News

EAST AURORA, N.Y. – The upcoming 39th annual New York State Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Crag Burn Golf Club will challenge the best male amateurs, ages 25 and up, from around the state throughout 54 holes of stroke play over three days from September 22– 24, 2023.

Related: Live Scoring / Championship Coverage / Pairings / Program / Qualifying Results / 2022 Recap / Past Champions

The championship begins on Friday with 18 holes of stroke play, with a cut applied to low 60 players and ties afterwards. After a second round of 18 holes on Saturday, the field is cut again to the low 30 and ties. The remaining competitors will play the final 18 holes on Sunday to decide the next state Mid-Amateur champion. If a tie exists after 54 holes, a sudden-death playoff will determine the winner. 

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Last Year’s Champion: Billy Hanes of Crag Burn Golf Club

Format: 54 holes of stroke play, played over three days of competition. There is a cut after 18 holes to the low 60 and ties, and again after 36 holes to the low 30 and ties. 

Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur golfers, ages 25 and older, who are either (1) residents of New York State or (2) members of an NYSGA Member Club, and have an active Handicap Index of 10.4 or lower. 

Live Scoring: The NYSGA will have all groups do hole-by-hole mobile scoring throughout all three championship rounds. 

Par & Yardage:  

  

OUT: 3,477 yards / IN: 3,476 yards
TOTAL: 6,953 yards, Par 36-36--72

 
Schedule of Events 

Thursday, September 21

• 9:00am....................Driving range opens

• 9:00-4:00pm........... Registration 

• 10:00-3:00pm......... Practice rounds

• 11:00-2:00pm......... Player lunch 

Friday, September 22

• 7:00am.................... Driving range opens

• 8:00-9:30am............ Round 1 from tees #1 & #10

• 11:00-3:00pm.......... Player lunch

• 12:30-2:00pm.......... Round 1 from tees #1 & #10

Saturday, September 23

• 7:00am....................Driving range opens

• 8:00-11:30am..........Round 2 from tee #1 only

• 12:00-4:00pm..........Player lunch

Sunday, September 24

• 7:00am...................Driving range opens

• 8:00-10:00am.........Round 3 from tee #1 only

• 12:00-4:00pm.........Player lunch

• 3:00pm...................Awards ceremony

Sectional Qualifying Medalists

Utica Qualifier
August 21 - Seven Oaks GC - 4 spots
76 - Brett Cunningham, Beaver Meadows GC

Long Island Qualifier
August 21 - Bethpage Yellow - 9 spots
70 - Frank Meizoso, MGA eClub - Long Island
70 - Patrick Conway, Hudson National GC
70 - Spencer Needham, Lake Success GC
70 - Asish Bansal, Nassau Players Club

Jamestown Qualifier
August 22 - South Hills CC - 2 spots
72 - Dylan Glatz, Niagara Frontier CC

Albany Qualifier
August 23 - Ballston Spa CC - 18 spots
66 - Joseph Fitzsimmons, Shaker Ridge CC

Binghamton Qualifier
August 28 - Binghamton CC - 6 spots
75 - Geoff Schweikhard, Crag Burn GC

Buffalo Qualifier
September 30 - Pendleton Creek - 16 spots
70 - Timothy Kolstee, USGA/NYSGA GC
70 - Greg Richardson, Crag Burn GC
70 - Joseph Mitchell, CC of Buffalo

Rochester Qualifier
September 30 - Ravenwood GC - 9 spots
70 - Tim Coykendall, Ravenwood GC

Syracuse Qualifier
September 1 - Tuscarora GC - 9 spots
71 - Danny Edwards, Timber Banks GC & Marina

Mid-Hudson Qualifier
September 7 - Powelton Club - 8 spots
69 - Andrew Watson, MGA eClub - Hudson Valley

Last Chance Qualifier
September 21 - Crag Burn GC - 6 spots
75 - Wade Sarkis, Canandaigua CC
75 - Kevin Peters, Ridgemont CC

Click here to view full 2023 qualifying results

Exempt Players:

Alec Bard, Benjamin Bates, Chris Blyth, Jon Boland, Kristopher Boyes, John Bufalini, Jonathan Clark, Ethan Collins, Brett Cooper, Kyle Downey (2023 NYS Men’s Am Champion), Ryan Gabel, Jim Gifford, Darin Goldstein, Billy Hanes (2022 Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion, 2023 Men’s Amateur Four Ball Champion), David Hanes (2023 Men’s Amateur Four Ball Champion), Luke Hobika, Markus Holzhauer, Jacob Katz, Doug Kleeschulte, Liam Knott, Lawrence Lessing, Kevin Lewis, Jeff March, Kyle Mauro, Tom McGinn, Yaroslav Merkulov, Brad Monroe, Nicholas Morreale, Patrick Nealon, Jimmy Pizzutelli, Wills Reardon, Kenneth Riter (2023 Men’s Senior Amateur Four Ball Champion), Andrew Romano, Jeff Schauger, Patrick Sheedy, Tim Spitz, Carter Thompson, Alex Town, Louis Walsh, Jeff Wolniewicz

THE FIELD

Past NYS Men’s Mid-Am Champions

Billy Hanes, 37, of Crag Burn Golf Club, won the 2022 Mid-Amateur at Seven Oaks Golf Club and is the defending champion. He also won the 2018 & 2023 NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball, both times with his younger brother David, and the 2015 title with partner Jamie Miller. Additionally, Hanes claimed the NYS Boys’ Sub-Junior title in 2000 at Wellsville Country Club. He finished runner up at the 2018 NYS Men’s Mid-Am and in the top 10 at both the 2019 and 2021 Mid-Amateur Championships. He captured this year’s BDGA Individual at Orchard Park CC with 9-under. He also finished in 11th place at this year’s 100th NYS Men’s Am at Wykagyl.

Luke Hobika, 55, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, is a two-time NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur champion, having won the championships seventeen years apart, first in 1998 at Yahnundasis Golf Club at age 30 and again in 2015 at Wolferts Roost Country Club. He most recently finished as the runner-up in his first appearance at the 2023 NYS Men’s Senior at Yahnundasis. He 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.

Kenneth Riter, 60, of NYSGA eClub - Western NY, is a two time NYS champ with wins at the 2009 Mid-Amateur at Glen Falls Country Club to claim his first state title. His most recent state championship came this year at the NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Four Ball where he partnered with Andy Bernatovicz at Turning Stone Resort. 

Tim Spitz, 47, of Monroe Golf Club, won the 2012 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Midvale Country Club. He’s had past success in the U.S. Mid-Amateur, finishing as the 2009 runner-up at Sleepy Hollow CC in Scarborough. 

Other NYS Champions in the field

Alec Bard, 25, 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. He finished in the top 20 during both the 2021 and 2022 NYS Men’s Amateurs. This will be his first appearance in the Mid-Am. 

Michael Carrig, 33, of Springville Country Club, teamed up with his cousin Gaelin to capture the 2022 NYS Amateur Mixed Team title with a birdie on the final hole at Transit Valley CC.

Jonathan Clark, 31, of Crag Burn Golf Club, won the 2017 NYS Men’s Amateur Four Ball championship at Leatherstocking Golf Course with another Crag Burn member, Jeff Wolniewicz. He also won the 2013 championship with partner Matt Stasiak, the first year Leatherstocking hosted the championship. 

Kyle Downey, 34, of Locust Hill Country Club, won the 2023 NYS Men’s Amateur this year with a 72-hole total of 5-under at Wykagyl Country Club. He was the runner-up at the 2022 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Seven Oaks last fall. He also qualified for the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur out of a qualifier at Mohawk Golf Club. He also finished as the runner-up at this year’s RDGA District Championship to Jason Lohwater.

Ben Bates, 42, of NYSGA eClub - Capital District, won the 1997 NYS Boys’ Junior at Shaker Ridge. He played collegiately at Skidmore College, and has captured numerous club championships at Mohawk Golf Club, and multiple Schenectady Classic titles as well, including a victory in 2022.

Jeff Brown, 31, of NYSGA eClub - Central NY, teamed up with his mom Jamie to win the 2023 NYS Amateur Mixed Team title this season at Leatherstocking. He qualified for this year’s Mid-Am out of the Binghamton Qualifier.

Ryan Gabel, 37, of Trump National Golf Club Hudson Valley, teamed up with Nick Dilio in 2019 to win the NYS Men’s Four-Ball championship. He’s a former member of the Binghamton University golf team. Gabel qualified for his first USGA championship in 2022, and competed in the U.S. Mid-Am at Erin Hills. 

David Hanes, 25, of Crag Burn Golf Club, is a two time NYS Men’s Amateur Four Ball champion. He won with his older brother Billy Hanes in both 2018 at Leatherstocking Golf Course and in 2023 at Turning Stone Resort. He is currently the club champion at Crag Burn and looking to make his first appearance in a NYS Mid-Am on home turf. He won the BDGA Individual in 2018, and BDGA Match Play titles in 2018-19. In this year’s NYS Men’s Am, he finished in the top 20.

Doug Kleeschulte, 33, of Wiltwyck Golf Club, was crowned the Men’s Amateur 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.

Yaroslav Merkulov, 31, of Ridgemont Country Club, became the second to win the NYS Men’s Am (Ravenwood GC) and Boys’ Junior (Skaneateles CC) in the same year in 2009. The first was Tommy Goodwin in 1932, but he was 19 at the time, while Merkulov was only 17. Prior to that, he’d won the Boys’ Junior in 2008 at Oneonta and a Boys’ 14U Junior in 2006 at Drumlin’s East Course. He was the stroke play medalist and set a championship record with a 131 (9-under) during the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur, but was knocked out in the opening round as #1 seed. In 2019, he was a U.S. Mid-Amateur quarterfinalist. Last year, he advanced into the Round of 32. He’s also recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2023, 2021 and 2020 where he failed to make match play each time. On the district level, he’s won the RDGA stroke play title in 2019 and 2021, and match play title in 2020, 2021 and 2023.

Daniel Russo, 65, of Schuyler Meadows Club, won two consecutive NYS Men’s Senior Amateur titles, in 2021 and 2019. He competed in his first state senior in 2018, finishing T9. He’s qualified for the U.S. Senior Open twice (2017, 2009), and the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur. He won the 2020 Society of Seniors Dale Morey championship and finished T7 in the Golfweek Senior Challenge Cup. At the 2019 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur, he finished in fifth and T27 at the 2021 NYS Men’s Amateur. He most recently competed in the 2021 U.S. Senior Am at Country Club of Detroit, advancing as far as the Round of 16. 

Jeff Wolniewicz, 37, of Crag Burn Golf Club, won the 2008 Men’s Amateur title at Pinehaven Country Club, 5&4 when it was still a match play format. He won the 2017 N.Y.S. Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Leatherstocking Golf Club with partner Jonathan Clark and earned the same title the year prior with a different teammate, Billy Gaffney. The Buffalo native was inducted into the Binghamton University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. He played on the men’s golf team from 2003-2007. He is currently the President of the host club, Crag Burn.

Other Players to Watch

Chris Blyth, 30, of RDGA eClub, finished runner-up at both the 2018 and 2019 NYS Men’s Amateur Championships. He was also the 2022 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur runner-up after coming up short in a playoff with Carl Schimenti. He won the 2018 Rochester District Golf Association Championship. Blyth graduated from St. John Fischer College, where he became one of the most decorated golfers in team history. During his collegiate career, Blyth was a three-time All American and guided the Cardinals to four NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship appearances including three top-10 finishes.

Ethan Collins, 34, of NYSGA eClub - Western NY, finished T7 during last year’s NYS Mid-Am at Seven Oaks, and co-led after the opening round.

Brett Cooper, 32, of The Sewane Club, was the qualifying medalist for the U.S. Mid-Am sectional at his home course. He was a first-round co-leader of the 2023 LIGA Hebron Amateur and finished in the top five. In 2020, he won the Long Island Mid-Amateur at Inwood.

Tim Coykendall, 31, of Ravenwood Golf Club, was the medalist at the Rochester qualifier with 2-under at his home course. He appeared in the 2021 NYS Mid-Am at Shaker Ridge where he finished T6.

Joseph Fitzsimmons, 39, of Shaker Ridge Country Club, fired a 5-under 66 to earn medalist honors at the Ballston Spa CC qualifier. 

Jim Gifford, 36, 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 and tied for third in 2016. 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.

Jacob Katz, 34, of Brookfield Country Club finished in the top 5 during last year’s NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Seven Oaks, and top 10 in 2019. He is also a two-time NYS Men’s Amateur runner-up (2010-11). He won several BDGA titles in the early 2010s.

Brad Monroe, 30, of Onondaga Golf & Country Club, has cemented himself as one of the top players in Central New York in recent years. He’s won the last two SDGA Mid-Amateur titles (2022-23) and captured the 2022 CNY PGA’s AIM Championship. He was voted the Syracuse District Golf Association’s player of the year in 2021, after finishing 3rd in the NYS Four-Ball, T12 at the NYS Mid-Am, runner-up at the SDGA Gerry Ashe Memorial, and 3rd at the AIM Championship. He won his first SDGA major in 2017, claiming the District Match Play title. He finished in the top 20 at this year’s NYS Men’s Am at Wykagyl, and finished in 11th during the 2022 NYS Men’s Mid-Am at Seven Oaks.

Tom McGinn, 40, of Mohawk Golf Club, won the Tri-County Match Play title this year at Colonie G&CC over Aaron Simone in the final. He finished in the top 25 during last year’s NYS Mid-Am, and T16 in 2021.

Patrick Nealon, 44, of Cloverbank Country Club, has won the BDGA Mid-Am in 2017, 2019, 2021. He also won the BDGA Individual at his home club, Brierwood in 2019. He set the course record of 5-under 65 at the stroke play co-host of the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur, Miacomet Golf Club. His top finish is third place during the 2018 NYS Mid-Am.

Jimmy Pizzutelli, 39, of Park Country Club, finished tied for fourth at the 2021 championship, and was tied for the lead after round 1. He won the 2021 BDGA Four-Ball with partner Dan Misko, and is currently on the Buffalo District board. He finished in third place at the 2022 BDGA Mid-Am. He recently qualified for the 2024 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with partner Joe Mitchell earlier this week at Wanakah Country Club.

Andrew Romano, 29, of Lancaster Country Club, won the 2022 BDGA Mid-Am title at Lancaster Country Club. He finished T27 in the 2022 NYS Men’s Amateur at Onondaga.

Patrick Sheedy, 32, of Brookfield Country Club, qualified for the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur out of the Country Club of Buffalo and was medalist.

Carter Thompson, 27, of MGA eClub - NYC, finished tied for 11th in the 2022 NYS Mid-Am and top-20 in the Men’s Am. He finished T23 in this year’s NYS Men’s Am at Wykagyl.

Louis Walsh, 30, of Ballston Spa Country Club, finished T7 during last year’s Mid-Am at Seven Oaks. He also finished top 15 in 2021 and top 10 in 2019.

 

About Crag Burn Golf Club

In the late 1960s, Frank Goodyear Jr. and his family decided to turn their rarely used polo grounds into a golf course. The family hired Robert Trent Jones Sr. to design a course on the 190-acre field where “a group of friends could play golf”. 

On May 1, 1972, Crag Burn officially opened its doors. Through the years, many course improvements have been made to Crag Burn, including some commissioned by Robert Trent Jones’ son Reese Jones. 

The gently rolling lands; the soils and the drainage pattern which so readily adapted to the creation of small lakes and streams; the mature vegetation ranging from lowland maples and ash to beautiful specimens of beech, hickory, hemlock and oaks was all ideally suited for the design of an outstanding golf course.

The physical character of the course emerges in part from the diverse nature of the site. Nearly half of the holes play through dense woods. Here, wide fairways are park-like and similar in appearance to Augusta National. The remaining holes are like an open meadowland where amply wide fairways are carved out of tall meadow fescues. The vivid contrast between lush, green bentgrass fairways and the golden color of the fescue roughs impart a character to these holes strongly reminiscent of Shinnecock Hills and the famous links of Scotland.

The course has hosted many amateur events, beginning in 1986 with the New York State Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Crag Burn also hosted this event in 1999 and 2010. More recently, the club hosted the 2017 New York State Men’s Senior and Super Senior Amateur Championship, and most recently the 2019 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship.