PREVIEW: 2019 NYS Men's Senior Amateur Championships
MANLIUS, N.Y. – The upcoming 2019 New York State Men’s Senior & Super Senior Amateur Championships at Cavalry Club in Manlius will challenge amateur players around the state throughout 54 holes of stroke play over three days of competition on September 24-26, 2019.
Related: Championship Home / Pairings / Past Winners
The championship begins on Tuesday with 18 holes of stroke play and the 132-player field will be divided into morning and afternoon waves. Wednesday, the field will play a second set of 18 holes to decide who survives the cut – set at low 50% of players and ties in each division (Senior and Super Senior). On Championship Thursday, the remaining competitors will play a final 18 holes to decide the next state champion in both divisions. If a tie exists after 54 holes, a sudden-death playoff will determine the winner.
Age Groups: 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+
Championship Quick Facts
2018 Champions:
Bob Hughes of Ives Hill Country Club (Senior) and;
Jim Hamburger of McCann Golf Course (Super Senior)
Format:54 holes of stroke play, played over three days of competition. There is a cut after 36 holes to the low 50% of both fields and ties.
Eligibility:This championship is open to male amateur golfers who meet the following requirements: Be a member of the NYSGA, defined as either (1) belonging to an NYSGA member club or (2) joining the NYSGA as a 2019 NYSGA eClub member. Players must also have a USGA Handicap Index issued by an NYSGA member club of 12.0 or less and at least 55 years old as of September 2019.
Par & Yardage:
SENIOR DIVISION – BLUE TEES
|
HOLE |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
YARDS |
379 |
363 |
175 |
466 |
342 |
518 |
347 |
160 |
415 |
|
PAR |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
|
HOLE |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
|
YARDS |
361 |
401 |
403 |
157 |
522 |
345 |
164 |
534 |
385 |
|
PAR |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
OUT: 3,165 yards / IN: 3,272 yards
TOTAL: 6,437 yards, par 36-36-72 (70.9/132)
SUPER SENIOR – RED TEES
|
HOLE |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
YARDS |
360 |
335 |
160 |
451 |
318 |
480 |
347 |
146 |
408 |
|
PAR |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
|
HOLE |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
|
YARDS |
348 |
378 |
362 |
157 |
450 |
337 |
149 |
447 |
385 |
|
PAR |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
OUT: 3,005 yards / IN: 3,013 yards
TOTAL: 6,018 yards, par 36-36-72 (68.6/127)
Schedule of Events: Monday, September 23 - Registration and Practice Rounds
9:00am - 4:00pm............ Player registration
9:30am - 3:40pm............ Player practice rounds 6:00pm........................... Cocktail Reception 7:00pm........................... Player Dinner
Tuesday, September 24 - Round 1
8:00am - 9:30am............ Morning Wave from tees #1 & #10
12:15pm - 1:45pm.......... Afternoon Wave from tees #1 & #10
Wednesday, September 25 - Round 2*
8:00am - 9:30am............ Morning Wave from tees #1 & #10
12:15pm - 1:45pm.......... Afternoon Wave from tees #1 & #10 *Cut after 36 to low 50% and ties in each championship division
Thursday, September 26 - Round 3
8:00am - 9:30am............. All play from tees #1 & #10 2:30pm............................ Awards ceremony
The Field
Past NYS Men’s Senior Champions in the field
Bob Hughes, 58, of Ives Hill Country Club, won the 2018 championship at Mohawk Golf Club in a two-hole playoff over Wade Sarkis of Canandaigua Country Club.
Paul Pratico, 58, of Schenectady Muni Golf Course, won the 2016 championship at Brookfield Country Club by three strokes over the field.
Tom Fletcher, 62, of Tuscarora Golf Club, won the 2015 championship with a birdie on the second playoff hole at Onondaga Golf & Country Club against Don Enga of Cherry Valley Club.
Dave Benedict, 69, of Brook-Lea Country Club, secured the title in 2011 at Vestal Hills Country Club. Benedict also won the 1994 Mid-Amateur when it was hosted at Wayne Hills Country Club.
Matthew Haefele, 69, of Stafford Country Club, won the championship when it was held at his home course in 2009.
Donald Van Gorder, 70, of Newman Municipal Golf Course, won the championship in 2006 at Lafayette Country Club.
Past NYS Super Senior Champions in the field
Jim Hamburger, 68, of McCann Golf Course, won the 2018 championship by four strokes over Anthony Tomaselli of Yahundasis Golf Club.
John Hathway, 72, of NYSGA eClub – Watertown, won the title at Onondaga Golf & Country Club in 2015 by a stroke.
Randy Young, 71, of Bellevue Country Club, claimed the title in 2014 at Cedar Lake Club by three strokes with a 227 (+11).
Perry Noun, 82, of Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club, was the champion during the 2005 championship at Vestal Hills Country Club.
Past NYS Champions in the field
Kevin Webb, 60, of Mendon Golf Club, was the 2017 NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball co-champion at Leatherstocking Golf Course with a two-round total of 136 (-8). In 2018, he teamed up with his wife Lisa to win the NYS Senior Mixed Team championship at Skaneateles Country Club.
Robert Branham, 64, of Canasawacta Country Club, collaborated with Kevin Webb to win the 2017 Men’s Senior Four-Ball championship title.
Bob Rosen, 58, of Country Club of Buffalo, won the 2016 Men’s Senior Four-Ball with partner Matt Clarke, posting a 36-hole score of 133 (-11).
John Gaffney, 60, of Brookfield Country Club, won the Men’s Amateur at Wanakah Country Club in 1999.
Todd Dischinger, 63, of Foxfire Golf Course, won the Men’s Amateur in 1992 at Drumlins Country Club’s East Course.
Mark Battle, 65, of Oak Hill Country Club, collaborated with Bob Chalanick for the 2013 NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball title at Leatherstocking Golf Course.
Andy Conway, 64, of Ravenwood Golf Club, was a 2016 NYS Mixed Team co-champion alongside Sara Eichelberger at Skaneateles Country Club.
Others to Watch in Senior
Wade Sarkis, 57, of Canandaigua Country Club, was last year’s runner-up and lost in a two-hole playoff to Bob Hughes after shooting a final-round 68.
Jim Mueller, 60, of Orchard Creek Golf Club, finished third in last year’s championship, falling just a stroke shy of the playoff with Hughes and Sarkis. He’s won four Scenectady Senior Classics and eight Schenectady Classic titles over the years.
Bob Cooper, 63, of Schenectady Municipal Golf Club, held the lead throughout the first two rounds at last year’s championship at Mohawk, shooting 70-69 before carding a final round 79 to finish in solo fifth.
Daniel Russo, 61, of Schuyler Meadows Club, competed in his first state senior last year, finishing T9. He’s qualified for the U.S. Senior Open twice (2017, 2009), and the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur.
John Bufalini, 57, of Ives Hill Country Club, qualified for the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur at Eugene Country Club in Oregon. This July, he won his 7thWatertown City Golf title.
Jim Mason, 57, of Oak Hill Country Club, finished T6 in last year’s championship at Mohawk.
Others to Watch in Super Senior
Anthony Tomaselli, 66, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, was last year’s runner-up in the Super Senior Division.
John Hamilton, 69, of Hudson National Golf Club, was the Super Senior runner-up in 2017 at Crag Burn Golf Club. He finished T13 last year at Mohawk.
Cavalry Club
Designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson, the Cavalry Golf Club opened to instant acclaim on June 26, 1965. In place of the old horse barns, stood a sparkling new club house and nestled in the sweeping curve of Limestone Creek, an 18-hole golf course was carved into the rolling countryside at a place where, at one time, the troopers and their mounts had prepared to go to war. Enlightened leadership, spearheaded by old troopers from Company C, played a key role in the club’s development, as has the active participation of the associate membership since.
Cavalry Club has homed two other New York State events, the 1971 New York State Men’s Amateur Championship and the 1994 NYS Women's Senior Amateur Championship.
Previous NYSGA Championships at Cavalry Club
1971 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship won by Mike Slipko of Niagara Falls
1994 NYS Women's Senior Amateur Championship won by Sue Sims of Skaneateles
