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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- The 11th NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship came down to the wire Monday, with two teams going to a playoff after finishing tied at 13-under 131.

Carl Schimenti and Andrew Turker (Cornell University GC) prevailed over Shane Dobesh (Locust Hill CC) and Yaroslav Merkulov (Ridgemont CC) with a birdie on the second playoff hole. 

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Both teams converted birdies on the first playoff hole, which was the par-5 eighteenth. Merkulov narrowly missed a short putt for eagle, and Turker was able to get up and down to force a second playoff hole.

On the short par-4 sixth, Schimenti and Turker both found the green in two, while both Dobesh and Merkulov’s approach shots rolled just off the back. Turker would go on to make a 20-foot birdie putt to seal the victory.

I’m a little nervy when it comes to putting,” Turker said. “My main thought was just to be smooth with it. We picked out a line and I was just trying to start it on that line and hopefully get it to the hole.”

The pair came back from three-strokes down yesterday to win the championship. This is their first NYS Tournament for the duo, but Schimenti won the 2021 NYS Mid-Amateur Championship, making this his second consecutive NYSGA trophy. 

Dobesh and Merkulov shot one of the tournament low rounds on Monday to force the playoff. They scored a 9-under 63 in round two, along with Joseph Fitzsimmons (Shaker Ridge CC) and Benjamin Bates (NYSGA eClub - Capital District).

Two teams finished tied for third at 11-under 133, Erik Stauderman (Links of Union Vale) and 2016 NYS Boys' Junior champion Christian Chapman (Cobblestone Creek CC) along with 2018 champions Billy and David Hanes (Crag Burn GC). The Hanes brothers improved on their opening round score, shooting 7-under 65 in the second round. Chapman and Stauderman posted a solid 5-under 67.

The team of Clinton Lange and Griffith Hunter (NYSGA eClub - Capital District) rounded out the top five. The duo finished yesterday tied for the lead, but their 3-under 69 in the second round was not enough to hold on.

The victory earned Turker an exemption into the 2022 NYS Men’s Amateur at Onondaga Golf & Country Club in August, as well as the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur at Seven Oaks Golf Club in September. Schimenti was already exempt for these championships after his Mid-Am win last fall.

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The 10th NYS Men’s Senior Amateur saw past champions return to glory on Monday. 2016 winners Matt Clarke (Cazenovia CC) and Bob Rosen (CC of Buffalo) finished the tournament at 9-under 135, winning by two strokes.

Clarke knocked down three eagles over the tournament including two during the second round. He eagled #4 during both the first and second round.

The pair scored a double bogey on the #17 during round one. Monday, they opened their round on the par-3 17th and saved par on the long intimidating hole which requires a long carry over the edge of Otsego lake.

“We had dinner last night and I said can you believe we’re starting on 17,” Rosen said. “We took it as a positive and here we go, let's get it out early.”

“I took two extra clubs and swung hard,” Clarke said. “Bobby hit a great shot on 17 today”.

2019 champions Wade Sarkis (Canandaigua CC) and Ken Ogden (Oak Hill CC) finished up in second place at 7-under 137. Ogden’s eagle on #15 proved to not be enough to push the pair to victory. 

Bill Paulsen (Eagle Crest GC) and Jim Mueller (Orchard Creek GC) along with Brian Kumiega (CC of Buffalo) and Jeff Schauger (River Oaks GC) finished the tournament tied for third place at 6-under 138.

Two more teams finished in a tie for fifth place. Dan Ireland and Chris David (CC of Troy) along with 2021 champions Mark Battle (Ravenwood GC) and Chris Sorci (RDGA eClub) wrapped up their tournaments at 5-under 139.

Sunday’s leaders, Kevin Webb (Clifton Springs CC) and Robert Branham (Canasawacta CC) shot even par on Monday to fall to seventh place.