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Russo Team Knocks in 4 Birdies, Eagle to Win 10th Annual Stadium Golf Title
By Mike Dyer
SCHENECTADY, May 4....As they approached the 18th green Sunday, Amsterdam's Dan Russo and Johnstown's Bill Sullivan had one goal: Make a birdie.
They had no idea how close they were to winning the 10th annual Stadium 2-Man Invitational at cold and blustery Stadium Golf Club.
The 50-year-old Russo did even better than a birdie. Russo eagled the par-5, 505-yard 18th hole.
That was more than enough as Russo and Sullivan, 39, carved out a 36-hole total of 128 and won the Invitational by 4 strokes over runners-up John Vaccaro of Wolferts Roost Country Club and Chuck Connolly of Hiland Golf Club.
It was the first Stadium win ever for Russo, who has won 5 Tri-County Golf Association titles and a pair of Troy Invitationals.
A Le Moyne College graduate and member of Rolling Hills Country Club, Sullivan helped out with a pair of birdies on the front nine. In a bogey-free round, they had 4 birdies and the eagle.
Vaccaro, 51, and Connolly, 63, birdied the 4th, 5th, 15th and 18th holes en route to a 67 on Sunday.
Tied with scores of 133 were Country Club of Troy's Chris David and David Arakelian; defending Saratoga County champion Aaron AuBuchon (Saratoga Golf & Polo) and 5-time Schenectady champ Jim Mueller (Orchard Creek); and Robby Bigley (Pinehaven) and Shaker Ridge Country Club assistant superintendent Todd Czepiel.
Best round of the day -- 66-- was posted by Shaker Ridge's Justin McCarthy and Kevin Cassidy.
Here are the final day leaders:
STADIUM GOLF CLUB (Par 71)
Russo-Sullivan 66-128; Vaccaro-Connolly 67-132; David-Arakelian 69-133; AuBuchon-Mueller 67-133; Bigley-Czepiel 70-133; Wander-Winchester 67-134; Bennett-Gifford 68-134; Brescia-Reeves 69-134; Cassidy-McCarthy 66-135; DeGenero-Bielawa 67-135; Gillespie-Trunzo 68-135; McCarroll-Courtney 69-135; Bessette-Braman 67-135; Bunkoff-Cole 75-136; Assman-Giambacurta 70-136; Welch-Pallas 72-137; Bruda-Carrk 73-137; Gennarelli-Stranahan 73-137; Bayus-Kilmer 71-138; Guzielek-Skoda 72-138; Hemmerlich-Almy 70-138; Wasserbach-Gangemi 71-138; Zilka-Zilka 71-139; Roe-Vignone 71-139; Cooney-Ireland 70-140; Grignon-Doring 72-140; Saccocio-Moore 72-140.
Russo-Sullivan Duo Cards 62 in Opening Round of Stadium Two-Man Invitational
By Mike Dyer
SCHENECTADY, May 3....Opening day for amateur golfers and Amsterdam's Dan Russo came out swinging Saturday. Russo and Rolling Hills Country Club teammate Bill Sullivan carded seven birdies and an eagle for a 9-under-par 62 in the opening round of the 10th annual Stadium Two-Man Invitational at Stadium Golf Club.
The 50-year-old Russo, 5-time Tri-County Golf Association champion and two-time Troy Invitational winner, knocked in six birdies on the front nine and the pair had a 29 after nine holes. Sullivan birdied one hole on the back and blasted a 180-yard shot with a 5-iron for an eagle on the 18th hole.
Leaders after the opening day Saturday were Selkirk's Adam Bunkoff and New York City's Matt Cole. They had a 61. The finals are scheduled for Sunday with the leaders going off at 10 a.m.
Robby Bigley of Pinehaven Country Club, champ last year with his brother Bryan, posted a 63 on Saturday with Shaker Ridge Country Club assistant superintendent Todd Czepiel.
Tied with 64s were the teams of Chris David and David Arakelian, both of Country Club of Troy; and Sycamore Country Club's Bob Bruda and Skip Carrk.
Here are the leaders after Saturday's opening day results:
STADIUM GOLF CLUB (Par 71)
Adam Bunkoff-Matt Cole 61; Dan Russo-Bill Sullivan 62; Robby Bigley-Todd Czepiel 63; Chris David-David Arakelian 64; Bob Bruda-Skip Carrk 64; Jim Welch-Dave Pallas 65; Mike Drake-Ron Cohen 65; John Vaccaro-Chuck Connolly 65; Jim Mueller-Aaron AuBuchon 66; Fred Guzielek-Ed Skoda 66; Andy Bennett-Mike Gifford 66; Bill Assman-Chris Gambacurta 66; Mike McCarroll-Mike Courtney 66; Matt Clarke-Tim Flanigan 67; Steve Williams-Spencer Abbott 67; Eric Waserbach-Andy Gangemi 67; Keith Gillespie-Mike Trunzo 67; Jerry Wander-Earl Winchester 67; Mike Bayus-Doug Kilmer 67; Dave Ahl-Tony Quenelle 68; Zeke Zilka-Tim Zilka 68; George Roe-Dan Vignone 68; Mike Saccocio-Stan Moore 68; Kip Kirby-Josh Kirby 68; Dave DeGenero-Cody Bielawa 68; Ken Bessette-Chris Braman 68.
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