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FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. - The upcoming 99th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship will be contested at Onondaga Golf & Country Club on August 9 – 11, 2022. A field of approximately 150 of the Empire State’s best male amateur golfers will compete in a 72-hole stroke play competition in the hopes of raising the Ganson Depew Cup on Thursday.

Related: Pairings / Scoring / Championship Central / Program / 2021 Recap / Qualifying Results / Past Winners 

The Championship begins with two rounds of 18 holes on Tuesday and Wednesday. A cut ensues, to the low 40 players and ties and anyone within 10 strokes of the lead. On Thursday, the remaining competitors will play 36 holes to declare a winner. In the event of a tie after 72 holes, a sudden-death playoff will follow.

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Defending Champion: James Allen of Scarsdale Golf Club won the 2021 title by a stroke over Ben Reichert of NYSGA eClub - WNY. Allen finished at 8-under 280 and fired a six-under 66 in his final round to capture the Ganson Depew Cup. Full 2021 Recap.

Format: 72 holes of stroke play, played over three days with a 36-hole cut to low 40 and ties, and anyone within 10 strokes of the leader.  

Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur golfers who are either (1) residents of New York State or (2) members of an NYSGA Member Club and have an active Handicap Index of 8.4 or lower.  

Par & Yardage:

OUT: 3,251 yards / IN: 3,407 yards
TOTAL: 6,658 yards, PAR: 35-36-71 (72.1/133)

Schedule of Events

Monday, August 8

• 9:00am....................Practice facility open
• 9:00-4:00pm........... Registration 
• 9:30-3:00pm........... Practice rounds
• 11:00-2:00pm......... Player lunch

Tuesday, August 9

• 6:00am....................Practice facility open
• 6:30am....................Registration opens
• 7:30-9:30am............Round 1 from tee #1 and #10
• 11:00-3:00pm..........Player lunch
• 12:30-2:30pm..........Round 1 from tee #1 and #10

Wednesday, August 10

• 6:00am....................Practice facility open
• 6:30am....................Registration opens
• 7:30-9:30am............Round 2 from tee #1 and #10
• 11:00-3:00pm..........Player lunch
• 12:30-2:30pm..........Round 2 from tee #1 and #10
• 7:30pm................... Driving range closes

Thursday, August 11

• 6:00am....................Practice facility open
• 6:30am....................Registration opens
• 7:00-8:24am............Round 3 from tee #1 and #10
• 11:00-3:00pm..........Player lunch
• 12:15-1:39pm..........Round 4 from tee #1 and #10
• 6:30pm....................Award ceremony

Sectional Qualifying Medalists

Jamestown Qualifier
June 26 – Chautauqua GC (10/2)
72 - Jason Stronz, Moon Brook CC

Elmira Qualifier
June 26 – Corning CC (11/2)
70 - Nic Whittaker, RaNic GC

Rochester Qualifier
June 27 – Mendon GC (30/5)
70 - Jonathan Spurr, Irondequoit CC

Watertown Qualifier
July 2 – Watertown GC (31/5)
64 - Michael Burgess, NYSGA eClub - Watertown

Binghamton Qualifier
July 3 – Links at Hiawatha (30/5)
69 - Carter Thompson, MGA eClub - NYC

Albany Qualifier
July 5 – Colonie G&CC (16/3)
69 - Anthony Cavotta, NYSGA eClub - Capital District

Buffalo Qualifier
July 6 – Lancaster CC (36/6)
65 - Ryan Edholm, Pendleton Creek GC

Mid-Hudson Qualifier
July 6 – Red Hook GC (37/6)
73 - Clinton Lange, NYSGA eCLub - Capital District 

Utica Qualifier
July 7 – Yahnundasis GC (42/6)
70 - Paul Goetz, Edison Club
70 - Jim Hirsh, Yahnundasis GC

North Country Qualifier
July 9 – Malone GC (11/2)
75 - Nicholas Bouyea, The Barracks GC

Finger Lakes Qualifier
July 9 – Wayne Hills CC (25/4)
73 - Seth Conway, Corning CC

Long Island Qualifier
July 11 – Bethpage Yellow (60/9)
66 - Liam Miller, Bethpage SP GC

Syracuse Qualifier
July 14 – Timber Banks GC (36/6)
68 - Johnny Gruninger, Bellevue CC

Last Chance Qualifier
August 7 - Drumlins CC (East) (54/6)
68 - Tyler Edholm, Pendelton Creek GC

Click here to view full 2022 qualifying results

2022 Exempt Players (As of August 7)
James Allen (2021 champion), Jack Angelucci, Alec Bard, Luke Basile, Doug Beney, Charlie Berridge, James Blackwell, Nick Bove, Donald Burns, Brody Burgess, Christian Chapman, Shawn Colella, Colin Coogan, Tim Coykendall, Jude Cummings, Jacob Dantonio, Anthony Delisanti, Shane Devincenzo, Kyle Downey, Matthew Ferrari, Charlie Fischer, Nolan Forsman, Ryan Gabel, Tyler Gerbavsits, Jim Gifford, Daniel Griffiths, Donte Groppuso, Billy Hanes, Daniel Harding, Ryan Hart, Patrick Healy, John Hiller, Luke Hobika, Jason Hurley, Alexander Kang, Jacob Katz, Doug Kleeschulte, Jud Langille, Lawrence Lessing, Jiarong Liu, Jason Lohwater, Jeff March, Mike Mento, C.J. Merrit, Jamie Miller, Philip Minnehan, Bill Moore, Jim Mueller, Denny Nicholson, Lucas Rizo Patron, Velton Perry, Joe Quijano, Wills Reardon, Andrew Romano, George Roessler, Owen Rooney, Benjamin Rublee, Jeremy Sisson, Aiden Spampinato, Jeremy Summerson, Andrew Turker, James Welch, Stephen Ziff.

THE FIELD

Past Men’s Am Champions 

Doug Kleeschulte, 32, of Wiltwyck Golf Club, was crowned champion in 2010 at Albany Country Club with a one stroke victory over the field. He has appeared in a string of USGA championships over the years and most recently competed in the 2015 U.S. Four-Ball and U.S. Amateur.

James Allen, 20, of Scarsdale Golf Club, is the defending Men’s Amateur champion. The Scarsdale native will return in the fall to Penn State University, where he competes on the men’s golf team, for his junior year. During his sophomore season, he won the individual championship in the Rutherford Intercollegiate. Before Penn State, he led Scarsdale High School to three-straight section championships.

Past NYS Champions

Alec Bard, 24, of Cedar Lake Club, is a two-time New York State Boys’ 14U Junior Amateur Champion. He won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. He played his college golf at Penn State University, where he was the Nittany Lion’s top finisher at the Big Ten Championship in 2019 and 2021. He won the Syracuse area's AIM Championship in 2020 by fourteen strokes.

James Blackwell, 28, of River Oaks Golf Club, won the 2011 New York State Boy’s 18U Junior Amateur Championship at McGregor Links Country Club. He followed that title up, by winning the 2012 BDGA Championship. He competed at the collegiate level on the Ball State men’s golf team. He returned to his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach in 2018. He recently competed in the 2022 Men's Porter Cup Invitational at Niagara Falls, where he was tied for the lead after round 1.

Christian Chapman, 23, of Cobblestone Creek CC, won the 2016 NYS Boys’ Junior Championship at Seven Oaks Golf Club. He won the Country Club of Rochester Invitational in 2021 and 2018. This year, Chapman won both the RDGA Match Play and Individual Stroke Play Championships. He finished in the top ten in the 2019 championship, while recently finishing eighteenth in the Atlantic-10 Championship. Chapman just graduated from St. Bonaventure, where he played on the golf team.

Jude Cummings, 20, of the RDGA eClub, won the 2017 NYS Boys’ Junior Championship after a four-hole playoff at Seven Oaks Golf Club. He just finished his sophomore season at St. Bonaventure, where he competed in nine events with a 77.48 scoring average. He is a former WNYPGA Junior Champion.

Anthony Delisanti, 19, of Willowbrook Golf Club, captured his first New York State title at the 2021 Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship. He completed his defense of the BDGA Individual Championship this year, making it three years in a row that he has claimed that title (he was the youngest winner in tournament history at age 17 in 2019). He is a top performer on the Valparaiso University men’s golf team. This year, as a freshman, Delisanti was the individual medalist at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. He played in the NCAA Regional as an individual and was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year. He also finished T15 at the 2022 Men's Porter Cup at Niagara Falls.

Charlie Fischer, 17, of East Aurora Country Club, won two-straight Buffalo District Golf Association (BDGA) Boys’ Junior Stroke Play titles in 2020 and 2021. He placed in the top ten at the 2021 International Junior Masters. Fischer won the 2019 NYS Boys’ Sub-Junior, winning by five strokes to capture his first state championship after finishing runner-up in 2018. He finished T5 in the 2022 NYS Boys' 18U Junior Amateur in late July.

Billy Hanes, 36, of Crag Burn Golf Club, won the 2018 NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball at Leatherstocking with his younger brother David, and previously with partner Jamie Miller in 2015. Hanes also claimed a NYS Boys’ Sub-Junior title in 2000 at Wellsville Country Club. He captured the 2022 Erie County Amateur title at Elma Meadows. He finished runner up at the 2018 NYS Men’s Mid-Am, in the top 10 at both the 2019 NYS Amateur & Mid-Amateurs, and T4 in the 2021 Mid-Am.

Luke Hobika, 54, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, is two-time New York State Mid-Amateur Champion, capturing his first title in 1998 and another in 2015. He most recently won the 60th Post-Standard Amateur Championship at Tuscarora Golf Club in 2016 for his fifth title in nearly twenty years. He was inducted into the Syracuse District Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2022.

Anthony Maglisco, 18, of Timber Banks Golf Club, won the 2018 Boys’ 14U Junior. He is a New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Section III Class B champion and finished tied for twentieth in the individual state championship in 2022. Maglisco finished tied for ninth in this year’s Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur Championship.

Jamie Miller, 37, of Crag Burn Golf Club, landed the 2018 and 2014 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur titles. In 2015, he paired up with Billy Hanes to win the NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball at Leatherstocking Golf Club. Miller has competed in many national events, including recent appearances in the U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, qualifying for each in 2021 and 2018. Last year, Miller teamed up with Chelsea Dantonio to win the NYS Amateur Mixed Team title. He finished T3 in the 2019 NYS Men’s Amateur at Crag Burn at T7 in the 2021 Men’s Amateur at Schuyler Meadows.

Jacob Olearczyk, 14, of the NYSGA eClub – CNY, is coming off his second-straight Boys’ 14U Junior title. As a freshman at Holland Patent High School, he was the medalist at Section III qualifying for the NYSPHSAA. He is the youngest player in this year's field.

Jeremy Summerson, 21, of Cobblestone Creek CC, won the 2015 NYS Boys’ 14U Junior championship at Cedar Lake Club. He finished as runner-up in the 2021 Rochester District Championship. In 2018, Summerson was named the RDGA Boys’ Junior Player of the Year and won the 2017 RDGA Boys’ Junior Championship. He currently plays golf at Towson University.

Andrew Turker, 38, of Cornell University Golf Course, claimed his first New York State Title at the Men’s Four Ball Championship earlier this summer. Turker was co-captain of the Cornell University men’s golf team during his college years. He contributed to an interclub title for his home course at Lakeshore Golf and Country Club. He now works in the athletic department at his alma mater.
 
James Welch, 55, of Olde Kinderhook, won the 2011 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Dutchess Golf and Country Club. He captured the 2022 Saratoga County Amateur. He also participated in the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur, his first USGA championship. 

Others to Watch

Jack Angelucci, 22, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, captured the 2022 Syracuse District's Gerry Ashe Memorial stroke play title at Beaver Meadows GC. He attends Mercyhurst University, where he's been the captain for the past two seasons.

Luke Basile, 20, of the MGA eClub – HV, finished tied for seventh place in last year’s New York State Men’s Amateur Championship. He is a member of the Methodist University men’s golf team.

Charlie Berridge, 19, of Wykagyl Country Club, is a member of the University of California men’s golf team. He was selected as the team’s most improved player for the 2021-22 season. This summer, he captured the LIGA Michael Hebron Amateur title, and finished third in the MGA's Ike Championship. During his time on the golf team at Scarsdale High School, his team captured a state title. Berridge added to his individual accolades by winning the 2018 73rd WGA Junior and 49th Boys Championship.

Nick Bove, 21, of Timber Banks Golf Club and Marina, is a Syracuse native and a member of the Le Moyne College men’s golf team. He was the medalist at the U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier at his home course this summer. He fired the low round of 63 in his first round of the qualifier. He finished in third place at the 2022 SDGA Gerry Ashe Memorial.

Anthony Cavotta, 20, of NYSGA eClub - Capital District, was the medalist at the Albany Qualifier where he fired a 3-under 69. He was recognized as Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year for Southern New Hampshire University in 2022. He won the Saratoga County Amateur in 2021.

Seth Conway, 19, of Corning Country Club, won the 2022 Central New York Open Championship at Cortland Country Club. He also qualified for the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur. He recently wrapped up his freshman season at George Mason University, and his best finish was seventh at the Atlantic 10 Championship. He was the medalist at the Corning qualifier at 73.

Kyle Downey, 32, of Locust Hill Country Club, competed in the 2021 Men’s Amateur and led after the first two rounds. He finished tied for seventh place. He was the runner-up at the 2018 NYS Mid-Am. Earlier this week, he fired at 2-under 69 at Mohawk Golf Club to qualify for the 41st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He previously qualified for the U.S. Mid-Am in 2018.

Matthew Ferrari, 21, of Metropolis Country Club, put together a 2-under 286 performance to finish fifth at the 2021 Men’s Amateur. The rising senior on the Siena men’s golf team was a finalist for Siena’s Male Student Athlete of the Year award this year. This past season, his 73.39 scoring average was the third lowest in Siena men’s golf history. Ferrari was the runner-up in the 2018 NYSPHSAA state championship.

Tyler Gerbavsits, 22, of Huntington Crescent Club, captured the 2021 Long Island Amateur. He finished T5 in this year's MGA Ike Championship, and advanced into the semifinals of the Met Amateur this week. He will be returning to St. John’s University in the fall for his fifth season.

Jim Gifford, 35, of Mohawk Golf Club, qualified for the 2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur. He finished fourth at the 2019 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Tuscarora Golf Club. In 2019, he won the Saratoga County Amateur. In last year’s NYS Men’s Amateur, he tied for seventh. He co-captained the Siena College men’s golf team in 2008-09.

Daniel Griffiths, 24, of the NYSGA eClub – ST, finished the 2021 Men’s Amateur in sixth place at 1-under. He played collegiately for Florida Gulf Coast University and Binghamton University. During his 2021-22 season at Binghamton, Griffiths recorded a team-best six top-20 finishes.

Daniel Harding, 19, of Binghamton Country Club, recently won the 2022 Triple Cities Golf Association Amateur Championship. He defended his 2021 title in the event, winning in a one-hole playoff.

John Hiller, 16, of Westchester Country Club, is coming off a win at the 105th Met Junior Championship. In last year’s New York State Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur, he finished tied for third. As an 8-year-old, he competed at Augusta National in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals. Hiller qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2021.

Jeff March, 38, of Penfield Country Club, finished tied for seventh in the 2021 NYS Men’s Amateur. March was the runner-up in the 2017 RDGA Men’s District Championship and finished fourth in 2019. He is an assistant coach for the men’s golf team at St. John Fisher University.

Velton Perry, 18, of Onondaga Golf & Country Club, just competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes last month. He qualified in the NYSGA conducted qualifier at Teugega Country Club in June.

Erik Stauderman, 22, of Links of Union Vale, succesfully defended his title at this year's Westchester Public Links Championship. He recently graduated from St. Bonaventure where he played on the golf team. He won the New York State Federation championship at Bethpage Black in 2018.

Youngest Competitors in Field

14 - Jacob Olearczyk, NYSGA eClub - CNY
15 - Brody Burgess, Cobblestone Creek CC
15 - Lucas Rizo-Patron, Pelham CC 

Oldest Competitors in Field

63 - Jim Mueller, Orchard Creek CC
59 - Donald Burns, Onondaga G&CC
58 - Dan Ireland, CC of Troy
 

Past NYS Men's Amateurs at Onondaga

Onondaga Golf & Country Club has long been an exceptional steward for tournament golf in the Central New York region over the decades.

The venerable club has held over ten NYSGA championships since its inception in 1923, including two historic New York State Amateurs.

In 1940, Ray Billows of Poughkeepsie won his third NYS Amateur title at Onondaga, knocking off the 1938 New York State and U.S. Amateur champion Willie Turnesa of Elmsford, 8 and 6.

The two would eventually face off again a decade later, this time for the U.S. Amateur title in 1948, where Turnesa got the better of Billows in the all-Empire State finale. In fact, Billows was unable to capture the U.S. Amateur title during his impressive amateur career, although he made the finals in 1937, 1938, and 1949 (no tournament was held between 1942-45 due to WWII).

Billows collected seven titles between his breakout tournament in 1935 at Winged Foot which dubbed him the “Cinderella Kid”, to 1949 when he captured the Ganson Depew Cup one final time at Syracuse Yacht & Country Club, now Lakeshore in Cicero. (He won in 38 holes versus former NYSGA and Onondaga G&CC president John Ward, which is the tournament record for longest championship match).

At Onondaga in 1961, Don Allen of Rochester won the first of his six NYS Amateurs between 1961-1973. He was a young recent graduate of Colgate University and had never gotten past the quarterfinals in his previous attempts. His breakthrough came against three-time champion John Konsek, who had won 27 straight matches in state tournament play going into the 1961 Men’s Amateur. By winning the three previous years, Konsek became both the youngest winner in tournament history at 18 (prior to Onondaga member Nick Raasch’s win in ‘66 at age 17) and set a record for longest streak of victories that still stands.

Billows and Allen still rank first and second for most NYS Amateur victories in the championship’s 98-year history. The next most after the duo is Tommy Goodwin at four (1932-1953).

All four of the above finalists from these two tournament years have been inducted in the New York State Golf Hall of Fame. Allen and Billows in 2012, Konsek in 2015, and Turnesa in 2018.

This year, when the flagship tournament returns to Onondaga for the first time in over 60 years, competitors in the field will face a much different layout and format from when the tournament was last held on the links in Fayetteville, however there’s little doubt that the historic Walter Travis layout will provide another fair, but difficult test for the state’s top amateurs.

About Onondaga Golf & Country Club

Onondaga Golf & Country Club has a long tradition in the game, as members assembled the first golf course at the property in 1898. The current golf course was designed by Walter Travis in 1917, with small redesigns or alterations by Hal Purdy in the early 1960s, Wogan and Mitchell in the 1980s and then again in the 2000s by Ian Andrew.

The Fayetteville golf course now stretches out to 6,800 yards at a par of 71 from the longest tees, but plays very much as Travis left it. The greens are well-bunkered for the most part, and the longer holes almost all feature a trap bunker that will make big hitters think twice before beginning a run-up shot well short of the green.