News

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Jamie Brown (Elm Tree GC) and Jeffrey Brown (NYSGA eClub) found themselves atop the 10th NYS Amateur Mixed Team leaderboard after fighting the tough conditions at Leatherstocking Golf Course on Monday morning. 

Related: Final Results / Photos / Preview / Program

The mother-son duo started out the day with two bogeys on their first two holes, Nos. 5 and 6, but were able to fight back in the high winds and firm, fast greens. They put 5 birdies on the scorecard after their slow start and finished as the only team under par at 1-under 71.

“We had a rough start…but we stayed on an even keel and stayed the course,” said Jamie. “Stayed in the moment, one shot at a time, and grounded out.” 

“I let my mom hit first and as long as she kept it in play, it freed me up to rip the driver a little bit where I normally wouldn’t have,” said Jeffery Brown about their success on the course today. 

Although the Brown’s finished as the champions, they came into it with a different mindset than most competitors. 

“He has been on the golf course since he was a tot and golf is an activity our whole family enjoys doing” Jamie said. “I just took it as a way to spend some quality time with my son on the golf course today,” she said about their expectations.

This is the duo’s first appearance in the NYS Amateur Mixed Team and first state championship together.

Two other teams finished at 1-over 73 in a tie for second place. Amber Pennington and Martin Pennington (Tarry Brae GC), who finished in second place last year at Transit Valley Country Club, and Alexandra Battle and Mark Battle (Ravenwood GC).

This is the third consecutive year that the Pennington duo has finished in second place. 

Another father-daughter duo, Amanda Gaffney and John Gaffney (Brookfield CC) finished in a solo fourth place shooting a 4-over 76. John won the New York State Men’s Amateur in 1999.

The amateur division net champions were Rebecca Rhodes (NYSGA eClub - Capital District) and Ken Rhodes (Villa Roma CC), who finished at 5-under 67.

-- 

In the 10th NYS Senior Amateur Mixed Team, Meredith Hobika and Luke Hobika (Yahnundasis GC) won by a stroke over the crowded field, finishing at even-par 72.

It marks Meridith’s first NYSGA win, and Luke’s third state title. He is a two time New York State Men’s Mid-Amateur champ (1998 and 2015), but the mixed team is his first state team win.   

“We were excited to get the round started and got off to a good start,” said Luke. “When your brother and sister, you know you can yell at each other without having too much penalty.”

The siblings, who started on the eighth hole, made seven straight pars before firing off two birdies in a row on the par-5 fifteenth and short par-4 sixteenth. They gave those strokes back on the par-3 seventeenth, which has a long carry over the corner of Otsego lake, by both hitting in the water which resulted in a double bogey. They were able to bounce back however, collecting only one other bogey, and adding another birdie on the way in.

They are now the third team from Yahnundasis Golf Club to bring home the NYS Senior Mixed Team hardware. Pam Meehan and Dan Meehan (2016) and Patty Schaefer and Jim Schaefer (2017) previously took the title home to Utica.

“Fantastic…so exciting,” Meredith said about bringing another trophy to her home club. 

“It’s always good to win one and bring it back to where you grew up,” Luke said.  

2014 NYS Women’s Senior Amateur Nancy Kroll (Schenectady Municipal GC) and Jim Toomey (Capital Hills at Albany) finished in second place at 1-over 73. Also tied for second were Pennie Carlo and Jeff Carlo (Crestwood GC), who also shot a 73 for the day. The 2022 Senior Amateur Mixed Team defending champions Kim Kaul (East Aurora CC) and Andrew Melnyk (Tuscarora GC) finished at 5-over 77. 

The senior division net champions were Pennie Carlo and Jeff Carlo (Crestwood GC) who shot a net 8-under, 64.