NYSGA News

On October 16, the New York State Golf Association announced Richard Dorgan as its 38^th President. The association started the officer system in 1923 and has continued the tradition over its rich 86-year history. View Photos

Dorgan first became affiliated with the organization in large part because of peer pressure from fellow committee members and good friends Jack Donovan and Michael LaBue. These three individuals grew up together in Rochester, where their friendships started. However, they continue to spend time together these days in a combined effort to promote amateur golf throughout New York State as a result of a conversation over drinks one night in 1989.

Donovan and LaBue pressured Dorgan to join the association and become involved with advocating the game of golf. Dorgan, who became a member at the Country Club of Ontario (Brookwoods) at the same time as Donovan, always shared a passion in the rules aspect of the game and decided to officially join the committee that night prior to the Fall Meeting.

He wasted no time in contributing to the association as he helped the NYSGA land a site for the 1992 Junior/Boys Championship. The association learned in 1991 that Normanside could no longer host the Junior/Boys Championship so Dorgan went to the president of the board at his current home course, Albany C.C., and requested that they host the event. Albany C.C. ultimately accepted the bid and the event played out from August 4^th – 6^th.

Despite his tireless devotion to amateur golf, Dorgan never worked his way through the ranks of officers with the intention of becoming president until he was assured he could handle the commitment. He served two terms as second vice president from 1994-1998 and moved up to the first vice president spot from 1998-2001.

Upon his retirement in 2005, Dorgan decided to resume his commitment to the association as second vice president for a two-year term. In 2007, Dorgan became first vice president for a second time. As of last Friday, Dorgan attained the position of president and looks forward to a challenging, yet gratifying experience.

Dorgan, a Slingerlands resident, worked as a locomotive engineer in Albany until September 1, 2005, which marked his retirement. He replaces Janet Reiner, who served her two-year term from 2007-2009.

Former NYSGA president and life-long Syracuse native, John Sherlock, was honored into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009 at the 23^rd annual induction ceremony on Monday. View Class of 2009

The Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame was established to recognize outstanding sports figures from the Syracuse region. John ‘s exemplary efforts in officiating high-school basketball and steadfast devotion to amateur golf in the state of New York have been enshrined in the Syracuse Hall of Fame’s exhibit and will be forever preserved throughout the Central New York region.

Currently, John serves on the Executive Committee of the NYSGA but he has played an integral role in shaping amateur golf over the years. He was president of the Syracuse District Golf Association for ten years and was twice elected president of the New York State Golf Association (1991-1993 & 2001-2003).

John is also known for his contributions to the game of basketball in the Syracuse area. The reputable referee was president of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) from 1974-75. Five years later, he became assigner of officials which he managed up until this past year. John, a founding member of the Zebra Classic, was also named a recipient of the Al Distaola Silver Whistle Award.

In addition to the Hall of Fame’s requisites of notable sporting achievements, John has bestowed good character throughout his endeavors which has helped to bring positive recognition to basketball and golf in the state of New York.

John was a graduate of the Christian Brothers Academy in 1946 and LeMoyne College in 1952.

The New York State Golf Association would like to announce the eleven scholarship recipients for the 2009-2010 academic year. This year, the annual awards remain at $1,500 each, bringing the total scholarship presentations to $16,500.

Benjamin Abbate – Ashville, NY

Nicholas Augustyniak– Lakeview, NY

Adam Baj – Buffalo, NY

Thomas D’Amato – Clyde, NY

Aidan Graven – Owego, NY

Robert Jorgensen – New Hartford, NY

Richard Martel – Hampton Bays, NY

Dineen Notman – Syracuse, NY

Corey Quick – Canastota, NY

Mike Wesko – Endicott, NY

Bryan Springer* – New Hartford, NY

* Bryan Springer is the Bill Arliss Scholarship winner for the fourth consecutive academic year. This award is funded by the NYSGA and the Arliss family in memory of their son, Billy.

The New York State Golf Association would like to express their sincere gratitude to all for their generous donations to the Scholarship Fund. These donations will help the NYSGA continue its strong commitment to New York residents who are enrolled in specific two or four year programs related to attaining a career in the industry of golf management.

College/University programs such as Agronomy, Turf Grass Management, Professional Golf and Country Club Management or other related programs are recognized under the NYSGA Scholarship Fund. In addition, we also support New York State residents who elect to pursue such programs in out-of-state Colleges or Universities.

Additional contributions will help the NYSGA Scholarship Committee as we begin to aggressively solicit additional scholarship funding from clubs, individuals and corporate sources to expand the scope and impact of our scholarship awards.

Scholarship applications for the upcoming year will be available at www.nysga.org. Qualified applicants should contact the NYSGA Office with any questions regarding the application process. The deadline for submitting an application for the 2010-2011 academic year will be May 15, 2010.

For further information concerning the NYSGA Scholarship Program please e-mail us or contact Mr. Henry W. Fust, Scholarship Chairperson, 5784 Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, NY 13214 or Mr. Bill Moore, NYSGA Executive Director, P.O. Box 15333, Syracuse, NY 13215-0333.

On September 25, three New York residents (Bill Moore, John Vaccaro, and Christopher O’Keefe) all convened at Glens Falls Country Club for the 26^th playing of the state Mid-Amateur championship. Moore fulfilled his duties as Executive Director of the state championship, while Vaccaro and O’Keefe were present as competitors.

One week later, those same three individuals could be found in South Carolina at two of the Kiawah Island Club’s prestigious courses, the Cassique and the River Course, as they competed this time in a Mid-Amateur championship on the national platform.

On the first day of stroke play qualifying Tim Spitz, of Rochester, carded the lowest round of any NY player in the opening round with a 2-over-par 73. He re Tim Spitz, of Rochester, carded the lowest round of any NY player in the event. Curree 1998. Eleven years ago Moore qualifposted another 73 on Sunday to place 29^th amongst the field of 64 for match play. Meanwhile, Vaccaro shot a 77-78 over the course of the two days while O’Keefe registered totals of 81-78. Moore carded an 81 on both days for a two-day total of 162. The cut after 36 holes of stroke play fell at 150, where nine individuals played-off for three spots.

Moore and Vaccaro each qualified at the Country Club of Troy on the first of September. The 35-year-old Syracuse resident Moore fired a 1-under-par 70 in the qualifier to earn his first bid into a USGA Championship since 1998 when he competed in the U.S. Amateur.

In match play, Spitz has steamrolled through five matches to become a finalist in the championship. Weather conditions impeded the first round of match play so competition was suspended until Tuesday which started match play for all 64 competitors. Spitz began his run through match play on Tuesday with a 1 up victory over Nevada resident Kevin Marsh. Later that day, he defeated Derek Berg, of Washington, in a match that he never trailed to reach the round of 16.

Spitz added two more victories to land a spot in the semifinals. He eliminated Florida resident Danny Germaine with his most comfortable victory yet, a 3 & 2 win which assured him a quarterfinalist spot. That same afternoon, Spitz squeaked by Tripp Davis, of Norman, Oklahoma, in a match that needed two extra holes to declare a victor.

In the semifinals, Spitz remained 1 down after the first nine holes. However, he put the pressure on Patrick Carter, of West Virginia, by winning Nos. 11, 13, and 16 to collect a 3 & 2 victory.

In the 36-hole finale, Spitz lost to Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh, PA, 7 and 6. In the morning eighteen holes, he was unable to win a hole.  A key turning point in the morning 18 was the par-3 fifth hole where Spitz’s tee shot went into the hole and rebounded out for a conceded birdie. However, Smith delivered a 35-foot birdie putt from the fringe to halve the hole and remain 3 up. Spitz said that “without a doubt”, making the final is his biggest golf accomplishment.

Submitted by Kevin Solan

NYSGA Media Intern

Six-time NYSGA champion Christy Schultz breezed through competition at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur en route to a quarterfinal finish from the Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club in Ocala, Florida. Schultz set a new personal best in winning three matches to finish as one of the top eight performers in the event; thus earning an exemption into the 2010 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at the Wichita Country Club (Kansas).

Over the past few years, Schultz has experienced success in the stroke play qualifying rounds that precede the match play format for the top 64 qualifiers. In 2008, Schultz placed 19^th after two rounds of qualifying at the Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan. However, for the second straight year, she failed to win a match in the opening round of match play.

That would all change in Schultz’s third campaign as she reversed her fortune for the better this time. She tallied a 36-hole qualifying score of 156 which included a pair of 6-over-par 78’s each day. From there, Schultz fittingly began her match play run by knocking out Jill Hardy (Canada), who ousted Schultz in the first round of match play last year. Her revenge against Hardy came in the form of an impressive 7 & 6 opening match victory on Monday. In Tuesday’s round of 32, Schultz eliminated one of the low medalists, Jennifer Lucas (Knoxville, Tenn.), with another match that was set in cruise control as she led 5 up by the time they made the turn. She officially defeated Lucas after the 14^th hole, which she took to go 5 up with four to play. Schultz’s third match took place later that afternoon amid hot, humid conditions against next year’s Curtis Cup captain Noreen Mohler. The 2009 women’s state mid-amateur champion, Schultz, faced uncharted waters in the early going of her match against Mohler as she trailed for the first time in match play. However, the resilient Rochester resident rallied from her two-hole deficit at the fourth to being all square by the eighth. She took the lead for the first time after winning the 10^th hole and built her lead to 3 up at the end of the 16^th to seal the match.

Schultz battled a tightly contested quarterfinal match against Augusta, Georgia’s Laura Coble on Wednesday morning. Coble held a close lead for most of the match that fluctuated between one and two holes. Schultz trailed by as many as four holes at the end of the 13^th, but won the 14^th, halved the 15^th, and took the 16^th to put her in striking distance with two holes to play. Yet, Coble’s par to Schultz’s bogey gave the current finalist Coble the 3 & 1 victory.

“Overall, I would have to say that this has been one of the highlights of my career thus far,” says Schultz.  “To compete against some of the best players in the country and make it all the way to the quarterfinals is a great accomplishment.”

Submitted by Kevin Solan

NYSGA Media Intern