PREVIEW: 2024 NYS Men's Amateur Championship at Wanakah CC

July 07, 2024

HAMBURG, N.Y. – The 101st New York State Men’s Amateur Championship will be held at Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg, July 9-11, 2023. Over 150 of New York State’s top male amateur players will tee off for 72 holes of individual stroke play for a chance at hoisting the century old Ganson Depew Cup.

Play will commence with 18 hole rounds on both Tuesday and Wednesday, at which point a 36 hole cut will occur. The low 40 players and ties at conclusion of second round play will advance to the final two rounds. The final 36 holes will be played on Thursday, with the low scorer across all 72 holes earning championship honors. A sudden-death playoff will be the deciding factor in the event of a tie after 72 holes.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH 101ST NYS MEN'S AM PREVIEW VIDEO

CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK FACTS

Dates: July 9-11, 2024

Host Site: Wanakah Country Club

Defending Champion: Kyle Downey of Locust Hill Country Club secured the 101st NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at Wykagyl Country Club with a five under total for the tournament. Despite an opening round 77 (+5), Downey locked in down the stretch for three straight rounds under par. He punctuated his performance with a tournament-low final round of 67 (-5) to lift him two clear of the field.

Format: 72 holes* of individual stroke play, played over three days (Tuesday-Thursday).
*36 hole cut with the low 40 and ties advancing to the final two rounds.

Eligibility: Entry is available to male amateur golfers who are either (1) residents of New York State or (2) Members of an NYSGA Member Club (eClubs included) and have an active USGA handicap index of 8.4 or less.

2024 U.S. Amateur Exemption: The winner of the 2024 NYS Men's Amateur Championship will earn an exemption to compete in the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship, played August 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

Top-20 Exempt into 102nd NYS Men's Amateur: The top-20 players in the 2024 NYS Men’s Amateur will earn an exemption into the 2025 NYS Men's Amateur Championship, scheduled for Teugega Country Club in Rome.

Par & Yardage

7,057 yards, Par 72 (36-36)
OUT: 3,469 yards / IN: 3,588 yards

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Monday, July 8 - Practice Rounds

8:30am...................Practice facility open
9:30-4:00pm.......... Practice rounds
11:00-3:00pm.........Player lunch
6:00pm................... Driving range closes

Tuesday, July 9 - Round 1

6:00am....................Practice facility open
6:30am....................Registration opens
7:30-9:30am............Round 1 from tee #1 and #10
11:00-3:00pm..........Player lunch
12:30-2:30pm..........Round 1 from tee #1 and #10
7:00pm................... Driving range closes

Wednesday, July 10 - Round 2

6:00am....................Practice facility open
6:30am....................Registration opens
7:30-9:30am............Round 1 from tee #1 and #10
11:00-3:00pm..........Player lunch
12:30-2:30pm..........Round 1 from tee #1 and #10
7:00pm................... Driving range closes

**Cut applied after 36 holes to low 40 & ties

Thursday, July 11 - Rounds 3 & 4

6:00am....................Practice facility open
6:30am....................Registration opens
7:30-9:00am............Round 3 from tee #1 and #10
11:00-1:00pm..........Player lunch
12:30-2:00pm..........Round 4 from tee #1 and #10
6:30pm....................Award ceremony

SECTIONAL QUALIFYING MEDALISTS & EXEMPT PLAYERS

Buffalo Qualifier

June 10 - Lancaster CC (115/20)

70 (-2) Shane Dobesh, Sheridan Park GC

Mid-Hudson Qualifier

June 12 - Red Hook GC (47/8)

71 (-1) - Johnny Solari, Warwick Valley CC

71 (-1) - Nick Lyons, Schuyler Meadows Club

Jamestown Qualifier

June 13 - Moon Brook CC (21/4)

77 (+5) - Darien Swanson, NYSGA eClub - WNY

77 (+5) - Enzo Clerici, Crag Burn GC

Long Island Qualifier

June 13 - Bethpage Yellow (64/10)

65 (-6) - Dave Segot, Nassau CC

Finger Lakes Qualifier

June 15 - Wayne Hills (23/4)

73 (+1) - Kristopher Boynes, NYSGA eClub - WNY

North Country Qualifier

June 15 - Malone East (10/2)

73 (+1) - Nicholas Bouyea, The Barracks GC

Syracuse Qualifier

June 17 - Lake Shore Y&CC (36/6)

71 (-1) - Thomas Conroy, RaNic GC

Rochester Qualifier

June 17 - Mendon GC (35/6)

71 (E) - Alex Zurat, Oak Hill Country Club

71 (E) - Colin Barber, Cobblestone Creek Country Club

71 (E) - Owen Corby, Monroe Golf Club

Utica Qualifier

June 17 - Yahnundasis GC (14/3)

73 (+2) - Joel Jakubowicz, Yahnundasis GC

Elmira Qualifier

June 21 - Corning CC (11/2)

68 (-2) - Brian Slivonik, Corning CC

Bing Qualifier

June 23 - Links at Hiawatha (22/4)

70 (-2) - Tom Christoffersen, NYSGA eClub - S. Tier

Albany Qualifier

June 24 - Colonie G&CC (58/10)

72 (E) - Aidan Fitzgerald, USGA/NYSGA GC

Last Chance Qualifier

July 7 - Cloverbank CC (61/4)
70 (-2) - Charlie Fischer, East Aurora CC
70 (-2) - Kyle Harman, Glen Oak Tournament Club
70 (-2) - George Green, Ridgemont CC

Click here to view full 2024 qualifying results

List of currently exempt players (as of July 7, 2024): James Allen (2021 champion), Jack Angelucci, Shawn Baker, Dante Bertoni, Chris Blyth, Nick Bove, Brody Burgess, Ben Carpenter (2023 runner-up), Tim Carlson, Peicheng Chen, Owen Corby, Kellen Dean, Braydon Dock, Michael Donner, Kyle Downey (2023 champion), John Duthie (2007 champion), Ken Fernandes, Thomas Finn, David Fizer, Nolan Forsman, Andy Fretthold, Ryan Gabel, Josh German, Paul Goetz, Donte Groppuso, Mason Grower, Johnny Gruninger, Nathan Han, Billy Hanes, Ryan Hart, John Hiller, Connor Jackson, Andre Ulvenes Klepoe, Jason Lohwater, Jeff March, Yaroslav Merkulov (2009 champion), Jamie Miller, Philip Minnehan, Joseph Mitchell, Sam O'Hara, Jonathan Oakes, Jackson Ormond, Benjamin Peacock, Jimmy Pizzutelli, Wills Reardon, Ryan Rittberger, Andrew Romano, Jackson Saroney, Carl Schimenti, Patrick Sheedy Jr, Aiden Spampinato, Nolan Swanson, Jack Tebeau, Carter Thompson, Shibo Wang, Andrew Watson, James Welch, Jeff Wolniewicz (2008 champion), Chris Yustin.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Past Men's Amateur Champions in the Field

Kyle Downey, 34, of Locust Hill Country Club, will look to defend his state amateur title after a two-stroke victory at Wykagyl Country Club last August. Downey finished as the low amateur (T4 overall) at the 2023 Western New York Open Championship and also added a top 10 finish at the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Crag Burn GC. Downey was the runner-up at the 2022 Mid-Amateur Championship, held at Seven Oaks GC.

James Allen, 22, of Scarsdale Golf Club, secured the 2021 Men’s Amateur title with a one-stroke victory at Schuyler Meadows. Allen finished T7 at the 2022 Championship at Onondaga and T27 at the 2023 tournament at Wykagyl. Allen plays collegiately at Penn State, where he won the Rutherford Intercollegiate and was named Big Ten Golfer of the week as a sophomore in 2022. Allen won the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Carter Cup for juniors in 2020.

Yaroslav Merkulov, 32, of Ridgemont Country Club, is a four-time NYS champion, claiming the 2006 Boys Sub-Junior Amateur, 2008 and 2009 Junior Amateur and 2009 Amateur championships. Merkulov took the 2009 tournament at Ravenwood Golf Club by two strokes, finishing at seven under par to become the second youngest winner in history, and second youngest to win the junior and men’s am during the same year. Merkulov has represented New York at a slew of USGA events, including the US Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Four-Ball in recent years. He finished T3 at last year’s NYS Mid-Amateur in his first NYSGA appearance in years, and is coming off a victory at the RDGA’s Match Play Championship at Ontario Golf Club.

John Duthie, 35, of Cornell University Golf Course, won the 2007 NYS Amateur at Yahnundasis Golf Club 1 up, when it was still in matchplay format. Duthie turned pro in 2011 and spent a decade as a touring professional, regaining his amateur status this April. In June, Duthie won the CNY PGA’s AIM Championship, setting a tournament record for the lowest four-round score at -9.

Jeff Wolniewicz, 38, of Crag Burn Golf Club, took home the 2008 Men’s Amateur title at Pinehaven Country Club. He also won the 2016 and 2017 NYS Men’s Four-Ball Championships at Leatherstocking Golf Club, with partners Bill Gaffney and Jonathan Clark respectively. Wolniewicz played collegiately at Binghamton University (‘03-’07), where he was a 3x all-region selection and two-time captain. He was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2018.

Other Past NYSGA Champions in the Field

Andy Bernatovicz, 56, of River Oaks Golf Club, captured the 2023 NYS Men’s Senior Four-Ball with partner Ken Riter at Turning Stone Resort. He’s also captured multiple Buffalo District Senior Match Play and Senior titles.

Kellen Dean, 18, of McGregor Links Country Club, won the 2023 NYS Boys’ Junior Amateur, claiming a two stroke victory at the Lake Placid Club last July. In May, he was the medalist at the U.S. Open First Stage qualifier at Albany CC, and advanced into the NYS Open out of the NENY PGA qualifier at Eagle Crest. He also captured the inaugural Capital Region Golf Association Amateur Championship at McGregor Links CC. He will be competing in the PGA Junior Championship for a second year. Dean is committed to play golf at Xavier University next fall. Wanakah will mark Dean’s third straight Men’s Amateur appearance.

Billy Hanes, 38, of Crag Burn Golf Club, is the reigning, two-time NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion. His 7-under tournament lifted him seven clear of the field at his home course of Crag Burn. Hanes also secured the 100th Buffalo District Golf Association’s Individual Championship at Orchard Park GC. Hanes has finished in the top 20 in each of the last two Men’s Amateurs.

Connor Jackson, 15, of East Aurora Country Club, earned his exemption by way of his win at last season’s NYS Boys’ 14U Junior Amateur Championship at the Lake Placid Club. He was the second-youngest player in last year’s field at Wykagyl and returns as the third youngest in 2024.

Jamie Miller, 39, of Crag Burn Golf Club, is a four-time NYS champion. He won the 2014 Mid-Am at Teugega CC and 2018 Mid-Am Title at this year’s Amateur Championship venue, Wanakah CC. Miller and partner Billy Hanes won the 2017 NYS Men’s Four-Ball Amateur at Leatherstocking GC. He also claimed a NYS Mixed Team title in 2022 at Brook-Lea with partner Chelsea Dantonio of the same club. He’s been on the NYSGA Executive Committee for several years and is currently serving as the NYSGA’s President in 2024-25. He’s also qualified for numerous USGA championships and played his college golf at Augusta State.

Jonathan Oakes, 18, of Ardsley Country Club, claimed the NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur title last week at The Links at Hiawatha Landing. He tied the course record with a 64 in the opening round, and never looked back, capturing the title at 14-under over 54 holes, eight strokes better than the runner-up. He plays on the Kenyon College Men’s Golf Team and just wrapped up his freshman year. He also won the 2022 Westchester Junior Am.

Carl Schimenti, 32, of Cornell University Golf Course, was the 2021 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion at Shaker Ridge Country Club. Schimenti defeated Locust Hill CC’s Chris Blyth on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

James Welch, 56, of Olde Kinderhook Golf Club, won the 2011 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Dutchess Golf & Country Club. Welch outlasted his opponents in a four-way playoff to claim the title. Welch qualified for the 2019 U.S. Men’s Mid-Am, sharing the top qualifying spot out of Glen Falls Country Club. In last year’s NYS Senior, he finished in third place.

Other Names To Watch

Jack Angelucci, 24, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, claimed the 2024 Syracuse District Gerry Ashe Memorial title at Bellevue Country Club, and also won in 2022 at Beaver Meadows. He finished tied for 13th during both the 2023 and 2022 NYS Men’s Am. He competed on St. Bonaventure’s golf team in 2022-23 as a Graduate Student and Mercyhurst University prior to that.

Brody Burgess, 17, of Cobblestone Creek Country Club, recently weathered a sudden-death playoff to grab one of the final sectional qualifying spots into the 2024 US Junior Amateur at Seven Oaks GC. Burgess has finished in the top 5 of the NYSPHSAA Boys’ Golf Championship in back-to-back years and also finished in 4th at the 2022 NYS Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship. Burgess, a 2025 grad, is verbally committed to play collegiately at West Virginia University.

Ben Carpenter, 23, of GlenArbor Golf Club, was the leader through the first three rounds at the 2023 Men’s Amateur at Wykagyl, after opening with 67-73-71. He finished T2 at three under par, two shots behind the champion Downey. Carpenter is a standout junior at Yale, where he was the top finisher at the 2024 Ivy League Men’s Championship and was named First Team All-Conference as a Freshman. In 2019, Carpenter won the MGA’s Carter Cup in 2019 at Baltusrol Golf Club. He is currently 1,391 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Peicheng Chen,21, of Rock Hill Golf & Country Club is coming off a massive victory at the BIG EAST Championship in April, where he shot two-under par for the tournament at Riverton Pointe Golf & Country Club. In late June, Chen fired a final-round 65 (-5) to take home the MGA’s Ike Stroke Play Championship. Last year, he won the NYS Open as an amateur at Bethpage’s Black Course. The Beijing native who plays at St. John’s University, recently finished twelfth at the Long Island Open Championship and finished top ten at both the the NYS Men’s Am and Met Amateur Championship in 2023. He is just outside the top 1,000 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Josh German, 21, of Seawane Club, claimed the 2023 Met Amateur title at Friar’s Head. He also finished T13 at the 2023 NYS Men’s Am at Wykagyl. He is a rising senior at Sam Houston State University Men’s Golf Team.

Nathan Han, 23, of Centennial Golf Club, is coming off a decorated career at Columbia University. Han was a PING All-America Honorable Mention in his senior season and was awarded the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2022. He holds numerous Columbia records, including a low single-round of score 60 and single-season stroke average of 70.24. Before Columbia, Han was a two-time NYSPHSAA Champion and was the runner-up at the 2016 NYS Boys’ Junior Amateur at Seven Oaks GC. He currently sits at 893 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Ryan Hart, 22, of Country Club of Buffalo, is heading into his senior season as a member of the University of Florida Men’s Golf Team. His current World Amateur Golf Ranking is 1,127th. He won the 2021 BDGA Match Play championship.

John Hiller,18, of Westchester Country Club, won the 2022 Met Junior at St. George’s Golf & Country Club. The Duke University commit has won two AJGA events, including the AJGA Junior at Penn State in 2022 and the Three Little Birds Memorial Open in 2023. Hiller finished T3 at the 2021 NYS Boys’ Junior Amateur and represented the Empire State at the 73rd U.S. Junior Am at the Country Club of North Carolina.

Jason Lohwater, 23, of Brook-Lea Country Club, finished runner-up to Charlie Berridge at the 2022 NYS Men’s Am at Onondaga G&CC. Lohwater posted a 65 and 66 in rounds two and three respectively, and finished deep in red numbers at eleven under. Lohwater won the 2023 RDGA District Championship at Ravenwood GC. Before his college career at Bucknell and Villanova, Lohwater won four WNYPGA events, including the Tour Championship in 2016.

Thomas Finn,19, of Nassau Country Club, recently represented New York in the U.S. Men’s Four-Ball at Philadelphia Cricket Club, alongside partner Cameron Besaw of Connecticut. In last year’s NYS Men’s Am, he finished in sixth place. In 2023, he won the Michael Hebron Amateur Championship at Bethpage Black. Finn is entering his sophomore season at St. John’s University.

Ken Fernandes,15, of MGA eClub - Hudson Valley, made waves at this year’s NYSPHSAA Boys’ Golf Championships where, as a freshman, he pushed eventual champion Joseph Dolezal to a playoff. His final-round 67 (-5) was tied with Brody Burgess for lowest of the tournament. Fernandes won last year’s MGA/Metlife Boys’ Championship at Gardiners Bay CC and also took the Westchester Boys’ Championship in 2022. Fernandes was the youngest player in the field at Wykagyl in 2023.

Paul Goetz, 22, of the Edison Club, is coming off a recent victory at the Tri-County Match Play Championship at Colonie G&CC. In June, Goetz finished runner-up to Kellen Dean at the Capital Region Amateur Championship at McGregor Links Country Club.

Philip Minnehan, 21, of Cobblestone Creek CC, won this year’s Country Club of Rochester Men’s Invitational to earn an exemption. He finished T4 at the 2023 RDGA District Championship at Ravenwood with 7-under. He was a top-10 finisher during the 2022 NYS Men’s Amateur at Onondaga at even par. In 2021, he was the NYS Boys’ 18U runner-up to Anthony Delisanti at Seven Oaks. He is a rising senior at Old Dominion University and played for Towson University prior to that.

Sam O’Hara, 19, of the Maidstone Club, earned the top qualifying spot and represented New York at the 74th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes in 2022. O’Hara finished as the runner-up at the 2022 Long Island Amateur Championship and 16th at the Long Island Open in 2023. The sophomore player at the University of Virginia opened with an even-par 72 at last year’s NYS Men’s Amateur Championship and finished T23.

Ryan Rittberger, 23, of Garden City Golf Club, opened last year’s NYS Men’s Amateur with a 70 (-2) and finished in solo seventh with a two over tournament. The Long Island native played college golf at St. John’s University, where he finished T5 in the 2023 BIG EAST Championship. Rittberger finished runner-up in the Long Island Junior Championship in 2017, and, earlier this season, grabbed the primary alternate spot in first stage qualifying for the 124th US Open.

Jackson Saroney, 17, of Drumlins Golf Club, is coming off a ten stroke victory at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s Spring College Prep Series at the University Club of Kentucky in April. Last week, he finished Top-5 at the NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur at Links at Hiawatha. In June, Saroney earned a spot into final stage qualifying for the US Amateur Championship with an even-par 70 at the first stage qualifier at Teugega CC. Saroney, with his father Erik, shot a tournament record 59 (-11) to win the 2023 Syracuse District Golf Association Father & Child. He’s won the SDGA Junior championships multiple times. Saroney finished in the top 30 at the 100th NYS Amateur.

Dave Segot, 54, of Nassau Country Club, was the low medalist at any of the 2024 NYS Men’s Amateur sectional qualifiers, shooting 6-under 65 at Bethpage Yellow on Long Island.

Aiden Spampinato, 21, of Ravenwood Golf Club, plays on the Methodist University men’s golf team where he finished 14th in the NCAA Division III Championship. He finished in the top 10 during last year’s Men’s Am at Wykagyl, top 20 in 2023 at Onondaga, and 3rd in 2021 at Schuyler Meadows. He also posted a top 10 finish at the 2023 RDGA District Championship at Ravenwood.

Shibo Wang, 19, of RDGA Junior Membership, finished his freshman season at the University of Rochester second in scoring average at 75.28. The Tianjin, China native had two top five collegiate finishes and was named to the Division III All-Rookie Team.

Youngest competitors in the field

14 – Jeff Fumarola, Ballston Spa CC
15 – Ken Fernandes, MGA eClub - Hudson Valley
15 – Aleksei Panek, NYSGA eClub - CNY
15 - Connor Jackson, East Aurora CC

Oldest competitors in field

59 – David Fizer, Ballston Spa CC
56 – James Welch, Olde Kinderhook GC
56 – Andy Bernatovicz, River Oaks GC
54 - Dave Segot, Nassau Country Club

Host club members in the field

Simon Bennett
Nick Boccio
Max Davis
Andy Fretthold
Matthew Klass
Andrew Teach

Past NYSGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT HOST CLUB

1981 Men's Amateur, Won by Jim Roy of Syracuse
1999 Men's Amateur, Won by John Gaffney of Buffalo
2018 Men's Mid-Amateur, Won by Jamie Miler of Hamburg

WANAKAH COUNTRY CLUB

Wanakah Country Club is among Western New York’s premier full-service country clubs. Founded in 1899, is celebrating their 125th anniversary, a milestone achieved by few golf clubs throughout the United States.

The golf course at Wanakah was originally designed in 1900 as a nine-hole course adn the Club was known as the Wanakah Golf Club. In 1913 the club became the Wanakah Country Club, and in 1925 the club engaged with renowned architect William Watson who created an 18-hole course with beautiful views overlooking Lake Erie. The club has hosted several notable events, including the 2nd USGA Girls Amateur in 1950, the Ryder Cup Challenge Matches in 1957, the NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur in 2018, and previously hosted the NYS Men’s Amateur Championship in 1981 and 1999. The club has also hosted multiple national qualifiers, as well as several Buffalo District events.

To remain amongst the finest clubs and golf courses in Western New York, in the early 2000’s the club embarked on a new golf course enhancement plan with Arthur Hills and Chris Wilczynski. The plan was eventually completed with Chris’s guidance in 2018. The course is fair, yet can be very challenging especially if the winds pick up off the link.

The club’s inspiring and scenic setting also includes a pool, clay tennis courts. The club is located on the shores of Lake Erie just 15 minutes from downtown Buffalo. To learn more, visit www.wanakahcc.com.

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