Down The Fairway: Second State Am sectional at Pinehaven on Monday

Many of the best players in the Capital Region will be shooting for berths in the 91st annual New York State Men’s Amateur Golf Championship — this summer’s showcase event — when the second of two sectional qualifiers is held Monday at Pinehaven Country Club.

Among the hopefuls are former Tri-County Match Play champions Chad Stoffer of Town of Colonie and Dave Mooradian of the Country Club of Troy; reigning Albany County Amateur titlist Victor Fox of Normanside Country Club, who is headed to Maryland this fall; Siena College graduate Justin Deitz of The Edison Club; three-time Gazette County Amateur winner Robby Bigley of the host club; former Eagle Crest Shootout champ Todd Czepiel of Shaker Ridge Country Club; former New York State Mid-Amateur winner Matt Clarke of the Country Club of Troy; and multiple Troy Invitational and Capital Region Amateur Golf Association player of the Year Dan Russo of Rolling Hills at Antlers Country Club.

Eighteen players advanced from the first local sectional qualifier last week at Ballston Spa Country Club. Bill Paulsen Jr. (Eagle Crest), Louis Walsh (Ballston Spa CC) and Mark Thornhill Jr. (Ballston Spa CC) shared medalist honors with one-under-par 70s.

Also qualifying were former Gazette County Amateur champion Ben Bates (Mohawk GC), Joe Quijano (Shaker Ridge CC), Jerry Brescia (Albany National), Sean Miles (Ballston Spa CC), Justin McCarthy (Wolferts Roost CC), Thomas Donegan (Pinetree CC), Ryan Caponera (Schuyler Meadows), DJ Tozier (The Edison Club), Jeff Palmerino (Colonie G&CC), Joshua Kirby (Shaker Ridge CC), Alex Kinkaid (eClub Capital District), David Pallas (Saratoga Spa), Sam Charbonneau (Thousand Islands CC), Alex Olbrych (Schenectady Municipal) and Brendan McKee (eClub Capital District).

The State Amateur will be played locally July 23-25 at Schuyler Meadows in Loudonville. The last local winner was Jay Gunning, then playing out of Town of Colonie, in 1986.

Following are Monday’s pairings:

PAIRINGS

8:00 — Patrick Seelye (Hiland), Bo Peabody (Taconic), Andrew Ugalde (Fox Run).

8:09 — Ben Brady (Seven Oaks), Nick Osowicki (Amsterdam Municipal), Rich Christman (Van Schaick Island).

8:18 — Edward Hart (Rolling Hills), Chad Stoffer (Town of Colonie), Dave Mooradian (CC of Troy).

8:27 — Victor Fox (Normanside CC), Justin Deitz (Edison Club), Josh Holling (eClub Southern Tier).

8:36 — Doug DeCarlo (Hidden Valley), Matt Stefanik (Albany CC), Ryan Gabel (Casperkill).

8:45 — David Arakelian (CC of Troy), Robby Bigley (Pinehaven CC), Mike Wheeler (Shaker Ridge CC).

9:54 — Peter Broderick (Normanside CC), Todd Czepiel (Shaker Ridge CC).

9:03 — Ian Teal (Schuyler Meadows), Jeffrey Schaller (Twaalfskill), Jimmy Sullivan (CC of Troy).

9:12 — Gregory Teal (Schuyler Meadows), Kevin Cassidy (Albany National), Kevin Broderick (Orchard Creek).

9:21 — Matt Clarke (CC of Troy), Dan Russo (Rolling Hills), Nick Masterpole (Tuscarora).

9:30 — Taylor Bellemare (Hoosick Falls), Kevin O’Leary (Wolferts Roost CC), Dan O’Donnell (Winding Brook).

9:39 — Joe Porcelli (McCann), Joe Petrin (Lake Shore Yacht), Chris Grady (Woodstock GC.

9:48 — John Simou (McCann), Curt Hier (Valley View), Bobby Canniff (Schuyler Meadows).

9:57 — Steve Bass (Pinehaven CC), Joe Quillinan (Olde Kinderhook), Joe McCoy (Wolferts Roost CC).

10:06 — Aaron Simone (Pinehaven CC), Mike Raymond (Wolferts Roost CC), Spencer Sautin (Schuyler Meadows).

10:15 — Billy Duncan (Wolferts Roost CC), Seth Adams (Edison Club).

10:24 — Jerold Davis (eClub Mid-Hudson), Chris Braman (Town of Colonie), Greg Bennett (Shaker Ridge CC).

10:33 — Pete Lindner (Pinehaven CC), Dylan Gladd (Olde Kinderhook), Alexander Bringsjord (CC of Troy).

10:42 — John Mendrysa (Shaker Ridge CC), Keith DiStefano (Schuyler Meadows), Steven Kirchner (CC of Troy).

10:51 — Corey Purcell (Pinehaven CC), Michael Alley (Schuyler Meadows), Mark Casolo (Colonie CC).

11:00 — William Lamy (eClub Capital District, Paul Hart (Pinehaven CC), Ryan Bailey (eClub Capital District).

11:09 — Jim Shahda (Pinehaven CC), Steve Quillinan Sr. (Burden Lake CC), Adam Bunkoff (Saratoga National).

11:18 — David Ehlinger (Western Turnpike), Chris Comi (Edison Club), CJ O’Rourke (Wolferts Roost CC).

11:27 — Matt McCaffrey (Capital Hills at Albany), Tom Kenneally (Edison Club), Chris Lange (eClub Capital District).

11:336 — Jason Cole (eClub Capital District, James Wimmer (Associate Member), Dave Halloran (Burden Lake CC).

11:45 — Chris Puls (eClub Capital District), Dave DeGenero (Burden Lake CC), Donald Bonville (Columbia G&CC.

11:54 — Wayne Mizerak (Burden Lake CC), Mike Java (eClub Capital District), Mike Hayes Jr. (Glens Falls CC).

JUNIORS GET READY

The Gazette’s 16th annual Capital Region Newspapers in Education Junior Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 2 at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.

Entry fee is $35 and includes golf, lunch and prizes, including special door prizes.

Trophies and gift certificates will be awarded to the top three finishers for both gross and handicap in the boys’ 12-14, boys’ 15-18 and girls’ 12-18 age divisions. Longest drive and closest-to-the-pin contest winners will also be awarded.

Send all entries to N.I.E. Junior Golf tournament, The Gazette, Maxon Road Ext., P.O. Box 1090, Schenectady, NY 12301-1090. Entry deadline is July 27. The first 120 entries will be accepted in order of postmark. Make checks payable to The Gazette.

Proceeds will benefit the Gazette’s Newspapers in Education program.

NEWGA MAJOR MONDAY

The Northeastern Women’s Golf Association’s Match Play Challenge will be held Monday at Ballston Spa Country Club. Play begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun.

Following are the team partners and foursomes.

PARTNERS

Suzie Mansfield-Beth Todd; Flo Liber-atore-Jan Vincent.

Chan Lee-Rosebud-Digesare; Linda Kolnick-Ilene Gaffney.

Donna Nevulis-Kathy Harkins; Pam Hart-Anne Poulin.

Ann Hartranft-Sandy Weckter; Susan Johnson-Sue Herrick.

Carol Burke-Maryellen Trumbell; Carol Chauvin-Kathy McLaughlin.

Oli Williams-Chris McKnight; Donna Heskett-Jean Prockup.

Deb Hooks-Gwen Schuster; Peg Squazzo-Betty Cushing.

SYMETRA EXEMPTIONS

The Symetra Tour’s Credit Union Challenge, to be held July 12-14 at Capital Hills at Albany, has announced two sponsor exemptions, Tessa Teachman and Madison Pressel.

Teachman, originally from Rochester, recently graduated from Louisiana State University, where she competed on the women’s golf team. While at LSU, she was a NGCA All-American in 2012, a Golfweek All-American in both 2010 and 2012, as well as an All-Louisiana first-team selection in 2010 and 2012.

Teachman had five top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes in her collegiate career. She competed in the LPGA Corning Classic in both 2005 and 2008, and also played in four USGA events from 2003 to 2011.

Pressel, who just graduated from the University of Texas, is the younger sister of current LPGA standout Morgan Pressel.

Madison Pressel was the Big 12 Championship medalist this spring as well as the Big 12 Women’s Golf Player of the Year. She earned Golfweek NCAA Division I Women’s All-America honorable mention.

CHIP SHOTS

u The Haggerty Two-Man Championship winds up today at Schen-ectady Municipal Golf Course.

u Hiland Golf Club will host the Northeastern New York PGA’s Pro-Junior Championship Monday.

u Also set for Monday will be the New York State Golf Association’s Mixed Team Championship at The Edison Club.

u The NENYPGA Junior Golf Tour will play at Wiltwyck Golf Club on Tuesday.

u The next Eastern New York Golf Association weekly event is set for Wednesday at Town of Colonie Golf Course.

u Justin Deitz (The Edison Club) and Matt Canavan (Saratoga National) shot a final-round 69 to win the Pewter Cup last weekend at Berkshire Hills Country Club. They finished with a 14-under-par 202 in the 54-hole event.

u Normanside Country Club assistant pro Scott Berliner was the only local player to make the cut at the PGA Professional Championship this week in Oregon. Berliner, the reigning NENYPGA Player of the Year, shot a 14-over-par 301 with scores of 78, 67, 80 and 76. Scotia native Ron Philo missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 72, while Tom Siddon of Massena CC shot a 78-78-156.

u Van Patten Golf Club will play host to the 15th annual Glenville Rotary Golf Classic Aug. 1. Entry fee for the four-person scramble will be $100 and includes golf, cart, lunch, awards and raffles. There will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The field will be limited to the first 144. Contact John Weldon (399-0048 or 596-0320) for more information.

u The 23rd annual John C. Daly-James W. Michaels ALS Memorial, held Wednesday at Van Patten, raised $128,600 for the St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center. Gary Carnavella won the Lexus Champions for Charity raffle after it was originally won by Sheila Michaels, who gave it back and auctioned it off. The $1,000 Southwest Airlanes raffle was won by Pat Agostino.

u Former New York Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss will be the special guest for the 29th annual Center for Disability Services Golf Classic July 15 at Albany Country Club. Chambliss, who was a member of Yankees World Championship teams twice as a player and four times as a coach, will play a hole with each foursome and will sign autographs and pose for photos. Entry fee is $350 and includes golf, cart, lunch, prizes and dinner that evening. Pros from the Northeastern New York PGA will head each group. Call Karen Coleman at 944-2107 for more information.

u The 14th annual Airway Cup will be held Thursday at Airway Meadows Golf Club. The special event will use a Ryder Cup style format with best-ball tandems squaring off as members of either the red or the blue team. You and your partner will play matches against a twosome with similar handicaps. Included in the $79 cost for non-members will be a snack at the turn, and a London broil-chicken barbecue under the tent.

u Schenectady Municipal Golf Course will host the Rotterdam Elks #2157 Junior Golf Qualifier July 23. Entry fee is $20 and includes lunch. Age divisions for boys and girls will be 12-14, 15-16 and 17-18. Two players from each group will advance to the 58th annual State Elks Junior Golf Championship at Yahnundasis Golf Club in Utica Aug. 11-12. The tournament is limited to 48 players. Call Paul Ungerland (384-0221) or Muny head pro Matt Daley (382-5155) for more information. Entry deadline is Aug. 1.

u The Schenectady Hook a Kid on Golf Charity Classic will be held July 17 at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course. Funding will help support the local Hook a Kid on Golf program. Entry fee for the four-person scramble is $500 per team or $95 per individual. Call the Muny pro shop for more information.

u The Junior Achievement Adirondack golf tournament is scheduled for July 30 at Airway Meadows Golf Club. The four-person scramble will have an $80 entry fee that includes golf, cart, beer, soda, lunch at the turn and a cookout following play. Call Susan Klippel at 222-0567 for more information.

HOLES-IN-ONE

Toniann Boilard recorded her first-hole-in-one with a driver on the 130-yard second hole at Whispering Pines Golf Course.

Elaine Neiss celebrated her birthday by holing out with a 7-iron for her inaugural ace on the 103-yard fifth hole on the white nine at Western Turnpike. Her husband, Tom, has four career aces.

At Eagle Crest Golf Club, Bill Burlew wielded a 7-iron for an ace on the 127-yard third hole.

Also at Eagle Crest, Patrick Casey found the cup with an 8-iron on the 162-yard 14th hole.

Bill Taylor connected for a hole-in-one on the 17th hole at Schenec-tady Municipal Golf Course while playing in the GE Lab league.

Barb Terpening recorded a hole-in-one on the 13th hole at McGregor Links Country Club.

Tim Bethel used a 5-iron to collect his hole-in-one on the 144-yard 17th hole at Saratoga Lake Golf Club.

Also at Saratoga Lake Golf Club, Jacques LeGere holed out with a 9-iron on the 150-yard fifth hole.

Mike Deltry hit a pitching wedge for a hole-in-one on the 116-yard sixth hole at Pioneer Hills.

June McMaster, 79, hit her 1-wood from 80 yards to ace the 11th hole at Whispering Pines.

EAGLES

It was raining eagles at Amsterdam Municipal last week. Posting eagles were James Phelps Jr. (third hole), Shannon Noonan (par-4 sixth hole), Chris Mathewson, Mike Miseno, Mike DelCostello and Pete Zabo (10th hole), and Dr. Tim Liz-ewski (17th hole).

Cory Barringer eagled the 16th hole while competing in the Villa league at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.

Jan Terrell posted an eagle-2 on the par-4 14th hole at Pioneer Hills.

Bob Weiner is a Gazette sportswriter. Opinions expressed in his column are his own and not necessarily the newspaper’s. Reach him at 395-3147 or [email protected]

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