | Donald Allen (1973)
292 (+8) | Alan Foster (1975)
295 (+7) | George Burns (1974)
Lowest Winning Total (72 Holes)
270 (-14) | Charlie Berridge (2022)
277 (-11) | Dominic Bozzelli (2012)
280 (-9) | Joey Sindelar (1980)
280 (-8) | James Allen (2021)
Lowest Consecutive Rounds
65, 66 | Jason Lohwater (2022)
65, 67 | Charlie Berridge (2022)
66, 67 | Je Sluman (1980)
66, 67 | Je rey Peck (1992)
66, 68 | Ben Reichert (2021)
Lowest Final Round by Champion
66 | James Allen (2021)
67 | Mark Balen (1979)
67 | Dominic Bozzelli (2012)
67 | Will Thomson (2018)
67 | Kyle Downey (2023)
Widest Margin of Victory
(During Match Play Era)
13 & 12 | Kevin Haefner def. Dan Ricci (2001)
13 & 11 | Joe Ruszas def. Steve Doctor (1944)
11 & 10 | Dirk Ayers def. Jason Piurkowski (1995)
Vestal Hills CC | 1980
Joey Sindelar, Horseheads
Wanakah CC | 1981
James Roy, Syracuse
McGregor Links CC | 1982
David Boe , Ontario Elmira CC | 1983
William Boland, Jr., Troy
CC of Troy | 1984
George Zahringer, Sands Point
Ridgemont CC | 1985
Christopher Lane, Binghamton
Knollwood CC | 1986
Jay Gunning, Colonie
Oak Hill CC (East) | 1987
Tim Straub, East Aurora
Yahundasis GC | 1988
Tim Straub, East Aurora
Vestal Hills CC | 1989
Tim Marsh, Endicott
Albany CC | 1990
Joe Wilson, Rochester
Brook-Lea CC | 1991
Leonard Lasinsky, Syracuse
Drumlins CC (East) | 1992
Todd Dischinger, Syracuse Seven Oaks GC | 1993
Je rey Peck, Clifton Springs
Cobblestone Creek CC | 1994
David Bonacchi, Rochester
Moon Brook CC | 1995
Dirk Ayers, Jamestown
Links at Hiawatha GC | 1996
Michael Valicenti, Elmira
Dutchess G&CC | 1997
Greg Rohlf, New Rochelle Pinehaven CC | 1998
Bryan Smith, Kingston
Wanakah CC | 1999
John Ga ney, Bu alo Monroe GC | 2000
Michael Valicenti, Elmira
John Konsek
Joey Sindelar
2001 | Seven Oaks GC
Kevin Haefner, Rochester
2002 | Transit Valley CC
Kyle Hess, Bu alo
2003 | Ravenwood GC
Kyle Hess, Bu alo
2004 | Wiltwyck GC
Matt Thomas, Blasdell
2005 | Ontario GC
James Scorse, Churchville
2006 | CC of Troy
Andrew DiBitetto, Rochester
2007 | Yahnundasis CC
John Duthie, Lansing
2008 | Pinehaven CC
Je 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
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
2021 | Schuyler Meadows Club
James Allen, Scarsdale
2022 | Onondaga G&CC
Charlie Berridge, Scarsdale
2023 | Wykagyl CC
Kyle Downey, Webster
Longest Championship Match
(During Match Play Era)
39 Holes | Ray Billows def. Johnny Ward (1949)
Consecutive Victories
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)
Most Masters Appearances
3 | Donald Allen (1965, 1966, 1967)
2 | Ray Billows (1939, 1940)
Most Runner-up Finishes
4 | Ray Billows (1936, 1942, 1946, 1952)
3 | Donald Allen (1962, 1965, 1974)
3 | Tommy Goodwin (1937, 1938, 1955)
3 | Robert Hughes (1982, 1985, 2000)
3 | John Ward (1949, 1956, 1958)
2 | Chris Blyth (2018, 2019)
2 | Andrew DiBitetto (2004, 2007)
2 | Ralph Howe III (1987, 1988)
2 | Jake Katz (2010, 2011)
2 | Charlie Murphy (1977, 1985)
2 | Dr. Edward O’Keefe (1964, 1968)
2 | Lloyd Ribner (1948, 1950)
Billy Shields
Nick Raasch
Dominic Bozzelli
Will Thomson
Conditions of Play
Schedule
Monday, July 7 – Practice Round
Tuesday, July 8 – Round 1, 18 holes
Wednesday, July 9 – Round 2, 18 holes
Thursday, July 10 – Rounds 3 & 4, 36 holes
The Field
The field is composed 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 | Mon, June 23
• Binghamton | Links at Hiawatha | Wed, June 11
• Buffalo | Lancaster CC | Mon, June 16
• Finger Lakes | Wayne Hills CC | Sat, June 14
• Long Island | Timber Point GC | Thu, June 5
• Mid-Hudson | Red Hook GC | Wed, June 18
• N. Country | Malone GC | Sat, June 14
• Rochester | Mendon GC | Mon, June 16
• Syracuse | Lakeshore Y&CC | Mon, June 9
• Utica/Rome | Crestwood GC | Sun, June 22
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 2024 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 2024 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 10th place.
• E5. Winners of the 2025 NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championships.
• E6. From the 2024 NYS Boys’ 18U Amateur Championship, the 5 lowest scorers and ties.
• E7. Winner of the 2024 NYS Boys 14U Amateur Championship.
• E8. From the 2024 NYS NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship, the 5 lowest scorers and ties.
• E9. Most recent (as of June 9, 2025) winner or low amateur of the following regional championships:
• AIM Championship
• BDGA Buffalo District Individual Championship
• CCR Invitational
• Delaware County Amateur Championship
• Dutchess County Amateur Championship
• LIGA Individual Championship
• MGA Ike Championship
• MGA Amateur Championship
• MGA Open*
• NYC Amateur
• NYS Open*
• NYSPHSAA Boys’ Golf Championship
• RDGA Rochester District Individual Championship
• SDGA Gerry Ashe Memorial
• TCGA Amateur Championship
• Tri-Country Match Play Championship
• Ulster County Amateur Championship
• Watertown City Championship
• WGA Westchester Individual Championship
*Professional Events
• E10. All golfers ranked in the top-3000 in World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) as of June 9, 2025.
• E11. Players qualifying for a USGA Championship (since June 9, 2025).
• E12. Host club exemptions.
• E13. Special exemptions as selected by the NYSGA.
MEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP 2024
HAMBURG, N.Y. – During a week with unfavorable weather, which saw the second round canceled due to a tornado warning, the 101st NYS Men’s Amateur Champion was crowned at Wanakah Country Club.
Aiden Spampinato of Cobblestone Creek Country Club completed a wire-to-wire victory, breaking through to hoist the Ganson Depew Cup. A near-perfect week, shooting five-under on the first day, even par during round two, and one-under on the final day with rounds of 67-72-71.
This victory for Spampinato was not easy to achieve. On Wednesday, the tournament was reduced from 72 holes to 54, while Thursday also brought weather issues and nearly pushed the play into Friday.
Spampinato claimed his one-shot lead going into round two over Nolan Forsman of Winged Foot Golf Club, later shot one-over par for rounds two and three, finishing at 2-under par for the tournament, being the last player to finish in red numbers, while also securing a solo seventh place.
James Allen of Scarsdale Golf Club, and a past Men’s Amateur Champion, finished as the co-runner-up alongside Alex Zurat of Oak Hill Country Club.
Allen, who hoisted the Ganson Depew Cup at Schuyler Meadows in 2021, fired a 72-6871 tournament for a 211 total (-5). The Penn State Nittany Lion had possession of the lead at one point deep into the final round but made back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 to fall one behind Spampinato.
Zurat put together three rounds under par, executed a difficult, short-sided chip-in for eagle on 14 to shoot into contention. Like Allen, Zurat also suffered deflating back-toback bogeys in the final stretch to fall out of the lead. He regrouped for a birdie on 18, gaining one back and finishing one stroke off the lead. His official line was 71-70-70 (-5).
Aiden Spampinato
James Allen
Alex Zurat
Spampinato made five final-round birdies. “I just kept trying to plug away, obviously I had a lead, but it was so small for most of the tournament,” said Spampinato, shortly after the trophy ceremony. “I knew I had to keep the pedal down and not get too caught up in being in the lead.”
With the inclement weather, Spampinato teed off around 5:00 pm. The primary concern was whether he would finish before sunset, but play moved smoothly as Spampinato had a two-stroke lead going into the final hole. When he rolled his final putt on 18 in, the sunlight quickly disappeared along with it, in front of over 100 spectators, most of whom were members of Wanakah.
“To have my name on that trophy for the rest of time, alongside so many great names, is really special to me,” said the 2024 NYS Amateur Champion.
Spampinato is a native of Victor, N.Y., who played collegiate golf at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Spampinato finished 9th the year prior in the NYS Men’s Amateur championship, where Kyle Downey ended up winning.
Spampinato went on to the 2024 U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. He finished 248th, shooting 71-82.
Another past champion, John Duthie, of Cornell University Golf Course, put together a four-under tournament to finish in third place. Jack Angelucci of Yahnundasis Golf Club and Josh German of the Meadow Brook Club tied in fifth place at three under par.
The low 20 golfers and ties earned an exemption to the 102nd NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at Yahnundasis Golf Club.
Jack Angelucci
John Duthie
Josh German
Nolan Forsman
Welcomes You!
On behalf of the membership, management staff, and Board of Governors at the Yahnundasis Golf Club, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 102nd playing of the New York State Men’s Amateur Championship. Reaching this stage is no small feat. You should be proud of your achievement, and we are honored to host you this week.
This year’s championship marks the 16th New York State Golf Association championship held at the Yahnundasis and the seventh time we have hosted the Men’s Amateur—more than any other club in the state. Our relationship with the NYSGA is one we deeply value, not only as hosts but as part of its very foundation. Yahnundasis was the birthplace of the NYSGA, and one of our esteemed members, Sherrill Sherman, played a key role in its formation. This legacy is a source of great pride for our club.
Founded in 1897 with a nine-hole course in Utica, the club engaged the legendary architect Walter Travis in 1924 to design a 27-hole layout. Today, the core of the primary 18-hole course remains intact, while the remaining nine holes once occupied the land now home to our driving range. In 2021, we partnered with architect Jaeger Kovich to develop a master plan aimed at restoring and enhancing Travis’s original design. Much progress has been made since the last time we hosted this championship in 2007, and we are thrilled to share those improvements with you.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the NYSGA staff, officials, volunteers, players, and families who make this event possible. Your time, effort, and dedication are what elevate this championship year after year.
We hope you feel at home during your time at Yahnundasis and enjoy everything our club and course have to offer. Best of luck to all the competitors—we look forward to an exciting week of outstanding golf and adding another memorable chapter in New York State’s amateur golf history.
Sincerely,
Chad Carstensen President
Board
Chad Carstensen – President
Robert Clark – Vice President
Aaron Evans – Secretary
Michael Stone – Treasurer
Mario Rocci
Frank Behlmer
Nicholas Laino
Mark Dunn
Dave Saracino
Pictured left to right: Nicholas Laino, Dave Saracino, Mark Dunn, Robert Clark, Chad Carstensen, Aaron Evans, Michael Stone, Mario Rocci, Frank Behlmer
Stephen Stewart
Golf Course Superintendent, Yahnundasis Golf
Club
Born and raised in a small farming town in Texas, my passion for golf began at a young age and quickly grew into a career path. At 17, I took my first job in golf course maintenance at a 36-hole resort in Waco, TX. That summer—mowing greens and maintaining every pond, creek, and tree on the property— solidified my interest in the behind-the-scenes operations of golf course management.
I pursued a degree in Sports Business at Stephen F. Austin State University in the East Texas pines, but my passion for turf care and course design ultimately led me to the Northeast. I accepted a position at the prestigious Somerset Hills Country Club in New Jersey, a Top-25 course nationally and an original A.W. Tillinghast design. During my six years at Somerset, I was mentored at the highest level, gaining in-depth experience in classic course restoration and turf science. I also earned my Turfgrass Management Certificate from Penn State University, deepening my knowledge of soil analysis and turf management.
My career has taken me across the country—from interning at The Polo Club of Boca Raton in Florida to volunteering at premier PGA Tour events including the FedEx Cup, World Golf Championships, U.S. Amateur, and U.S. Open. These experiences have shaped a deep appreciation for both the science and artistry of course care.
Today, I’m proud to serve as the Golf Course Superintendent at Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford, NY—a 1924 Walter Travis design featuring original greens and preserved topography. I look forward to leading a thoughtful, long-term restoration of this golden age gem, and showcasing it to New York’s top amateur players.
Zach Vinal Director of Golf, Yahnundasis Golf Club
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Zach’s golf journey began with a record setting junior golf career which included 5-time SDGA Player of the Year awards, culminating in his recognition as a Division I All-American at Binghamton University. He had continued success throughout several NYSGA tournaments including semi-finalist results in both the Junior Am (2002) and Men’s Am (2006). Following his collegiate success, he earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Long Beach State University, where he also coached the Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams.
Zach’s career exemplifies a steadfast dedication to innovation and excellence in golf. He began as a Golf Professional at Virginia Country Club in Southern California under the mentorship of Jamie Mulligan, a Top 100 Teacher, the 2021 PGA Teacher of the Year, and current swing instructor for Patrick Cantlay and Nelly Korda. During his 10 years with Jamie, Zach refined his teaching techniques and leadership skills, gaining invaluable experience and insight from one of the game’s most respected instructors all while assisting Jamie in the coaching of several PGA Tour players. Building on this strong foundation, Zach has since served as Director of Golf and Instruction at several prominent clubs, including Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club, The Yards in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and most recently, Teugega Country Club.
His teaching philosophy blends simplicity, engagement, and effectiveness. Zach’s tailored approach helps players understand the cause-andeffect of their swings, fostering confidence and joy in the game. Among his many accomplishments, Zach takes particular pride in mentoring junior golfers, instilling in them not only technical skills but also a lifelong passion for the sport. As a competitor, Zach continues to excel, claiming multiple titles in PGA Section tournaments and chapter events, while also competing in prestigious national and regional professional competitions. Beyond his playing and teaching accomplishments, Zach is deeply committed to building relationships and enriching the golf experience for all members and golfers alike.
DAN & PAM MEEHAN
HOLE 1
PAR 4
The opening hole at Yahnundasis sets the tone with a classic Walter Travis design that emphasizes precision over power. A wide fairway provides a comfortable visual start, but a well-placed, controlled tee shot is essential for those looking to score. The hole plays to a turtleback green that is well-defended by bunkers on the front, left, and back. Approach shots demand confident distance control and strategic planning. Though not lengthy, the hole rewards thoughtful execution and provides a fair but firm introduction to the championship test ahead.
This dogleg-left par 4 offers a subtle but early challenge, demanding both distance and discipline. The tee shot is visually framed by a fescue-covered mound on the left and a fairway bunker on the right, requiring a well-struck drive to reach the crest of the rise and gain a clear angle into the green. Guarded by bunkers front left and right, the green is modest in contour, sloping gently from back to front, and rising naturally from the surrounding terrain. A precise and confident approach is key.
A standout par 4 and the number one handicap for good reason, Hole 3 demands both precision and nerve. A newly added championship tee extends the hole’s length and difficulty, amplifying its challenge early in the round. The tee shot plays slightly uphill to a fairway that crests and then drops, leaving players with a blind approach into a green tucked in a natural hollow. While the pond short right may not influence the drive, it becomes a serious hazard on
the approach for shots that leak right and short. The green sits at an angle to the fairway, narrowing the effective target and placing a premium on distance and direction. Misses long, left, or right leave difficult recoveries. It’s a beautifully framed hole that rewards control and punishes hesitation — a classic Walter Travis design that quietly demands your best.
HOLE 4
PAR 4
Hole 4 plays through one of the most dramatic stretches of terrain on the course. From the elevated tee — the highest point on the property — players are treated to sweeping views of the course before refocusing on a demanding tee shot. The fairway tumbles over natural ridges and rolls, creating a visually stunning yet deceptively narrow landing area. Club selection is key, as drives must avoid a towering oak on the left that can block approach shots from the wrong angle. The green is nestled below the level of the fairway and slopes noticeably from back to front. Misses to the right leave players pitching from below the putting surface, while a steep drop-off left demands a deft touch to recover. With elevation, movement, and understated danger, Hole 4 delivers a full examination of placement and poise — vintage Travis.
This challenging par 3 requires a mid to long iron through a wooded chute to a green that is set at the top of a steep drop-off that punishes shots long or left. Club selection will be dictated by the pin position and the wind, which can be difficult to read from the sheltered tee. Middle and left pin positions are protected by a yawning bunker. A false front and bunker make front right pin positions difficult to approach. One of the course’s largest greens presents challenging putts, especially from above the hole.
This risk-reward par 5 presents birdie or eagle possibilities for those who can navigate the hole’s numerous hazards. The drive from the elevated tee, often directly into the prevailing wind, must avoid woods left and right as well as the pond on the left side of the fairway. A well-placed shot short of the pond on the
right side of the fairway will leave a bold player with a second shot to a green guarded by a third pond in front and which is surrounded by seven bunker and four chocolate drops. Those who choose to lay up will face a short third to a difficult green that slopes from back right to front left.
HOLE 7
PAR 3
The short iron approach can lead to problems for those who ignore the warning signs presented by this sharply uphill par 3. Club selection and shot shape can be greatly affected by the elevation change and the prevailing wind which blows across the exposed green from the right and into the player.
Misjudged shots will likely find one of the seven bunkers or five chocolate drops. One should take care to place their approach on the correct level of the two-tiered green to avoid a difficult two putt.
A drive from the elevated tee to the fairway below needs to be carefully judged to avoid woods to the right, deep rough and native areas to the left, as well as the recently reinstated creek which transverses the fairway diagonally from left to right. Those who lay up short of the creek will find a long uphill approach, and should be wary of the front left bunker and the steep slope behind the rolling green.
The new back tee stretches this hole to 600 yards, which, combined with the reality that the last 250 yards are steeply uphill, makes this hole unreachable in two by all but the longest players. The drive must avoid the fairway bunkers left, the creek which crosses the fairway diagonally left to right, and native areas to the right. A solid drive will leave the player with a long blind layup aimed at the
flagpole behind the green, followed by a third shot to a wind-exposed tiered green guarded by both a front bunker and a second cavernous bunker to the right. Players must be wary of the steep false front, both as they play to the green and from on the green as well, lest they find themselves with a thirty yards or more approach back to the green.
A great chance at birdie, Hole 10 presents a few options. For big hitters—especially if downwind—it is a great chance to overpower the course and carry their driver over the hill where the ball will likely run out to 150-170 yards from the green and a chance at eagle. For the average length or more conservative player, a hybrid or 3 wood short of the fescue on the left results in an easy layup to your favorite wedge number to an elevated green. The fescue grass left of the fairway will amost certainly result in a lost ball and should be avoided. Hole 10 includes some of the most unique landforms on property that Travis utilizes wisely in his routing to start the back 9. PAR 5
One of the course’s marquis holes, Hole 11 plays from an elevated tee across Lake Yahnundasis to one of Travis’s masterful green designs. Debate abounds whether to define the green as a biarritz or more likely a double plateau but there is no doubt it is a work of art. Hitting your approach pin high or long to a back pin makes for a near impossible par while a pin in the gully is the course’s best chance at a hole in one. The right bunker should be avoided at all costs but the short right miss that avoids the bunker presents a reasonable chance at par.
One of the wider par 4s on property, Hole 12 has a lot of space for a grip and rip driver off the tee. Club selection is very important as flat lies are rare for the short approach shot to an elevated green that plays slightly longer than the number. Approach shots missed short and right leave the best opportunity for recovery as long as the fescue covered chocolate drop is avoided.
HOLE 13
The strength and direction of the wind will dictate the difficulty of this picturesque downhill par 3. Tee shots hit to the center of the green regardless of pin location is the smart play and will result in a makeable birdie putt or easy par. Getting up and down from anywhere around the green will require deft touch and nerve.
PAR 3
The first of three parallel par fours on the lower portion of the back nine, Hole 14 challenges players with a demanding tee shot from the newly added peninsula tee box. Longer hitters may attempt to drive the green, while others will choose to lay back to a comfortable yardage for their approach. Playing slightly uphill, the hole culminates at one of the course’s two punchbowl greens, ready to reject any shot not struck cleanly. This is the second of four bunkerless holes on the inward nine, but the uneven contours of the green offer more than enough defense.
One of the most historically difficult holes on the course, Hole 15 demands precision from tee to green. The tee shot must navigate a tree on the right and Mud Creek, which starts left of the fairway and weaves across it before wrapping in front of the green. Though there are no bunkers, the ever-present creek affects
both the drive and approach, and the false front combined with a firm, inwardsloping green make accuracy essential. Finding the fairway is critical for any chance at par.
HOLE 16
PAR 4
This dogleg-left par 4 presents players with strategic options off the tee. Some will choose to lay back and face a long or mid-iron approach into a highly contoured green, while others may challenge the corner with a driver in hopes of setting up a wedge. Trouble lurks with a creek guarding the left side and woods lining the right. Once on the green, players face a series of ridges and undulations that make even short putts unpredictable—this green tests touch and imagination.
HOLE 17
Hole 17 features the second of the back nine’s punchbowl greens and begins with a blind tee shot flanked by bunkers on the right. A well-placed drive sets up a crucial second shot into a green defined by a central ridge, which can send balls careening away from the hole. With a precise approach, this hole offers a welcome opportunity for birdie before the challenging finish.
The final hole at Yahnundasis is a world-class, bunkerless finishing hole and a fitting end to this Walter Travis masterpiece. This long par four gently doglegs left, with the landing area set on a downslope, often leaving players with a
demanding downhill lie to an uphill green. The putting surface is alive with knolls and wild undulations, making it play far smaller than its size suggests and offering one last formidable test.
The Yahnundasis Golf Club is proud to be an advocate club to raise awareness and funding for the turfgrass and agronomy community. Often overlooked, the agronomy industry is essential to the success and advancement of the game of golf.
Each year, the Super Scratch Foundation raises a scholarship fund to support students pursuing the study of agronomy.
Learn more and donate at superscratchfoundation.org
HISTORIC GALLERY OF THE
Yahnundasis Golf Club
Origins
On April 19, 1897, a group of sixty-five prominent citizens gathered at the Butterfield House with a shared vision—to create a social and sporting institution that would enrich their leisure hours and cultivate a spirit of fellowship. From that meeting emerged the Yahnundasis Golf Club, a name honoring the area’s rich Iroquois heritage. Their foresight laid the foundation for a tradition of sportsmanship and camaraderie that continues to thrive more than a century later.
Dr. Willis E. Ford was elected the club’s first president, and the original grounds were established on the site of the Baby Hospital—a property that would later become home to St. John’s Orphan Asylum, and Utica Catholic Academy, and today, the Academy at Southgate condominiums. To shape the first golf experience, the club hired Thomas McCormick of St. Andrews, Scotland, as its first professional and greenskeeper. McCormick designed the club’s original ninehole course, and operations began in earnest with a humble unfurnished room in the Baby Hospital serving as the first clubhouse.
The formal opening took place on June 5, 1897, drawing over 100 people. Less than a month later, the club was awarded its first trophy, the prestigious Governor’s Medal, on July 3. Resident dues began at $15, and local boys, including Angus and Brian Clarke, earned ten cents per round as caddies. The total first-year expenses came to $857.54, covering costs such as grounds maintenance, rent, refreshments, and staff salaries.
The League of the Iroquois: A Tradition of Competition and Camaraderie
Conceived in 1912 by Yahnundasis member
Dr. A. R. Grant, the League of the Iroquois was officially established on January 13, 1913, during a gathering at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. What began as a vision for fostering competitive golf and interclub fellowship has since become a treasured tradition. The League is widely regarded as the oldest ongoing multilateral golf competition in the world, second only in longevity to the bilateral McLoughlin Cup.
The League’s founding members were Wanakah Country Club (Buffalo), Oak Hill Country Club (Rochester), Onondaga Golf Club (Syracuse), and Yahnundasis Golf Club (New Hartford). After a period of waning participation, Onondaga was eventually replaced by Bellevue Country Club of Syracuse, solidifying the four-club format that continues to this day
In its modern form, the League features 16-man teams from each club, known as “The Warriors.” Matches are contested using scratch “Nassau” match play, with each individual match worth three points: one each for the front nine, back nine, and overall 18hole result.
Over the course of a three-day tournament, each club plays the others once. At the tournament’s conclusion, the team with the most points won is awarded the League trophy, and a time-honored toast is shared among all participants in celebration of the champions.
In 1975, a second division was introduced to broaden participation: the “Braves.” Today, this division features an 8-man team, playing the same Nassau match play format but using handicaps, offering a competitive and inclusive complement to the Warriors’ scratch play. The Braves compete for their own trophy, adding another layer of spirited play to the event.
Since its inception, the League of the Iroquois has been about more than just golf—it has been a celebration of sportsmanship, tradition, and intercity goodwill. As the matches conclude, a grand feast is shared, laughter is exchanged, and lifelong friendships are forged and renewed. Over a century later, the League remains a cherished symbol of competitive excellence and fraternity among four of Central and Western New York’s most historic clubs.
The McLoughlin Cup: Golf’s Oldest Continuous Interclub Rivalry
In 1904, a spirited and unconventional golf event set the stage for what would become a legendary tradition between two neighboring Central New York clubs— Yahnundasis and Sadaquada. The event was a four-man, one-ball cross-country match, played between the two clubs, starting at Halleck’s Ravine. To signal the start, a balloon was released, visible to the spectators awaiting the action at Sadaquada.
Each team took a different two-mile route across the countryside, accompanied by a member of the opposing club, who served in the dual role of referee and beverage bearer. The rules were simple—and entertaining. For every good shot, the players offered a toast. For every poor shot, the referee did the honors. At one point, a Yahnundasis referee, unfamiliar with the finer points of the game, insisted the Sadaquada players play a shot out of a creek. Despite the setback, Sadaquada emerged victorious, with a final score of 131 to 150.
The good spirits and friendly rivalry of that day left a lasting impression. Inspired by the camaraderie, John E. McLoughlin, a founding member of Yahnundasis and club
president during multiple terms (1906–07, 1923–25), proposed the creation of an annual competition between the two clubs. The first official McLoughlin Cup match was held in 1905, and it has been played every year since—uninterrupted—making it the oldest continuous interclub golf competition in the world.
That first match featured ten-man teams playing medal play format across the rugged, pastoral landscape between the clubs. Dressed in stiff collars, ties, and traditional plus fours, players navigated through headhigh cornfields, grazing Holsteins, gullies, and fences, swinging their hickory-shafted clubs with both determination and joy.
The match would end with a grand celebration, featuring the ceremonial passing of the McLoughlin Cup, traditionally filled with champagne, from player to player. Each would toast—or “roast”—his rival with jokes and laughter that often carried long into the night. That spirit of light-hearted rivalry and deep-rooted friendship remains alive to this day, over 120 years later.
Walter J. Travis
Walter J. Travis (1862–1927) occupies a unique and enduring place in the history of golf. Born in Australia and later becoming a naturalized American citizen, Travis made his mark not only as a dominant amateur competitor but also as one of the most forward-thinking golf course architects of the early 20th century. His dual legacy—both as a world-class player and an influential designer—continues to shape American golf.
A Distinguished Playing Career
Travis’s impact on competitive golf was immediate and profound. He captured the U.S. Amateur Championship three times (1900, 1901, 1903), becoming the first player to win the title consecutively. In 1904, he became the first American to win the British Amateur, a groundbreaking achievement that elevated the status of American golf internationally. Known for his meticulous preparation and strategic acumen, Travis was a pioneer in studying course layouts and opponents’ tendencies. He also became famous for his unconventional putting style, often employing a center-shafted Schenectady putter, which was so effective it was later banned by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Architectural Vision and Legacy
After concluding his competitive career, Travis turned to golf course architecture, bringing the same strategic thinking to design that had defined his playing. He was deeply
influenced by the classic links courses of the United Kingdom, particularly in his belief that golf should reward thoughtful play over brute strength. His designs emphasized natural terrain, strategic bunkering, and bold, contoured greens that challenged players both mentally and physically.
Among the courses that Travis either designed or redesigned are several that remain highly respected to this day:
Garden City Golf Club (New York): Though originally designed by Devereux Emmet, Travis undertook an extensive redesign in the early 1900s. His work added significant strategic depth through sophisticated bunkering and green modifications. Garden City also served as the site of two of his U.S. Amateur victories.
Ekwanok Country Club (Vermont): Codesigned with John Duncan Dunn in 1900, this course is noted for its dramatic use of mountainous terrain and remains a sterling example of early American course design.
Hollywood Golf Club (New Jersey): Designed in 1918, this course is a classic example of Travis’s architectural style, with well-placed hazards and subtle green contours.
Country Club of Scranton (Pennsylvania):
The original 18-hole layout, known today as the “Old Course,” was one of Travis’s final works, completed in 1927 shortly before his death.
Perhaps one of Travis’s most significant yet often underappreciated contributions was his influence on George Crump during the conception of Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey. Crump, the visionary behind Pine Valley, consulted extensively with Travis during the course’s development. Although Travis was not the primary designer, his ideas regarding penal bunkering, strategic shot values, and naturalistic routing left a strong imprint on what would become one of the most revered courses in the world. Travis’s encouragement of bold green complexes and his insistence on thoughtful course management were principles that Crump embraced and incorporated into Pine Valley’s final form.
Walter Travis’s contributions to golf transcend his championship titles and architectural achievements. He was a bridge between the old world of British golf and the emerging American scene, importing strategic and aesthetic ideas that helped define the modern American course. Today, the courses he touched and the ideas he championed continue to inform the work of golf architects and the play of discerning golfers around the world.
Yahnundasis Historical Involvement with NYSAM
Yahnundasis Golf Club played a pivotal role in the establishment of the New York State Golf Association (NYSGA). On August 9, 1923, delegates from across the state convened at Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford, NY, and unanimously voted to form the NYSGA. This meeting marked the official founding of the association, with the club’s own Sherrill Sherman serving as the inaugural president. Sherman, a dedicated member of Yahnundasis, was instrumental in the NYSGA’s early development, contributing significantly over three decades in various leadership roles. The club’s involvement underscores its longstanding commitment to promoting golf throughout New York State.
Past NYS Men’s Amateurs at Yahnundasis
A Glance Back at Greatness
There have been some incredible moments at Yahnundasis Golf Club. This is the recordsetting seventh time The New York State Men’s Amateur Championship has been held, which now puts the club one ahead of Oak Hill Country Club.
1946 — Tommy Goodwin, First NYS Amateur Champion at Yahnundasis Format: Match Play
1953 — Another GoodWIN for Tommy Format: Match Play
Two Hall of Famers, Tommy Goodwin, faced off against Billy Shields. Shields was aiming for a three-peat, while Goodwin was seeking his fourth State Amateur title. The match was a back-and-forth contest that would ultimately end in a tie down the stretch. On the back nine, Shields secured the No. 11 hole, where he took a 2-up lead over Goodwin. Goodwin reclaimed a hole on the 13th after Shields’ drive landed in the creek. Although Goodwin was also in a difficult position, he chipped to an inch, winning the hole. The two halved the next couple of holes until Goodwin won the 34th hole, gaining the lead. Both players carded pars on the 35th hole, and the match went to the 36th hole. Both hit massive, straight drives down the fairway, but their second shots were different: Goodwin landed three feet from the pin, while Shields hit the back of the green and rolled off the green. With that, Goodwin claimed the title, marking his second state am victory at Walter Travis gem.
The Ray Billows-Tommy Goodwin rivalry was brought to Yahnundasis Golf Club for the first time in the State Amateur. Billows defeated Goodwin in 1937 at Oak Hill, but this time Goodwin avenged his loss. The two dominated from 1935 to 1946, winning eight of the 11 Men’s Amateur Championships— Billows (6), Goodwin (2). Goodwin also had back-to-back runner-up finishes in ‘37 & ’38. This time, poor putting by Billows allowed Goodwin to capitalize, going 3-up after the first 18 and 5-up after 27 holes. The runaway for Goodwin started at the 6th hole when Billows was trailing by four holes and missed a three-and-a-half-foot putt, giving Goodwin the half. On the next hole, Billows missed a six-foot putt, handing Goodwin the hole. The moment had come for Goodwin on the 7th hole as he came out of the bunker and hit his shot to six feet, earning a half. On the 8th hole, Goodwin sank a four-foot putt while Billows rolled in a twenty-footer, providing a glimmer of hope until the 9th, where he had a four-foot putt to birdie and win the hole, but he missed! Goodwin then went on to win the next three holes, and the two battled until the end, where we crowned our first Amateur Champion at NYSGA’s founding site.
Ron Brownell Past NYSGA President & Yahnundasis Club Champion
Tommy Goodwin conquers Billows by 8 and 6 for State Crown.
Billy Shields (left) and Tommy Goodwin (right) faced off again later in 1955 at Moon Brook CC, where Shields was able to get his revenge…
1958 — The Battle of the Johns: John Konsek Defeated John Ward in a Wire-to-wire Finish
Format: Match Play
Konsek stands in New York State Golf history as he won three titles in a row. At the time, Konsek was an 18-year-old freshman at Purdue University, taking down a New York State golf legend, Ward, a former president of the New York State Golf Association (NYSGA). The year prior, Konsek won the state junior championship, and during this tournament, he never relinquished his lead. At one point, he was 4-up in the match, but the 37-year-old veteran Ward rallied from behind, bringing the score to 2-down after winning holes 11 and 12. The two halved the five holes after that. The final hole was dramatic as, with Konsek’s second shot, he overshot the pin by 10 feet while Ward was positioned in front of the green. Ward chipped his third shot, which nicked the edge of the cup, and Konsek went on to drop his birdie putt, claiming his first Amateur Crown; he also went on to win the ‘59 &’60 titles. Konsek went on to beat the legendary Jack Nicklaus 2 out of 3 times in college.
1968 — The Princeton Tiger Tryon Clawed Through NYS Golf in the ’60s
Format:
Match Play
Bill Tryon, a running back on the football team and a baseball player, secured his third New York State Amateur Championship within ten years, this time at Yahnundasis in 1968. Tryon defeated Ed O’Keefe in a 36-hole final that ultimately concluded in 31 holes. He was only behind once during the entire match, which occurred after the first hole when he three-putted from the edge of the green for a bogey, showcasing complete domination overall. The complexion of the match shifted after hole 11, as Tryon won four straight. The final round featured two impressive wedge shots on hole 3 after both players hit their balls into the water; O’Keefe landed his shot on 4 feet and 3 inches from the pin, while Tryon outshined him, placing his shot even closer at 4 feet and 1 inch. The championship concluded on hole 13, where Tryon placed his shot on the green while O’Keefe found himself in the trap, leading to a two-putt for a bogey four.
1988 — TWO-PEAT For Straub In A Battle of National Champions Format: Stroke Play
In a decade during which we crowned nine different Men’s State Amateur champions, six of them turned professional. Among them, our champion in ‘87 and ‘88, Tim Straub, was the only one to win two titles during that time. The man in his way was Ralph Howe, a 22-year-old lefty from Long Island who was named the 1988 Metropolitan Golf Player of the Year. He was also the reigning U.S. Public Links champion, a quarterfinalist in the British Amateur, and the Middle Atlantic Amateur titleholder. Additionally, he earned an invitation to compete in The Masters the following year. The championship was a stroke play event, and after four rounds, there was a tie for first place at six-over par. The championship proceeded to a playoff hole between Straub and Howe, with Straub ultimately defending his title. Straub also won the 1983 U.S. Junior Amateur.
2007 — Duthie Defeats DiBitetto in 36-Hole
Match Play Final Format: Match Play
The last New York State Men’s Amateur Championships held at Yahnundasis GC crowned John Duthie as our champion after he defeated Andrew DiBitetto. This took place when the Championship format was match play. Duthie and DiBitetto went head-to-head down the stretch. Duthie came back from three holes down after the first 18 holes to win 1-up. DiBitetto led for most of the first half of the match, holding a 2-up advantage after 18 holes against Duthie. The second round began with a birdie for DiBitetto, putting him 3-up on Duthie. When they reached the 5th hole, it was all Duthie from that point onward, with five birdies in the next nine holes giving him a 3-up lead. DiBitetto’s late push for the championship included birdies on 15 and 17, leading to the final hole. The drama intensified as DiBitetto’s putt on 18 lipped out. Duthie secured the title. The format returned to stroke play a couple of years later in 2009.
Bill Tryon (left) and Ron Brownell (right) with the Ganson Depew Cup after the 1968 championship. Brownell was NYSGA president and a prominent member of Yahnundasis.
John Ward (putting) and John Konsek (with caddy) on the 9th green at Yahnundasis while a large gallery watches the 1958 final match.
John Duthie (middle) with NYSGA Officials Ed Koslick (left) and Bob Biviano (right) after winning the Men’s Am title at Yahnundasis.
Tim Straub (left) and Ralph Howe (right) faced off in the NYS Men’s Am final match two consecutive years.
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Yahnundasis Club Champions
1943 John White N/A 1944 Edgar Lortz Charles Jewett
1945 N/A Charles Jewett 1946 Larry Murphy John White
1947 Dr. A. R, Hatfield Jr. Charles Jewett
1948 Ronald M. Brownwell N/A 1949 Ronald M. Brownwell Harry Naumann 1950 Ronald M. Brownwell Joe Hobika 1951 Ronald M. Brownwell Joe Hobika 1952 Ronald M. Brownwell Joe Hobika 1953 Ronald M. Brownwell Joe Hobika 1954 William Metzger Joe Hobika
1955 Ronald M. Brownwell Joe Hobika
1956 William Metzger Joe Hobika
1957 William Metzger Joe Hobika
1958 Ronald M. Brownwell Arthur Gleason
1959 Ronald M. Brownwell Heny Metzger
1960 Ronald M. Brownwell Henry Metzger
1961 John Schmitt Henry Metzger
1962 John Kinne Henry Metzger
1963 Ronald M. Brownwell Henry Metzger
1964 Jonathan Kinne Reed Porter
1965 Howard Bushinger Jr. Lyle Reigler
1966 Jon Kinne Anthony Eisha
1967 Richard Hill John Carver
1968 Brian J. Kelly Gilbert Garber
1969 John D. Kempf Ron Brownell
1970 Wayne Walker Jim Brock
1971 Gordon Graystone Jim Brock
1972 Robin Kelly Bob McGinty
1973 Manny Hunter Jim Brock 1974 Robert W. Babiarz Robert McGinty
1975 Robet Blackwood Willard Healy
1976 Robert Blackwood Robert Nelbach
1977 Dr. Jim Putnam Bill Healy
1978 Dr. Jim Putnam N/A 1979 Dr. Arthur Mettelman Gordon Graystone
Robert Babizarz Bill Healy
Robert Mooliszewski Bob Nelbach
Robert Curri Bill Healy
Lance Winnicki Dr. A. Mettelman
Lance Winnicki Maurie Hand
Tim Hoff Art Mettelman
Tim Hoff John Grygiel
Joe Marraffa N/A
Robert Curri Art Mettelman
Timothy Rees Red Wittig
Luke Hobika Art Mettelman
Tim P. Rees Jr. Jack Moore
Tim P. Rees Jr. N/A
Luke J. Hobika N/A
Lance S. Winnicki N/A
Luke J. Hobika N/A
Luke J. Hobika N/A
Luke J. Hobika Jim Putnam
Luke J. Hobika Jim Putnam
Michael Horan Bill Macartney
Carter Reul Bob Walser
Anthony Tamaselli Bill Jenkins/Art Mettelman
Joe Hobika, Jr. Jim Putnam
Anthony Tamaselli Jim Putnam
William Virkler ll Cris Brodock
Anthony Tamaselli Narender Sarabu
Alan Cafruny Scott Silver
Anthony Tamaselli Not Played
Brian Levi Bob Curri
Anthony Tamaselli Joe Hobika Jr.
Anthony Vallanti Joe Hobika
Yahnundasis Past Presidents
Adirondack Bank
Adler, Lawrence
Albano, Brian
Alberico, Joseph J.
Allard, Tom
Allen, David S.
Allen, Harvey
Anderson, Robert Jr.
Anderson, Robert Sr.
Angelucci, Mark R.
Annal, Bob
Arcuri, Michael
Arcuri, Rocco F. Sr.
Baker, Elizabeth A.
Bapana, Emmanuel
Barone, John
Basloe, Michael E.
Behlmer, Frank
Belden, Mary
Bellows, Shawn
Bennett, Herb
Bennett, Daina
Berardino, Sam F.
Beyel, Dan
Black, Bob
Blaker, Mark E.
Blanchfield, William
Bonsted, Steven P.
Bremer, Eric
Bremer, Tim
Brindisi, Maria
Brindisi, Louis T.
Broccoli, Richard
Broccoli, Robert Jr.
Brock, Jim
Brunner, Jack
Brunozzi, Andrew
Bryant, Jonathan
Buckley, Rudolph A.
Buffa, John F.
Burback, Adam
Thank You to Our Supporters!
Bussey, Stephen
Butala, Atul
Butler, John David -
Cafruny, Alan W.
Calabrese, Anne F.
Calabrese, John J. II
Callan, Michael
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Canfield, Tammy L.
Cannistra, Patrick D.
Carey, Patrick
Carville, Frederick J. Casaletta, Michele
Casper, James
Chahfe, Fayez F.
Ciaccia, Jessica
Circelli, Andrew
Clark, Chris
Clark, Harold T.
Clarke, James M.
Clifford, Jim
Cohen, Max
Cole, William T.
Copelin, Eddie
Corasanti, Joseph J.
Corasanti, James
Cough, Kevin
Coughlin, Dennis
Coughlin, Greg
Coughlin Giambrone
Critelli, David L.
Critelli, Steven M.
CRM Rental Mgmt/Liberty
Afford Hsing
Culver, Stuart
Cupp, Lauren L.
Curley, Nicole
Curtis, David
D’Accurzio, Albert
Daniels, Bruce F.
Daniels-Donnenwirth, Gretchen
Dates, Nicole
Davies, Jeffrey
Deck, Fred
Decker, Cale P.
Decondo, Geno
Denton, Randell
DeSanctis, Ed
DeSarro, Joseph
Detraglia, Gustave J.
Dier, Vincent
Dillon, Patrick
DLG Wealth Management, LLC
Dontino, Philip
Dontino, Etta
Dowe, Steven R.
Dunn, Mark R.
Dunn, JeffreyEcklund, Timothy
Evans, Michael
Evans, Aaron
Evans, Gregory Ezzo, Michael -
Facciolo, Dale
Falgiatano, Charles
Falvo, Richard M.
Falvo, Louis A. III
Fanelli, George Farley, Derek
Farrell, Matthew P.
Fee, Sean
Fernandes, Rick Fiato, Matthew
Fields, John J.
First Source FCU
Ford, Brant W.
Ford, Blake J.
Ford, Andrew
Fraccolla, Alicia
Fredericks, Jonathan A.
Freedman, Peter
Frigault, Larry
Fusco, Ralph -
Gaetano, William C.
Gaffney, Brian
Gaspa, John
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Gilroy, Ryan
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Giotto, Frank Giotto, Frank
Giovannone, Joseph
Giovannone, Eric
Giovinazzo, Anthony Goodelle, Thomas Grande, Joseph Grasso, Maureen Green, Gerald J. Griffith, Tyler
Grimmer, Nick
Gudlauski, Sally
Guitian, Orlando Guzski, Steven -
Haider, Nameer Hall, Julie Harrison, Stephen Hart, David M.
Hayes, Matthew Heck, Gregory Heenan, Gary Herthum, Kevin Hewson, Robert Hilton, Robert III
Hobaica, Peter M.
Hobika, Joseph H. Jr.
Hobika, Andrew J. Hobika, Luke
Hobika, Andrew
Hobika, John H. Jr.
Hobika Law Firm
Hotvedt, Peter
Hubbell, Michelle
Hughes, Nathan
Inserra, Salvatore -
Jackson, Brian J.
Jadhon, Anthony
Jay, Robert
Jiampietro, Joseph R.
Johnson, Benjamin Jones, Dennis
Jordan, James JR Sports Golf LessonKain, Shawn M. Kannan, Arul Karl, Peter A. Karp, Jordan Kaye, Ronald I.
Kelberman, Michael Kernan, Adam M. Kernan, James M. Kessinger, Chase W. Kid’s Oneida, Inc.
King, Jamie G. Kline, William J. Knych, Tom
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PJ Green, Inc.
Plis, Dylan
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Popeo, Gerald
Presky, Richard J.
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Reed, Earle C. Reid, Kevin Reul, Carter
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Riggs, Robert F. Rocci, Mario
Rockwell, Justin T.
Rockwell, Paul
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Rohde, Beverly
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Romano, John F. Romano-Groth, Francesca E. Romanow, Steve
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Scharf, David
Scharf, Frank Scharf DeDarro
Scharf Plumbing and Drain Service
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Spath, Mary Spear, Robert L. Sperling, Steven Spinella, Daniel Springer, Mike
Steates, F. Paul
Stefanski, John Steven J. Brown Consulting LLC
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SUNY IT
Sweet, Stephen L.
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Tehan, Arica
Thesier, Danielle
The One Charity Golf Classic
Todd, Christopher
Trainor, Jonathan
Trainor, Kyle
Trainor, Timothy J.
TRAINOR Associates, Inc.
Trociuk, Daniel
Tsoupelis, Symeon S.
Tucci, Keith
Ulahannan, Matthew
Valenti, Kevin
Vandentop, Ashley
Venezio, Richard J.
Verenich, Mark
Veronesi, Keith
Vinal, Zach
Virkler, William M. II
Virkler, William M. Sr.
Visit Syracuse
Voce, Michael J.
Volo, Jace
Wade, John W.
Walser, Robert J.
Ward, Andrew K.
Waszkiewicz, Barbara
Waters, Tim
Welchons, Richard R.
Williams, Ryan
Wilsey, Matthew
Winesett, Steve
Winnicki, Maryann
Wittig, Leon
Yang, Chul J.
Yoss, Eric B.
Zalewski, David
Ziff, Stephen
Zimmer, Gary
Zogby, Stephen R.
Zogby, Brian
Zogby, Adam
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