Hagestad, McArdell, & Hobika to represent New York at 2016 USGA State Team

September 28, 2016

Birmingham, AL- The State Team Championship is a biennial team championship started in 1995 for amateur golfers from all 50 states as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Since 2010, the Men’s State Team has been played in even-numbered years, and the Women’s State Team has been played in odd-numbered years. USGA designated that state and regional golf associations may use any criteria they wish to select the 3 amateur players to represent their state. All amateur, non-collegiate, golfers are eligible to play. There is no age requirement.

Related: Scoring | USGA State Team Website

The 2016 USGA Men’s State Team Championship will take place at The Country Club of Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama September 28-30, 2016. The course consists of two eighteen hole Donald Ross designs built in 1926 after relocating from the club’s original home in North Birmingham. The championship will take place on the West Course.

The championship is a 54-hole, 3-day stroke play event. After each 18 hole round, the teams two lowest scores count towards the team score for the day. The 3 round total is the teams score for the championship.

The 2016 NYS Men’s State Team consists of Stewart Hagstead, Tyler McArdell, and Luke Hobika.

Stewart Hagstead - The 25-year-old moved from California to New York, NY in 2014 and has dominated the Metropolitan area ever since.  The former USC golfer placed 2nd in the 2015 Ike Championship at Friars Head, and made the semi-final matches at the 2015 Met Amateur. Recently, Hagstead won the U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Stonewall in Emerson, PA just weeks after winning the 114th Met Amateur at Fairfield Country Club in Fairfield, CT.

Tyler McArdell - The 26-year-old Baldwinsville native is the Pro Shop Manager at Timberbanks Golf Club. He attended and player golf at St. John Fisher College in Rochester from 2008-2011.  McArdell won the 2016 NYS Men’s Amateur Championship at Mohawk Golf Club in Niskayuna and placed 3rd in the 2016 New York State Open Championship at Bethpage Black.

Luke Hobika - The 48-year-old Dewitt native is a member of Calvary Golf Club. Hobika has been a dominant amateur player in Central New York for years. His most recent victories include the 2015 NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wolferts Roost in Albany, and the 60th Post Standard Amateur played at Cazenovia Country Club and Tuscarora Golf Club. The Post Standard Amateur is one of the biggest amateur events in Central New York.

Nicolette Darois - USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern