Three Tied for the Lead After Round One at the Senior Am
MAHOPAC, N.Y. – Luke Hobika, Phillip Ohler, and David Scialabba lead the NYS Men’s Senior Amateur after the first 18 holes. Their rounds of three-over, 73, were the best of the day at Mahopac Golf Club.
Related: Round 1 Results / Photo Galleries / Preview / Round 2 Pairings
Hobika, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, and Scialabba, of Meadow Brook Club, teed off in the morning. Hobika teed off the 10th hole and birdied the 12th hole, his third hole of the round. The two-time Mid Am champion (‘98 & ‘15) finished the back-nine of the course at one-over. Hobika proceeded to bogey Nos. 1 and 2, but bounced back with a birdie on 3, a par-3. A bogey on 6 wrapped up a round of three-over.
Scialabba managed his first birdie on five, a par-5. He stumbled on the back-nine with bogeys on a 13, 16, and 17, all par-fours. Scialabba birdied the 18th hole, a par-5, to get to three-over.
Ohler, of Forged Iron Golf, had the best round in the afternoon. The past Westchester Amateur Super Senior champion was even through nine thanks to a birdie on 4. After bogeys on 6 and 9, Ohler parred the next six holes to remain at one-over. He credited his ability to limit severe mistakes while finding greens.
“I played a really disciplined, consistent round,” Ohler said. “The nature of Mahopac is if you miss your drives in the right place here, you're going to be okay.”
Bogeys on 16 and 17 hampered a great round from Ohler as he finished at three-over. The co-leader said yesterday’s practice round wasn’t his best but he was able to find the right swing in time for the championship. He believes a similar round tomorrow will be enough.
“I had my swing today,” Ohler said.” “I think a similar round as I had today could help me win the championship.”
Dennis Lynch (Nassau Players Club) sits in fourth after shooting the second best score, four-over. He played with Scialabba and was in total command until he quadruple-bogeyed the 17th hole. John Migliore (Skenandoa Club) finished tied for fifth at five-over. He finished with a lone birdie on 17 (his eighth hole) and nothing worse than a bogey. Tied for Migliore was James Welch. The 2011 Mid-Am champion made three birdies, all on par-3s.
18 holes remain to decide the winner of the 69 NYS Senior Amateur Championship. Tee times tomorrow start at 8:30.
