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STAFFORD, NY. – Evan Clarke of NYSGA eClub - Western NY and Audrey Clarke of Morgan’s Crossing captured the 11th NYS Mixed Team Amateur Championship with a seven under par performance at Stafford Country Club. 

Related: Final Results / Photos / Preview 

The brother-sister duo exploded for seven birdies and an eagle in the dominant victory. Consistently navigating the Walter Travis-designed course from tee to fairway to green, the siblings finished five clear of the field.

“We said let’s put ourselves in good spots every hole,” said Evan in a post-round interview. “So long as we continued to give ourselves good chances, we knew eventually some of them would pay off and they did.” 

“I’ve watched [Evan] golf enough when I was younger,” Audrey said. “I know what his game is like and know how best to partner with it and play off of it.” 

The pair grew up playing at Stafford and applied their local knowledge to combine for the lowest score at a NYS Mixed Team Championship since 2021. The Clarkes won both the Men’s and Women’s Club Championships at Stafford in 2019 and have now earned another title - this time as a team - at their childhood course. 

“Growing up playing here a hundred times a summer, it was nice coming here and basically not having to read putts,” Evan said. “We knew where we had to hit the ball and what we had to do and once we got on the green it was second nature.”

John and Samantha Gaffney of Brookfield Country Club finished in second place in the amateur field. John, who won the 1999 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship and Samantha, who won the 2018 Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship combined for a two-under round of 70. 

Mark and Alexandra Battle of Ravenwood Golf Club were the final pair to finish in red numbers. The father-daughter team turned in a one under 71 to conclude play in third place. 

Two teams - Emma Hastie / Mac Quinn of Springville Country Club and Megan Deblois / Michael Deblois of the Cavalry Club finished T4 at even par. 

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Kevin and Lisa Webb of Clifton Springs Country Club battled past a slow start to claim their third Mixed Team Senior Title. The 2018 and 2021 champions made a double bogey on their third hole of the day and found themselves at six over par with four to play. The pair made three birdies and an eagle to go five-under in those four holes to sneak into a four-team playoff. 

“Lisa hits the ball straight and in the fairway every time,” said Kevin, shortly after the playoff concluded. “I can usually put it on the green and she’s a good putter, so it’s easy for us to get par after par and eventually we’ll make a birdie.” 

The Webbs outlasted Luke Hobika of Drumlins GC  / Meredith Hobika of Yahnundasis GC, Kim Kaul of East Aurora CC / Andy Melnyk of Tuscarora GC and Carina / John Watkins of Drumlins GC in a five-hole playoff. Each team finished their round at 73 (+1). 

“It was a ton of fun,” said Lisa. “Everyone in the playoff played really well, so we feel honored that we were able to win it.” 

The Hobika siblings went the five-hole distance in the playoff and were the last pair to be eliminated, preceded by Kaul / Melnyk on the third hole and Watkins / Watkins on the first hole.

Three sides - Stuart Harris of Oak Hill CC / Traci Petrillo of Penfield CC, Andy / Bethany Bernatovicz of River Oaks GC and Nick Amigone III of Transit Valley CC / Christy Malo of Park Country Club - finished at two over 74. 

The net winners in the Amateur category were John and Samantha Gaffney with a net 65 (-7), while Pennie and Jeff Carlo claimed the net title in the Senior field with a 66 (-6).