Bad weather no match for Dock

Golfer earns state qualifier medal despite conditions

The golf course at Fairways of Halfmoon is challenging enough to play under pristine conditions. When adding in rain, wind and cold, posting a solid score on back-to-back days proved difficult for the best male players in Section II. Glens Falls sophomore standout Brayden Dock managed to navigate the course Saturday and Sunday to post a two-day total of seven-over 151 to earn medalist honors at the state qualifier.

“I think that was one of the hardest conditions I have played in,” Dock said. “I would mark my ball and put the (alignment) line down (the target line). I would walk away for a second to make sure the read was correct and would go back. The line would be missing because the wind rotated the ball. Sunday was especially hard. It was not quite as windy, but it was cold.”

Dock posted a 76 Saturday

and followed up with a 75 Sunday. Some of the area’s premier players did not even advance among the 20 to compete for nine state slots on Sunday.

“On that course, you can get a big score real quick,” Dock said. “Making the state team, I knew I had seven shots going into the second day. I knew the scores (Sunday) would be about the same, maybe a little tougher. I was playing against myself with the 76.”

On Oct. 13, Dock posted the top round of 75 to earn medalist honors in the Section II Class B Tournament at Fairways of Halfmoon under much better playing conditions.

For his efforts, Dock has been selected as the Times Union’s Male Athlete of the Week for the period Oct. 11-17.

In the midst of a pressure cooker during the final round Sunday, Dock had no problem keeping things light as he joked with playing partners Trey Smith (Greenville), Kellen Dean (Saratoga Springs) and Carter Sica (Saratoga Springs).

“You’ve got to have a little fun. If you get too

serious, you actually will probably hurt your game a little more than you will help it,” Dock said. “I have a positive attitude, which I think helped me on the first day. You can’t get too flustered over the wind.”

The season concluded with Dock going undefeated in Foothills Council play, winning the league tournament, sectionals and the state qualifier. He qualified for the second time to compete in the

National Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National the week before the 2022 Masters.

Paul Buckowski / Times Union Brayden Dock of Glens Falls hits a putt on the first hole during the final round of the boys’ Section II state qualifier at the Fairways of Halfmoon. He was undefeated in Foothills Council play and also won the sectional and league tournaments.