Sixteen Advance Out of New York in Local U.S. Open Qualifiers
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- This week, U.S. Open local qualifying was conducted at three different sites in New York including Rochester’s Oak Hill Country Club, Long Island’s Northshore Country Club, and Albany’s Shaker Ridge Country Club. Out of 287 final entries (263 posted a score) only sixteen pro and amateur golfers advanced with an additional six acting as alternates. Those who survived will play 36-holes of sectional qualifying at one of twelve sites from May 22 – June 5, the closest being Canoe Brooks Country Club, Summit, N.J.
Related: USGA Qualifiers in NYS // US Open Homepage
Empire state action began at Oak Hill’s famed East Course on Monday, where 78 players competed for 4 qualifying spots. A tough setup hindered players from breaking par, and medalist honors went to Chang Wan Woo of Canada who carded a 75 (+4). Upstate New York natives (a) Adam Condello of Fairport, (a) Colin Dubnik of Rochester and Billy Gaffney of Williamsville will join Woo in advancing. The two alternates are Matt Parziale and Quinlan Prchal.
Tuesday, a field almost double in size at 144 players, gathered at Long Island’s Northshore Country Club and competed for eight tough spots. All eight spots were won by professionals, many of which were from the Metropolitan PGA section. Co-medalists were Bob Rittberger of Garden City and Michael Furci of Sayville, who both registered 68’s (-3). Five tied for third at 69, including Juan Alvarez of Uruguay, Paul Dickinson of Montauk, Todd Greene of Melville, Dylan Crowley from Los Angeles, C.A., and Paul Selvaggio of Valhalla. The final spot was earned by Tyler Jaramillo of New York City who topped the two alternate players Jack Druga of Southhampton and Daniel Balin from Rockville, M.D. in a three-way playoff.
The final day of qualifying, administered by the New York State Golf Association, took place Wednesday at Shaker Ridge Country Club with over half of the field consisting of amateur players. 65 players teed off with hopes to secure the final four sectional spots. Craig Thomas of White Plains and (a) Arthur Griffin of Lake Placid shared the honors of co-medalists, both carding 70’s (-1). Griffin finished his day by sinking a birdie on 18 to equate Thomas and relieve pressure from the competitive field. Local favorite Brian Bigley of nearby Schenectady, shot even par-71. Clifton Park natives Matthew Campbell and (a) Jim Gifford went toe-to-toe through four playoff holes before Campbell secured the fourth and final spot. Campbell, Gifford, along with Scott Berliner of Queensbury and Joshua Truman of Burlington Flats, each finished their 18-hole rounds with 72’s. Gifford and Truman will be the two alternates.
Full Results: Oak Hill CC // North Shore CC // Shaker Ridge
A handful of the qualifying competitors this week have topped leaderboards at NYSGA championship in recent years. Adam Condello, who turned pro in 2005 and regained his amateur status a few years later, has demonstrated a high level of consistency at NYS Men’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships claiming runner-up at four championships in the last three years. Billy Gaffney won the 2016 NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown, N.Y., with his partner Jeff Wolniewicz just a few months before turning pro last summer. He also came in 5th during the 2014 NYS Men’s Am at Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, N.Y. Arthur Griffin, earned runner-up at the 2012 NYS Junior Amateur Championship at Mark Twain Golf Club and finished in the top-twenty at last year’s NYS Men’s Amateur at Mohawk Golf Club. Colin Dubnik, tied for fourth at the 2014 NYS Junior Amateur Championship at Ridgemont Country Club and tied for fifth the following year in 2015 at Cedar Lake Club. Jim Gifford, an alternate, had an impressive 2016 season finishing tied for fourth at the NYS Men’s Amatuer and tied for third at the NYS Mid-Amateur at Stafford Country Club.
May has been a busy month for U.S. Open preparations, with a total of 114 local qualifiers conducted across 44 states as well as Canada. Local qualifying ends today, May 18, before the field is set for the twelve U.S. Open sectional qualifiers beginning in a couple of weeks. Out of 9,000+ accepted entries, twenty- two New Yorkers have moved into the next round.
Sectional Qualifiers From New York:
May 3, Mission Inn Resort & Club (El Campeon Course), Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
Trevor Sluman, Pittsford, N.Y., 69 (2015 NYS Men’s Amateur Champion)
May 8, Rockrimmon Country Club, Stamford, Conn.
Michael Miller, Brewster, N.Y., 70
(a) Matthew Lowe, Farmingdale, N.Y., 71
Matthew Dobyns, Lake Success, N.Y., 72
Charles Meola, Mamaroneck, N.Y., 72
May 8, Northwest Golf Club, Silver Spring, Md.
Jordan Meltzer, Melville, N.Y., 73
May 8, The Country Club of Winter Haven, Winter Haven, Fla.
Sean Kelly, Staten Island, N.Y., 70
May 9, Yocha Dehe Golf Club, Brooks, Calif.
(a) Brandon Wu, Scarsdale, N.Y., 63
May 15, Oak Hill Country Club (West Course), Rochester, N.Y.
(a) Adam Condello, Fairport, N.Y., 76
(a) Colin Dubnik, Rochester, N.Y., 76
Billy Gaffney, Williamsville, N.Y., 76 (2016 NYS Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Co-Champion)
May 16, North Shore Country Club, Glen Head, N.Y.
Michael Furci, Sayville, N.Y., 68
Bob Rittberger, Garden City, N.Y., 68
Paul Dickinson, Montauk, N.Y., 69
Todd Greene, Melville, N.Y., 69
Paul Selvaggio, Valhalla, N.Y., 69
May 16, The Preserve Golf Club, Carmel, Calif.
Sean McWilliams, Canandaigua, N.Y., 72
May 17, Shaker Ridge Country Club, Albany, N.Y.
Craig Thomas, White Plains, N.Y., 70
(a) Arthur Griffin, Lake Placid, N.Y., 70
Bryan Bigley, Schenectady, N.Y., 71 Matthew Campbell, Clifton Park, N.Y., 72
Qualifiers Not Included in Above List
May 18, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa, Ariz. (84/5)
May 18, West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill, Pa. (68/4)
May 18, Kearney Hill Golf Links, Lexington, Ky. (102/6)
Stay up-to-date with the NYSGA by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
