NYSGA News

Pinehaven C.C.- Jeff Wolniewicz celebrated his first New York State Amateur Championship with a 5&4 victory over Rochester’s Tom Muto Jr. Saturday, as a threatening thunderstorm closed in on Guilderland, N.Y.

Wolniewicz had established a 6-up lead after the morning round and was on track to complete a comfortable victory.

However, 20-year-old Muto Jr. had other ideas and fought back right from the off in the afternoon round, winning three of the first six holes to reduce the deficit to 3-down.

Muto Jr.’s momentum was halted, however, after a three-putt bogey on the par-4 seventh allowed Wolniewicz to restore a 4-up lead.

On the eighth, Wolniewicz hit his second shot into the right greenside bunker before Muto found the green in regulation. After an excellent bunker shot to within three feet of the hole, Wolniewicz saved par and Muto Jr. was unable to sink his birdie putt, Wolniewicz remaining 4-up.

The ninth was halved in par-3s before both players flew their second shots over the green, and behind some pine trees, on the par-4 10^th. Playing from thick rough to an elevated green that ran away from them, neither player had much of a chance at getting up and down.

Muto Jr. was unable to hit the green with his third or fourth shot, leaving it 15-feet short on the fringe. Wolniewicz made a good fist of his third, pitching to 15 feet past the hole. Five was good enough as Muto was unable to make his putt and Wolniewicz moved 5-up.

An excellent long-iron on the par-3 11^th to eight feet, showed that Muto was not about to lie down and let Wolniewicz get his hands on the trophy just yet. Wolniewicz was unable to get up and down after missing the green and Muto Jr.’s three was sufficient to win the hole.

The 12th saw the defining moment in the afternoon play, as both players hit approach shots to within 20 feet of the hole on the short par-4. Muto Jr. holed a curling up-hill putt to apply the pressure to Wolniewicz, who was 15 feet away on the fringe.

Wolniewicz was up to the challenge, however, and coolly rolled in the downhill, sliding left-right putt to halve the hole and remain 4 up with just five holes to play.

Muto Jr. hit his tee shot short of the green on the par-3 14^th after Wolniewicz kept his, 15 feet below the back hole location. With a long putt up the steep slope at the front of the green, Muto Jr. left his first putt short and, after Wolniewicz lagged close for a conceded three, Muto Jr. was left with a 12-foot putt to keep the match going.

It was not to be, and the miss ensured Wolniewicz a 5&4 victory and his first NYSGA Men’s Amateur title.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” Wolniewicz said. “I think maybe after I wake up tomorrow morning I’ll realize, wow I really won. Right now it’s more of a relief than anything else.”

With the victory, Wolniewicz is now eligible for the Porter Cup, one of the premiere amateur tournaments in the country. Wolniewicz intends to play a practice round tomorrow for the four-round stroke play event that begins Wednesday.

“I’m excited to play next week,” Wolniewicz said. “After tomorrow, I’m definitely going to take a day or day and a half off. It’s been a grueling week, mentally more than anything.”

Wolniewicz competed in the final two years ago, losing out to Andrew DiBitetto, which he said hurt at the time, but in hindsight, the disappointment of that loss made this year’s success all the more satisfying.

“This ranks as my best achievement in golf so far,” Wolniewicz said. “I know what it feels like to be on the losing end of a final, so I appreciate it more now that I have won.”

Muto Jr. said he was frustrated with his play in the morning round and, despite his marked improvement in the afternoon, left himself too much to do.

“I wasn’t able to do the things I had been doing the entire week,” Muto Jr. said. “I wasn’t hitting my irons like I had and didn’t hole enough putts. I feel like I gave him some holes in the morning that I shouldn’t have.”

Despite losing at the last hurdle, Muto Jr. said the experience of the week will set him up well for the rest of the season.

“This gives me a lot of confidence now going into the other tournaments I’m playing in this summer,” Muto Jr. said. “I’m going to get some rest the next couple of days, and then I have an invitational at a club in Rochester, and I’ll go and try to qualify for the U.S. Amateur at Seven Oaks.”

Posted by John Cronly, NYSGA Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- Jeff Wolniewicz of Gowanda C.C. leads the New York State Men’s Amateur final, leading Rochester’s Thomas Muto Jr. by six holes after the first round of the 36-hole final.

Wolniewicz made his move on the front nine, starting on the 6^th, making birdie on the par-5 when Muto Jr. was only able to record par.

Wolniewicz then won the eight and ninth with a par and birdie respectively, to take a 3-up lead heading into the back nine.

Both players hit the 10th green in regulation, Muto Jr. three-putting for a bogey to a difficult pin location, Wolniewicz winning the hole with a par-4 to go 4-up in the match.

The 230 yard par-3 11^th hole was halved in threes after both players got up and down after missing the green from the tee.

After the tricky par-4 12^th was halved in pars, Wolniewicz extended his lead with a steady par after Muto Jr. chipped past the hole with his third, and missed a four-foot downhill putt for a halve.

The par-3 14^th saw Wolniewicz land his tee shot 12 feet short of the back hole location, before watching it spin back down the severely sloped green to finish off the putting surface.

Muto Jr. narrowly missed his putt for a two from 18 feet, and Wolniewicz negotiated a 4-foot par putt to remain 5 up.

Both players found trouble from the 15^th tee, hitting left into some pine trees, and were forced to lay up to the par-5.

Wolniewicz holed a 20-footer for birdie to apply the pressure to Muto Jr., who was 10 feet away in three. However, he was up to the task and calmly stroked in his putt for a halve.

Wolniewicz lost the 16^th after three-putting from the front of the green to give Muto Jr. a glimmer of hope, now 4-down heading to the 17^th tee.

After both players hit good drives down the right side of the fairway on the par-5, Wolniewicz hit a fairway metal onto the green while Muto Jr. hit his approach into the left greenside bunker.

Wolniewicz restored a 5-up advantage, his two-putt four good enough as Muto Jr. failed to get up and down from sand.

Muto Jr. hooked a drive left from the 18^th tee and was unable to reach the green, laying up to 95 yards in the fairway. His well-controlled pitch finished seven feet from the cup after Wolniewicz had hit onto the front portion of the green in two.

After Wolniewicz was conceded a short putt for par, Muto Jr. faced a downhill left-to-right putt to contain his deficit to five heading into lunch.

The ball slid by on the low side of the hole ensuring Wolniewicz took a 6-up lead after the morning 18.

There was an hour break for lunch and the match resumed at 12.15 p.m.

Posted by John Cronly, NYSGA Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- Tom Muto Jr. and Jeff Wolniewicz will contest the 86^th Men’s Amateur final Saturday, after they emerged victorious from two tight semifinals.

Muto Jr. was able to hold off a late charge from Buffalo’s Matt Stasiak, holing a 20-foot downhill putt to close with a birdie-4 on the 17^th and seal and 2 and 1 success.

Muto Jr. got off to a hot start, winning the first with a par before rolling in two lengthy birdie putts on holes three and four to move three up. Stasiak hit back with a birdie of his own on the par-5 6^th, before finding trouble off the tee on seven to go back to three down.

Muto Jr. then birdied the 9^th after a tee shot to four feet, making the turn at 4-up. The tenth was halved in par-4s and Stasiak missed a good opportunity to claw back, missing an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 11^th after a towering long-iron shot.

Stasiak won twelve to get back to 3-down, after Muto Jr. found trouble from the tee and hit his third shot into a hazard behind the green. Muto Jr. won the 13^th with a par after Stasiak hit his approach shot right of the green and was unable to get up and down.

At 4-down on the 14^th tee things were looking bleak for Stasiak, but he was able to dig deep and pull off an excellent tee shot to within four-feet of the cup on the par-3, his resulting birdie good enough to reduce the deficit to 3 holes.

Stasiak then made another birdie on the par-five 15^th, his chip for eagle narrowly sliding by the hole, but it was only good enough for a halve, as Muto Jr. also made four.

Sixteen saw Muto Jr. hit a 3-wood right off the tee, into a thick forest of trees, where he was unable to do better than 5, gifting the hole to Stasiak.

With Muto Jr. two up with two to play, both players split the fairway with their tee shots on the 500 yard par-5 17^th. Stasiak’s second shot came up just short, and right, of the green before Muto Jr. pulled his second shot into rough left of the green.

Muto Jr. then pitched on and holed a 20-foot birdie putt to close out the match before Stasiak had a chance at a putt for a four of his own.

“It feels good to have made the final but it was a tough match,” Muto Jr. said “I managed to get up early which was nice because I have been down on the front in some other matches.”

Stasiak was clearly disappointed to have lost out in the semifinals but was able to look positively at the week:

“He played really well on the front nine and made a lot of long putts, like I heard he had been doing all week,” Stasiak said. “I got sloppy on a couple of shots, too, and gave him a couple of holes. It’s been a good week for me though, and I think it’s going to give me confidence for the rest of the season and for college in the fall.”

Muto Jr.’s father has been caddying for him since the championship began and Muto Jr. said his father had been a big part of his run to the final. He has also been helping his son on his thought process before shots.

“Having my dad caddie for me this week, in this heat, has been a big help to me,” Muto Jr. said. “He just says ‘tempo’ before I’m about to hit a shot, so it keeps my mind on one simple thought, and not about my swing,” Muto Jr. said.

Muto Jr. said he has not played with, or against, Wolniewicz before, but is in no doubt that tomorrow’s final will be challenging.

“I don’t know Jeff. I don’t how he plays, but anyone who has gotten to this stage of the tournament must be a real good player,” Muto Jr. said. “I’m not going to change my plan for tomorrow. I’m making a lot of birdies right now and feeling good about my irons especially.”

Wolniewicz defeated 2005 champion Jim Scorse in another close match that finished on the 17^th hole. Wolniewicz was down in the entire match until the 15^th hole, where a birdie enabled him to take a 1-up lead.

“I think the turning point in the match was the 14^th hole,” Wolniewicz said. “When I holed my putt for par from off the green to tie the hole, that was a bit of a dagger in the heart for Jim.”

Scorse hit his tee shot to the par-3 up within a few feet of the hole, before it spun back down the slope to run off the green. Wolniewicz missed the green short with his tee shot and then watch his putt form off the green roll back down the slope and off the green close to where Scorse’s tee-shot finished.

Scorse chipped to within inches for a conceded three, before Wolniewicz rolled in his par attempt, up the hill, to halve the hole and keep the match all-square.

Wolniewicz went 1-up with his birdie on 15 before playing what he said was his best tee-to-green hole of the day. His wedge approach to the par-4 finished five feet from the hole, and he sunk the putt for a birdie to best Scorse’s par.

After Scorse hit his tee-shot to the par-5 17^th in the water, Wolniewicz was afforded the luxury of a par to seal and 3 and 2 victory.

“Jim played unbelievable all day and other than a 3-foot putt his missed for par on ten, he gave me nothing,” Wolniewicz said. “I think the experience of playing in the final two years ago will help me out tomorrow.”

Wolniewicz said he hopes to continue hitting plenty of fairways and greens as he has been doing all week to make his opponent beat him, and not give anything away.

“It’s still the same strategy for the final,” Wolniewicz said. “If I can hit the ball like I have been and hole some putts, then maybe things can go my way tomorrow.”

Wolniewicz had good friend Jamie Miller on the bag in the semifinal and said it was a big help to his game.

“It was nice to have someone there to talk about shots and how we want to play the holes, read the greens, that sort of thing. He’s going to help me out again tomorrow which will be great,” Wolniewicz said.

The 36-hole final will tee off at 7.30 a.m. with a break for lunch after the morning round.

Posted by John Cronly, NYSGA Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- Three college students and a seasoned veteran make up the field for the New York State Amateur Championship, after quarterfinals were completed Friday morning.

Thomas Muto Jr. of Sodus Bay Heights G.C. took out defending champion John Duthie 2 and 1 despite Duthie’s valiant attempt to battle back from 4 down with four to play.

Muto reeled off birdies on 11 and 13 to take a 3-up lead, which became 4-up after Duthie bogeyed the par-3 14^th.

Duthie then rose to the occasion by making two birdies of his own at the par-5 15^th and par-4 16^th, sinking a 20-foot putt from off the green to take the match to the 17^th.

“He really made a good come back there, especially that putt on 16,” Muto Jr. said. “You have to expect your opponent to make his putt in that situation, but still from that range when he does, it’s like, OK I’ve still got to battle this out.”

Duthie’s trophy defense came to end, however, after he was unable to get up and down from 40 yards short of the green on the par-5, Muto Jr. sinking a 4-foot par putt to close out the match.

“I was really pleased to come out on top against John,” Muto Jr. said. “He rarely makes bogeys and never lets up, plus he has won his last seven matches if you include last year’s championship, so he was on a great run.

Muto Jr., who will transfer to Barton College N.C. in the fall to play college golf, said he doesn’t know much about Stasiak, and their meeting in the semi-finals will be the first time they have played against each other.

Stasiak progressed to the semi-finals for the first time after a comfortable 4 and 2 victory over Jim Meuller.

“Jim was putting really well and putting some pressure on me, but I was able to get it around and make up and downs when I needed to, to win the match,” Stasiak said.

Stasiak recorded three birdies in the match and was level par for the 16 holes and said his confidence is high coming into the semi finals.

“It should be a good match, we are both playing well so it should be pretty close,” Stasiak said. “I know we were co-medalists in the state junior three years ago, but other than that I don’t know that much about him.”

2005 champion Jim Scorse sealed a place in another State Amateur semi-final after defeating Justin Deitz of the Edison Club 4 and 2.

Scorse, who is 43 and a storied campaigner in State and National level amateur events, will meet 2006 finalist Jeff Wolniewicz who defeated Chris Stoddard, winning 3 and 2 in the first of the quarterfinal matches.

Wolniewicz and Scorse will begin the semi-final matches at 12.00 p.m.

Posted by John Cronly, NYSGA Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- 2005 champion Jim Scorse survived an epic encounter with Teugega Country Club’s Matthew Campbell, with five extra holes needed to separate the pair in an exciting second round match.

The match came to the eighteenth all square, both players eventually missing par putts that would have earned victory.

“I was ready to pack up and go home after I missed that par putt on eighteen,” Scorse said. “I couldn’t believe he missed his considering all the putts he made early in the match.”

Scorse looked like the winner on the second extra hole, before Campbell holed a 25-foot par putt to extend the match.

Scorse was finally able to end the marathon battle with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 23^rd hole, refusing Campbell the opportunity to deny him with another long par save.

“It was such a tough match out there against Matt,” Scorse said. “He putted unbelievably, I think he one-putted the first seven greens this afternoon.”

Forty-three year old Scorse played a total of 39 holes today, winning his morning match 3 and 2. Relying on adrenalin and a hot dog he picked up after the turn in the morning round, the determined Scorse battled through.

“I’m pretty hungry, I need to get some solid food in me now,” Scorse said. “I don’t feel that tired to be honest, I went 25 holes once before in a U.S. Mid-Amateur match so I’ve been there before.”

Scores takes on Justin Deitz in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.

The first player to secure a place in the quarterfinals was Jeff Wolniewicz of Gowanda C.C. Wolniewicz took out NYSGA Junior Champ Dominic Bozzelli 3 and 2.

“I thought coming into the match I could put some pressure on Dominic if I hit a lot of fairways and greens, which for the most part I was able to do,” Wolniewicz said.

Wolniewicz birdied holes one and six on the front nine and took command of the match, gaining a 2-up lead by the 15^th tee.

Both players then hit the short par-5 in two with Wolniewicz draining a 35-foot putt for eagle, as Bozzelli looked on in dismay.

“That putt was huge for the match,” said Wolniewicz. “Dominic is such a good player that I knew I couldn’t give him a chance to get back in it.”

Bozzelli then narrowly missed a birdie putt on 16 to extend the match, sending Wolniewicz into the last eight.

“There’s a long way to go still, I just need to keep doing what I’m doing, hitting my driver in the fairways and make some putts,” Wolniewicz said.

Wolniewicz, a graduate student at Binghamton University, is matched up against Christ Stoddard in the quarterfinals, Stoddard taking out Bradley Roche 3 and 2 in their second round clash.

Another exciting round-of -16 match saw Matt Stasiak outlast Mid-Amateur champion John Vaccaro in another overtime contest.

Stasiak was eventually able to emerge the winner on the 21^st hole, in a match where neither player was more than 1-up at any time.

“It was back and forth the whole way,” Stasiak said. “I birdied 17 to go one up and then I hit a couple of bad shots and ended up making bogey on 18 so we went to extra holes.”

Both players pared the first two holes of sudden-death before a bogey from Vaccaro on the third finally broke the deadlock.

“I played John three years ago in the round of 32 in this championship, which I won in 19 holes,” Stasiak said. “I knew he was going to be a tough competitor, he gets out of trouble and gets up and down so well.”

Stasiak is up against 49-year-old Jim Mueller of Orchard Creek G.C., who is the oldest competitor left in the draw.

“I don’t know anything about Jim, but I’m sure it will be a good match” Stasiak said. “I’m going to get out here early tomorrow and try and get my ball striking to where it was earlier today and I should be all set to go.”

Defending champion John Duthie and no.2 seed Thomas Muto Jr., round out the eight players for tomorrow’s quarterfinals winning 3 and 1 and 1-up respectively.

Wolniewicz and Stoddard will be the first match up at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow.

By John Cronly

NYSGA Communications Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- The top three seeds and the defending champion all progressed to the round of 16 after some exciting play in the first round of the NYSGA Men’s Amateur Championship.

No. 1 seed, and NYSGA Junior champion, Dominic Bozzelli, was the first to book his place in the last 16, with a 2 and 1 victory over Tyler Phillips of The Brookwoods C.C.

“It was a tough match. I was 2-down after seven but I knew I had to stay patient out there,” Bozzelli said. “It was frustrating at the beginning of the front nine as every time I managed to square the match, I would go 1-down again.”

Bozzelli then sprang into life with birdies at 13, 15, 16 and 17 to overturn Phillips, who survived a nerve-wracking playoff to make it into match play Wednesday evening.

“He played really well. The first time I took the lead in the match was after the 16^th,” Bozzelli said. “I’m hitting the ball well and feeling confident for this afternoon.”

Defending champion John Duthie of Robert Trent Jones G.C. also made it through to round 2 with a 3 and 1 success over Andrew Frank.

I played well today, but so did Andrew,” Duthie said. “I think I was a couple under for the match and I hit it pretty well. I missed a few shots out there this morning but overall I’m happy with my game.”

Duthie’s next opponent is 48-year-old Don Enga who plays at the Cherry Valley Club.

“I don’t know anything about Don,” Duthie said. “I don’t think I’ve heard his name before so I don’t really know what to expect coming into this afternoon’s match.”

Enga won his first round match against Jordan Keshler 3 and 2. Enga was seeded 10 for match play after rounds of 72 and 74 in qualifying.

Yesterday’s comeback-kid Chris Stoddard of Moon Brook C.C., was another to advance to the round of 16 with a 3 and 2 victory over J.P. Kircher.

Stoddard posted an opening round 80 in qualifying before a resurgent 69 on Wednesday saw him qualify as the no. 24 seed for match play.

Stoddard said the match was of a very high standard, with several holes being halved in birdies and was pleased to come through the first round.

“We both played well. I don’t think bogey won a hole the entire match,” Stoddard said. “I was probably one or 2-under for the round.”

Stoddard said his putting was the key to his win and hopes he can continue his good form into this afternoon’s second round match against Bradley Roche of Huntington C.C.

“I’m just going to try and keep the ball in play out there. You have to take chances in match play so I’m going to stay aggressive and see what happens,” Stoddard said.

The last player to secure a place in the final 16 was Nick Feinberg who plays at the Country Club of Troy. Feinberg survived his match with Paul Pratico which went all the way to the 18^th.

“I think I had 13 or 14 pars today,” Feinberg said. “I was +2 for the match and although I didn’t make many birdies, I was patient out there when it was easy to get frustrated.”

Feinberg attended St. Andrews university in Scotland where he captained the golf team his senior year.

“I learned so much from playing links golf,” Feinberg said. “You have to learn to play so many different shots, bump and runs and that kind of thing, it’s completely different to here at Pinehaven.”

He will face Jim Mueller in the second round and is confident that if he can tidy his game up a little bit there’s no reason why he can’t advance to the quarterfinals.

“I’m going to stay aggressive out there, but I need to hit some more fairways this afternoon if I want to win again,” Feinberg said. “I think if I do that and hole a few more birdie putts, then I’ll be set.”

Feinberg and Mueller’s match will tee off at 2.10 p.m. and is the last of the eight afternoon matches.

posted by John Cronly,  NYSGA Communications Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- Current State Junior champion Dominic Bozzelli, Miami of Ohio RedHawk Matthew Stasiak and Thomas Muto Jr., of Sodus Bay Heights G.C., finished co-medallists after qualifying for the 86^th NYSGA Men’s Amateur Championship concluded today.

Bozzelli was 4-under for the round heading to the seventh, his 16^th hole, before bogeying there and following it with a double-bogey on the eighth. A closing par resulted in a second consecutive round of 70 with a total of 140.

“I started on the back nine today and played really well,” Bozzelli said. “I was a little disappointed with the finish, but it was still a good round.”

Yesterday’s leader Matthew Stasiak fired a two-over-par 73 to join Bozzelli on a 140 aggregate. The Miami of Ohio student lacked the brilliance of yesterday, but said he just wanted to do enough to make match play.

“I think the course was playing a couple of shots tougher today with the greens firming up,” Stasiak said. “I’m getting more comfortable on the course all the time. I’m not going to change my game plan for match play tomorrow.”

Muto Jr. said his long game was consistent over the two days and is not worried about the expectation of being considered one of the favorites for match play.

“I hit the tee-ball really well again today and I’m confident with my game,” Muto Jr. said. “I was able to overpower a lot of the par-5s and take advantage out there. I’m confident going into match play and if I can get a few more putts to drop, I’ll be in good shape.”

A random draw took place to determine the top three seeds from the co-medallists, with Bozzelli taking the one seed and Muto Jr. and Stasiak seeds two and three respectively.

With many of the scores up from yesterday, early predictions of a cut around 148 or 149 were squashed as many of the players who posted 75 or better Tuesday struggled.

There were 29 players at 149 or better after all scores were turned in and four players tied at 150. With only 32 players eligible for match play the four tied at 150 had to playoff for the remaining three spots.

Jim Gifford, Kevin Kaye, Josh Robinson and Tyler Phillips headed to the 1^st tee for a sudden-death playoff.

Kaye and Gifford both hit the fairway from the tee and made a par and birdie respectively to secure the 30 and 31 seeds for match play.

Robinson and Phillips, on the other hand, both made bogey after spraying their drives and were unable to reach the green in regulation.

The pair then made their way to the 18^th where Gifford drove into the left rough before Robinson blocked a drive right of the fairway, just feet from being out-of-bounds.

Robinson punched out of the trees but was unable to do better than a double bogey six. Phillips then had the luxury of two putts from ten feet to secure the last spot in match play.

“My hands were shaking there on that last hole,” Phillips said. “I missed a one-footer in my second round earlier today to miss automatic qualification, so it eases the pain of that a little bit. I’m relieved to have made match play and I’m looking forward to it.”

Defending champion John Duthie fired a level-par 71 today for a two-round total of 145. Duthie was pleased with his performance and feels his game is coming around just in time for match play.

“I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. You are able to free up a bit more once you don’t have to worry about making a cut anymore,” Duthie said.

The first match will tee off at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow with no.1 seed Bozzelli taking on no.32 seed Phillips.

Posted by John Cronly, NYSGA Communications Intern

Pinehaven C.C.- On another morning full of sunshine, Pinehaven Country Club began to show its teeth with the warm, dry weather firming up the greens causing scores to rise compared to day one.

Alex Park of Newman G.C. posted the lowest 36-hole total of those who teed off in the morning, recording rounds of 72 and 70 for a 142 aggregate.

Park, who will begin his junior year at Southern Mississippi University in the fall, said the key to his consistent scoring was his good play from tee to green.

“I hit the ball really well off the tee and hit a lot of greens. I just didn’t get any putts to drop,” Park said.

Park was one of several golfers to question the sanity of some of the pin selections for the second day of qualifying.

“I thought the pins were pretty ridiculous out there,” Park said. “I had a lot of wedges into greens but it’s hard to get it close when they (the pins) are tucked away like that.”

Park intends to work on his wedge game in preparation for match play tomorrow where he feels he can improve his game further.

“I’m going to spend some time on the wedges. I really need to start hitting them closer if I want to make more birdies out there.”

The round of the morning wave belonged to Justin Deitz of the Edison Club, who shot a 68. Deitz improved from an opening round 78 to record the second lowest 18-hole score of qualifying so far.

“I really didn’t hit a lot of greens out there. I think hit three yesterday and maybe six today,” Deitz said. “I did get up and down a lot and putted really well though, which kept things going.”

Deitz, 18, graduated from high school earlier in the year and will begin college at Siena University this fall.

Deitz said he hoped to improve his ball striking in preparation for match play, to compliment his confidence with the putter.

“I need to hit more greens out there,” Deitz said. “I feel like once I get the putter in my hands I can knock it in.”

Although Deitz’s 10-shot improvement from day one to day two was commendable, the biggest turnaround-story of the morning was Chris Stoddard of Moon Brook C.C.

Stoddard recovered from a disastrous 80 in the first round, to post a 69 today for a 36-hole total of 149.

In a round that included four birdies and two bogeys, Stoddard said that yesterday’s experience was the key to playing better today.

“I had never played at Pinehaven before the practice round,” Stoddard said “I find it hard to take it serious in practice rounds at the best of times, so I learned a lot more from playing in competition yesterday.”

Stoddard recently finished his freshman year at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y., where he played in every tournament on the golf team and recorded a stroke average of 75.

Unless the afternoon scores are exceptionally low, Stoddard’s score should secure him a berth into match play.

“You know we’ll wait and see what happens this afternoon. My plan for match play is to play the course, not necessarily my opponent,” Stoddard said. “It’s playing so hard out there now that par is always going to be a good score.”

With half of the competitors finished with the 36-hole qualifier, there are 14 players at 150 or lower and 19 at, or under, 151.

The afternoon should make for interesting viewing as the top 32 players who will contest match play are identified.

A substantial number of today’s afternoon players posted scores of 73, 74 and 75 yesterday, so the likelihood of a large playoff later this evening is high.

With increasing temperatures and wind picking up for the afternoon players, the course will show no mercy to those ‘on the bubble,’ trying to close out their rounds.

written by NYSGA Intern John Cronly

Pinehaven C.C.- Sunny, benign conditions greeted the 156 golfers who began qualifying today for the 86^th New York State Men’s Amateur Championship.

Despite weather conditions that remained ideal all day, the cream of New York State’s male golfers struggled on the 6,496 yard, par-71 course in Guilderland, N.Y., as only one player was able to break 70.

Matthew Stasiak, 19, who just finished his freshman year at Miami of Ohio University, shot a four-under-par 67, which included holing an approach shot of 140 yards for an eagle at the par-4 seventh.

“I really hit the ball well. I think I only missed two fairways for the round,” Stasiak said. “Seven was a bonus, I was 140 out and I flew it right in the hole. Overall, I was really consistent from tee to green and made some good putts.”

Stasiak, who plays at the Fox Valley Club in Buffalo, said he has been struggling with his game in recent months, but things clicked in today.

“I’ve been working really hard at my game the past few weeks and I feel like things are starting to turn around now,” Stasiak said.

Judging by his round today, which trounced the rest of the field by at least three shots, it’s coming around just fine.

Two players are tied for second place after posting rounds of 70: Dominic Bozzelli and Ray Neuman.

Bozzelli, the current New York State Junior champion, fired his 1-under-par score in the morning wave, birdieing each of the three par-5s.

The Locust Hill golfer rallied, after some early bogeys, to set himself up for a chance to grab one of the top seeds for match play.

“I played the par-5s well…I’m just going to come out tomorrow and try and shoot around par, so I can get ready for match play,” Bozzelli said.

Neuman was the only player with an afternoon tee time to break par. His 1-under-par total included a chip-in birdie from 15 yards short of the 18^th green, exciting the patrons gathered on and around the clubhouse patio.

“I really held the short game together out there,” Neuman said. “I holed a lot of five and six-footers and chipped really well.”

Neuman, who stands six-feet-six-inches tall, is a member of Shelridge Golf Club, Buffalo, and was runner up in the NYSGA Mid-Amateur in 2006.

Thomas Muto Jr., Raman Luthra, Jim Scorse, Kevin Vandenberg and Jake Katz all shot rounds of level-par 71 for a share of fourth.

There are 40 players at 74 or better and 26 at or under 73. A second round of qualifying will take place tomorrow, with 32 players advancing to match play. Any ties will be broken by a sudden death playoff.

NYSGA Executive Dir. Bill Moore said the first day of the Men’s Amateur had gone to plan:  “I thought we set it up tough, but fair today,” Moore said.  “Stasiak had to really earn his 67 and the scores are right where I want them after day one.  It should be an exciting day tomorrow, it’s set up for a shoot-out.”

Pinehaven C.C.- Nineteen-year-old Matthew Stasiak leads the New York State Men’s Amateur after the morning scores were recorded at Pinehaven Country Club.

With sunny skies and very little wind for most of the morning, Stasiak shot a four-under-par 67 around a very challenging set up on the Guilderland course.

Although morning conditions were conducive to good scoring, slick greens and some tightly tucked pins proved difficult for the majority of the field.

“I actually didn’t start off too well, bogeying the first,” Stasiak said. Then I birdied the second and holed out for eagle on 7 from around 140 yards, which got things back on track,”

Stasiak, 19, who just finished his freshman year at Miami of Ohio University, shot the lowest score of the morning competitors by three strokes.

“For the most part I just tried to hit as many fairways as possible. That really is the key to playing this course well,” Stasiak said.

Stasiak has only played in the Men’s Amateur on one previous occasion, three years ago, and feels that a steady performance tomorrow should see him comfortably into match play.

“I’m just going to come out and stick to the same plan for tomorrow and see how it goes,” Stasiak said.

The only other round under par of the morning competitors belonged to current New York State Junior Champion, Dominic Bozzelli.

Bozzelli fired a one-under-par 70, a round which included making birdie on each of the three par-5s.

“I made a couple of bad bogeys on the front nine today,” Bozzelli said. “I played the par-5s well though and I’m just going to come out tomorrow and try and shoot around par, so I can get ready for match play.”

Three players managed to negotiate the 6,496-yard layout in level-par in the morning: Thomas Muto Jr., Raman Luthra and Jim Scorse.

Several players voiced their concerns about the tree that guards the 12^th green, and it’s overbearing influence on playing the hole.

“I wish I had a chain-saw to cut that tree down,” Muto Jr. said. “I tried to lay back far enough so I could hit over it, but from 135 (yards) I was blocked out and had no shot. I’m just going to bash driver up there tomorrow and take my chances from there.

Of the 78 competitors who teed of in the morning wave, 31 players were at 75 or better.

32 players will advance to match play after 36 holes of qualifying, which will conclude on Wednesday.