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GOLF – After competing in the prestigious PGA Championship at grueling and demanding Oak Hill Country Club, Chris Sanger could have lost a little faith in his game. After all, the 37-year-old head pro at Woodstock Golf Club missed the cut and finished dead last.
“I was pretty cool finishing in last place, though,” he said with a smile. “Somebody had to do it.”
Yet Sanger’s experience competing against the best players in the world actually fine-tuned his game heading into the local club pros’ most prestigious event, the Northeastern New York PGA Stroke Play Championship Monday and Tuesday at Saratoga National Golf Club.
“Oak Hill was a completely different animal,” Sanger said. “It was an amazing week there. I received a tremendous amount of support from more than 100 friends and relatives, even when I wasn’t playing as well as I would have liked. But coming in here [at Saratoga National GC] yesterday, I couldn’t believe how quiet the course was and how much shorter it played. Plus, the rough was way down compared to Oak Hill. It was a little bit easier to score. I didn’t hit it that much better than I did last week [at the PGA Championship], but there was a lot less stress.”
His experience at Oak Hill CC tightened up his focus so much that Saratoga National GC, one of the area’s toughest layouts, seemed much easier to Sanger, who dominated play over the two days to win the section’s top tournament with a 4-under-par total to win by seven shots over CC of Pittsfield head pro Eric Mabee. After shooting even-par during the first round, he was especially sharp in the final round with a 68, including one bogey.
It was Sanger’s fourth career major title to go along with two NENY PGA Match Play Championships and one Donald Ross Classic crown.
The only blemish for Sanger was the fact that he hit 17 out of 18 greens in the final round and just missed a personal goal.
“I hit all 17 greens heading to the 18th hole, and I was kind of playing conservatively, hitting irons off the tee and lying back,” Sanger explained. “I got on the 18th tee, and I knew I had a big lead. I tried to aim out to the right, but I double-crossed myself with the driver.”
Sanger’s tee shot hooked into the trees in the left rough. He had to take a penalty drop, and then got up and down for a solid bogey.
Sanger said that during the last few weeks — which included his stellar play at the PGA Professional Championship in New Mexico, finishing in the top 20 for a berth in the PGA Championship – his confidence level has soared.
“There’s a confidence level and a belief in myself that I can play with these guys,” he said. “This whole month has been surreal. Everything snowballed in the right direction for me in New Mexico, but it went the wrong way for me at Oak Hill. Still, coming back here and winning this was huge. It’s a springboard to my season.”
Mabee (3-over-par), a former NENY PGA Stroke Play champion in his own right to go along with eight appearances at the PGA Professional Championship, was impressed with Sanger’s play this week.
“He doesn’t miss any greens,” Mabee said. “It’s hard to catch a guy who doesn’t make a mistake. I putted well enough to win, but I didn’t hit it well enough to win. He did both. He played great. He’s on a special journey. Coming off his trip to New Mexico, he’s probably played more golf in the last two weeks than he’s ever done. I haven’t seen anybody in our section strike the ball like that over two days. I think in 36 holes, he missed maybe four greens. He was never in trouble.”
Rounding out the leaders at the NENY PGA Stroke Play Championship were Wyantenuck CC head pro and section president Marc Levesque (6-over-par), defending Player of the Year Justin Hearley of Burden Lake CC (6-over-par) and 11-time sectional stroke play champion Scott Berliner (8-over-par), the Director of Golf at Glens Falls CC.
RUSSO EXCELS AGAIN
Hagaman native Dan Russo of Schuyler Meadows Club picked up another impressive trophy last weekend when he won the senior division at the Walter J. Travis Invitational at Garden City Golf Club.
Russo coasted to a 6-and-5 victory over Chris Lange in the finals of the tournament that had an unusual mix of stroke play and match play because of inclement weather.
“I played great all weekend,” said Russo, who has finished runner-up in the open division of that prestigious event. “That golf course was spectacular. It’s like a throwback in time. Plus, the members there treat you so well. I enjoy playing in this tournament every year.”
Russo said that although he prefers stroke play events, a mix of match play can be fun sometimes.
“You can get lucky in match play,” he said.
Russo’s storied career includes eight Capital Region Amateur Golf Association Stroke Play Championships, two Tri-County Golf Association Stroke Play Championships, five Tri-County Match Play crowns, two Troy Invitational trophies, one Times Union Amateur Championship and one Schenectady Classic crown among his plethora of local individual victories. He’s also won numerous Amsterdam City Championships and three Edison Invitationals on the area scene.
His many regional victories include two NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championships. He’s most proud of competing in 11 United States Golf Association Championships, including a pair of U.S Opens.
“Locally, I’ll play in the open division as long as I can, but in national and regional events, I’ll play in the senior division,” the 65-year-old Russo said. “I can’t compete with the younger guys at 7,200 yards any more. I won’t play in a tournament if I don’t think I have a chance to win.”
CROUSE SHINES
Fort Plain High School graduate Eric Crouse, a sophomore at Herkimer County Community College, won the Generals’ first NJCAA Region III Men’s Golf Championship recently with a 71-80-151 at Glen Oak GC.
The 1-under-par 71 in the opening round was a career best for Crouse and it was the lowest score by a Herkimer golfer since April 26, 2019. Only one other Region III golfer carded a lower round in this event since 2014.
Crouse advances to the NJCAA Division III National Championships June 6-9 at Chauquatua Golf Course.
“This is definitely the biggest win of my career. In fact, this is the only win of my career,” Crouse said with a laugh. “The only other times I’ve won anything was in a team tournament or a scramble.”
Crouse picked up the game of golf very late in life — as a sophomore at Fort Plain High School.
“I kind of picked up the game fairly quickly because of my athletic ability,” he said. “I played a lot of sports growing up, including soccer, baseball and basketball. I’m still learning a lot about the game of golf. It’s a sport many of my family members played, but I was into so many other sports when I was younger.”
CHIP SHOTS
Corey Purcell and Scott Knapp of Shaker Ridge CC finished tied for 11th (73-65-138) in the open division of the 12th annual NYS Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Turning Stone Resort. Dan Ireland and Chris David of the Country Club of Troy finished fourth (71-68-139) in the senior division, where Jim Mueller and Mark Chylinski (67-75-142) finished 10th.
Albany Academy senior Nicole Criscone, headed to the UAlbany women’s golf program next year, finished second twice last weekend in the Adirondack Junior Tour.
The PGA HOPE program (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) will be moving from Town of Colonie Golf Course to Western Turnpike Golf Course.
Applications are now available for the Schenectady Classic and Schenectady Women’s Classic June 16-18 at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course. Competitors can pick up the applications at the Schenectady Municipal pro shop or call 518-382-5155 to have them emailed to you.
The NYS Amateur & Senior Amateur Mixed Team Championship is set for June 5 at Leatherstocking Golf Course.
The second annual Charity Skins Game Tournament, to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady, will be held at Mohawk Golf Club June 20. This year’s field includes six-time PGA Tour and three-time PGA Tour Champions winner Rocco Mediate, four-time PGA Tour and three-time PGA Tour Champions winner Billy Andrade, four-time PGA Tour winner Tim Herron and three-time PGA Tour titlist Chris DiMarco. Popular Blaine McCallister, who has five professional wins, returns as the host. For more information, contact Joel Slutsky (518-376-9990 or [email protected]) or the official event website (https://cdskinsgame.com/).
The Edison Club hosts the NYSPHSAA Girls Golf Championship June 4-5. Albany Academy star Kennedy Swedick is the defending champion. Swedick has also been given another exemption into the Epson Tour’s Twin Bridges Championship, but a scheduling conflict may prevent another appearance in that pro event.
Mary Scatena (Pinehaven CC), Heidi Harkins (Ballston Spa CC), Roxanne Andrews (Ballston Spa CC) and Susan Kahler (Ballston Spa CC) shot a 65 to win the overall gross title in the NEWGA Four-Player Scramble at Copake CC last week. The Ballston Spa quartet of Gina Castelli, Debra Cottrell, Kathy Harkins and Donna Nevulis shot a 61.4 to win the overall net title. Next up on the NEWGA schedule is an individual stroke play ringers event June 6 at Saratoga Golf & Polo Club.
The next major on the amateur men’s schedule is the 80th Troy Invitational June 10-11 at the Country Club of Troy. Former club member Taylor Bellemare, a Hoosick Falls native now living in Manchester, Vermont, won last year, while former Siena College and UConn player Jared Nelson won the previous two seasons.
Local club pros resume their schedule Wednesday with the Pro Classic No. 3 at Saratoga Golf & Polo Club. Then Eagle Crest Golf Club hosts the NY State Open Qualifier June 6.
The 26th annual Saints Alive! Shootout will be held at The Edison Club June 19. Entry fee is $1,200 for foursomes and $300 for individuals. The event helps to support more than 350 Siena College athletes. For more information, contact Paul DiLello ([email protected] or 518-783-2530).
Hales Mills CC is hosting a Junior Camp July 5, July 12 and July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry fee is $160 per person and includes golf lessons by head pro Chris Mathewson, playing golf and lunch each day. Call the pro shop (518-736-4622) to sign up.
Van Patten Golf Club once again hosts the 32nd annual John C Daly-James W. Michaels Memorial Open June 28. All proceeds benefit St. Peters ALS Center. There are various sponsorship levels for businesses that want to participate. The team scramble event will have a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start with a grab-and-go lunch, 19th hole reception and plenty of high-end appetizers at the 19th hole reception. There won’t be a sit-down banquet this year. Entry fee is $800 per team and includes golf, GPS carts, range balls, lunch, 19th hole reception and plenty of beer, wine and soft drinks available throughout the day. The field is two-thirds full so far. Concord Pools & Spas has put up a $10,000 five-person Monaco Hot Tub as a hole-in-one prize. There will also be a grand raffle prize of a summer barbecue package and a $250 certificate to Fred the Butcher. For more information, contact Scott Daly at 518-339-0491 or email him at [email protected].
HOLES-IN-ONE
Daniel Aidala used a 5-iron to ace the second hole at Antlers Country Club.
At Mohawk Golf Club, Meg Gianetti used her driver to ace the 140-yard 12th hole.
Jim Ralbovsky recorded a hole-in-one with a 7-iron on the 150-yard sixth hole at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course while competing in the Stator Frame league.
EAGLES
Will Bolti rolled in a 30-foot putt to eagle the par-5 first hole at Orchard Creek while playing in the Big Bamboo league.
Rit Lackey eagled the seventh hole, and former Schenectady City Judge Bruce Martin, 88, eagled the second hole at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.
Reach Bob Weiner at [email protected].
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