One of the friendliest yet most competitive female golfers in the Capital Region will be honored with a golf tournament in her name next month.
The Audrey VanAlstine Invitational, set for Aug. 14-15 at Pinehaven Country Club, will honor the late golf fanatic who passed away last year at the age of 84 due to complications from a stroke. She was playing her favorite sport right up until the week she died.
“We want this tournament to be fun and competitive,” said tournament chairman Lynn Cummings. “We’ve purchased a memorial bench at the club, and we’ll be taking pictures of people sitting there during the tournament. There will be all kinds of pictures of Audrey available, as well as a slide show. And several members of her family, including her sister and niece, will also be there.”
The tournament would have been something that VanAlstine wouldn’t have missed. In fact, she and her lucky playing partner would have been among the favorites to win.
The partners match-play event will be divided into flights of six tandems. There will be three nine-hole matches on the first day, and two more on Friday.
Lunch will be provided between the second and third matches of the day, and there will be a cocktail party that evening.
“We wanted to make sure we honored Audrey on the first day so that it was all about her and not about the winners of the tournament,” Cummings said. “I hope it’s going to be a good tournament. We’re very optimistic. We wanted to do something that would honor her. The cocktail party will be pretty informal, because that’s the way Audrey always was.”
VanAlstine was a Cherry Valley native, but lived in Rotterdam most of her life. The SUNY-Cortland graduate earned a master’s degree from the University at Albany and was a guidance counselor in the Schalmont school district for 31 years.
VanAlstine, who had a self-made swing but a deadly short game, was a longtime member of the Northeastern Women’s Golf Association and served that organization in various capacities for more than 40 years. A loyal competitor in the now-defunct Gazette Women’s Amateur, she also won seven senior women’s club championships and four regular women’s club championships at Pinehaven.
Cummings said there are still plenty of openings for the tournament. Any interested teams can contact her at 526-2080.
CHIP SHOTS
The Gazette’s Newspaper in Education Junior Golf Championship, set for Friday at Schenectady Municipal, has been cancelled due to a lack of entries. Checks will be returned as soon as possible.
The Gazette Senior County Amateur Golf Championship will be played Aug. 14-15 at Schenectady Municipal. Only county residents age 50 and over are eligible, except for past champions. Gross and net competition will be held in the 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus age divisions, with the low 20 and ties gross advancing to the final round. Entry blanks will appear in the paper shortly.
Former Siena and Capital Region star Bryan Bigley (74-214) finished 10th to lead local players at the New York State Open last week at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course. Jeb Buchanan of Schuyler Meadows, also a pro, tied for 24th (74-219). Missing the cut were pros Scott Berliner of McGregor Links (75-153), Ian Breen of Colonie G&CC (79-157) and Tom Oppedisano of McGregor Links (84-173), along with amateur David Huestis of McGregor Links (87-174).
The Turning Stone Casino will once again host the Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge at the Atunyote Golf Club Aug. 27. The NB3F Challenge has raised more than $5 million for Native communities since it began in 2008, supporting leadership development and working to improve the health and wellness of Native American youth nationwide. The field will be announced today.
Local pros will be competing in their Professional Championship Tuesday and Wednesday at Ballston Spa Country Club. This is one of their major events, with the winners advancing to next year’s national Professional Championship.
The next Eastern New York Golf Association stop will be Wednesday at Pioneer Hills.
Many of the area’s top women will compete in one of the Northeastern Women’s Golf Association’s traditional majors, the Gail Sykes Better Ball tournament, Wednesday at Mohawk Golf Club.
Airway Meadows will be holding its 11th annual Benefit Tournament Aug. 16. The four-player scramble will benefit Skyler Castro, a 9-year-old from Thurman who was recently diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Entry fee is $85 per player, and includes a barbecue picnic after golf. Call 792-4144 for more information.
According to a wire report, Dick’s Sporting Goods has laid off 478 Professional Golfers’ Association teaching pros months after the company reported that sales of golf gear are dwindling. Several Northeastern New York PGA members work at Dick’s, which also owns Golf Galaxy. The report also said that Golf Galaxy will continue to employ PGA members.
Van Patten Golf Course will host the 16th annual Rotary Golf Classic Aug. 7. Entry fee for the four-person scramble will be $100 and includes cart, snack at the turn, lunch, awards and raffles. There will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. To register, go to www.glenvillerotary.org or call John Weldon at 399-0048.
Joe Merendo’s Swing Fore Kids Scramble will be held Aug. 8 at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course. There will be a noon scramble. Cost per player is $90 and includes six Titleist Pro V1 logo balls, a Titleist hat, a valuables pouch, lunch, a prime rib dinner and prizes. The event is open to the first 36 paid teams. Call Merendo at 842-4265 for more information.
Mohawk Golf Club hosts the second annual Golf Tournament to Benefit the Joan Nicole Prince Home Aug. 18. Entry fee is $175 per player and includes breakfast, golf, cart, snacks and lunch. For more information, contact executive director Susan Tomlinson at the Joan Nicole Prince Home, PO Box 2122, Scotia, NY 12302.
The Jack Scaccia Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 11 at Mohawk River Country Club & Chateau. Proceeds will support youth bowling in the Capital Region. Entry deadline is July 30. Entry fee is $125 and includes golf and cart, breakfast, lunch at the turn and dinner/awards ceremony. Call Lisa or Chris at 393-5013 or 337-8128 for more information.
HOLES-IN-ONE
Bill Martin recorded his fifth career hole-in-one with a 7-iron on the 132-yard fifth hole at Saratoga Lake Golf Club.
Also at Saratoga Lake, Darryl Lee holed out with a 6-iron on the 147-yard 17th hole for his ace.
EAGLES
Lou Marzino collected a pair of eagles in the same week at Stadium Golf Club. He eagled the 16th hole and the 18th hole.
Mike Tambasco eagled the 10th hole at Amstedam Municipal Golf Course.
Nick LaMalfa eagled the 16th hole while competing in the Handicappers league at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.
Mike Ciulla drove the par-4 16th hole and made the eagle putt at Mechanicville Golf Club.
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