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August 15, 2016

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IN THIS ISSUE:

2016 RDGA Junior Champions Crowned at Clifton Springs
Mendon GC to host the 2016 RDGA Senior Championship
Starkweather Wins 2016 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship
Celebrate Women's Golf at the RDGA Women's Open!
Scorse Medals at U.S. Mid Amateur Championship qualifier
Three RDGA Play Days Scheduled for Early Fall
ForeSight Junior Tournament Scheduled for August 20

2016 RDGA JUNIOR CHAMPIONS

CROWNED AT CLIFTON SPRINGS

Six different champions were crowned at the 2016 RDGA Junior Championships at Clifton Springs Country Club on August 4, including (clockwise from top left): Jason Lohwater (Junior Boys), Graham Gaenzle (Sub Junior Boys), Noah Barravecchia (Pee Wee Boys), Julia Zigrossi (Pee Wee Girls), Kahlan Vanschaffel (Sub Junior Girls) and Lena Kaufman (Junior Girls).

The 2016 RDGA Junior Championships were hosted by Clifton Springs Country Club on August 2-4, with final match play rounds in the Junior Boys and Sub Junior Boys Championships ; and stroke play rounds for Junior Girls, Sub Junior Girls and Pee Wee Boys and Girls .

Winning the overall RDGA Junior Boys title (ages 15-17) was Jason Lohwater of Locust Hill who defeated Jack Bailey by a 2-and-1 decision in Thursday morning's championship match.

In the RDGA Sub Junior Boys Championship (12-14), Graham Gaenzle of the Country Club of Rochester defeated Adam Tata of Oak Hill, 3-and-1 in the championship final to win the title.

In the RDGA Junior Girls Championship (15-17) - which featured 36 holes of stroke play competition over two days - Lena Kaufman of Locust Hill claimed first place with rounds of 75-76--151.

In the RDGA Sub Junior Girls Championship (12-14) - which featured 27 holes of stroke play competition over three days - Kahlan Vanschaffel of Blue Heron Hills won the title with scores of 45-53-51 for a 149 total.

In the RDGA Pee Wee Boys Championship (7-11) - which featured 18 holes of stroke play over two days - Noah Barravecchia of Mill Creek won the title with scores of 42-42--84.

And, in the RDGA Pee Wee Girls Championship (7-11) - which featured 18 holes of stroke play over two days - Julia Zigrossi of Ridgemont, won the title with scores of 45-48--93.

A special thanks to Clifton Springs Country Club head PGA Professional Michael Basch, along with the staff and members for their hospitality to the RDGA and Junior Championship competitors all week.

For complete scoring from the RDGA Junior Championships, CLICK HERE .

MENDON GOLF CLUB to HOST
2016 RDGA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

One of the Rochester area's best kept secrets - the beautifully-maintained Mendon Golf Club - hosts the 2016 RDGA Senior Championship on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24 and 25.

One of the longest-running annual championships on the RDGA calendar, the RDGA Senior Championship is a two-day, 36-hole stroke play championship open to all amateur male golfers age 55 and over (as of the beginning of each year's competition) who are members in good standing at an RDGA club. All contestants must have a RDGA/USGA Handicap Index supplied by the RDGA .

There are four separate age divisions in which RDGA Senior Championship contestants will be competing: Seniors (ages 55 to 59), Super Senior (ages 60 to 64), Masters (ages 65 to 69), and Legends (ages 70-plus). The Seniors and Super Seniors will be playing from the Blue Tees (6,645 yards), while the Masters will play from the White Tees (6,369 yards), and the Legends will play from the Gold Tees (5,707 yards). The overall 2015 RDGA Senior Champion will be the low scorer among Senior and Super Senior competitors .

The $135 entry fee for this RDGA major championship includes:

36 Holes of golf on one of the Rochester area's top private golf clubs
Use of the practice facilities and golf cart each day
Lunch each day
An outstanding tee gift
Prizes to the top finishers in each division
An hors d'oeuvre reception following the final round - guests of the contestants are welcome!

In addition to prizes and trophies for the overall Senior champion and runner-up, the top three overall finishers playing from the Blue Tees (Seniors and Super Seniors) will receive exemptions into the 2017 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Memorial!

Click on the button below for more information, including how to register:

Join us for one of the RDGA's original major championships -

the RDGA Senior Championship!

STARKWEATHER WINS SECOND

RDGA MID AMATEUR TITLE

RDGA tournament official Michael Sorce, left, and Jason Starkweather, center, present the RDGA Mid Amateur Championship trophy to Ken Starkweather, right at Chili Country Club on August 13..

Ridgemont's Ken Starkweather captured his second career RDGA Mid Amateur Championship at Chili Country Club on August 13 in a competition that was shortened from 36 to 27 holes as a result of two 50-minute delays due to weather in the final day of the tournament.

In the second round, the field completed just 9 holes to conclude the Championship play resumed at 5 p.m. following the second weather delay of the day.

Starkweather, who also won the District Mid Am in 2008, won the 2016 RDGA Mid Am title after shooting 2-over-par 38 for 9 holes in the final round to finish the Championship at 3-over-par 111.

Finishing in the runner-up position for the second consecutive year was Dr. Jim Mason of Oak Hill. Mason had a 38 in the second round to finish 2 shots behind Starkweather at 5-over 113. Len Perno , the first round leader, posted a 42 on Saturday for a 114 total to finish in third place.

Each of the top three finishers also earned exemptions into the 2017 RDGA District Championship.

One of the RDGA's annual major championships, the District Mid Amateur is open to top male amateurs age 25 or above.

Many thanks to Vince & Ann Pompa, Mario & Piero Gatti and all the staff at Chili Country Club for their hospitality!

CLICK HERE for the complete RDGA Mid Amateur Championship leaderboard.

CELEBRATE WOMEN'S GOLF in ROCHESTER

PLAY IN THE 2016 RDGA WOMEN'S OPEN!

The third annual RDGA Women's Open , scheduled Monday, August 29, will be hosted by historic Brook-Lea Country Club in Gates - the same course that recently welcomed some of the top young women tour professionals from around the world for the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic , part of the LPGA's Symetra Tour . Play the course the pros played!

A 12:30 p.m. shotgun start on August 29 is planned for this year's RDGA Women's Open. The format is 18-hole stroke play - net 100% handicap - with flights determined by the handicap spread of the entries. Golfers will compete against women of similar ability.

Among the special features of this year's Women's Open:

Trophies will be awarded to the Overall Low Gross and Overall Low Net tournament winners for display in their home clubs for the next year.
Our special guests this year are a quartet of women who've been leaders of women's associations dedicated to furthering opportunities for women and golf
NEW THIS YEAR - To facilitate pace of play, golfers will have the option to select from two sets of tees from which to play: the RDGA Tees, set at 5,382 yards, OR the Green Tees, set at 4,563 yards.

An entry fee of $100 for the 2016 RDGA Women's Open includes:

A unique tee gift
18 holes of golf at Brook-Lea, with use of the practice range and cart
A box lunch provided before the 12:30 pm shotgun start
An amazing post-tournament dinner - contestants are welcome to bring a guest!
A Savvy Girl Golf Signature Golf Purse will be awarded to the winner of the RDGA Women's Open
Multiple flights, based on 100-percent USGA-GHIN Handicaps, with prizes awarded to the top third of the field in the form of gift certificates from the Brook-Lea Pro Shop. You can do your shopping after dinner or place a special order!

The RDGA Women's Open was conceived by women with the goal of providing a venue for women golfers of all levels to come together and celebrate our love for the game. This year promises to be the best year yet!

Click on the button below for more information, including how to register:

Join us for the RDGA Women's Open -

and help us celebrate women's golf in Rochester!

Jim Scorse of Stafford Country Club, left, is congratulated by USGA official Rich Johnson after finishing as medalist in the U.S. Mid Amateur Sectional Qualifier at Irondequoit Country Club on Monday, August 8.

IRONDEQUOIT HOSTS U.S. MID AM QUALIFIER

On Monday, August 8, a field of 42 golfers competed for two qualifying positions and two alternate spots at the 2016 U.S. Mid Amateur Sectional Qualifier hosted by Irondequoit Country Club .

Winning medalist honors - as well as the first qualifying position for the U.S. Mid Amateur - was Churchville's Jim Scorse , posting a score of 2-under-par 70.

Two players - Buffalo's Billy Hanes and Fairport's Adam Condello - tied for second place with scores of 1-under-par 71. Following a 1-hole sudden death playoff to determine the second qualifier for the National Championship, Hanes beat out Condello with a par 4 on the first hole to earn the second spot.

Condello became the first alternate to the National Mid Amateur Championship by virtue of his playoff loss to Hanes. The second alternate position went to David Lang of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who finished in a tie for fourth place at even-par 72.

The two qualifiers from Monday's Local Qualifier now advance to the 2016 U.S. Mid Amateur Championship - for players age 25 and over - hosted by Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pa., on September 10-15, 2016.

One of the new events added to the RDGA Play Day schedule for this Fall is Midvale Country Club, above, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 3 .

FALL PLAY DAY SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The RDGA has announced a complete schedule of Play Day events set for this fall - including two new Play Days just added to the 2016 RDGA tournament calendar!

Already set for Monday, September 26, is an RDGA Play Day at historic Brook-Lea Country Club - designed by noted golf course architect Donald Ross and host of many RDGA tournaments, including this year's Women's Open on August 29.

Added to the Brook-Lea Play Day are two new events - the first at Mendon Golf Club on Monday, September 19; the second at Midvale Country Club on Monday, October 3.

RDGA Play Days are designed to be a fun, yet competitive day for golfers of all ability levels. Registration for these events includes use of the club's practice facility; a cart and 18 holes of stroke play at 100-percent handicap; as well as prizes by flight and hors d'ouvres after the tournament. Contestants are welcome to request pairing in foursomes with friends who are also registered to play. Flights include Men's White Tees, Men's Gold Tees and Women; prizes will be awarded to approximately the top third of the field in each flight, in the form of Pro Shop gift certificates at the host club.

Registration for all three RDGA Fall Play Day events is now open! Click on the links below for more information, as well as how to sign up to play.

CLICK HERE for registration information about the RDGA Play Day at Mendon Golf Club , Monday, Sept. 19 .

CLICK HERE for registration information about the RDGA Play Day at Brook-Lea Country Club , Monday, Sept. 26 .

CLICK HERE for registration information about the RDGA Play Day at Midvale Country Club , Monday, Oct. 3.

It's Here!

A new edition of Golf Week is ready to read.

In this week's issue: Jim Furyk Sets a PGA Tour Record with 58, Earns Payne Stewart Award; Local golfer Scorse wins U.S. Mid Amateur qualifier; Russell Knox wins the Travelers Championship in style; and Olympics, Olympics, Olympics!

Read these stories and more at golfweekrochester.com .

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IMPORTANT DATES

August 19, 2016

Interdistrict Junior Championship - Geneva CC.

August 20, 2016:
ForeSight Golf Tournament - Genesee Valley GC.

August 21, 2016:
Registration closes for RDGA Senior Championship.

August 22, 2016:

Registration closes for RDGA Women's Open.
August 24-25, 2016:
RDGA Senior Championship at Mendon GC.

August 29, 2016:
RDGA Women's Open - Brook-Lea CC.

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