Tri-County amateurs face-off this weekend
For years, I’ve been advocating that the winners of the area’s respective official county amateurs should face off on the golf course for one definitive champion of that year. Wouldn’t that be great? After the Rensselaer County Men’s Amateur wraps up in early September, t here’s enough good weather for the winners from Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady (now open to all) to tee it up for an overall Capital Region champion. Perhaps they could play Columbus Day weekend or even earlier. It might even attract a sponsor or two.
How about that? Four, six or eight players duking it out over one or two rounds or match or stroke play for an overall champ? Get the respective “fan base” behind each player. Seems like a good idea to me. Until that comes
to fruition though, we have the next best thing — the 37th Annual Tri- County Match Play Championship this weekend. It will be contested this Friday through Sunday at Colonie Golf & Country Club with a regular and senior division (must be age 50 by Friday, May 5).
The low 16 scorers on Friday qualify for Match Play. That begins Saturday at 7 a.m. For the seniors, a minimum of eight will qualify. A second flight of eight seniors may be added, depending on the number of those competing, according to Peter Spitalny, President of the TCGA. Cost to enter is $90. The semifinals and finals will be played Sunday. The winner earns an exemption into the New York State Golf Association’s Men’s Amateur. Call 489- 5700 or 765- 4100 for more information. Dan Russo of Hagaman, who plays out of Schuyler Meadows Club, is the defending champion. He also won it in 2011. Other recent champions: Chad Stoffer of Niskayuna (2015, 2010), Jimmy Welch of Valatie (2014), Matt Canavan of Saratoga Springs (2013), Chris Barach of Niskayuna (2012), Steve Quillinan of Averill Park (2009) and Jim Gifford of Clifton Park (2008). Founded in 1980 by Spitalny and Mike Bayus, the TCGA once held three yearly events — the Match Play, the now defunct mid-Summer 54-hole stroke play and a Fall twoman partners’ event. For 15 years, the stroke play event was the leading individual championship conducted in the area. But with other scratch events and life getting in the way, plus access to private golf courses, participation has dropped. Match Play has been at Colonie G& CC for the past 26 years.
ACE
Doug Hosterman aced No. 14 at Eagle Crest on April 26 from the blue tees at 172-yards with a 4-hybrid. Jack Watkins, Robert Kibling and Steve Leukowski witnessed the feat. It was his third hole-in-one.
USGA GETS 9,485
The United States Golf Association has accepted 9,485 entries for the 2017 U. S. Open Championship at Erin Hills in Wisconsin. It’s the fifth highest total. No. 1 was 2014 at Pinehurst (10,127). The U. S. Open will be played in Wisconsin for the first time on June 15-18. Among this year’s total are 51 players, including 11 past champions, who are fully exempt into the field. For the seventh consecutive year, only online entries were accepted.
On deadline day, April 26, the USGA received 561 entries including 125 in the
final hour. Lance Richards, a 40-year- old professional from Saratoga Springs, Utah, submitted his entry just 11 seconds before the deadline of 5 p.m. David Zeisse, a 38-year- old pro from Milwaukee, Wis., who works as a caddie at Erin Hills, was the first entrant when entries opened on March 8.
GOLF PARTICIPATION
A new study from the National Golf Foundation says that golf participation in 2016 set a record. The number of committed golfers — a group that accounts for approximately 95 percent of all roundsplayed and overall spending — rose for the first time in five years, from 19.5 million to 20.1 million.
It found that 2.5 million beginners played on a golf course for the first time last year, up from 2.2 million in 2015.
WILHELM WINS
Kenneth Wilhelm shot 81 to beat Dave Ryder by one stroke in the opening week of the 2017 Eastern New York Golf Association at Colonie Golf & Country Club. For more information, contact Pludrzynski at 852-2785 or email him at EasternNewYorkGolf@ gmail. com. May schedule: Van Patten GC ( May 3), Queensbury CC ( May 10), Catskill GC ( May 17) & Western Turnpike ( May 24).
ST. ROSE GROWS
The College of Saint Rose earned its first Division II NCAA Championship berth as a team. The Golden Knights play in the Atlantic/ East Regional at The Resort at Glade Springs in Daniels, W.Va, May 8-10. There are 80 squads and 32 individuals in regional competition. Previously, five players have represented Saint Rose throughout 10 NCAA Regional Championships including senior Corey Purcell of Catholic Central who tied for 49th among 108 individuals last year.
RULES SEMINAR
NYSGA hosts free rules event Saturday at Mohawk Golf Club. Pre-registration is required.
EMPIRE GOLF CLUB
The “Empire Golf Club” begins the 2017 season Monday at CC of Troy. Tee times start at noon. It’s $75 with cart. For more information: www.empiregolfclub.com. Upcoming May events:
Saturday, May 13 ( McGregor Links); Wednesday, May 17 (Olde Kinderhook); Sunday, May 28 (Sagamore).