Eleven Players Represent NY at 9th US Four-Ball

May 25, 2024

UPDATE 5/28 -- Of the golfers representing the Empire State at the 2024 US Amateur-Four Ball, only Matthew DiFiore / Joseph Dolezal made the cut and advanced to match play. A 64-69 (-9) stroke play showing put the pairing at T15 and well above the cut line. 

The met area duo faced off against Evan Beck / Dan Walters in the Round of 32, dropping the match 3 and 2, and concluding their run at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The hard-fought bought began with four straight halves, but Beck / Walters made five birdies in a stretch of seven holes between the 5th and 11th to pull away. The youthful pairing of DiFiore and Dolezal battled valiantly, winning both the Par 5 7th and Par 3 15th, but victory was too far out of reach. Beck / Walters will face Kenny Cook / Sean Rowen on Tuesday morning in the Round of 156. 

Related: U.S. Four-Ball Home / Tee Times / Qualifying Results

While only DiFiore / Dolezal made the cut, the rest of the New York players and their sides finished under par across the weekend stroke play. Of the NYS players who did not advance, the side of Thomas Finn / Cameron Besaw shot a 136 (-6) for the two stroke play rounds and missed the cut by a single stroke. 

Tom Mandel / Chris Yustin were in prime position after an open round 67, but a 70 on Sunday was not enough to squeak past the cut line. They finished the stroke play at five under. 

Nick Taylor / Richard Dowling finished close behind with a final score of 138 (-4). 

Benjamin Peacock / Brett Tomfohrde shot 71-68 to finish at three under for the stroke play. 

Both Joe Mitchell / James Pizzutelli IV and Coleman Meitner / Tyler Cline finished with a two round total of 140 (-2). 

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FLOURTOWN, P.A. – Eleven Empire State golfers will head to the historic Philadelphia Cricket Club for a chance at the 2024 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship

Three NYS sides will tee off Saturday morning in Flourtown, including Joe Mitchell and James Pizzutelli IV of Buffalo, Matthew DiFiore of Malverne and Joseph Dolezal of Old Westbury and Chris Yustin of Buffalo and Tom Mandel of Tampa, FL, who is originally from New Hartford. 

The other four golfers are representing New York alongside partners from other states. 

They include Thomas Finn of Locust Valley and his partner Cameron Besaw of Connecticut,  Coleman Meitner of Tuxedo with Tyler Cline of Florida (from Tuxedo), Nick Taylor of New York City and Richard Dowling III of Connecticut and Benjamin Peacock of New York City alongside Brett Tomfohrde of Illinois. 

A total of 128 sides (256 players) will descend on Philadelphia Cricket, established in 1854 and host of two U.S. Open’s (1907, 1910), to begin competition on Saturday. The starting field will play 36 holes of stroke play on Saturday and Sunday with the top 32 sides qualifying for the matchplay bracket. Monday and Tuesday will feature a round of 32 and 16 respectively, before the semifinal and final matches will be played on Wednesday. 

Each of Philadelphia Cricket’s two championship courses - Wissahickon and Militia Hill - will be utilized for competition layout. Wissahickon, playing at 7,013 yards and Par 70 for tournament play is a A.W. Tillinghast design, while Militia Hill (7,204 yards, Par 72) was designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzon and Dana Fry. 

Field qualifying occurred last fall at 53 sites from coast to coast. 

Mitchell / Pizzutelli IV IV secured their spot in the field by earning a qualifying medal at U.S. Four-Ball Qualifying at Wanakah Country Club. Mandel / Yustin also earned their spot at Wanakah, grabbing the second spot on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. 

DiFiore / Dolezal qualified via the Four-Ball Qualifier at Rumson Country Club in Rumson, New Jersey. While they concluded the qualifier as 1st Alternates, they made their way into the field at Philadelphia Cricket. It was at Rumson CC where Meitner / Cline (FL) also earned their qualification with a share of the medalist spot. 

Finn / Besaw grabbed the second qualifying spot at Novac GC in Sag Harbor, NY. 

Nick Taylor and his partner Richard Dowling III earned medalist at Wiltwyck GC in Kingston N,Y, ensuring their place in the field. 

Peacock / Tomfohrde qualified by tying for the lead at the Torrington Country Club qualifier in Connecticut.

Tee Times for Saturday & Sunday (EDT): 

TEAM RD 1 TEE TIME / COURSE RD 2 TEE TIME / COURSE
Mitchell / Pizzutelli IV 1:00 pm / Wissahickon 9:36 am / Militia Hill
Mandel / Yustin 9:36 am / Wissahickon 1:00 pm / Militia Hill
DiFiore / Dolezal 10:48 am / Militia Hill 7:24 am / Wissahickon
Finn / Besaw 10:12 am / Wissahickon 1:36 / Militia Hill
Taylor / Dowling 8:12 am / Wissahickon 11:48 am / Militia Hill
Peacock / Tomfohrde 12:00 pm / Militia Hill 8:24 am / Wissahickon