Men's Golf News
Gifford Leaps into Early Lead, Beats Bigley for Tri-County Championship
By Mike Dyer
VOORHEESVILLE, May 11....Turning point came on the 10th hole Sunday as Siena College junior Jim Gifford won the 28th annual Tri-County Golf Association Match Play Championship.
His opponent was on the green in two and Gifford, a member of The Edison Club, needed something big to keep his charge alive. Gifford knocked in a 30-foot birdie to go 2-up over former Schenectady County champion Robby Bigley of Pinehaven Country Club.
Gifford would go on to a 4-and-3 victory over Bigley for the championship at sun-drenched Colonie Golf & Country Club.
"That birdie on the 10th hole was a definite momentum shot," Gifford said. "Before it I was mumbling, 'that's not an easy shot.' "
Gifford, a graduate of Shenendehowa High School and the 2006 Saratoga County champ, went on a tear and won the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th holes for a 4-up lead. The advantage was 5-up after another birdie on the par-5 13th hole.
Bigley threaded a 20-foot putt for birdie on 14 but Gifford clinched his title by halving the 15th hole with a bogey.
"This is one of my best days ever," Gifford said. "I won a U.S. Open regional spot in 2006 and won the Saratoga title then. But this is against the best amateurs from a lot of counties."
In the seniors championship, Glenmont's Mark Russ (Sycamore Country Club) defeated Hiland Golf Club's Chuck Connolly, 1-up.
Russ, an Ohio native, is 51. Connolly, retired Queensbury High School coach, is 63.
Here are Sunday's final results:
COLONIE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
(Par 72)
Open Division:
Semi-Finals:Jim Gifford def. Dan Russo, 3 and 2; Robby Bigley def. Bob Gennarelli, 2 and 1.
Finals:
Gifford def. Bigley, 4 and 3.
Seniors Division:
Semi-Finals: Mark Russ def. Al Stranahan, 4 and 3; Chuck Connolly def. Bob Cooper, 3 and 2.
Finals:
Russ def. Connolly, 1-up.
Bigley, Russo Closing in on Winning Tri-County Golf Association Championship
By Mike Dyer
VOORHEESVILLE, May 10 -- Robby Bigley makes it very clear. He isn't here at Colonie Golf & Country Club to lose.
The 24-year-old Siena College graduate would like to win his first Tri-County Golf Association championship.
That could come Sunday.
Bigley carved out two big victories Saturday and is now one win away this morning from making it to the finals for the second time in three years.
Joining Bigley in the Final Four for today's last day of competition are Siena College junior Jim Gifford (The Edison Club); five-time Tri-County champion Dan Russo (Antlers Golf Club) and unheralded Bob Gennarelli (Capital Hills at Albany).
One of them will be crowned champion in the 28th annual Tri-County championship this afternoon.
"Winning is always the goal," Bigley said Saturday. "This tournament is a good tuneup for the State Am."
A member of Pinehaven Country Club, Bigley figures to play a prominent part in the State Am at Pinehaven in July.
Saturday, Bigley trimmed Schuyler Meadows Club champion David Hayes, 5 and 3; and then held off lefty Jon-Michael Socaris, 19 holes, 1-up, to gain a spot in this morning's semi-finals.
In the triumph over Hayes, Bigley took the lead for good on the 10th hole. He was 3-up after posting birdies on the ninth and 10th holes at the par-72, 6,981-yard Colonie layout.
Socaris beat defending Saratoga County champion Aaron AuBuchon, 1-up, in the early match.
Russo, 50, was the most impressive victor. Winner of last weekend's Stadium Invitational, Russo breezed past former Colonie club champion Tom Robinson, 6 and 5; and then held off upset-minded Shenendehowa High School senior Justin Deitz, 4 and 3. The 18-year-old Deitz (Edison Club) upset two-time defending Tri-County champion Jimmy Welch, 2 and 1.
Jim Gifford, 21, shaded his father Mike, 49, in the quarter-finals. Young Gifford toppled Capital Hills' John Lawrence, 2 and 1, and Jim Gifford, Edison Club president, outlasted Friday's medalist Mike McCarroll, 3 and 2.
Bob Gennarelli, a Binghamton native playing in the Tri-County for the first time, was pleased after eliminating Watervliet native Jim Cocca (Shaker Ridge Country Club), 2 and 1, and then beating Chad Stoffer of The Edison Club, 1-up. Stoffer tripped Orchard Creek Golf Club's Jim Mueller.
Here are Saturday's results:
COLONIE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
(Par 72)
Opening Round
Mike Gifford def. Mike McCarroll, 3 and 2; Jim Gifford def. John Lawrence, 2 and 1; Dan Russo def. Tom Robinson, 6 and 5; Justin Deitz def. Jim Welch, 2 and 1; Jon-Michael Socaris def. Aaron AuBuchon, 1-up; Robby Bigley def. David Hayes, 5 and 3; Chad Stoffer def. Jim Mueller, 1-up 19 holes; Bob Gennarelli def. Jim Cocca, 2 and 1.
Quarter-Finals:
Jim Gifford def. Mike Gifford, 1-up; Bigley def. Socaris, 1-up 19 holes; Russo def. Deitz, 4 and 3; Gennarelli def. Stoffer, 1-up.
Father and Son Advance to Second Round of Tri-County Golf Championship
By Mike Dyer
VOOHEESVILLE, May 9...It was a real "hit and run" play for Siena College junior Jim Gifford Friday.
The 21-year-old Clifton Park resident carded a 3-over-par 75 and qualified for the second round of the 28th annual Tri-County Golf Association match play championship. Then the Edison Club member bolted Colonie Golf & Country Club and dashed for Siena where he had final exams in accounting and business administration.
Gifford, a former Saratoga County amateur champion, will be joined by his father Mike, president of The Edison Club and a graduate of University of Miami (Fla.).
The top 16 golfers advance for 2 rounds of match play Saturday. The finals will be held Sunday at Colonie.
Mike McCarroll of The Edison Club was medalist with a 72. Tied with 73s were defending Saratoga County champion Aaron AuBuchon (Saratoga Golf & Polo Club) and five-time Schenectady County champ Jim Mueller (Orchard Creek Golf Club).
Two-time defending TCGA champion Jimmy Welch (Winding Brook Country Club) returns to defend his title.
Others in the field of 16 include Shenendehowa High senior Justin Deitz of Halfmoon; 5-time Tri-County champ Dan Russo of Antlers; Shaker Ridge CC lefty Jim Cocca; David Hayes of Schuyler Meadows Club; and Pinehaven Country Club's Robby Bigley.
Others are Capital Hills at Albany's threesome of Bob Gennarelli, Jon-Michael Socaris and John Lawrence; Chad Stoffer of The Edison Club; and Tom Robinson of Colonie.
Here are Friday's results:
COLONIE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
(Par 72)
Mike McCarroll 72; Jim Mueller 73; Aaron AuBuchon 73; Justin Deitz 74; Dan Russo 74; Jim Cocca 75; David Hayes 75; John Lawrence 75; Jim Gifford 75; Bob Gennarelli 76; Jim Welch 76; Rob Bigley 76; Mike Gifford 77; Jon-Michael Socaris 77; Chad Stoffer 77; Tom Robinson 77.
Failed to Qualify: Steve Owens 77; John Vaccaro 78; Dave Mooradian 78; Mike Wheeler 79; Nick Braman 79; Jeff Pachter 79; Kevin Cassidy 80; Greg Bennett 80; Eric Wasserbach 80; John Bogardus 81; Chris Gambacurta 81; John Andrews 82; Tim Zilka 82; T.J. Hesnor 82; David Fizer 82; Andrew Marler 82; John Mendrysa 83; Chris Lyons 84; Dave Arakelian 84; Jake Spitalny 84; Peter Spitalny 87; Neil Manasse 87; Clark Smith 89; Bill Burrill 90; David Huestis 91.
Seniors:
Al Stranahan 72; Bob Cooper 72; Chuck Connolly 75; Mark Russ 77; Bill Moll 77; John Donovan 77; Ralph Maru 78; Bob Jordan 78.
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