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MAHOPAC, N.Y. – For the first time in the club’s 133-year history, Mahopac Golf Club will host an NYS championship. The NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship will head to Westchester for its 69th rendition. 

Related: Pairings /  2025 Recap / Past Winners

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Dates: September 23-24, 2026

Host Site: Mahopac Golf Club

Defending Champions:

Andy Bernatovicz claimed what he called the biggest triumph in his career at the 68th NYS Senior Am. The River Oaks Golf Club member shot two rounds of even-par, 72, at Brookfield Country Club. It marked the second state title and first solo-win for Bernatovicz. 

Age Divisions:

The Men’s Senior field will also feature two age group categories: 55-59 and 60-64. Players above the age of 65 are not eligible for either of the age groups, but were also able to compete in the 2026 NYS Men’s Super Senior Amateur Championship at Bellevue Country Club.

Format: 

36 holes of individual stroke play. No cut. 

Eligibility:

This Championship is open to male amateur golfers who are at least 55 years old (as of September 23, 2026), active NYSGA Members, and hold an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index of 10.4 or less.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 - PRACTICE ROUND

9:00am. Driving range opens

9:00-3:00pm.Registration

10:00-2:00pm. Practice rounds

5:00pm. Driving range closes

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - ROUND 1

7:30am. Driving range opens

8:30-10:00am. Round 1, tees #1 and #10

12:00-3:30pm.Player Lunch

12:30-2:00pm. Round 1, tees #1 and #10

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 - ROUND 2

7:30am. Driving range opens

8:30-10:00am. Round 2, tees #1 and #10

12:00-3:30pm. Player lunch

12:00-2:00pm.Round 2, tees #1 and #10

7:00pm. Award ceremony

THE FIELD

Past NYS Men’s Senior Champions in the Field

Jim Scorse, 61, of Stafford Country Club, is the most recent champion in the field. Scorse won in 2024 at Corning Country Club and in 2023 at Yahnundasis Golf Club. He is a nine-time NYS champion having won the Mid-Amateur in 2016 at his home course and in 2013. Scorse has also claimed the 2005 Men’s Am, two Four-Ball wins, 2011 and 2012, and two in the Senior Four-Ball, 2025 and 2026. He finished T2 last summer. 

Kevin Vandenberg, 60, of Beaver Meadows Golf Club, took home the 2022 NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Springville Country Club. He is also a four-time SDGA Player of the Year (2009, 2011, 2017, and 2018), and was thrice named Senior Player of the Year (2021, 2022, and 2025). He is currently ranked 928th in the WAGR rankings and recently advanced into match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur. Vandenberg placed fifth in last year’s championship.

Dan Russo, 68, of Schuyler Meadows Club, was the 2021 and 2019 Senior Am champion winning at The Powelton Club and at Calvary Club. Since there was no tournament in 2020, he is one of eight men to have won the event in back-to-back fashion. Russo finished T23 in last year’s event and T2 in this year’s Super Senior at Bellevue.

David Prowler, 68, of Lake Success Golf Club, on the 2017 Men's Senior Championship by four strokes. Prowler secured his first NYS title with a three-over performance at Crag Burn Golf Club. Prowler also represented New York at the 2012 U.S. Senior Open at Indianwood Golf & Country Club. He finished T13 at the Super Senior in July.

Other NYS Champions in the Field

Jim Mueller, 67, of Orchard Creek Golf Club, claimed the 2024 and 2025 NYS Men’s Super Senior titles at Crag Burn Golf Club at Soaring Eagles Golf Course, respectively. Additionally, he claimed the 2024 Men's Super Senior Four-Ball Championship, alongside Kevin Broderick at Turning Stone. Mueller has finished third at both the 2021 and 2018 NYS Men's Senior Amateur Championships.

James Welch, 59, of NYSGA eClub - Capital Region, won the 2011 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Dutchess Golf & Country Club, earning the win in a four-way playoff. Welch golfed at Skidmore where he was their first athlete to be named a NCAA All-American in 1987. Welch was the second oldest player at this year’s Men’s Am at Glens Falls. He was the runner-up in the 2024 NYS Senior at Corning Country Club.

Luke Hobika, 58, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, has won the state Mid-Am twice. The first came in 1998 at his home course, the second came in 2015 at Wolferts Roost. The 17-year gap between wins is the longest for any multiple-time Mid-Am winner. He was the NYS Senior runner-up in 2023 when it was held at Yahnundasis. He was inducted into the Syracuse District Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2022.

Wade Sarkis, 64, of Canandaigua Country Club, is a three-time state Senior Four-Ball champion. He won the last two team championships with Jim Scorse (2025-26) as well as in 2019 with Ken Ogden. Sarkis finished 11th in last year's championship, and was the runner-up in 2018 after losing a playoff against Robert Hughes.

Patrick Pierson, 62, of Hollow Brook Golf Club, won the 2003 NYS Men’s Mid-Am at Teugega Country Club. He captured the New Jersey state Senior in 2025 after an 18-hole playoff. He finished T13 during his only NYS Senior appearance in 2021.

Jim Hamburger, 75, of McCann Golf Course, dominated his way to the 2026 NYS Legends title at Bellevue Country Club. Hamburger also won the Super Senior in 2018. He did not compete in last year’s NYS Senior championship. 

Todd Jackson, 63, of McCann Golf Course, won the 2025 Senior Mixed Team Championship with Louise-Anne Morin. The pair finished in second place this year. He did not partake in last summer’s championship. 

Kevin Webb, 67, of Clifton Springs Country Club, won the 2024 Senior Mixed Team Championship at Stafford Country Club with Lisa Webb. He also won the 65-69 division at the 2024 RDGA Senior Championship. Webb did not play in last year’s championship. 

Other Players to Watch 

Dennis Lynch, 65, of Nassau Players Club, has won the MGA Senior Amateur twice, 2024 and 2022. Lynch has also claimed two MGA Mid-Am championships. He finished T2 at the Super Senior in July. 

PJ Alterio, 57, of Niagara Falls Country Club, finished fifth in last year’s tournament. Alterio won the 2025 Erie County Amateur Championship Senior Division as well as the 2023 BDGA Senior Championship. In 2025 he qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur. 

Jack Weinerth, 65, of Highland Park Golf Club, lost in a playoff in last year’s championship. He won the 39th Apogee Investment Management Senior Championship in 2019. Weinerth also brought home the 2023 SDGA Senior Championship.

Don Fortuna, 57, of Twin Hickory Golf Club, finished fourth last year at Brookfield Country Club in the NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship. He put up rounds of 72-77 to finish at five over par.

Edward McCann, 61, of Wykagyl Country Club, was given the Senior Amateur Player of the Year award by the Westchester Golf Association. He finished second at the 2025 WGA Senior Am. McCann’s last NYS championship event came in 2023 at the 100th Men’s Am. 

John Migliore, 56, of Skenandoa Club, placed T12 in the 2019 AIM Championship at Cortland Country Club. Migliore also made the cut in the 2015 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship and  placed 28th at the 2023 NYS Men’s Mid-Am. Migliore finished T18 at last year’s championship.

Brian Kumiega, 60, of Country Club of Buffalo, won this year’s BDGA Senior Match-Play title. He also won the title in 2024 beating Andy Bernatovicz in 20 holes. Kumiega also won the Erie County Senior Amateur that same year. He finished T18 at the 2025 Senior Am. 

Alan Specht, 60, Port Jefferson Country Club, won the 98th MGA Senior Senior Championship in 2025. The former St. John’s golfer also won the Long Island Amateur Championship that same year. Specht did not compete in last year’s championship. 

Ken Cohen, 63, of Villa Roma Country Club, won the 2022 Westchester Senior Amateur. He finished in the top 5 during the 2023 Met Senior Amateur at Baiting Hollow. Cohen did not compete last year at Brookfield.

ABOUT THE VENUE

Mahopac Golf Club lies right on the Northeast corner of Lake Mahopac. The golf course features a 6,523-yard par 70 layout. The club was born in 1893 and started with just six holes. 20 years later the 18-hole design, by 2026 NYSGA Hall of Fame inductee Devereux Emmet, came to life. Now, the course is known for pristine putting surfaces and tree-lined fairways. The venue will host its first NYS championship.