2026 NYSGA Champions, Runners-up & Complete Results
JAMESVILLE, N.Y. – Another successful championship season is in the books for the New York State Golf Association. 2026 featured 20 championships from as far west as Williamsville and as far east as Mahopac.
10 of New York’s best courses hosted our championships including Leatherstocking Golf Course, Cavalry Club, Glens Falls Country Club, Pinehaven Country Club, Bellevue Country Club, Cortland Country Club, Shaker Ridge Country Club, Binghamton Country Club, Mahopac Golf Club, and Country Club of Buffalo.
12 of our 24 victors were first time state champions including Shane Dobesh, Jane Fanning, Dannah Smith, Nina Choe, Samuel Gao, Matthew Lowe, Brayden Thomas, Taerin Lee, Jessica Doran, M. Connor Wisniewski, Bethany Bernatovicz, and Madelyn Hornstein.
12 of the champions reclaimed a past title or captured a new one including Yaroslav Merkulov, Wade Sarkis, Jim Scorse, Louise-Anne Morin, Ingrid Narken, Lauren Cupp, Bob Hughes, Jim Hamburger, Andy Bernatovicz, Barbara Harrison, Luke Hobika, and Christian Chapman.
For the first time since 2024, this season featured a two-time winner. Both Nina Choe and Louise-Anne Morin claimed multiple events this year. Choe won the NYS Girls’ 18U Amateur at Calvary Club for her first state title and then won the NYS Women’s Amateur at Pinehaven Country Club later that month. She joined NYSGA Hall of Fame member Dottie Pepper as the only players to have won those two events in the same year. Morin won the Senior Women’s Four Ball at Leatherstocking Golf Course partnering with Ingrid Narken. Morin also won the Women’s Senior Amateur at Binghamton Country Club for her first solo stat title.
We’d like to congratulate all the 2026 New York State Amateur champions and runner-ups on their great performances this season and recognize them for their outstanding accomplishments:
103rd New York State Men’s Amateur Glens Falls Country Club, July 7-9, 202572 holes, stroke play, 36 hole cutChampion: Matthew Lowe, MGA eClub - Long IslandRunner-up: Lucas Rizo-Patron, Pelham Country Club*Lowe erased an eight-stroke deficit after 36 holes with rounds of 67 and 65 on the final dayFull Coverage / Photos 
42nd New York State Men’s Mid AmateurCountry Club of Buffalo, October 5-7, 202654 holes, stroke play, 18 & 36 hole cutChampion: Christian Chapman, Cobblestone Creek Country ClubRunner-up: John Duthie, Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell*The state win marked the first for Chapman since 2016 when he won the 18UFull Coverage / Photos 
96th New York Women’s AmateurPinehaven Country Club, July 20-21, 202654 holes, stroke play, 36 hole cutChampion: Nina Choe, Pelham Country ClubRunner-up: Sophia Li, MGA eClub - New York City*Choe became the second player to win the Women’s Am and the Girls’ 18U in the same yearFull Coverage / Photos 
17th New York State Women’s Mid AmateurPinehaven Country Club, July 20-21, 202636 holes, stroke playChampion: Lauren Cupp, Yahnundasis Golf ClubRunners-up: Samantha Schuffenecker, Shaker Ridge Country Club & Kim Kaul, East Aurora Country Club*It was the second Mid-Am title for Cupp, the first since 2017Full Coverage / Photos 
84th New York State Boys’ 18U Junior AmateurCavalry Club, June 30-July 1, 202654 holes, stroke play, 18 hole cutChampion: Samuel Gao, Youth on Course - MGARunner-up: Josh Yan, Trump National Golf Club Hudson Valley*Gao birdied the final two holes to win his first state title by three shotsFull Coverage / Photos 
63rd New York State Girls’ 18U Junior AmateurCavalry Club, June 30-July 1, 202654 holes, stroke play, 18 hole cutChampion: Nina Choe, Pelham Country ClubRunner-up: Sadie Goodman, Anglebrook Golf Club*Choe’s first state win came less than three weeks before she’d earn her second at PinehavenFull Coverage / Photos 
69th New York State Boys’ 14U Junior AmateurCortland Country Club, July 30-31, 202636 holes, stroke playChampion: Brayden Thomas, Drumlins Golf ClubRunner-up: Justin Jang, Paramount Country Club*Thomas won on the first hole of the playoffFull Coverage / Photos 
4th New York State Girls’ 14U Junior AmateurCortland Country Club, July 30-31, 202636 holes, stroke playChampion: Taerin Lee, Youth on Course - MGARunner-up: Nina Dahl, Youth on Course - MGA*Lee caught fire with four straight birdies during her first roundFull Coverage / Photos 
69th New York State Men’s Senior AmateurMahopac Golf Club, September 25-26, 202636 holes, stroke playChampion: Luke Hobika, Yahnundasis Golf ClubRunners-up: Edward McCann, Wykagyl Country Club, David Scialabba, Meadow Brook Country Club & Philip Ohler, Forged Iron Golf*Hobika birdied the penultimate hole of the championship to take the decisive leadFull Coverage / Photos 
30th New York State Men’s Super Senior AmateurBellevue Country Club, July 30-31, 202636 holes, stroke playChampion: Bob Hughes, Thompson Park Golf CourseRunners-up: Daniel Russo, Schuyler Meadows Club & Dennis Lynch, Nassau Players Club*Hughes’ final round of even-par was a tournament-lowFull Coverage / Photos 
4th New York State Men’s Legends AmateurBellevue Country Club, July 30-31, 202636 holes, stroke playChampion: Jim Hamburger, McCann Golf ClubRunner-up: David Young, Moon Brook Country Club*Hamburger had the two lowest rounds and won by ten strokesFull Coverage / Photos 
73rd New York State Women’s Senior AmateurBinghamton Country Club, August 18-19, 202636 holes, stroke play, shotgun startChampion: Louise-Anne Morin, McCann Golf ClubRunner-up: Christy Malo, Park Country Club*Morin parred the final four holes to win by one shotFull Coverage / Photos 
19th New York State Women’s Super Senior AmateurBinghamton Country Club, August 18-19, 202636 holes, stroke play, shotgun startChampion: Madelyn Hornstein, Drumlins Golf ClubRunner-up: Marilyn McDermott, Tuscarora Golf Club*Hornstein’s win came a day after becoming a first-time grandmother Full Coverage / Photos 
2nd New York State Women’s Legends AmateurBinghamton Country Club, August 18-19, 202636 holes, stroke play, shotgun startChampion: Barbara Harrison, Oswego Country ClubRunner-up: Kitty Colliflower, Oak Hill Country Club*Harrison successfully defended her title after winning in 2025 and the Super Senior in 2024Full Coverage / Photos 
15th New York State Men’s Four-Ball Leatherstocking Golf Course, May 17-18, 202636 holes, four-ball, shotgun startChampions: Shane Dobesh, Sheridan Park Golf Club & Yaroslav Merkulov, Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club*The win marked the first for Dobesh and the first in 17 years for MerkulovFull Coverage / Photos 
14th New York State Senior Four-BallLeatherstocking Golf Course, May 17-18, 202636 holes, four-ball, shotgun startChampions: Wade Sarkis, Canandaigua Country Club & Jim Scorse, Stafford Country Club*The duo defended their title winning by four strokesFull Coverage / Photos 
8th New York State Women’s Four-BallLeatherstocking Golf Course, June 1-2, 202636 holes, four-ball, shotgun startChampions: Jane Fanning, NYSGA eClub - Capital Region & Dannah Smith, Orchard Creek Golf Club*The former junior league teammates reunited and claimed their first state winsFull Coverage / Photos 
8th New York State Women’s Senior Four-Ball Leatherstocking Golf Course, June 1-2, 202636 holes, four-ball, shotgun startChampions: Louise-Anne Morin, McCann Golf Club & Ingrid Narken, Thendara Golf Club*It was the second Four-Ball win for Narken (2023) and the first for MorinFull Coverage / Photos 
13th New York State Amateur Mixed TeamShaker Ridge Country Club, August 3, 202618 holes, modified Chapman stroke play, shotgun startChampions: Jessica Doran & M. Connor Wisniewski, Drumlins Golf Club*Captured the title in their first appearance together.Full Coverage / Photos 
13th New York State Senior Mixed TeamShaker Ridge Country Club, August 3, 202618 holes, modified Chapman stroke play, shotgun startChampions Andy & Bethany Bernatovicz, River Oaks Golf Club*It was the first state win for Bethany and the second for Andy who won the Senior Am in 2025Full Coverage / Photos
Thank you to all the host clubs for their continued support of the NYSGA and our events. We’d also like to recognize the 150+ volunteers who dedicate themselves to tirelessly supporting and administering golf in New York each season.
