▶Academy Junior Nicole Criscone finishes in top-10 at state Amateur Championship.
Capital Region golfers were in the hunt but came up short in this year’s state Women’s Amateur and Midamateur championships played simultaneously Monday and Tuesday at Teugega Country Club in Rome.
Albany Academy student Nicole Criscone’s top-10 finish provided a glimpse into the future of one of the region’s top junior golfers. The 15year-old from Clifton Park was the youngest in the field, competing against high school upperclassmen and collegiate players in the 54-hole Amateur Women’s Championship. Teugega played at a par 73, 6,089 yards and Criscone was in fourth place after the first day.
“It was a great tournament. I had to play 36 holes the second day, which I’ve never done before,” she said. “That was a challenge. But the second 18 was easier than the first 18. I played really good yesterday, not as good today. It was a really nice course; the greens were insane. I don’t think I’ve ever played on a course like that.”
Kyra Cox, 21, of South Salem, playing out of Centennial Golf Club, easily became a three-time Women’s Amateur Champion, topping the field with a 4-under 70-76-70-216 to win by 7 strokes. She was the only player in both championships to finish under par.
Criscone finished ninth (74-82-78234) on a grueling hot day that also featured a downpour at the start of her second 18 on Tuesday.
Criscone’s resume continues to grow. She has earned 58 first-place finishes on the Northeastern New York Junior PGA Tour and earned a spot playing in Augusta at the National Drive, Chip and Putt Championship when she was 10 years old.
Ualbany’s Madison Walker came roaring back in the third round with a 70, earning an 8th place finish (81-8170-232). Her Ualbany teammate Pasqualina Tartaglione finished tied for 12th (74-82-82-238 ) with Siena’s Isabella Diaz of Ballston Spa, who improved her scores each round (8478-76-238).
Mary Jo Kelly of Wolferts Roost Country Club was tied for first with Christy Schultz of Oak Hill Country Club after the first day of the Midamateur Championship.
The pair led the field by two strokes after day one, finishing at 74, one over par, on the 5,683-yard Midam layout. Schultz won the tournament on the first playoff hole with a
birdie, finishing at five-over (74-77151).
Lauren Cupp of Rome Country Club, who won the 2017 Women’s Mid-amateur at Schuyler Meadows, took Schultz to the playoff.
Patricia Mayne of Western Turnpike made a late charge to finish third at 7-over (76-77-153), just two strokes back. She shot a 35 over her final 9 holes. Kelly finished fourth (74-81155).
“I missed a couple of short putts on 17 and 18 where I could have made the playoffs,” said Mayne, “I had to take a penalty on the sixth hole. It was an impossible spot.”
The greens played fast both days, but she only had one 3-putt the entire tournament.
Rounding out the top 10 were Capital Region finishers Susan Kahler of Ballston Spa, who finished seventh (76-83-159) and Kathy Harkins of Ballston Spa (83-79-162), who tied for 10th with Mary Scatena of Pinehaven (81-81-162).
Complete results of the Women’s Mid-am and Amateur championships are on the NYSGA.ORG website.
NEWGA results
Mixed event at Leatherstocking overall low gross winners were Linda Kolnick and Zach Bowman, both of Canajoharie, who posted a 69 for the Chapman Scramble. Overall low net went to Anne Poulin (Mohawk CC) and Joe Membrino (Leatherstocking) with a 60 net.
Links to Leadership
Golf talk featuring the organizing committee of Links to Leadership will be part of a gathering Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Palette Cafe in Saratoga Springs. PGA/LPGA Teaching Professional Kay Mcmahon and Links to Leadership founder Georgia Kelly will talk about the organization’s debut tournament on Sept. 13 at Mcgregor Links, also featuring golf clinics for women at the fundraising event. Proceeds will support the Women’s Employment and Resource Center.