OUR FANTASY GUY FANTASIZES
By Timothy S. Wyld

Steve Stricker started this season as the USA’s highest-ranked player and solidified that standing with his season opening victory at Kapalua. Speaking of World Rankings, does anyone believe Martin Kaymer deserves to be ahead of Stricker? Perhaps that will change soon. Stricker has won seven PGA Tour events since 2009, more than any other PGA Tour member.

Prediction #1: Stricker wins multiple events in 2012 and Martin Kaymer falls from the top-five in the World Golf Rankings.

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Chris DeForest courtesy: Reuters

DEFOREST: “I’M DEFINITELY NOT SATISFIED”
By John Craig

In a week when the top awards are given out on the top tour in the world, a Capital Area player is enjoying Las Vegas, getting set for the holidays and then packing for South America.

Click here to listen to our exclusive interview with Chris DeForest.

Chris DeForest of Cottekill, NY, who graduated from Rondout Valley H.S. in 2007, says he’s not satisfied with how the final stage of Qualifying School turned out to earn his spot on the PGA Tour but he will make the most of his opportunity on the Nationwide Tour.

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Image courtesy: wrongfairway.com

PRO PROSPECT’S STORY TOLD ON “TWITTER”

Editor’s Note: Siena Alumnus Bryan Bigley, who grew up in the Capital Area, is chasing his dream to make the PGA Tour. We at Capitalareagolf.com are backing him and hearing from him from time-to-time as he works and plays his way to the top. This year, he’s already Monday qualified for a PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.

Additionally, he’s written some terrific first-hand accounts of his quest. Recently, we looked at his Twittter postings as he prepared for – and then made it through – Stage One of Qualifying School. It gives you a great timeline of the year. Enjoy and we hope it helps you understand his story and that you will support Bryan further.

On Twitter: Reach Bryan at @bryanbigley of Charlotte, NC. As described, he’s a “Professional golfer chasing my dream of playing on the PGA Tour.”

May 14
BB: My first tweet. Wonder if I’ll get any followers.
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MOVING ON TO STAGE TWO

Capitalareagolf.com blogger Bryan Bigley, a Siena College graduate, just finished T12 at PGA Tour Qualifying School.
This past weekend, Bigley finished up Stage One in Charlotte at Irish Creek and “had a pretty good week,” he wrote.

Bigley shot 68-71-70-69 to finish 6-under, two shots clear of the cut line. Second stage is in mid-November but he will not know where he will be assigned to go until November 1.

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WINS CHALLENGE CUP MATCHES, 28-8

Three pairs of NENY PGA Professionals shut out their opponents from the CNY PGA on Thursday to take back the annual Challenge Cup at Colonie Golf & Country Club. Host pros had a big hand in the win.

The 28-8 win by the NENY PGA Professionals Thursday, Oct. 13, snapped a string of two straight losses to the CNY PGA Professionals.

The trophy will now be housed in the NENY PGA office and the NENY PGA Professionals now hold an 8-5-1 overall margin over the CNY Professionals.

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Normanside CC Assistant Scott Berliner had the 2011 NENY PGA season in the bag

POY, APOY, SR. POY, VARDON AVG.

Two assistant golf pros in the Northeastern New York PGA Section are atop both the 2011 Player of the Year and Assistant Player of the Year lists. Normanside Country Club’s Scott Berliner ran away with multiple wins this year, and still has a national assistant tournament next month in Florida.

For Player of the Year, Berliner topped Ian Breen of Colonie Golf & Country Club by 922 points, 2,435 to 1,513. Bob Mucha, head pro at Greenock Country Club in Lee, MA, was third with 1,477.25 points.

All four lists are below.

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Scott Berliner just keeps winning and winning and winning...

BERLINER OVER BREEN IN POINTS CHALLENGE

Shooting a three-under-par 68 at the CC of Troy on Tuesday, Oct. 11, Normanside Country Club assistant Scott Berliner further solidified his dominance of the Northeastern New York PGA section. Berliner, 36, won the section’s Points Challenge by two strokes over Ian Breen of Colonie Golf & Country Club.

Berliner (36-32) earned $442.75 for the win plus three skins (holes #1, #12 & #17). Breen (36-34) earned $280 plus $14.25 for a skins’ win at hole #7.

Greenock Country Club’s head pro Bob Mucha (37-35) was third at CC of Troy, four back of Berliner, and took $190 and $14.25 for a skin at hole #4. Read the rest of this entry »

KIRK HANEFELD BIRDIES TO WIN

ALDIE, VA (AP) – Kirk Hanefeld of Acton, Massachusetts, birdied the final hole to win by one-stroke on Sunday. Hanefeld won the Senior PGA Professional National Championship for the second time in four years.

Click here for more coverage from the PGA of America and a photo of the award handed to Hanefeld by the Secretary of the PGA of America, Derek Sprague, from the NENY PGA and the head pro at Malone Golf Club.

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Chuck Connolly of Hiland GC and Dave Benedict of Brook-Lea CC are champs in Binghamton. Photo courtesy: NYSGA

BENEDICT HOLDS ON FOR SENIOR TITLE

After winning both last year, Queensbury’s Chuck Connolly has half as much this year and twice as much anxiety. His 80 on the final day gave him a 54-hole score of 234 to sneak out a one stroke victory. He finished ten strokes off the Senior division, tied for seventh.

“It was a picture of anxiety,” Connolly said laughing. “If they had a camera and took my picture they could put it in the dictionary right next to the word ‘anxiety’. I couldn’t calm myself down.”

The double-defending champion has now won three Senior Championships and two Super Senior Championships. John Baker, who shot a 77 and had a 54-hole score of 235, was second in the Super Senior Division.

It came on a day where scores were down at Vestal Hills Country Club after a wet and windy day two. The final round of the Men’s Senior and Super Senior Championship saw both Connolly and Dave Benedict of Gates, NY, just west of Rochester, protect 36-hole leads and take home championships in their respective divisions.

Click here for full coverage and final leaderboards.

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Chuck Connolly is atop the Super Senior board and in contention for the Senior Division too.

QUEENSBURY MAINSTAY LOOKS TO DEFEND TITLE

While the Senior leaderboard shuffles on day two, Queensbury’s Chuck Connolly, the defending champion of the Super-Seniors, shot 75 to make a move to the top at the New York State Golf Association’s annual event. Connolly (Hiland GC) leads that division and sits tied for sixth in the Senior Divison, seven strokes back.

Meantime, Latham’s Jimmy Cocca, who sat just one shot back in the Senior Division, fell off the pace with an 86. The man in front of him, Frank Plata (Cazenovia CC) shot 83.

Click here to see complete leaderboards. The tournament concludes Thursday, Oct. 6.

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