NYSGA seeks tourney for area amateurs

As part of the inaugural Capital District Golf Association season, the New York State Golf Association is still hoping to have a three-day tournament this fall for area amateurs. Andrew Hickey, assistant executive director for the NYSGA, said the organization needs to secure one additional course for a 54-hole championship but realizes that time is getting short.

“We’re not giving up,” Hickey said. “We have two of the three courses we need. We would like to get one for this year, but if not, we’ll definitely have it in place for next year.”

The NYSGA, amid its centennial celebration and a packed summer schedule of championship and Amateur Series events, admittedly got a late start on trying to secure venues for a Capital District tournament. Hickey said he already has made headway on that for 2024, and that a CDGA tournament would be held in the summer, before next August’s State Amateur.

“The goal is to give the winner an exemption for that year’s State Am,” Hickey said. “So we’re looking at having it before August.”

In order for a CDGA tournament to happen this year, Hickey said details would have to be finalized by the second week of September.

Area roundup

David Hayes of Schuyler Meadows qualified for match play and won his first match at the U.S. Senior Amateur at Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Calif. Hayes, seeded 52nd, beat No. 13 Carlos Aranda of Paraguay 4 and 3 on Monday before falling Tuesday in the Round of 32 to No. 45 Joe Palmer of Norwalk, Iowa, 4 and 3. … Brothers Bob Royak of Alpharetta, Ga., and Paul Royak of Tampa, Fla., both raised in Guilderland, also qualified for match play. Bob won his first two matches and was in a Round of 16 match late Tuesday. Paul was ousted in the first round.

Kellen Dean of Saratoga Springs was the top local finisher in last week’s American Ju

nior Golf Association event at Normanside. He tied for 10th at 1-overpar 211, nine shots behind winner C.J. Winchenbaugh of Weston, Mass. Brayden Dock of Queensbury and Carter Sica of Saratoga Springs also made the cut, finishing tied for 32nd at 217. … On the girls’ side, Kennedy Swedick of Albany tied for 15th at 10-over 220, 14 behind Miranda Lu of Canada. Swedick was the lone Capital Region player to make the girls’ cut.

Four local players have advanced to the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship regional finals Sept. 16 at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass: Hayden Knapp of Fort Edward and Maria Glavin of Waterford (12-13 girls), Maceo London of Saratoga Springs (10-11 boys) and Charlie London of Saratoga Springs (7-9 girls). The winners of each age group at regionals will qualify for the national finals next April at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, site of the Masters. … Medalist Joe Fitzsimmons

of Shaker Ridge (5-under 66) led a group of 20 who advanced from the NYSGA Mid-amateur qualifier at Ballston Spa. The Mid-am concludes the state association’s championship schedule Sept. 22-24 at Crag Burn (East Aurora). Dannah Smith won the Schoharie County Women’s Open at Cobleskill. … Evan Drew is the new women’s golf coach at Siena. He previously coached the RPI men.

Club roundup

Battenkill: Matt Parker captured the men’s senior club championship.

Burden Lake: Cody Bielawa (men) and Jane Wimmer (women) were crowned club champions.

Copake: Club champions crowned over the weekend are Jack Walsh (men), Sue Curry (women) and John Stickles (senior men).

Travis Deuel (men), Penny

Schiek (women) and John Korniak (senior men) were crowned club champions.

Queensbury: Club championship winners are Dave Burt (men), Mary Sicard (women), Larry Montague (senior men) and Cindy Delappa (senior women).

Shaker Ridge: Matt Mcgarvey won the men’s senior club championship for the second straight year.

Troy: Kurt Schnellbaecher defeated Mark Vantloesen 2-up to grab the senior club championship.

Elsewhere

The Country Club of Buffalo has been awarded the 2027 U.S. Women’s Mid-amateur and 2032 U.S. Senior Amateur.