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EAST AURORA, N.Y.  – The upcoming 61st annual New York State Men’s Amateur Senior Championship and 22nd annual Men’s Super Senior Amateur Championship at Crag Burn Golf Club will be an exciting and difficult test for senior amateur golfers around the state throughout 54 holes of stroke play over three days of competition on September 12 – 14, 2017.

Related: Championships Website // Pairings // Past Results

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 champions in both divisions. If a tie exists after 54 holes, a sudden-death playoff will determine the winner.

Past NYS Men’s Senior Amateur Champions 

Paul Pratico, of Schenectady Muni Golf Course, will defend his title after winning last year’s championship at Brookfield Country Club by three strokes over the field. Pratico’s win last year earned him an exemption into this year’s NYS Men’s Amateur at Bethpage Black where he competed among the top amateurs in the state.

Tom Fletcher, of Tuscarora Golf Club, won the championship with a birdie on the second playoff hole in 2015 at Onondaga Golf & Country Club against Don Enga of Cherry Valley Club. 

Frank Broderick, of Crag Burn Golf Club, won the championship in 2013 when it was held at Normanside Country Club in a playoff against eventual Super Senior winner Earl Winchester, who both finished tied for 217 (+7).

Dave Benedict, of Brook-Lea Country Club, secured the title in 2011 at Vestal Hills Country Club. Benedict also won the Mid-Amateur when it was hosted at Wayne Hills Country Club in 1994. 

Matthew Haefele, of Stafford Country Club, was the champion when it was held at his home club in 2009.

Donald VanGorder, of Newman Municipal Golf Course, won the championship in 2006 at Lafayette Country Club.

Past NYS Super Senior Champions

Jim Smith, of Crag Burn Golf Club, will defend the Super Senior title on his home course. Last year, he won by a stroke over the field at Brookfield Country Club. His 4-over par finish, was the lowest winning total in relation to par in the 21 years of the championship’s history. 

Randy Young, of Bellevue Country Club, claimed the title in 2014 at Cedar Lake Club by three strokes with a 227 (+11).

John Hathway, an NYSGA eClub – Watertown member, was the 2015 winner at Onondaga Golf & Country Club with a 54-hole total of 12-over 225.

Perry Noun, Jr., of Timber Banks Golf Course & Marina, won the title in 2005 at Vestal Hills Country Club with a 229 (+13).

Past NYS Champions

Kevin Webb, of Mendon Golf Club, and Robert Branham, of Canasawacta Country Club, teamed up towin the Men’s Senior Four-Ball championship earlier this season at Leatherstocking Golf Course with a two-round total of 136 (-8).

Bob Rosen, of Country Club of Buffalo, won the 2016 Men’s Senior Four-Ball with partner Matt Clarke with a 36-hole score of 133 (-11).

John Gaffney, of Brookfield Country Club, won the Men’s Amateur at Wanakah CC in 1999.

Todd Dischinger, of Foxfire Golf Course,was the Men’s Amateur champion in 1992 when it was hosted by Drumlins Country Club (East).

Championship Quick Facts 

Dates: September 12 - 14, 2017

Host Site: Crag Burn Golf Club  

Course Yardages:

Senior Division - 6,521 yards, par 72

Super Senior Division - 6,147 yards, par 72

2016 Champions:

Senior - Paul Pratico at Brookfield Country Club

Super Senior - Jim Smith at Brookfield Country Club

Format: 54 holes of stroke play, played over three days with a 36-hole cut to low 50% and ties in each division.

Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur golfers who are members of the NYSGA and have an active Handicap Index of 12.0 or less (at the time of entry), issued by a golf club which is licensed to use the USGA Handicap System. A member of the NYSGA is defined as a dues paying member of a NYSGA member club, which includes NYSGA eClubs.

Schedule of Events

Monday, September 11

9:00am – 3:00pm // Player Registration

9:00am – 5:00pm // Practice Rounds

Tuesday, September 12

8:00am – 9:30am // Round 1 (morning wave) from tees #1 and #10

12:00pm – 1:30pm // Round 1 (afternoon wave) from tees #1 and #10

Wednesday, September 13

8:00am – 9:30am // Round 2 (morning wave) from tees #1 and #10

12:00pm – 1:30pm // Round 2 (afternoon wave) from tees #1 and #10

Cut after 36 holes to low 50% of field and ties in each age division

Thursday, September 14

8:00am – 9:30am // Round 3 from tees #1 and #10

Crag Burn Golf Club

Crag Burn Golf Club, located outside of Buffalo in East Aurora, has become well known over the years for its diverse landscape, lush green fairways, towering trees and tall meadow fescues. For over 40 years, the club has earned a reputation as one of Western New York’s premier golf clubs.

The meticulously-designed Robert Trent Jones layout is complimented by a state-of-the-art practice facility, regarded by many as one of the best around. The course is unique in that almost half of the holes play through dense woods and the remaining half is on open meadowland, giving golfers the best, or worst, of both worlds. 

The name stems from the Scottish words “Crag” meaning “top of the bluff,” and “Burn,” which translates to “small stream.” The property’s original owners, who transformed the land into a summer estate, built an extravagant house with over sixty rooms accompanied by stables, service buildings, polo fields and bridle paths in 1929. 

A few decades later, in late 1960’s, the family decided to convert 190 acres of their property into a golf course. They recruited a group of family and close friends to help fundraise the course construction. This group became the club’s founding members.

Construction began in 1970 and was finished two years later when the course was finally opened for play. 

Today, Crag Burn continues the tradition and beliefs its founders envisioned; simply a place where good friends can gather and play golf on a challenging and beautiful course.