Pinehaven Country Club Will Host '08 New York State Golf Association Men's Amateur Championship
 
By Mike Dyer
 
GUILDERLAND, Jan. 10....Surprise. In a stunning move today the New York State Golf Association reported it will hold its much ballyhooed men's amateur championship at Pinehaven Country Club this summer.

The par-71, 6,366-yard Pinehaven course was last used in 2002 to host the state's women's championship. The men's amateur tournament was contested at Pinehaven in 1998.
Pinehaven hosts the big event July 15-19.

Additionally, the NYSGA will hold its men's seniors championship at Normanside Country Club, Delmar, Sept. 9-11.

No Capital District golfer has won the State Am since Town of Colonie's Jay Gunning took the crown in 1986.

Pinehaven should be a key course for Pinehaven members Bryan Bigley and Robby Bigley.
In 2007 18-year-old John Duthie of Lansing won the state crown.

Golfers who represented the Capital District for the State Am included the Bigley brothers; Jon-Michael Socaris (Colonie CC); James Nero (Burden Lake); Aaron AuBuchon (Saratoga National); Chris Braman (Town of Colonie); Justin Deitz and Jim Gifford (The Edison Club); Jim Welch (Winding Brook); Jim Cocca (Shaker Ridge); and Jim Mueller (Orchard Creek). Only Country Club of Troy's Nick Feinberg and Amsterdam's Dan Russo made it to match play in '07.

The State Am was held at Country Club of Troy in 2006 and David Mooradian (Troy) finished eighth.