Runner-up finish enough
Berliner finishes 2nd to Mabee at NENYPGA finale to secure crown
There are no large, Masterslike scoreboards at Wyantenuck Country Club, nestled in the western Berkshires and host site for the Northeastern New York PGA’S Tour Championship.
So Scott Berliner, seeking his 10th consecutive NENYPGA Player of the Year honor, tried to keep the focus on his own game. As the points leader heading into the season-ending event, Berliner knew a victory, or even a high finish, should win him another Champions Cup.
Only when Eric Mabee opened up a five-shot lead on the back nine Wednesday did Berliner allow his mind to drift. “At that point,” he said, “I was trying to figure out what those guys were doing in front of me for the overall points.”
Mabee, head pro at Pittsfield (Mass.), fired a 3-under-par 67 for a 36-hole score of 4-under 136 and a two-stroke victory, but Berliner’s runner-up finish extended his POY streak to double figures.
“It’s a cool achievement,” said Berliner, an assistant pro at Saratoga Spa. “I’m not a goal
setter. I just enjoy playing and competing, so if it’s worked out that I got 10 in a row, then that’s pretty cool. It’s not something that I put on my wall. I’ve always taken pride in my consistency over the years.”
Berliner, a 45-year-old Lake Luzerne native, won three of the section’s five majors this season, including his 10th straight Stroke Play Championship — the section’s signature event.
“The Stroke Play Championship, winning the same event at basically 10 different venues and 10 years in a row, is more of an accomplishment than a year-long points thing,” he said. “You never know about injuries, stuff like that. I’m not trying to downplay either of them. They’re both pretty cool.”
In a three-way tie for the lead following Tuesday’s opening round, Berliner had a chance for his fourth NENYPGA major of the season and 28th of his career, but Mabee took control with three birdies on the final four holes of the front nine to grab a four-shot lead.
Mabee put a headlock on the title by chipping in from 35 yards for eagle on the par-5 13th, enough to offset a double bogey on 17.
“When I eagled 13 and got to 5 under on the round,” Mabee said, “I said, all right, this could be special, just stay patient and keep going. I couldn’t sneak in any putts the last few holes, but thankfully I didn’t need to.”
Justin Hearley, the only player with
a realistic chance to catch Berliner in the points race, was in a four-way tie for third in the tournament and remained in second in points.
Mabee, who played only five events (half the number of Berliner) this season, finished fourth in the points race.
“Eric’s a phenomenal player,” Berliner said. “Fortunately for most of us, he doesn’t have a chance to play much. Whenever he comes out, he’s going to be tough to beat.”
Par 70 Eric Mabee (Pittsfield), $1,200 69-67—136 —4 Scott Berliner (Saratoga Spa), $1,035 69-69—138 —2 Thomas Sennett (Pittsfield), $690 70-71—141 +1 Daniel Kinn (Acushnet), $690 70-71—141 +1 Justin Hearley (Normanside), $690 72-69—141 +1 Chris Sanger (Woodstock), $690 69-72—141 +1 Jeremy Kerr (Mohawk), $400 72-72—144 +4 Steve Mazzariello (Stockbridge), $345 74-72—146 +6 Scott Battiste (Eagle Crest) 76-71—147 +7
Ian Breen (Whiteface) 79-69—148 +8
Josh Hillman (Taconic) 75-73—148 +8
Robert Cain (Saratoga National) 75-73—148 +8 Terence Manziano (Northway) 73-75—148 +8 Kyle Kressler (Cedar View) 75-74—149 +9
Dal Daily (Battenkill) 80-72—152 +12
Steve Plata (Saratoga National) 75-78—153 +13 Marc Levesque (Wyantenuck) 79-75—154 +14 John Neet (Edison) 82-73—155 +15
Peter Gerard (Mill Road Acres) 78-77—155 +15 Tom Oppedisano (Skidmore) 78-79—157 +17 Matthew Smith (Leatherstocking) 79-82—161 +21 Rich Scott (Fox Run) 87-76—163 +23