2023 NYS Men's Mid-Amateur Championship Program

2023

NEW YORK STATE MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Crag Burn Golf Club - East Aurora, New York September 22-24, 2023

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2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

ABOUT THE NYSGA NYSGA Officers

NYSGA Staff

President - Henry Fust, Onondaga G&CC

Bill Moore Executive Director

1st VP - Jamie Miller, Crag Burn GC 2nd VP - Doug Vergith, Chautauqua GC Secretary - Iris Stanek, Lancaster CC Treasurer - Robert Smith, Highland Park GC

Andrew Hickey Assistant Executive Director Dan Thompson Director, Marketing and Partnerships

General Counsel - Peter Jones, Drumlins CC

Jack Travers Assistant Director, Rules & Competitions

NYSGA Executive Committee

Michael Dirkes Manager, Regional Associations

Shawn Baker, Oak Hill CC Lee Bearsch, Binghamton CC John Burns, Niagara Falls CC Ryan Gabel, Southern Dutchess CC Jim Gifford, Mohawk GC Megan Grehan, Hudson National GC Brent Herlihy, Glens Falls CC Lawrence Lessing, The Creek Christy Schultz, Oak Hill CC Frank Suits, Cortland CC Rich Weber, Brookfield CC Brian Williams, Winged Foot CC

Mark Ackley Manager, Course Rating Deb Spilman Manager, Special Events & Volunteer Operations Christopher Buerle Communications Intern Alexander King USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern Damian Rodriguez USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Intern

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

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

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

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

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WELCOME On behalf of the entire New York State Golf Association, welcome to the 39th Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship!

The NYSGA is pleased to join with the leadership and staff of Crag Burn Golf Club to provide a memorable challenge in crowning New York State’s men’s mid-amateur champion.

We are proud to return to this Robert Trent Jones, Sr. masterpiece that was founded in 1969. This will mark our third state championship hosted by Crag Burn in the past decade including the 2017 Men’s Senior & Super Senior, and 2019 Men’s Amateur. The NYSGA has previously held Men’s Mid-Amateurs in 1986, 1999 and 2010.

We anticipate an exciting and memorable competition over the next few days, and the golf course and setup will surely challenge the players to utilize their full ability and skill.

I’d like to offer our thanks and appreciation to the management, club and pro shop staff, and especially the course grounds crew, whose combined efforts have provided us with this wonderful championship venue.

Finally, I’d like to thank our NYSGA staff and fantastic team of tournament volunteers, who work tirelessly to provide a f irst-class experience and support the talented players that participate in our competitions.

We hope you enjoy this year ’s championship and we appreciate your support of our association and tournaments. If there’s anything that we can do to make your experience more enjoyable, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the NYSGA staff.

Sincerely,

Henry W. Fust, President New York State Golf Association

2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

CRAG BURN GOLF CLUB

No. 9 at Crag Burn Golf Club located in East Aurora, N.Y.

In the late 1960s, Frank Goodyear Jr. and his family decided to turn their rarely used polo grounds into a golf course. The family hired Robert Trent Jones Sr. to design a course on the 190-acre f ield where “a group of f riends could play golf ”.

On May 1, 1972, Crag Burn off icially opened its doors. Through the years, many course improvements have been made to Crag Burn, including some commissioned by Robert Trent Jones’ son Reese Jones.

The gently rolling lands; the soils and the drainage pattern which so readily adapted to the creation of small lakes and streams; the mature vegetation ranging f rom lowland maples and ash to beautiful specimens of beech, hickory, hemlock and oaks was all ideally suited for the design of an outstanding golf course.

The physical character of the course emerges in part f rom the diverse nature of the site. Nearly half of the holes play through dense woods. Here, wide fairways are park-like and similar in appearance to Augusta National. The remaining holes are like an open meadowland where amply wide fairways are carved out of tall meadow fescues. The vivid contrast between lush, green bentgrass fairways and the golden color of the fescue roughs impart a character to these holes strongly reminiscent of Shinnecock Hills and the famous links of Scotland.

The course has hosted many amateur events, beginning in 1986 with the New York State Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Crag Burn also hosted this event in 1999 and 2010. More recently, the club hosted the 2017 New York State Men’s Senior and Super Senior Amateur Championship, and most recently the 2019 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship.

Thank you to the leadership & staff at Crag Burn GC for hosting this year’s championship!

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2022 CHAMPIONSHIP

HANES CLAIMS 38TH NYS MID-AM CROWN AT SEVEN OAKS The victory marked Hanes’ first individual state title since the NYS Boys’ 14U Amateur in 2000.

More rain rolled through Seven Oaks Golf Club on Sunday as the final round to crown the 38th NYS Mid-Amateur champion was underway after a weekend of poor weather.

PLACE

NAME

CLUB

SCORE

1

Billy Hanes

Crag Burn GC

71-70-71--212 (-4)

2

Kyle Downey

Locust Hill CC

71-74-69--214 (-2)

3

Carl Schimenti

Cornell University GC

72-72-72--216 (E*)

T4

Jacob Katz

Brookfield CC

76-72-69--217 (+1)

T4

Jim Gifford

Mohawk GC

72-73-72--217 (+1)

Crag Burn’s Billy Hanes posted 1-under to claim the title by two strokes. He finished with a three-round total of 4-under par 212.

He was the only player in the field to fire all three rounds under par in tough fall conditions throughout the championship.

Hanes entered the day with a three-stroke lead, just as he did in 2018, when he ultimately lost the championship in a playoff at Wanakah and finished runner-up.

“I haven’t won an individual state title since 2000,” Hanes said referring to his first NYSGA victory as a Boys’ 14U Junior. “It feels great to win. I hope I can get better in state, national and local events for years to come.”

He also won NYS Men’s Four-Ball titles in 2015 and 2018, and most recently in 2023 with brother David.

Billy Hanes

2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

He also captured the Erie County Am and Buffalo District Match Play last year prior to the state win.

2022 CHAMPIONSHIP “I knew that the rain was coming, and I am not a good rain player,” Hanes said. “I was confident, but I wasn’t that confident mostly because of the rain.”

Hanes played consistent golf from the start and turned at even par. He dropped a stroke on the par-3 11th, and missed a short birdie putt on the 12th, which opened the door for Locust Hill’s Kyle Downey.

Downey strung together three straight birdies beginning on the drivable par-4 13th. He took the lead

Kyle Downey

Carl Schimenti

on the scorable backside at Seven Oaks while Hanes was a few groups behind him.

After hitting his drive just right of the green on 13, that was playing up at 282 yards Sunday, Hanes chipped in for eagle to regain the lead. It was a lead that he wouldn’t again surrender, as Downey eventually three-putted for bogey on the 18th while Hanes knocked in a birdie on the 16th.

Downey matched the tournament low round with a final-round 69.

“I felt like I was playing really well the last couple days, I just had a couple of bad swings and a couple of bad holes that didn’t allow me to get anything going,” Downey said. “I finally got something going today, especially on the back at the turn, where I made three or four birdies in a row.”

He would finish in solo second place for the tournament at 2-under 214, two strokes shy of Hanes.

Jacob Katz

Jim Gifford

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2022 CHAMPIONSHIP

Billy Hanes

“Runner-up is definitely an accomplishment but I’m still knocking on the door waiting for that first win of some kind,” Downey said. “It’s just a little bit frustrating and it’s going to have to wait for another time.” (little did Downey know, he would go on to break through and win the 100th NYS Amateur at Wykagyl in August of 2023).

2021 champion Carl Schimenti, of Cornell University GC, shot even par in all three rounds to finish in third place.

Rounding out the top five were Jacob Katz, of Brookfield CC, and Jim Gifford, of Mohawk GC. Katz also fired a 69 on Sunday to climb the leaderboard and finish tied for fourth with a 1-over 217.

Gifford also finished at 1-over, putting together an even-par final round.

The top 20 finishers earned an exemption into this year’s championship at Crag Burn Golf Club, Hanes’ home club.

The top 10 finishers also earned an exemption into the 2023 Men’s Amateur which was hosted by Wykagyl Country Club.

The course played at 6,821 yards at to a par of 72 for the final round.

Seven Oaks Golf Club hosted the 38th NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in September of 2022.

2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

THE COURSE

1

PAR FOUR 420 YARDS

2

PAR FIVE 607 YARDS

3

PAR FOUR 342 YARDS

4

PAR FOUR 398 YARDS

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THE COURSE

5

PAR THREE 209 YARDS

6

PAR FOUR 410 YARDS

7

PAR THREE 150 YARDS

8

PAR FIVE 532 YARDS

2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

THE COURSE

9

PAR FOUR 409 YARDS

10

PAR FOUR 410 YARDS

11

PAR FOUR 389 YARDS

12

PAR THREE 176 YARDS

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THE COURSE

13

PAR FOUR 410 YARDS

14

PAR FIVE 513 YARDS

15

PAR FOUR 425 YARDS

16

PAR FIVE 529 YARDS

2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

THE COURSE

17

PAR THREE 191 YARDS

18

PAR FOUR 433 YARDS

TOTAL

6,915 YARDS Par 72

Clubhouse at Crag Burn GC.

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PAST CHAMPIONS

Past Champions of the New York State

Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship Year Host Club

Champion

1984

Glens Falls CC

Charles Murphy, Albany

1985

Drumlins CC (East)

Don Allen, Rochester

1986

Crag Burn GC

Ken Andrychuk, Clifton Springs

1987

CC of Rochester

Don Allen, Rochester

1988

Wolferts Roost CC

Bruce Aubin, Poughkeepsie

1989

Bellevue CC

Tom Flynn, Syracuse

1990

Dutchess G&CC

Steve Nosonowitz, Poughkeepsie

1991

Brookfield CC

John Baldwin, New York City

1992

Bristol Harbour GC

Alan Foster, Manlius

1993

McGregor Links CC

Cliff Earle, Saratoga Springs

1994

Wayne Hills CC

David Benedict, Rochester

1995

Ontario GC

Alan Foster, Manlius

1996

Normanside CC

Mike May, Auburn

1997

Elmira CC

Michael Valicenti, Elmira

1998

Yahnundasis GC

Luke Hobika, Utica

1999

Crag Burn GC

Jim Roy, Syracuse

2000

Bellevue CC

Tim Hume, Williamsville

2001

Leatherstocking GC

Jim Roy, Syracuse

2002

Westwood CC

Jim Roy, Syracuse

2003

Teugega CC

Patrick Pierson, Central Nyack

2004

Shaker Ridge CC

Jim Roy, Syracuse

2005

CC of Rochester

Matt Clarke, Loudonville

2006

Brookfield CC

Aaron Tallman, Lancaster

2007

Dutchess G&CC

John Vaccaro, Albany

2008

Elmira CC

Tim Rose, Endicott

2009

Glens Falls CC

Ken Riter, Buffalo

2010

Crag Burn GC

Tim Hume, Cheektowaga

2011

Dutchess G&CC

Jimmy Welch, Valatie

2012

Midvale CC

Tim Spitz, Pittsford

2013

Onondaga G&CC

Jim Scorse, Churchville

2014

Teugega CC

Jamie Miller, Silver Creek

2015

Wolferts Roost CC

Luke Hobika, Dewitt

2016

Stafford CC

Jim Scorse, Churchville

2017

Yahnundasis GC

Patrick Keegan, Rochester

2018

Wanakah CC

Jamie Miller, Hamburg

2019

Tuscarora GC

Bradford Tilley, Easton, Conn.

2020

Suspended for COVID-19 pandemic

2021

Shaker Ridge CC

Carl Schimenti, Ithaca

2022

Seven Oaks GC

Billy Hanes, Elma

2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

PLAYER INFORMATION Entries

The Championship is open to male amateur golfers. Players must be a member of the NYSGA, defined as either belonging to an NYSGA member club or an NYSGA eClub (NYS residency required of eClub members). Players must be at least 25 years old as of September 22, 2023 and must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index of 10.4 or less and issued by their NYSGA member club.

Format

39th NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur - Stroke Play, 54 Holes

Ties

In the event of a tie for either Championship, a sudden-death playoff will be held immediately following play.

Schedule of Events Thursday, September 21 10:00-4:00pm........ Registration 10:00-3:30pm........ Practice rounds Friday, September 22 6:45am....................Registration opens 7:30-9:30am............Round 1 from tee #1 and #10 11:00-3:00pm..........Player lunch 12:30-2:30pm..........Round 1 from tee #1 and #10 Saturday, September 23 6:30am....................Practice facility open 7:30-11:30am..........Round 2 from tee #1 11:30-4:00pm..........Player lunch Sunday, September 24 6:30am....................Practice facility open 7:30-9:30am............Round 3 from tee #1 12:00-4:00pm..........Player lunch 3:30pm....................Award ceremony There is a cut after 18 holes to low-60 players and ties, and after 36 holes to low-30 players and ties.

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2023 NYS MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

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