97th NYS Men's Amateur Championship Program by NYSGA

NINETY SEVENTH ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE MEN’S AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

August 5-8, 2019

East Aurora • New York

WELCOME

A LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS of Crag Burn Golf Club

On behalf of the members and staff of Crag Burn Golf Club and our sponsors, welcome to the 97th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship. We are proud to celebrate our club’s 50th Anniversary with such a prestigious event and host the top amateur golfers in New York State. We recognize that every golfer has worked hard to be here and we look forward to offering a great competition.

When Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed our course he considered it one of his most innovative designs and called it “a forerunner to the return to natural golf courses”; a philosophy that now permeates modern golf course design. Crag Burn’s mission is to provide a challenging golfing experience while preserving the founding member’s vision of establishing a premier club with a welcoming atmosphere where friends gather to enjoy the game of golf. For 50 years, Crag Burn Golf Club has earned a reputation as one of the region’s most impressive places to play golf. From a course rated one of the best in New York State, to an unrivaled practice facility and a memorable and historic clubhouse, the “Crag Burn experience” is unique.

We appreciate that players, families, officials and volunteers have provided their time and efforts to travel to Western New York for this great event and our intention is to provide everyone a warm and hospitable time in East Aurora. We wish you all the best for a successful and enjoyable week of competition.

Sincerely,

The Board of Governors

CRAG BURN

CRAG BURN GOLF CLUB

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Bob Blum, President

Al Baratto, Vice President

Mark Hoffman, Treasurer

Billy Hanes, Secretary

Doug Harty

Mike McClintock

Jon Boland

Bill Daley

Tom Habermehl

Mike Boyczcuk

George Ferraro

Kevin Walsh

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Dan Franklin, General Manager

Frank LaForce, Head Golf Professional

Tim Falkner, Assistant Golf Professional

Tony Saccomanno, Assistant Golf Professional

Mark “Captain” Kirk, Master Instructor

J. Ned Booth, CGCS, Head Superintendent

Kevin Glowka, Assistant Superintendent

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT of the New York State Golf Association

Welcome to the 97th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship. The New York State Golf Association is proud to partner with Crag Burn Golf Club to provide a fair, challenging test in our efforts to identify New York’s top amateur golfer. We are excited to showcase this wonderful Robert Trent Jones, Sr. layout and are grateful for the club’s membership and staff for their continued support.

In addition to the NYS Men’s Amateur, the NYSGA conducts eight amateur championship which crown a total of 17 state champions. These championships are open to men and women, juniors and seniors, of all golfing abilities. It takes a dedicated group of staff and volunteers to run these championships at the highest level. Our NYSGA team works hard to be the best and it shows. Thank you all for your dedication and support.

I’d also like to thank Crag Burn and all the NYSGA member clubs who generously give their courses and facilities to support amateur golf. We simply could not do this without your partnership.

It takes years of practice and dedication to reach this level of competition. We congratulate you on your efforts and wish you the best of luck in your pursuit to hoist the Ganson Depew Cup.

Warren Winslow President, NYSGA

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 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 in his debut Winged Foot Golf Club’s West Course. Billows’ was a true ‘rags to riches’

HISTORYCONTINUED

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 golfers 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

Ray Billows

Jeff Sluman

Sam Urzetta

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 now a 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. This record four round total would stand until Dominic Bozzelli shot a blistering 277 (11-under) to claim his second title in 2012 at Elmira Country Club. Sindelar turned pro in 1980 and won the first of his seven PGA Tour events at the Greater Greensboro Open in 1985.

Jamie and Joey Sindelar

Past Champions of the New York State Men’s Amateur Championship

Past Champions of the New York State

Men’s Amateur Championship

Year Host Club Champion

1923 Garden City CC Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City

1924 Orchard Park GC Lee Chase, Buffalo

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 CC Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City

1934 Sagamore GC Edmund Driggs, Jr., Garden City

1935 Winged Foot (West) Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie

Year Host Club Champion

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 Jeff Sluman, Rochester

1979 Drumlins CC (East) Mark Balen, East Aurora

1980 Vestal Hills CC Joey Sindelar, Horseheads

1981 Wanakah CC James Roy, Syracuse

1982 McGregor Links CC David Boeff, Ontario

1983 Elmira CC William Boland, Jr., Troy

1936 Bellevue CC Tommy Goodwin, Rye 1984 CC of Troy George Zahringer, Sands Point

1937 Oak Hill CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie

1937 Oak Hill CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie 1985 Ridgemont CC Christopher Lane, Binghamton

1938 Oak Ridge GC Willie Turnesa, Elmsford

1985 Ridgemont CC Christopher Lane, Binghamton

1986 Knollwood CC Jay Gunning, Colonie

1939 Siwanoy CC Richard Chapman, Larchmont 1987 Oak Hill CC (East) Tim Straub, East Aurora

1939 Siwanoy CC Richard Chapman, Larchmont

1987 Oak Hill CC (East) Tim Straub, East Aurora

1940 Onondaga G&CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie 1988 Yahundasis GC Tim Straub, East Aurora

1940 Onondaga G&CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie

1941 CC of Troy Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie

1942 Niagara Falls CC Alex Stevenson, Niagara Falls

1943 Lake Placid Club Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie

1944 Lake Placid Club Joe Ruszas, Albany

1945 Oak Hill CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie

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

1988 Yahundasis GC Tim Straub, East Aurora

1989 Vestal Hills CC Tim Marsh, Endicott

1990 Albany CC Joe Wilson, Rochester

1991 Brook-Lea CC Leonard Lasinsky, Syracuse

1992 Drumlins CC (East) Todd Dischinger, Syracuse

1993 Seven Oaks GC Jeffrey Peck, Clifton Springs

1994 Cobblestone Creek CC David Bonacchi, Rochester

1995 Moon Brook CC Dirk Ayers, Jamestown

1996 Links at Hiawatha GC Michael Valicenti, Elmira

1949 Syracuse Yacht & CC Ray Billows, Poughkeepsie 1997 Dutchess G&CC Greg Rohlf, New Rochelle

1950 Binghamton CC Mike Dudik, Endicott

1951 Knollwood CC Billy Shields, Albany

1997 Dutchess G&CC Greg Rohlf, New Rochelle

1998 Pinehaven CC Bryan Smith, Kingston

1951 Knollwood CC Billy Shields, Albany 1999 Wanakah CC John Gaffney, Buffalo

1952 Wolfert's Roost CC Billy Shields, Albany

1953 Yahnundasis CC Tommy Goodwin, Rye

1954 Fairview CC Robert Monk, White Plains

1955 Moon Brook CC Billy Shields, Albany

1956 Dutchess G&CC Joe Gagliardi, Larchmont

1957 Elmira CC Jack Veghte, Gloversville

1958 Yahnundasis CC John Konsek, Buffalo

1959 CC of Troy John Konsek, Buffalo

1960 Locust Hill CC John Konsek, Buffalo

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

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

2005 Brookwoods CC James Scorse, Churchville

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

2017 Bethpage Black Adam Condello, Fairport

2018 Irondequoit CC Will Thomson, Pittsford

The NYSGA Committee and Staff

The New York State Golf Association consists of over 100 volunteers, led by an executive committee of 13 representatives. These men and women work tirelessly with the NYSGA staff to administer the NYS Amateur Championships, the NYSGA Amateur Series, USGA qualifiers, and regional competitions.

NYSGA Officers

President

Warren Winslow, Western Turnpike GC

1st Vice President

Joseph Enright, Lancaster CC

Treasurer

Henry Fust, Onondaga G&CC

General Counsel

David Hayes, Skaneateles CC

Secretary

Iris Stanek, Lancaster CC

NYSGA Executive Committee

Brian Clark, Burden Lake CC

John Cooney, Burden Lake CC

Ryan Gabel, Southern Dutchess CC

Richard Galvin, Ontario CC

Jamie Miller, Wanakah CC

Joseph Strykowski, Elmira CC

Doug Vergith, Chautauqua GC

Rich Weber, Brookfield CC

Tom Andrews

Fred Arliss

Larry Arliss

Michael Aquino

Christine Badger

Ray Badger

John Barry

John Bartholomew

Tom Baustert

Lee Bearsch

David Beattie

Al Belair

Marci Bevilacqua

Doreen Biviano

John Blain

Vincent Bonvino

Timothy Brady

Robert Branham

Skip Brennan

Daniel Bronchetti

Gene Bullis

John Bullis

John Burns

Ron Case

Sue Chambers

Michael Chianelli

Brian Clark

Matt Clarke

James Coleman

Andrew Conway

James Cook

John Cooney

Glenn Coons

Thomas Cotter

George Cretekos

Jerry Danielski

John Davis

Garrett Davitt

Ellen Densen

Dick Desorbo

Gerry Dewolf

Todd Dischinger

Michael Donnelly

Dick Dorgan

NYSGA Staff

Bill Moore Executive Director

Andrew Hickey Assistant Executive Director

Dan Thompson Director of Marketing and Partnerships

Deb Spilman Office Manager

Mark Ackley Manager of Course Rating

Jim Ironside Tournament Director

Sara Stanley Communications Intern

Adam Blackwell

USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern

Mike Timmerman

USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern

NYSGA Sectional Affairs Committee

Dorothy Downing

Michael Drennen

Georgia Dusckas

Tom Eckert

Joe Enright

John Ernst

Ed Evans

Vie Evans

Michael Fitzgerald

Mark Fitzgerald

Georgette Folley

Bob Forward

Tim Frank

Henry Fust

Ryan Gabel

John Gaffney

Tom Gallagher

Richard Galvin

Bill Geider

John Grajko

Walter Grajko

Brad Griffin

Greg Harden

David Hayes

Joe Hazard

Sherry Heath

Jeff Holmes

Braden Houston

Marge Hubbell

Bob Hubbell

John Hudacs

Al Huggard

Don Hurley

Eric Ingalls

Ed Kaczor

John Kaeselau

Bill Kaminski

Robert Kawa

Tim Kayes

Stephen Keeler

Mary Ann Keeler

David Kokes

Edward Koslick

John Kulesa

Peter Lalla

Janis Luce

Ron Mack

Shari Mantini

Sue Marsh

Robert Martin

Ronald Mason

Pat Mayne

Jim McConnell

James McKillip

Jim Meyers

Gene Meyle

Ginny Meyle

Jamie Miller

Bill Moore

Bill Moreland

Gregory Moreland

Albert Mowery

James Murrett

Richard North

Thomas Owen

Shelly Pargh

Richard Pearce

Kinny Post

Joe Pucello

John Quijano

Nick Raasch

Bob Raimo

John Reagan

Tom Reidy

Joseph Riccio

Gary Rider

Robert Rosen

Sean Rotella

Chris Schmidt

Tim Schum

Patrick Shatzel

Martin Siefka

Bob Simms

Sue Sims

John Sniezyk

Don Sommerville

Ron Socash

Jerry Stahl

Iris Stanek

Edward Stanek

Al Stockholm

Nancy Stockholm

Peter Stoj

Joe Strykowski

John Sullivan

Joe Szyikowski

Thelma Taylor

John Teegardin

Edward Thaney

John Urtz

David Vaneenenaam

Douglas Vergith

Mona Wasserman

Rich Weber

John Wheeler

Richard Wilson

Warren Winslow

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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. Required for all non-exempt players.

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.

SCHEDULE

Monday, August 5 - Practice rounds

Tuesday, August 6 - Round 1 (18 holes)

Wednesday, August 7 - Round 2 (18 holes).

Thursday, August 8 - Rounds 3 & 4 (36 holes)

GANSON DEPEW CUP

The champion will be awarded possession of the Ganson Depew Cup for a period of one year.

Players Exempt from Qualifying

1. Winners of the NYS Men’s Amateur Championship from the last 10 years.

2. From the 2018 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 20th place.

3. Winners of the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship from the last 5 years.

4. From the 2018 NYS Men’s Mid-Men’s Amateur Championship, the 10 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 10th place.

5. Winner and runner-up of the 2019 NYS Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship

6. Winner and runner-up of the 2019 NYSPHSAA Boys’ Golf Championship.

7. Winner of the 2018 NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship.

8. Most recent (as of August 6, 2019) winner or low amateur (*professional events) of the following 9. regional championships.

• BDGA Individual Championship

• CCR Invitational

• CRAGA Championship

• Delaware County Amateur

• Dutchess County Amateur

• LIGA Hebron Individual Amateur

• LIGA Open*

• MET Open*

• MGA Amateur

• MGA Ike

10. From the 2019 Monroe Invitational, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 20th place.

11. From the 2019 Porter Cup, the 20 lowest scorers and anyone tied for 20th place.

12. Players ranked in the top-1500 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

13. Host club exemptions (2).

14. Special exemptions as selected by the NYSGA.

New York State Men’s Amateur Championship Records

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)

2 – Four players with two victories

Widest Margin of Victory (During Match Play Era)

13 & 12 – Kevin Haefner (2001)

13 & 11 – Joe Ruszas (1944)

11 & 10 – Dirk Ayers (1995)

Longest Match

39 Holes – Ray Billows def. Johnny Ward (1949)

Youngest Champion

17 – Nick Raasch (1966)

17 – Yaroslav Merkulov (2009)

17 – Will Thomson (2018)

Oldest Champion

44 – Joe Gagliardi (1956)

Highest Winning Total (72 Holes)

298 (+10) – Donald Allen (1973)

Lowest Winning Total (72 Holes)

277 (-11) – Dominic Bozzelli (2012)

280 (-9) – Joey Sindelar (1980)

Lowest Consecutive Rounds

66,67 – Jeff Sluman (1978)

66,67 – Jeffrey Peck (1992)

Most Masters Appearances

3 – Donald Allen (1965, 1966, 1967)

2 – Ray Billows (1939, 1940)

Most Walker Cup Appearances

2 – Donald Allen (1965, 1967)

2 – Ray Billows (1938, 1949)

2 – Sam Urzetta (1951, 1953)

Nick Raasch Donald Allen

Jeff Sluman Ray Billows

Joe Gagliardi

2019 Buick Encore

2019 Chevrolet Equinox

1st Hole /Par 4/420 Yards

The opening hole, while offering a wide fairway, favors a tee shot toward to left side away from traps guarding the corner. Protected by rough mounds on the left and traps right, a significant back to front sloping green rewards approach shots close to the pin location.

2nd Hole /Par 5/607 Yards

The longest par 5 on the course, the fairway is bracketed by trees on both sides for the first 300 yards then opens with view of the green guarded by a large pond and a single trap. A solid 2nd shot sets up an approach that can provide par or birdie opportunities to this green with few undulations.

3rd Hole /Par 4/342 Yards

Shortest of the par fours, this slight dogleg left offers a birdie opportunity and is driveable for some golfers. A good drive left of center and solid wedge shot sets-up your par / birdie opportunity. The green is deep and narrow and well guarded traps bordering both sides.

4th Hole /Par 4/427 Yards

Another dogleg to the right with a tree line protecting any shot too tight to the corner. While bunkers protect the far left side, there is ample fairway for a drive. The approach shot will face an open green tilted back to front with traps on both perimeters and the rear.

5th Hole /Par 3/209 Yards

A classic Trent Jones par 3 with water covering the back, left and a portion of the front of the L- shaped green. The tee plays downhill to a green with a low front high middle and low back-left section. Pin location will determine if you need to carry the water or not.

6th Hole /Par 4/410 Yards

A straight tee shot or slight fade does well as the right side is protected by some well placed trees. With a green protected on the front left and on the right, an accurate approach shot is a must. The green is sloped and undulating.

7th Hole /Par 3/199 Yards

A challenging hole greets you on this par 3. Water covers the entire green front wrapping around the right side with traps covering most shots hit long. The green is wide with undulations, but narrow. It’s all about the tee shot.

8th Hole /Par 5/524 Yards

The tee shot favors a right to left drive with a fairway that has a bend in that direction. A line of traps along the left can penalize those trying to cut the corner. With a good drive the player will have a view of the green showing traps on the left side. Going for the green in two is possible as the green front is open to a well hit shot.

9th Hole /Par 4/409 Yards

The ninth features a dogleg left with two traps located where the fairway turns toward the hole. The hole design offers a chance to cut the corner, but missing in the wrong spot will create a difficult approach shot from the trap or rough. This tiered green is protected by traps on the left.

10th Hole /Par 4/467 Yards

A par 4 that offers a straight-away view of the green from the tee. One fairway trap on the left protects that side of the fairway. A large bunker guards the left side of the green. The green has numerous tiers which offers several challenging pin placements. Pin location will dictate approach shot selection.

11th Hole /Par 4/389 Yards

Another short dogleg right with a huge bunker guarding the corner. A drive right of center will allow for a short pitch to a challenging two tiered green with traps front and left. Water will greet most shots going left over the green.

12th Hole /Par 3/176 Yards

Water left, traps right & back, protect a large deep green. Shot selection will depend on pin location to a green with a slight right to left slope.

13th Hole /Par 4/477 Yards

The longest par 4 on the course has an elevated tee looking toward a wide fairway. A well placed fairway bunker on the right protects that side of the fairway. The approach shot is key as the green front open, but protected by sand and heather on three sides.

14th Hole /Par 5/513 Yards

A drive beyond trees on the left will open to a view of the green with a risk-reward shot of going for the green in two. A water hazard covers the entire approach to a sizeable green with few undulations.

15th Hole /Par 4/425 Yards

Drive placement is key on this dogleg left with trees & rough lining both sides of the fairway. The tiered green is slightly elevated and open on the front with sand left front and back right.

16th Hole /Par 5/529 Yards

The 16th fairway offers the option of a tee shot over the left dogleg corner that is guarded by three traps. A diagonal brook crosses the fairway about 90 yards short of the green. The green is deep, and well protected with traps bordering both sides and the brook left.

17th Hole /Par 3/194 Yards

Hitting to a wide, but narrow green, seventeen is protected by two deep traps in front and downhill sand and heather in back. It’s all about the tee shot on this hole.

18th Hole /Par 4/433 Yards

Eighteen offers a unique site with a stand of trees bisecting the center left of the fairway. A solid tee shot is critical to attacking a deep green that slopes toward the water and has a large bunker on the right.

2018 NYS Men’s Amateur Recap

Irondequoit Country Club

August 6-9 2018

Thomson Birdies 72nd Hole to Win 96th NYS Men’s Amateur in Dramatic Finish

With a birdie on the 72nd hole, Will Thomson claimed the 96th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship by a stroke at Irondequoit Country Club.

Thomson fired a tournament-low 67 in the fourth and final round and finished at 7-under 281.

Finishing in second was Chris Blyth of Mendon Golf Club, who pieced together a 69 in the afternoon and ended up at 282.

Defending champion, Adam Condello of Locust Hill, was the only player in the field under par through the first three rounds but closed with an unexpected 81 to finish in eighth at 292.

17-year-old Thomson walked up the eighteenth fairway knowing he needed a birdie to win. From 204 yards, he crushed a 7-iron uphill and placed his shot twelve feet short of the flagstick, leaving himself an easy two putt for the venerable title.

“I was close last year, had a battle with Adam (Condello) coming down to it. It feels really good to be close to home and come out on this golf course, play really well on my last eighteen, especially my last nine,” said Thomson of winning locally in Rochester. “It’s my first win in a while and it feels really good to have all the hard work pay off.”

Thomson became the third youngest winner of the championship, joining 1965 winner Nick Raasch and 2009 winner Yaroslav Merkulov, who also won the Ganson Depew Cup at age 17.

In the penultimate group, Blyth was 5-under through 71 holes and knew he was one stroke behind Thomson. He gave himself a long chance for eagle on the home hole, but was unable to convert it to try to force a playoff.

Thomson, who now has three New York State Amateur titles under his belt (won the Sub-Junior back-to-back years in 2013-14), didn’t feel like he had his best stuff this week, but finally turned it on during the final round.

He credited the momentum swing to his chipin eagle from just off the green on the iconic seventh hole at Irondequoit. “I think that kind of kick-started me. The putter still didn’t feel that great, but then I made a really clutch six-footer for par on eight. Then a solid four-foot putt on nine for birdie. Then it started. I finally saw a few go in and got hot.”

While Thomson was finding his stride, Condello began to get into a funk that he was unable to retreat from. He doubled the difficult eighth hole, and then proceeded to tack on five bogeys and a double on the back to shoot an 81, a rare occurrence for Condello.

“The final round definitely doesn’t reflect the way I normally play, but that’s golf. An old bad habit crept in and I just couldn’t stop it. Every shot after that went left.”

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Regardless of his final round performance, Condello played the best in the field through three rounds with 71-70-70, and entered the final eighteen at 5-under. “Once it starts to build and I’m out of it, it’s so tough to mentally get back into it. After that I just tried to stay out of Will’s way.”

Thomson assured the media he would be back to defend in 2019 at Buffalo’s Crag Burn Golf Club next year.

“Yeah I’ll be there. I’m excited for that. I’ve never played it, but heard it’s special.”

Crag Burn Village est. 1972

CONGRATULATIONS CRAG BURN GOLF CLUB ON YOUR

50TH A IVERSARY

Good Luck to all New York State Amateur Participants from

CRAG BURN VILLAGE RESIDENTS & GOLF CLUB MEMBERS

Craig & Kathy Anthony

Tom & Donna Lombardo

Bob & Judy Bonney

Jim & Betty May

David & Jessica Brason

George & Molly Morris

Tom & Kim Brewer

Jim & Rosemary Olchawski

Bob & Lynn Butcher

Jim & Barbara Prise

Richard & Liz Cheney

Bob & Bonita Shumaker

Bill & Jeanie Daley

Kurt & Lisa Wiedenhaupt

Chris & Michelle Dantonio

Walt & Mary Jane Zurowski

George & Jane Ferraro

Don & Denise Fishback

Connie Green

Gary & Sher Grelick

Gary & Verna Kielich

WNY's Ultimate Des Pet Boarding &

Summer Estate

Crag Burn HISTORY

Tragedy in the Fields

In 1929, Frank H. Goodyear Jr., a prominent Buffalonian and his wife, Dorothy Knox, daughter of Seymour Knox, one of the founders of the Woolworth Corporation, began construction on a summer estate in East Aurora called Crag Burn. The name gets its origins from the Scottish words “Crag,” meaning “top of the bluff,” and “Burn,” meaning “small stream,” an apt description of this beautiful property. An elaborate English Style house with more than 60 rooms was designed by John Russell Pope in collaboration with Frederick Law Olmstead and built on 113 acres on North Davis Road. Across the road, 190 acres of grounds included magnificent stables, service buildings, polo fields, and bridle paths. Tragically, in 1930 Frank Goodyear Jr. died in a car crash before his Crag Burn estate was completed.

In 1938 tragedy struck Crag Burn once again. Lieutenant Commander Frank Hawks, a famous speed flyer, often took people for plane rides in the area. Hawks was meeting with Dorothy’s brother-in-law, Hazard Campbell Sr., to seek funding for a small plane he had landed out on the polo fields. The pair went for a ride, but shortly after takeoff, the plane struck wires and crashed, killing both Hawks and Campbell. Some say the grass has never been the same color and that an outline of the crash site is still visible on the tenth hole today.

HISTORYCONTINUED

From Horses to Birdies

By the late 1960s, the polo fields and bridle paths near the estate’s stable were seeing very little use. The horses had long been sold, and the fields had begun to return to nature. Dorothy Knox Goodyear’s son Bobby and son-in-law, Clint Wyckoff, had the idea to turn a 190-acre parcel into a golf course, a fitting use for the beautiful landscape and existing structures. Dorothy gave the property to the pair in 1969, and they hired prominent American golf course architect and family friend, Robert Trent Jones Sr., to design the course.

Bobby, his sister Dottie, her husband Clint, and their sons Peter, Ranny, and Kevin – all avid golfers – recruited friends and family to help fund the construction of a club where “a group of friends could play golf.” This integral group of early supporters, roughly 50 people in all, became the club’s founding members.

A Course is Built

The group was adamant, after seeing other Robert Trent Jones designed courses, that the Crag Burn course would become the premier course in Western New York and that any real estate development would be secondary. Given the combination of heavily wooded sections and open fields, Mr. Jones was commissioned to build a course that would capitalize on the terrain of the property. The front nine would be a parksstyle course and run through the wooded section. The back nine would have a more open, traditional feel of a links course. Seven ponds were dug to enhance the design with the soil providing topography for tees and greens.

Oakgrove Construction and Newgolf, Inc. began construction in 1970. A sophisticated valve system was installed to regulate the flow of water between the ponds. Robert Trent Jones had hired the best people in the business, among them contractor Bill Baldwin, who had some of the world’s best equipment operators on his crew. In fact, the man who put down the final layer of

soil on the greens was able to translate a handscrawled Robert Trent Jones sketch into the delicate undulations that characterize Crag Burn’s greens today.

The clubhouse was fashioned from the original stable, immediately lending a sense of history to the new club. Many of the original details of the stable were kept, including the magnificent slate roof and horse stalls, which created unique alcoves for dining guests. The groom’s cottage for the stables became the pro shop.

Course Opens for Play

By May 1, 1972, Crag Burn welcomed its first foursome. That honor went to Ranny Wyckoff, Peter Wyckoff, David Smith, and Edwin Johnston. The greens hadn’t quite grown in fully as the first shot was hit by Peter Wyckoff, the club’s first treasurer. The foursome proceeded to have a great match and a wonderful time; Crag Burn had become exactly what its co-founders had imagined. This year marks the Club’s 50th Anniversary from a vision to Championship golf course.

Trouble Into Triumph

Although membership grew slowly throughout the 1970s, by 1981, the club was struggling financially so a group of members stepped in

and formed a partnership of 27 limited partners and four general partners – Jay Wattles, Jim Smith, Barry Snyder, and Gary Grelick – called

Crag Burn Associates. The group assumed control of Crag Burn, took over its operations, invested heavily and raised capital, re-financed the club, and put their focus on preserving first the course and then the buildings. They also brought the membership from about 150 members to nearly 250. By 1999, the club was back in sound financial shape, and the group had reached their goal of selling Crag Burn back to the membership for essentially the same price at which they purchased it.

Crag Burn Today

Over the years, numerous course improvements have been made, some designed by Robert Trent Jones’ son Reese Jones, while maintaining the ingenuity and integrity of the original design. The practice facility at Crag Burn is widely considered to be one of the finest in the country. As members say, “If you can think of a shot, you can practice it at Crag Burn.” A state-of-the art, 13,500-squarefoot maintenance facility was constructed in 1991, and remains one of the largest in Western New York.

Today, Crag Burn reflects the original vision of its founders as one of the finest golf courses to be built. Far from pretentious, the club is simply a place where good friends can gather and play golf on one of the most challenging and beautiful courses in the state.

Blue & Gold

Coming from a family of equestrians, Seymour Knox II, Dorothy’s brother, raised trotter horses and had a very famous one named The Red Abbey. The horse’s racing colors were blue and gold, the colors of East Aurora, which became the team colors of the Buffalo Sabres under the Knox family’s ownership and the official colors of Crag Burn.

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