The 15th annual Gazette’s Capital
District Newspaper in Eduction
Junior Golf Championship is the best deal in town for youngsters ages 12 to 18.
For $35, junior golfers not only get the opportunity to play a tournament round at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course, but they also receive lunch and a bunch of great prizes, including door prizes that even the casual golfer would cherish.
The tournament, one of five sponsored by The Daily Gazette, is set for Aug. 3.
“The Daily Gazette is proud to support the game of golf, and in particular junior golf,” said Gazette general manager Dan Beck. “We’ve had a number of very talented players win our tournament over the years and move on to having fine careers in the game. But we’ve also enjoyed introducing the game to many youngsters who have never played in a tournament before. Seeing the faces of the youngsters play in their first tournament is just as rewarding as seeing all the talented players compete in our event over the years.
“Not only are we proud to support junior golfers, but it’s also important to support the N.I.E. program, which is such an integral part of our business.“
Competition is divided into divisions for boys ages 12-14, boys ages 15-18 and girls ages 12-18. Gross and net prizes will be awarded to the top three in each division. There also will be prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin.
Even players who don’t win prizes
for their play can win fabulous door prizes, which include golf balls, clubs and greens fees to numerous area courses. The winners are picked out of a hat and are posted on a board that the players can see when they pass the clubhouse.
Beverages and snacks will also be provided at the turn.
If juniors don’t have official handicaps, we will establish one for them by using their last 10 scores — or as many as they can give us.
Last year’s champions were
Louis Walsh in the boys’ 15-18 division, Zach Scala in the boys’ 12-14 division and Bailey Cocca in the girls’ 12-18 division.
Entry deadline is July 23. Send entries to N.I.E. Junior Golf
Tournament, The Gazette, 2345 Maxon Road Ext. P.O. Box 1090, Schenectady, NY 12301-1090.
There will be an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Participants must be at the course no later than 7:30 a.m.
This is always one of my favorite tournaments to cover, because it’s all about the future of the game. Watching these youngsters excel, whether it be with their score or their appreciation of the game, is priceless.
Don’t forget that parents are
allowed to caddy. There is no doubt that this family-friendly event will provide plenty of long-lasting memories.
STRONG FIELD
FOR STATE AMATEUR
Local qualifying medalists T.J. Sumigray of Fox Run and Steve Quillinan Jr. of the Country Club of Troy lead a youthful but powerful area contingent in this week’s State Amateur Golf Championship, Tuesday through Thursday at Elmira Country Club.
Joining Sumigray and Quillinan, the recent winner of the Troy
Invitational, will be Will Malia and three-time Gazette County Am champ Robby Bigley Jr., both of Pinehaven Country Club; Austin Teal, Ian Teal, Davis Jensen and Ryan Caponera of Schuyler Meadows Club; Matthew Pallottino of Albany Country Club; Edward Hart of Rolling Hills at Antlers; Zachary Scala of Van Schaick Island Country Club; Jim Gifford of Mohawk Golf Club; Taylor Bellamare of Hoosick Falls Country Club; Jay Gargiulo of The Edison Club; Jimmy Sullivan of the Country Club of Troy; and Corey Purcell of Shaker Ridge Country Club.
Olde Kinderhook’s Jim Welch, a three-time Troy Invitational winner and a former New York State Mid-Amateur champion, earned an exemption, along with Jeb Buchanan of Wolferts Roost Country Club and this year’s Tri-County Match Play champion, Chris Barach of Mohawk.
A special open qualifier will be held today at Elmira CC to add more spots to the field.
No area player has won a State Am title since Jay Gunning in 1986.
SHOOTOUT FOLLOWUP
The 19th annual Eagle Crest Shootout was exciting, as usual, even with the switch to a best-ball format in both the 18-hole qualifier and the shootout itself.
But I was thinking that a nice twist would be for the shootout contestants to play alternate-shot, which would not only speed up play but add a lot of strategy to the new format.
I would suggest that the contestants could pick who would drive, hit the approach shot or roll the putt on each hole and not force them to alternate tee shots, etc. Could be fun.
CHIP SHOTS
u The Mohawk Golf Club Member-Guest kicks off Friday through Sunday, but despite the fact that there are numerous new additions
to the club who are among the area’s best players, many of those newcomers have yet to commit to competing in the championship flight of this event.
u Stephanie Bednar of Columbia Golf & Country Club (fifth, 231, plus-15), Gail Brophy of Saratoga National (17th, 240, plus-24), Pat Mayne of Western Turnpike (24th, 244, plus-28) and Grace Ziamandanis of Albany CC (31st, 251, plus-35) represented the area at the State Women’s Amateur at Seneca Falls Country Club this week. Brophy was sixth, and Mayne was eighth in the Mid-Amateur flight.
u The annual ALS Memorial Open at Van Patten Golf Course raised a net total of $124,247 for St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center, which is a record for the 22-year-old event. Don Zee won the men’s gross title with a four-under-par 69, while Heidi Harkins won the women’s gross title with a 76.
Joseph Culella won the Pebble Beach Lexus Champions for Charity raffle, but donated the trip back, and it was auctioned off for $12,500.
u Victor Fox of Normanside Country Club, Don DeNyse III of Capital Hills at Albany, Justin Deitz of The Edison Club, Mill Road Acres assistant pro Joe Fitzsimmons and Eagle Crest assistant Scott Battiste will represent the Capital Region in the annual State Open Tuesday through Thursday at the Bethpage State Park Black Course.
u Airway Meadows Golf Course will host the third annual South Glens Falls Alumni Association Golf Tournament Aug. 4 at 7:15 a.m. Entry fee for the four-person scramble is $70, and includes golf, cart, light lunch, mulligans and a raffle. Contact Jim Hunt (793-0804) or Rob Spratt (742-0026) for more information.
u Also at Airway Meadows, the Junior Achievement Adirondack Golf Tournament will be held July 31. Entry fee is $80, and includes golf, cart, beer and soda and lunch at the turn and a cookout following the tournament. Contact Susan Klippel at 792-3177 for more information.
u Stadium Golf Club will host the 12th annual Dick Roberts Memorial Golf Tournament Sept. 8. Presented by the Dutchmen Gridiron Club, proceeds will support the Union College football program. Entry fee is $160, and includes lunch, golf gifts and a 3 p.m. buffet, raffle and live auction. Call Gary Reynolds at 388-6548 for more information.
u The Eastern New York Golf Association will host its Harry and Bonnie Clark A-B-C-D Championship event Wednesday at Orchard Creek. There will be a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
u Local pros from the Northeastern New York PGA will compete in the Windham Pro-Am at Windham Country Club Monday.
u The Stamford Women’s Golf Association’s eighth annual Queen of the Catskills Golf Tournament will be held July 28 at Stamford Golf Club. Among the special hole-in-one prizes will be $100,000 for an ace on the eighth hole. Contact Yolanda Trappenburg (607-652-9094),
Lucienne Jessen (441-8852) or Joyce Jaret (607-538-1049) for more information.
u The seventh annual golf tournament to benefit Amanda’s House, a home away from home for families of patients at Glens Falls
Hospital, will be held Aug. 5 at Country Meadows, a 14-hole executive course on Route 149 between Fort Ann and Lake George. Entry fee for the four-person scramble is just $25, and includes a buffet after golf. There will be a 3 p.m. shotgun start. For more information, contact Country Meadows.
u The inaugural Puttin’ for Kids golf fundraiser to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, will be held July 27. Entry fee for the four-person scramble at Western Turnpike Golf Club is $500 per foursome, and
includes golf, cart, breakfast, lunch, a hot and cold buffet after golf and a gift bag. Contact Joe Trapasso at 348-0870 for more information.
u The 14th annual Glenville
Rotary Golf Classic will be held Aug. 2
at Van Patten Golf Course. Entry fee for the four-person scramble is $100, and includes a snack at the turn and lunch. Call John Weldon at 399-0048 or 596-0320.
u The Joe Merendo Invitational Swing Fore Kids will be held Aug. 10
at Amsterdam Municipal. The four-person scramble begins with a noon shotgun. Entry fee is $100, and includes golf, lunch, prime rib dinner, Titleist grab bag and prizes. Proceeds will help raise funds to benefit local junior golfers through Merendo’s summer clinics, and will also help support local high school golf teams. Call Joe the Pro or Laura at the Amsterdam Municipal pro shop for more information.
u Amsterdam Municipal will host the Dolly Day Tournament on July 27. The event is named after Dolly Lazarou, who held the course record for many years with a 64. Proceeds will go to the United Way of Montgomery County.
HOLES-IN-ONE
Fran Zwicklebauer used a 7-wood from 135 yards to record a hole-in-one on the 13th hole at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.
Also at Schenectady Municipal, John Ciancetta aced the same 13th hole, playing at 150 yards, with a 7-iron.
At the Country Club of Troy, Bill Ryan of Loudonville aced the 205-yard 12th hole with a 3-hybrid. It was his second career hole-in-one.
While on vacation, Joe Daddario of the Hank’s Rotterdam Elks league holed out with an 8-iron on the
103-yard eighth hole at Bay Golf Club in Ocean City, Md.
Dave Stevens of Altamont aced the 135-yard second hole with a
6-iron at Mechanicville Golf Club.
EAGLES
Glenn Stopera posted a double eagle on the par-5, 467-yard 10th hole at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course.
Also at Amsterdam Municipal, Dave Niezgoda (third), Jim Ammerall (10th), Jim Scheckton (12th) and Claude Hinkle (14th) recorded eagles.
Dennis Flanagan eagled the 15th hole at Briar Creek.
While competing in the Tuesday Muni Seniors league at Schenectady Municipal, Dan Nicholas eagled the second hole.
Also at Schenectady Municipal, Leland Quivey Jr. eagled the ninth hole for the second time in two weeks, and Ed Hackett Jr. also eagled the ninth hole.
Bob Pollard of Hank’s Rotterdam Elks league eagled the par-4 fourth hole by sinking a 9-iron shot.
At Hales Mills Country Club, Derch Barnholt eagled the
469-yard first hole.
Categories: -Sports-
