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TROY, N.Y. -- The 41st New York State Men's Mid-Amateur Championship is set to begin at the Country Club of Troy from September 26-28, 2025. Over 120 players will compete in 54 holes of individual stroke play for a chance to hoist the Robert Hogan Memorial Trophy. 18 holes will be played on each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday to determine a champion. There is a cut after 18 holes to the low-60 and ties, and after 36 holes to the low-30 and ties.

Related: Pairings / Scoring / Course Photos / 2024 Recap / Qualifying Results

CLICK HERE TO WATCH CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW VIDEO

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Dates: September 26-28, 2025

Host Site: The Country Club of Troy, Troy, N.Y. 

2024 Champion: Kyle Downey completed his quest for the Bob Hogan Cup, running away from the rest of the field, firing rounds of 63-71-68 and setting the course record at Schuyler Meadows Club with his nine-under par in the first round.

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

Eligibility: The Mid-Amateur Championship is open to male amateur golfers who are active NYSGA members, maintain an active USGA Handicap of 8.4 or less and are aged 25 or older as of September 26, 2025. 

Top 20 Exempt: The top 20 players in the NYS Men's Mid-Amateur Championship will be granted exemption into next year's playing of the state Mid-Amateur. 

Par & Yardage:
6,645 yards, Par 71
IN: 3,373 yards, OUT: 3,272 yards

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 - PRACTICE ROUNDS

• 8:30am........................... Practice facilities open
• 9:30-4:00pm.............  Player registration
• 11:00-3:03pm........... Practice rounds
• 11:00-3:00pm........... Player lunch
• 5:00pm........................... Driving range closes

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 - ROUND 1

• 6:45am........................... Registration opens
• 7:00am........................... Practice facility open
• 8:00-9:30am................... Round 1 from tees #1 & #10
• 11:00-3:00pm................. Player lunch
• 12:00-1:30pm................. Round 1 from tees #1 & #10
• 12:00-8:00pm................. Ryder Cup viewing party in Men's Grill
• 5:00pm........................... Driving range closes
  *Cut applied after 18 holes to low 60 & ties

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 - ROUND 2

• 6:45am........................... Registration opens
• 7:00am........................... Practice facility open
• 8:00-11:30am................. Round 2 from tee #1
• 12:00-4:00pm................. Player lunch
• 5:00pm........................... Driving range closes
  *Cut applied after 36 holes to low 30 & ties

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 - ROUND 3

• 6:45am........................... Registration opens
• 7:00am........................... Practice facility open
• 8:00-9:30am................... Round 3 from tee #1
• 12:00-3:00pm................. Player lunch
• 2:30pm........................... Award ceremony

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Past Men's Mid-Amateur Champions in the Field

Kyle Downey, 36, of Locust Hill Country Club, seeks to defend his title from a year ago after dominating the field and posting a score of 14-under par for the Championship, clearing the field by 10 strokes, at Schuyler Meadows Club. Along with that, he set the course record at 9-under in the first round of the Championship; nobody would catch him. Downey also won the 100th NYS Men's Amateur Championship at Wykagyl in 2023. This year, he finished T18 at the 102nd NYS Men's Amateur at Yahnundasis Golf Club. Earlier this year, he qualified for the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Troon CC in Arizona.

Matt Clarke, 64, of Cazenovia Country Club, won the 2005 NYS Men's Mid-Am at the Country Club of Rochester. Clarke and partner Bob Rosen brought home two Men's Senior Four-Ball titles (2016 & 2022). He finished as co-runner-up at the 2015 Mid-Amateur Championship at Wolferts Roost. Clarke has qualified for a dozen USGA championships over the years and is an assistant golf coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy. Clarke was a two-time All-American on the golf team and co-captained the 1983 NCAA Division III National Championship team, as well as winning the individual title.

Billy Hanes, 39, of Crag Burn Golf Club, will look to get back in the winners' circle as he has brought home two NYS Mid-Amateur Championships in the last three years. He captured the 2022 and 2023 championships at Seven Oaks and Crag Burn, to go along with two Men's Four-Ball titles and a Boys’ 14U victory back in 2000. Hanes finished runner-up at the 2018 Mid-Amateur and top 10 in both the 2019 and 2021 tournaments. He also won the 2023 BDGA Men's Individual. Hanes is currently ranked 2,825th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Ken Riter, 62, of NYSGA eClub - WNY, won the 2009 Mid-Amateur Championship at Glens Falls Country Club. Riter also won the 2023 Men's Senior Four-Ball Championship with partner Andy Bernatovicz. He finished in sixth place at the Men's Senior Amateur last year at Corning Country Club.

Jimmy Welch, 58, of Olde Kinderhook Golf Club was the 2011 Mid-Amateur Champion thanks to a playoff victory at Dutchess Golf & Country Club. Welch qualified for the 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and won the Tri-County Match Play Championship the same year. He was the runner-up at the 2024 Men’s Senior Championship and finished T3 in 2023.

Other Past NYSGA Champions in the Field

Ben Bates, 44, of Mohawk Golf Club, has placed in the top 20 in both of the last two Men's Mid-Amateur Championships. In 2023, he was T16, and in 2024, he was T4 at Schuyler Meadows Club. In 1997, he won the Boys' 18U Junior Championship. Bates placed 13th in this year’s Capital Region Men's Amateur Championship and finished third in this year's Schenectady Classic, after winning the title in 2023 and 2024.

Andy Bernatovicz, 58, of River Oaks Golf Club, recently captured the 2025 NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship with an even par finish through 36 holes at Brookfield. It marks his first individual state title, after previously winning the 2023 NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball with partner Ken Riter. He’s claimed a handful of recent Buffalo District Golf Association (BDGA) titles, including the 2025 Senior Match Play Championship and 2024 Individual. He was honored as the 2024 BDGA Senior Player of the Year, his third time winning since 2020.

Christian Chapman, 26, of Cobblestone Creek CC, won the 2016 NYS Boys' 18U Junior at Seven Oaks Golf Club. He most recently took home the 2025 CCR Invitational, getting an exemption to the NYS Men's Amateur. In 2023, he won the Golf Max CNY Open Championship, as a professional, firing a score of 8-under for the tournament. He played collegiate golf at St. Bonaventure University and regained his amateur status this past year. 

John Duthie, 36, of Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, placed T31 in the NYS Men's Amateur Championship at Yahnundasis Golf Club, finishing at 14 over par. That was the same host site where Duthie claimed his NYS Men's Amateur Title in 2007. Duthie turned pro in 2011 and spent a decade as a touring professional, regaining his amateur status two years ago. Last year, Duthie won the CNY PGA's AIM Championship, setting a tournament record for the lowest four-round score at -9. He also finished in fourth in both the NYS Amateur and NYS Mid-Amateur last year. Recently, he finished runner-up in this year’s Apogee Investment Management Championship.

David Hanes, 27, of Crag Burn Golf Club, recently brought home the 102nd Buffalo District Golf Association Individual Championship at Cloverbank Country Club. He also won the same title in 2018. David is a two-time NYS Men's Amateur Four-Ball Champion, in 2018 and 2023, alongside his brother Billy. He finished T7 in the 2023 Men's Mid-Amateur at his home Club Crag Burn.

Tony Hejna, 57, of Crag Burn GC, qualified for two USGA Championships this season, including the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur and the U.S. Mid-Amateur. He captured his lone NYSGA title in 1982, winning the NYS Boys’ 14U at Clifton Springs. His best finish in the NYS Men’s Mid-Am was a runner-up result in 2005.

Jim Hirsh, 38, of NYSGA eClub - CNY, captured the 2024 NYS Men’s Four-Ball with partner Bill Virkler at Turning Stone Resort. This season, he claimed the CNY PGA’s AIM Championship over four rounds of competition. He finished in the top 30 during the 2025 Men’s Amateur Championship at Yahnundasis Golf Club.

Dan Russo, 67, of Schuyler Meadows Club, is a two-time NYS Senior Amateur Champion, having won in 2019 at Cavalry Club and defending the title in 2021 at the Powelton Club (the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Russo has qualified for two U.S. Senior Opens and competed in the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur. He finished as co-runner-up at the 2022 Men's Senior Championship, while attempting his three-peat. He recently finished runner-up in this year's NYS Men's Super Senior at Soaring Eagles Golf Course.

Christopher Smithers, 61, of Tuscarora Golf Club, recently finished T12 at the 2025 NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Brookfield CC. Along with that, he finished as the medalist at the NYS Men's Mid-Am qualifier at his home course, Tuscarora Golf Club, finishing at two-under. He brought home the 2024 Men's Senior Four-ball title with partner John Harrington. Smithers went 73-75 (+6) to finish as the co-runner-up to Kevin Vandenberg in the 2022 tournament at Springville Country Club. 

Jeff Wolniewicz, 39, of Crag Burn Golf Club, brought home the 2008 Men's Amateur title at Pinehaven Country Club. He also won the NYS Men's Four-Ball Championships in 2016 and 2017 at Leatherstocking Golf Club, with partners Bill Gaffney and Jonathan Clark. Wolniewicz played collegiately at Binghamton University ('03-'07), where he was a 3x all-region selection and two-time captain. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2018.

Other Players to Watch

Jack Angelucci, 25, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, is making his Mid-Amateur debut after competing in this year's NYS Men's Amateur at his home club. He placed T18. In the year prior, he finished fifth and three shots off the lead at Wanakah. In 2024, he claimed the Syracuse District Gerry Ashe Memorial title at Bellevue Country Club and also won in 2022 at Beaver Meadows. He finished tied for 13th during both the 2023 and 2022 NYS Men's Am. Angelucci competed on St. Bonaventure's golf team in 2022-23 as a Graduate Student and at Mercyhurst University prior to that.

Kris Boyes, 36, of Sheridan Park Golf Club, Won the 2025 and 2023 BDGA Mid-Amateur Championships. In 2022, he finished runner-up in the same Championship. Boyes competed on the St. Bonaventure Golf team for four years. Recently in the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur, he finished 21st in 2023, and T15 in 2022.

Brett Cooper, 34, of The Seawane Club, finished T22 in 2023 at the NYS Men's Mid Amateur at Crag Burn Golf Club. He won the 2020 LIGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Inwood Country Club and in 2016 the Richardson Memorial Invitational. He finished in solo fourth during the recent Long Island Mid-Amateur Championship. Cooper is a new member of the NYSGA Executive Committee, joining the board in 2025.

John “Jack” Downey, 28, of Country Club of Troy, will be playing at his home course for this Championship. Downey played collegiate golf at Siena College in Loudonville. He won the 2021 Havemeyer Invitational at Southward Ho. In 2019, he won the Troy Invitational, which his home club hosted.

Philip Duell, 28, of Mohawk Golf Club, captured the 2025 Capital Region Amateur Championship at his home club and was the only player to finish under par at 1-under 212. He won the title by four shots. He also finished second in the Amsterdam City Championship and the Saratoga County Amateur this season. This will be his first NYSGA appearance.

Jonathan Farber, 32, of Mill River Club, won the 2024 Long Island Amateur Championship at St. George’s Golf & Country Club. Farber finished as the co-medalist in Stroke Play qualifying at two under par and proceeded to go the distance, defeating Max Silverman 5 & 4 in the final match. Earlier this season, he finished top 10 at the Long Island Golf Association’s Richardson Memorial. Last year, he finished 34th in the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur. He played college golf at Hofstra University from 2011-15.

Joseph Fitzsimmons, 41, of Shaker Ridge Country Club, brought home the 2025 Schenectady Classic and the Troy Invitational. He secured the Troy Invitational in a sudden-death playoff, successfully defending his title from the year prior. He also competed in the 2025 NYS Men's Amateur, where he finished T18th. In addition, he was the runner-up at this year's Capital Region Men's Amateur Championship.

Jim Gifford, 38, of Mohawk Golf Club, finished in solo third a year ago at the NYS Men’s Mid-Am at Schuyler Meadows, which was the course in his backyard where he played golf throughout college at Siena. In 2022 and 2019, Gifford finished inside the top five, achieving a fourth-place finish in both the Men's Mid-Am at Seven Oaks and Tuscarora. He won the 2020 Saratoga County Amateur, and finished in fourth at the 2025 Capital Region Men’s Amateur at Mohawk. Gifford is a member of the NYSGA Executive Committee, and first joined in 2021.

Matt Lowe, 29, of MGA eClub - Long Island, competed in the 102nd NYS Men's Amateur Championship at Yahnundasis Golf Club and finished in the top five, with a solo fourth finish and four shots off the lead. He also captured the 2025 Metropolitan Golf Association Public Links Championship at Hominy Hill Golf Course in June. He also finished as runner-up at the 2025 Met Amateur Championship, The Farrell Invitational, and the Long Island Golf Association’s Richardson Memorial. He also finished top 10 at the Gasparilla Invitational in Florida, and the Long Island Open. Lowe is currently at 711th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. He played college golf at University of Richmond and turned pro from 2018-2022.

Brad Monroe, 32, of Onondaga Golf & Country Club, won two consecutive 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. His best finish at the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur was 6th place in his last appearance in 2023 at Crag Burn.

Patrick Nealon, 46, of Springville Country Club, placed T7 in last year's NYS Men's Mid-Amateur and finished the Championship at one under par. Nealon is a three-time Buffalo District Golf Association Mid-Amateur Champion. He won his last one in 2021, at Wanakah Country Club. The two others were in 2017, at Gowanda Country Club, and in 2019 at Springville Country Club. He qualified for the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur and was the first-round stroke play leader at Sankaty Head in Nantucket.

Sean Puleo, 27, of Schuyler Meadows Club, finished inside the top 10 a year ago with a T7 finish, posting one under for the Championship at his home course. He played college golf at Washington and Lee University from 2016-2020.

Benjamin Rublee, 39, of Country Club of Troy, will be trying to take home this year's NYS Men's Mid-Amateur championship at his home club. Rublee finished inside the top 10 a year ago at Schuyler Meadows, with a T7 finish, at one-under for the Championship. He captured the 2025 Rensselaer County Men’s Amateur at nearby Frear Park.

Carter Thompson, 29, of The Creek,  finished T7 at the 2023 Men’s Mid-Amateur at Crag Burn, and T11 at the 2022 tournament at Seven Oaks. Last year, he finished tied for 18th in the state mid-amateur. He played college golf at University of Pennsylvania from 2015-19.

Andrew Watson, 28, of The Summit Club at Armonk, finished in fifth place during the 2023 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Crag Burn, and T13 at last year’s tournament at Schuyler Meadows. He qualified for the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He served as the captain of the Hamilton Men’s Golf Team in 2018-19 as a senior.

Youngest Competitors in the field

25 - Jack Angelucci, Yahnundasis GC
25 - Tyler Edholm, Pendleton Creek GC
25 - Ryan Fecco, Beaver Meadows GC
25 - Brody Yates, CC of Troy
25 - Davis Weil, MGA eClub - NYC

Oldest Competitors in the field

67 - Dan Russo, Schuyler Meadows Club
65 - Allan Windover, CC of Troy
64 - Matt Clarke, Cazenovia CC

Most Represented Clubs in the field

10 - Country Club of Troy
5 - Mohawk Golf Club
4 - Yahnundasis Golf Club
4 - Crag Burn Golf Club
4 - Schuyler Meadows Club

ABOUT THE COUNTRY CLUB OF TROY

Nestled on 175 acres of beautifully maintained rolling hills, the Country Club of Troy offers an 18-hole, 6,663-yard championship golf course that combines natural beauty with a rewarding challenge for players of all levels.

Designed by legendary early 20th-century architect Walter J. Travis, the course reflects his signature principles: strategic bunkering, complex routing, and undulating greens that are, in Travis’ own words, “seldom if ever flat.” His legacy is honored through the Walter J. Travis Society, which preserves his distinguished design history.

The course’s varied topography and scenic vistas make it one of the Capital District’s most picturesque. From the 10th green and 11th tee, golfers enjoy sweeping views that stretch over 50 miles to the Catskill Mountains on a clear day.

The 1925 layout has welcomed many NYSGA championships in the past including the 1940 Women’s Amateur, 1941 Men’s Senior, 1961 NYS Boys’ 14U, and four Men’s Amateurs in 1941, 1959, 1984 and 2006. This will be the club’s first time hosting the Mid-Amateur and they are celebrating their centennial anniversary this year.