Austin Fox and Madison Braman, two of the most talented scholastic golfers to come out of the Capital Region in recent years, will headline the Section II golf team that will compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Golf Championship today and Monday at Cornell’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.
Fox, a junior at Bethlehem High School, and Braman a senior at Shaker, drew most of the publicity at the Section II state golf qualifier last October at Orchard Creek. While Fox earned his second consecutive medalist trophy with a two-day total of six-over-par 146, Braman became the first female player from Section II to make the state team since former LPGA Tour star Dottie Pepper of Saratoga Springs in 1983.
Both Fox, a veteran of numerous regional junior championships, and Braman, who represented the area in last year’s Symetra Tour Fuccillo Kia Championship, are used to overcoming nerves at high-pressure events.
“Madison is more than ready for her appearance in the [state tournament] and proud to be there,” Braman’s coach Kay McMahon said. “She’s got the length in her game and the mental aspect that stays so focused. She’s got the whole package, and I’m sure she is going to be outstanding.”
Rounding out the Section II squad will be Ryan Davis of Bethlehem, Trevor Wolfe of Ichabod Crane, Christian Gramuglia of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Ryan Warnick of Albany Academy, Adam DeSorbo of Fonda-Fultonville, Tommy McPartlon of Shenendehowa and Will Burger of Guilderland. Noah Bonn of Queensbury and Scott Vandenburgh of Ichabod Crane are the alternates.
McPartlon tied for fifth, and Fox finished tied for 20th at last year’s state golf championship.
The last individual state champion from Section II was Shaker’s Davis Jensen in 2013. Other Section II individual champions since 1973 include Brent Herlihy of Glens Falls in 2003, and Saratoga Springs’ Marco Poccia in 2001 and Bryan Martin in 1994.
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Course will play to a par-71 and 6,854 yards.
CHIP SHOTS
Entries are being accepted for the Schenectady Men’s Classic (June 16-18) and the Schenectady Women’s Classic (June 16-17) at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course. Entry fee for the men’s event is $60, while the women’s entry fee is $40. Contact the Schenectady Municipal Golf Course pro shop at 382-5155 for more information.
The 2017 International Women’s Golf Day will be held Tuesday at Mill Road Acres Golf Course in Latham from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. EduKaytion Golf’s Kay McMahon, an LPGA Teaching Hall of Famer, and Eloise Trainor, founder of the Futures Tour, now the Symetra Tour, are conducting the program, which is sponsored by Roland J. Graves Construction. The fee is $25 and includes two hours of instruction on the golf swing and the short game, followed by dinner, a networking experience, and speakers on the “Value of Golf for Women.” This event is primarily for the non-golfer who might like to try the sport, but it’s also for the experienced golfer. Call 669-1551 or contact [email protected] for more information.
The afternoon shotgun is already sold out for the 27th annual ALS Memorial Open June 28 at Van Patten Golf Course. There are still a few spots left for the 7 a.m. shotgun group, which has the option of playing 18 holes at Van Patten, eating a barbecue lunch, and then playing nine more holes at nearby Eagle Crest Golf Club before returning to the awards banquet back at Van Patten. Entry fee is $175 per person or $700 for a foursome for the annual shamble Calloway scoring event to benefit St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center. Last year, the ALS Memorial Open raised $140,000, increasing the total net donation to $1.8 million over the last 26 years. Call Scott Daly (339-0491 of St. Peter’s Foundation (482-4433) for more information.
Hiland Golf Club assistant pro Scott Berliner, 41, the six-time section player of the year, won his unprecedented seventh consecutive Northeastern New York PGA Stroke Play Championship this week at Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston.
Ballston Spa Country Club hosts the next event for local pros, a Pro-Pro team event, on Monday.
The Empire Golf Club has a busy June, with events scheduled for Tuesday at Colonie Golf & Country Club ($65 with cart), June 10 at Equinox in Manchester, Vt. ($65 with cart), June 21 at Normanside CC ($50 with cart) and June 28 at Pinehaven CC ($60 with cart). Contact Empire Golf Club at www.empiregolfclub.com for more information.
John Kosieneski Sr. shot his age (73) at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course.
Sycamore Country Club in Ravena hosts the next Eastern New York Golf Association event, the annual Lou Torre 2-Man, Wednesday. This tournament is named after the late Daily Gazette golf writer.
The New York State Golf Association’s Amateur Series comes to the area with two events this week, Monday at The Edison Club and Thursday at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.
HOLES-IN-ONE
Muzzy Massaroni recorded his 12th career hole-in-one with a 5-iron on the third hole at Pinehaven Country Club.
Also at Pinehaven CC, Bob Dougherty posted his first ace on the ninth hole while competing with the ROBs.
At Stadium Golf Club, Bob Cox used a 7-iron for his hole-in-one on the 165-yard 15th hole.
At Whispering Pines John Dillon hit a 9-iron for his first hole-in-one on the 135-yard fifth hole.
Mike Heim registered his hole-in-one on the 141-yard 17th hole at Van Patten GC.
EAGLES
Dave Billman eagled the par-5 16th hole while playing in the Camillo’s league at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.
Reach Bob Weiner at [email protected] or @BobWeiner58 on Twitter.
Categories: -Sports-
