RETURN TO WELLS FARGO

Rotterdam’s Bryan Bigley, 27, will be in the last group on Thursday off the 10th tee at 2:25 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, May 3. On Friday, May 4, he will tee off of #1 at 9:00 a.m.

So, while on the driving range and waiting for a new Cleveland driver fit with a special shaft to be brought to him by an equipment rep, he answered his iPhone and spoke with CapitalAreaGolf for a few minutes on Wednesday.

Click here to listen to BRYANBIGLEY.

For the second straight year, Bigley survived a Thursday pre-qualifier and a Monday qualifier to get into the field of the prestigious PGA Tour event. He shot a 64 on Monday, April 30.

The Wells Fargo Championship has a purse of $6.5 million on a par-72, 7,469-yard course.

LAST YEAR

Last year, the Siena graduate, who won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year, shot 78-76 in the first two rounds and missed the cut but had a contingent of fans from family who flew down and members of the Raintree Country Club he works at in North Carolina, who came to follow him.

Even Golf Channel showcased him a couple of times during its coverage, and the Charlotte Observer’s Ron Green Jr. wrote about his groundskeeper-to-player story. This year Bigley hopes that storyline will be trumped by one of making the cut.

It prompted him to ask for further donations to chase his dream, something he wrote about here at CapitalAreaGolf.com.

Bigley, a former two-time Schenectady County Amateur Champion, shot a 66 last year to tie three others for the final spot on the Monday qualifier and survived with birdies on the first two extra holes. One of those players to earn a spot last year, Kyle Thompson, will be in his threesome this Thursday and Friday and even sent Bigley a Twitter shout-out.

THIS YEAR

Bigley is playing with Thompson and Billy Hurley III. Hurley earned his PGA Tour card this season by finishing 25th on the Nationwide Tour last year. Thompson has three Nationwide Tour victories and played the PGA Tour in 2008 and 2011.

In a practice round Tuesday, Bigley said he played with Tour veterans D.J. Trahan, James Driscoll, Chris DiMarco and Jonathan Byrd and will have Todd Montoya caddie for him. Montoya is the former caddie for Billy Mayfair.

Bigley is a Schalmont H.S. graduate who also won the CRAGA Stroke Play championship when he set the Wolferts Roost Country Club course record.

If you want to see him up close, he’ll play at McGregor Links CC in Wilton on May 14 in the local U.S. Open qualifier.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House of Representatives has voted to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on golfing great Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus, 72, was cited for his golfing achievements, including a record 18 major championships, and his humanitarian work. Nicklaus heads the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and has raised more than $12 million to support pediatric health services.

Nicklaus jokes that he can’t remember what happened yesterday, yet he’s never forgotten what it was like to hit the most famous shots of his illustrious career – his 1-iron. On Monday, April 16, at a charity luncheon affiliated with his upcoming Memorial Tournament, Nicklaus said he’s never lost the feel of the 1-iron that he hit off the pin to take the 1972 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, or the 5-iron at #16 that helped him win the 1986 Masters.

Even though he no longer plays much golf he said it remains a lot of fun that he can readily summon how it felt to strike some of the signature shots in the game.

The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to prominent military leaders, public servants, athletes and artists. It was last given in 2010 to Japanese-American World War II veterans. Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., sponsored the bill.

Nicklaus golfing contemporary Arnold Palmer received the award in 2009. The legislation now goes to the Senate for a vote. Once approved there, it will go to President Obama, an avid golfer himself.

OUR FANTASY GUY FANTASIZES

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.

Will 2012 be the year the long-toothed Tiger makes his return as King of the Jungle? Can it happen with Sean Foley as his swing coach? The component, in my opinion, that will decide Tiger’s 2012 fate is his putter. The putts that fell when he ruled the jungle were worthy of a godlike figure. If he can rekindle that old magic with the flat stick, a victory in 2012 on the PGA Tour is a definite possibility.

Prediction #2: Tiger wins a PGA Tour event in 2012, but only one.

The Masters is viewed by more people that don’t play golf regularly than any other annual event. It has always been a place that is not very accessible to the common man which is in stark contrast to the socially acceptable norms US politicians have espoused. It is fulfilling to me when someone out of the norm or offbeat wins at Augusta. This has nothing to do with my political affiliation; it is something that appeals to the rebel inside of me that isn’t often quelled.

Prediction #3: an American wins unexpectedly at Augusta in 2012. Ben Crane would fit the profile I’m looking for but he needs to climb five spots in the World Golf Rankings to qualify. Tommy Gainey would be another “offbeat” winner, but his World Golf ranking would have to improve by 45 spots. I’ll settle for a win by Bubba Watson or Aaron Baddeley, followed by a nationally-televised interview where they give credit for their victory to God. Tebow move over…

SPECIAL DELIVERY?

The FedEx Cup race begins anew in 2012.  Frankly, I think it’s a pretty good format for a PGA Tour playoff scenario. The money, however, that goes to the winner is a bit obscene to many. There are famous PGA Tour veterans with numerous victories whose combined career earnings fall far short of one FedEx Cup title payout.

Prediction #4: Tim Finchem and FedEx institute a PC policy and politely ask PGA television announcers to downplay the prize for winning the FedEx Cup.  Eventually, the prize turns into a lifetime pension annuity with a deferred payout beginning at the player’s 60th birthday, which lessens the popularity of the chase for the players.

FIRST WIN?

Who will garner his first PGA Tour victory in 2012? We have a slew of eligible members to choose from but some would be more popular than others. If Rickie Fowler would get his hair “groomed” my wife might enjoy his first victory. As it stands now, she grimaces every time they show him on TV. Jason Kokrak, the Canadian who earned his card via the Nationwide Tour, would flame some interest from the hockey fans north of the border. Certainly some non-American pro, perhaps Alvaro Quiros, will breakthrough given their dominance of the current game.

Prediction #5: three US Tour rookies win for the first time in 2012 and reestablish the “US minor league systems” as a credible way to turn professional.

TO SUM UP…

We have quite an assortment of predictions above, some easier to measure come year end than others. This column can’t be complete however without predicting the four Major winners in 2012. It’s such a hard thing to get correct I have no fear that my predictions will be any worse than the self acclaimed PGA Tour experts, so here goes:

Masters: Tiger Woods – his 2012 victory!

U.S. Open: Driving accuracy wins it for Bo Van Pelt.

British Open: How about Henrik Stenson? Why not?

PGA Championship: Matt Kuchar puts his name on a major trophy.

Perhaps the best bet on these predictions will be this: nothing written here will come to pass in 2012. After all, the promise tomorrow holds is the unknown!

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.

“I played pretty good the last two days,” he tells capitalareagolf.com. “Unfortunately, I didn’t finish where I wanted to. It was just kind of a tough week, tough conditions on half the days and I’m glad that I battled back and climbed up the leaderboard a little bit.”

DeForest finished PGA Tour Q-school with a 2-under-par 70 and ended with a 1-under (431), tying for 82nd place at PGA West in LaQuinta, CA (7,266 yards, par-72) on Monday, Dec. 5. As a result, he will have conditional status on the Nationwide Tour in 2012.

It was his first run at Q-School and he’s already setting goals of three wins in the minor leagues to get him to the big leagues. He says his first event next year will be March 3-6 at the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open Presented by Samsung at the Country Club de Bogota, Bogota, Colombia in the northern part of South America. It carries a purse of $600,000.

“I’m not happy with where I finished but it could have been worse and I kind of just have to take it and move on,” he said in a phone interview. “And hopefully [I’ll] play well at the beginning of next year when I get the starts on the Nationwide Tour.”

DeForest says the ultimate goal is the PGA Tour Card and to eventually win on the biggest stage. In 2011, he played in the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, CT and the U.S. Open but missed the cut in both events.
He called them “learning opportunities” and said besides the clubs in his bag, he has a new “measuring stick.”

In the Final Stage of Q-School, he shot himself out in the first two rounds with scores of 74-74 (par was 72). Then he followed it up with 67-76-70.

But he only missed by seven shots which just proves how tough that is.

“That kind of was bummer,” he quipped.

Also tied for 82 (-1): Martin Flores (69-78-69-74-71-70), John Chin (73-69-74-69-73-73), Matt Davidson (68-75-67-77-70-74), Wes Roach (71-75-67-71-73-74), Steve Allan (71-74-69-74-74-69), Alex Coe (73-68-72-76-71-71), Tom Hoge (73-73-76-70-66-73), Troy Merritt (70-69-74-77-68-73), Peter Tomasulo (72-74-74-71-67-73), Bronson La’Cassie (76-76-67-68-71-73).

He added that he had his “C-game…I didn’t play my best and I only missed by seven.”

Right after the event, he tweeted: “Not a bad first run at q school. disappoint but looking forward to this upcoming year.”

DeForest’s score was one shot better than Shaun Micheel and one shot from David Duval.

In the second stage of Q-School, DeForest began his day four strokes from the projected cut at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, FL. He started his back nine with three straight birdies, seven overall, and shot a 67 (-5) for a four-round total of 284 (-6) which tied him for 14th place, inside the top 22 who advanced.

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.
Reply: @bryanbigley is one step closer to the PGA Tour by starting his twitter page.

Bryan Bigley's Twitter Picture

June 18
Guess I gotta get a pic up here

July 19
Last night at the beach. 100×100 going well for Q-school.

July 22
…wishing I were up at Saratoga

July 24
Greenbrier qualifier in AM. Git ‘er done.

July 25
345 wake up call. It’s about the journey.

July 28
-[shot] 67. Missed qualifying for Greenbrier in 6 for 1 playoff. Back to the grind. Tune up for Greensboro and Q-school.
-[shot] 28 on back 9 today. Let bird get away on 17 or it would’ve been 9 in a row

July 29
Up to 83 people for 100×100. Thanks for the support in helping me get to Q-school everyone.

July 31
Relaxing Sunday of watching golf all day. Switched back to last year’s Titleist Pro-V1x golf balls.

Aug. 1
Good luck is created by hard work.

Aug. 4
Nothing like walk mowing greens when it’s already 80 degrees at 730 am.

Aug. 6
-I need more followers
-I’m never going to catch @stewartcink in number of followers at this rate.

Aug. 8
-I’ve run out of things to tweet about.
-Q-school entry sent in today- but can still get out of it with a magical week in Greensboro.

Aug. 9
Up to 94 for my 100×100 Q-school effort. Thank you everyone who has helped!

Aug. 11
-Wyndham pre-qualifier today- probably going to put the old sonartech 3-wood in the bag
-[shot] 73 today but 4 over thru 6. Good regroup after that. Moving on to Monday.

Aug. 15
Sometimes you win…..and sometimes it’s just not your day. 71 at Wyndham qualifier. Just have Q-school to tune up for now.

Aug. 16
Going Super Stroke on my putter- inspired by Jason Duffner.

Aug. 18
-Played Carolina golf club yesterday- awesome shape. New putter grip feels pretty good. Look out Q-school
-It’s amazing how many dinners you can get from one box of spaghetti.

Aug. 22
Back to the grind of walk mowing greens- I need to play better golf.

Aug. 24
Fine-tuning the swing today with Randy Joyner.

Aug. 27
-Supposed to fly into Albany, NY tomorrow- wonder how that will work out.
-(sent note to PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, who is from Vermont) Congrats on your victory. Way to represent the northeast! Btw we played at quail [Hollow].

Sept. 1
Officially heading to Auburn, AL (not NY brad) for pre qual of Q-school.

Sept. 3
-2 hotdogs chips and a drink for $2. Love ikea
-Playing lesson at Ballantyne CC- let’s see how the swing change went.
-I highly recommend Randy Joyner to anyone wanting to improve their game- one of best pros I’ve interacted with. And he can play too.

Sept. 11
Off with the Super Stroke! Getting ready for Q-school- Alabama tomorrow.

Sept. 12
-The journey begins. On the way to Q-school stop number 1.
-A gallon of unleaded gas is 3.20 in South Carolina- what a difference.
-Just tried to check in at the hotel but they had lost my reservation….turns out it helps if you go to the right hotel
-Already walked 12 miles in 13 holes- this course was not designed with walkers in mind.
-Just finished up- long day! But luckily I picked an hour up by crossing into the central time zone!

Sept. 13
-(retweet from 9/9): “I can’t believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.” – Lou Holtz
-Hole 14 at Moores Mill Club- early morning practice round. It works for Tiger. Used to work for Tiger. http://yfrog.com/h7ps3axaj
-Checking out Cam Newton’s old home…. http://yfrog.com/gzgq8tauj
-Welcome to the new followers! I’m well on my way to the 100,000 followers I’m shooting for.

Sept. 14
-Here we go….round one.
-3 under 69. Played solid. Bermuda greens were tough to putt today.

Sept. 15
-Day 2. A beautiful day for golf. 9:20 tee time. In good position at t-6.
-What kind of MTD brings his big staff big to a pre-qualifier for his caddy to carry? Some people are unreal. Warm up felt great…here we go
-Long day- breezy and humid. But threw out a 68. Rocky start d. Bogey on 3 but good regroup with 6 birds on way in. In solo 2nd.
-Just a tweet to appease @bigs1029 [brother Rob] who doesn’t think I tweet enough.

Sept. 16
-Moving day went well yesterday- t6 to solo 2nd. Now it’s time to focus on getting a win.
-Round 3 in t-minus 10 minutes. Feel good today. Breezy and cool temps. Hopefully a good day lay ahead.

Sept. 17
-Moved the wrong way today with a 74. But an 8 didn’t help. Advanced to next stage. Got more competitive rounds under my belt.
-Not looking forward to a 5 plus hour drive home after a 6 hour round.
-Still tired from this week- but back to mowing greens in 25 min at the tree. Just hope it doesn’t rain.
-Correction- demotion to raking bunkers. Yea baby.
-Saturday- golf and football on a cool rainy day in Charlotte. Can’t wait for my new Titleist wedges to come!
-@KellyTilghmanGC thanks for the shout out during the Wells Fargo this year!
-”Rule 76: no excuses. Play like a champion.”

Sept. 18
Another day, another dollar.

Sept. 19
-Feels like NY out here today even though I’m 800 miles further south! Where is the sun?
-If I get 5 new followers on twitter everyday, it will only take just over 54 years to meet my goal of 100,000. Cmon everyone. Help. Retweet!

Sept. 20
-”when a defining moment comes along, you define the moment or the moment defines you” #tincup
-Johnny miller needs a twitter account

Sept. 21
-Now the rain stops and the sun comes out- after I finish my round. Up to the 518 in a few days.
-Back to Titleist wedges. Chyea baby.

Sept. 22
-Working in the rain is kind of like getting paid to take a shower.
-Well, that was certainly enjoyable.
-People who believe Tiger will never win again are crazy.

Sept. 23
-Charity golf tourney for Samaritans Feet. Nothing like a captains choice event to end the week on.
-19 under for team Raintree. Oh yea.

Sept. 24
Just learned the secret to putting and green reading. Look out.

Sept. 25
-Clt [Charlotte] Douglas airport awaiting plane on way back to NY for the week.
-Here we go……….
-Nothing like landing and then sitting at the gate on the plane for 45 min before getting off. Thanks #delta
-Wow. How good was that.

Sept. 26
-On vacation in NY…which really means work at 6 am at PCC [Pinehaven CC]. Golf needs to start producing results.
-Not cutting greens or raking bunkers! What a change from the last 4 years. Good to be back in NY and mowing TCA’s.
-Just got home made chocolate chip cookies. Yum.
-It looks like I have the chicken pox I just got bit by so many Mosquitos. But couple under with clubs I found in the basement.
-I went to tweet that in watching CSI Miami with my family and the dog started eating my sandwich. Good thing dogs mouths are clean!

Sept. 27
-Next stage in Q-school assignment: The Club at Irish Creek, Charlotte, NC. October 18-21.
-Congrats to my bro- hole in one number 5 tonite. Wow. Maybe he should be the one at Q-school.
-@ @bradmyatt @bigs1029 yes. He is pretty good.
-@ @bradmyatt @tigerwoods woulda been good blue collar addition. Media would have gone crazy. Superintendent on pres cup. Beats greens mowing

Sept. 28
-Day 3 of this vacation known as work. At least the weather is nice.
-Working in the rain…. Again.
-Another victory for the south on the links today. Back to Charlotte in a few days.

Sept. 30
-”If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
-Albany to Atlanta to Charlotte. And if all goes well back by 630 pm est.
-Don’t enjoy window seats- not much leg room if you are 6’4”.
-At least the guy who just sat down isn’t fat or smelly. Good karma.
-Back in Charlotte. Let the prep work for stage one Q-school begin. Though back to working the grounds at the local country club tomorrow

Oct. 1
Might use him as my new mascot http://yfrog.com/kkz5fmgj

Oct. 3
-Congrats to my bro @bigs1029, a HS teacher, and Todd Czepiel, an asst superintendent, on their victory in Haggerty 2 man over the weekend.
-Changing the wedge lineup from 54 and 60 to 52 and 56. Let’s see how This goes. Missing piece of the puzzle?

Oct. 4
-”Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
-Early practice round at Irish creek went well. Got a couple weeks to fine tune the game

Oct. 5
-What makes a golf course good?

Oct. 6
-“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

Oct. 8
Radio interview for Capital Area Golf finished up. Beautiful fall day

Listen to previous interview from May 10 interview on Capitalareagolf.com radio.

Oct. 10
Getting some early practice in today.

Oct. 13
-It takes 100 percent pure dedication.
-Lost it for a but last few days but range work and a tip from BL has me on right track.

Oct. 14
-Going to be a beautiful day. What separates good players from the great ones?
-6 birds an eagle 3 double bogeys 3 bogeys and two 3 putts. Weird round.

Oct. 15
-”In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.” – Miguel de Cervantes
-Had a pre tourney game meltdown turned around in 15 min with randy Joyner at ballantyne country club. Go see him if you want to get better

Oct. 16
Last day of greens mowing for a week. Q-school stage one round one starts Tuesday.

Oct. 17
-Pairings are in- 920 off number 1 in round one on Tuesday and 1030 off ten on Wednesday
-Hole 13 of practice round. Swing is starting to really feel good. Excited for the afternoon nap though.
-Chick Fil A is a good pre-tourney dinner. Of course topped with a large chocolate shake.

Oct. 18
-Here we go……
-3 under 68. T-9 after day 1. 54 holes left.

Oct. 19
-Day 2- perfect fall weather….for NY. Right up my alley. Too bad for all the soft southern  boys teeing it up.
-71. T-17. Bracing for 25-35 mph winds tomorrow

Oct. 20
-A good fall day for golf. Brings me back to college events. #get’erdone
-Holed out a wedge for eagle on number one today on way to shooting one under 70. T-15. In good position for tomorrow.

Oct. 21
-Another stage complete. Goal attained

Oct. 22
“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.” – Walt Disney

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.

“A big thanks to Don Livonius, my caddie for the week,” Bigley wrote, adding tongue-in-cheek: “Who would have thought that at the age of 128 he would have been able to walk and carry my bag for 72 holes through wind and rain?
“Thanks to everyone else for their continued support on my journey to reach the PGA Tour,” he said.

Earlier this summer, many from the Capital Area reached out – and in their wallets – to help answer Bigley’s plea for help to chase his dream. You can read that entry here.

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.

6-0 defeats: David Lis of Wolferts Roost CC & Nathan Kain of The Edison Club, both assistants, def. Kevin Savage (Timber Banks GC) & Mario Mason (Pools Brook Driving Range); Scott Berliner of Normanside CC & Paul Jaycox of Cobleskill G&CC def. Sean Dadey (Drumlins GC) & Alex Smith (Beaver Meadows GC); Frank Mellet, head pro at the host Colonie G&CC, & Glenn Davis, head pro at Albany CC, def. Stan Gorman (Pompey Club) & Rick Frederick (CNY PGA).

Other results include: Ian Breen & Kevin Cain of Colonie G&CC def. Bob Fuller (Seneca Falls CC) & Steve Aloi (Bellevue CC) 5-1; Todd Manderson (Ballston Spa CC) & Tom Oppedisano (McGregor Links CC) tied Mark Tucker (Cazenovia CC) & Trey Walewski (Kanon Valley CC) 3-3; Dustin Jones (Yahnundasis GC) & Alan Seamans (CNY PGA) def. Taconic Golf Club’s Rick Pohle & Kevin Bennison 4-2.

The format was 18-hole team fourball match play: two-points for the front nine winner, two-points for the back nine winner, two-points for the overall winner. 36 points were available.

NENY PGA needed 18 1/2 points to win the cup; CNY PGA needed 18 points to retain the cup.

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.

Berliner was also Assistant of the Year, beating Breen, 1,875 to 1,189.88, a difference of 685.12. Matt Felber, who recently left Albany Country Club to move back to West Virginia to be closer to home, earned 1,176.25 points.

For Senior Player of the Year, Cobleskill Golf & CC head pro Paul Jaycox easily topped Rick Pohle of Taconic Golf Club, 2,936.25-2,097.50 (838.75). Colonie Golf & Country Club head pro Frank Mellet, last year’s Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year, was third with 1,805.00 points.

2011 NENY PGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(Final Points Standings)

Tracie Warner, Executive Director of the NENY PGA, hands the check, the crystal and the trophy to Scott Berliner at The Edison Club after the NENY PGA Stroke Play major

Scott Berliner (Normanside CC) 2,435.00
Ian Breen (Colonie G&CC) 1,513.00
Bob Mucha (Greenock CC) 1,477.25
Tom Oppedisano (McGregor Links CC) 1,074.00
Paul Jaycox (Cobleskill G&CC) 1,036.13
Rick Pohle (Taconic GC) 989.50
Matt Felber (Albany CC) 978.88
David Lis (Wolferts Roost CC) 861.75
Frank Mellet (Colonie G&CC) 713.13
Josh Hillman (Berkshire Hills CC) 668.25
Kevin Cain (Colonie G&CC) 653.38
Glenn Davis (Albany CC) 636.50
Kevin Bennison (Taconic GC) 570.38
Todd Manderson (Ballston Spa CC) 482.25
Anders Mattson (Saratoga National GC) 446.25
Nathan Kain (The Edison Club) 392.13
Tom Siddon (Massena CC) 382.50
Steve Vatter (Capital Hills @ Albany) 351.00
Peter Gerard (Mill Road Acres GC) 318.00
Kevin Hughes (Saratoga Golf & Polo Club) 243.01
Steve Mazzariello (Stockbridge GC) 242.00
Jeremy Kerr (Mohawk Golf Club) 183.75
Brinson Byrd (Wolferts Roost CC) 179.50
Keith Sprenger (Catskill GC) 175.25
Marc Levesque (Columbia G&CC) 167.50
David Strawn (Cranwell Resort & Golf Club) 157.50
Noel Gebauer (Town of Colonie GC) 122.75
John Durcan (Alapaha GC) 118.50
Brian Lowe (Windham CC) 94.25
John Neet (Golf Galaxy) 86.25
Tom Sullivan (Wyantenuck CC) 84.38
Kent Tarkleson (Tark’s Indoor) 75.00
Steve Plata (Saratoga National GC) 72.00
Brian Hampson (Burden Lake CC) 56.25
Tim Lonergan (Wolferts Roost CC) 37.00
Brian Damon (Schenectady Muni GC) 35.00
Brad Stewart (Dick’s Sporting Goods) 22.00
Ryan Callahan (Waubeeka Golf Links) 20.63
Ryan McCarty (Mohawk GC) 19.25
Tom Smack (Top of the World GC) 13.25
Matt Smith (Leatherstocking Golf Course) 12.00
George Mackey (Ticonderoga CC) 9.00
Craig McLean (The Edison Club) 8.00
John Mahon (Red Hook GC) 8.00
Jim Wasson (Craig Wood GC) 6.00
Mike Hillman (Berkshire Hills CC) 6.00
Rocky Catalano (Ausable Club) 6.00
Willie King (Plattsburgh Golf) 6.00
Ben Banks (Colonie G&CC) 2.00
Curt Lohrey (Airway Meadows GC) 2.00
Dan Spooner (Leatherstocking GC) 2.00
Erik Smith (Normanside CC) 2.00
Matt Bogdanowicz (Town of Colonie) 2.00
Matt Daley (Mohawk GC) 2.00
Ron Choquette (Burden Lake CC) 2.00
Ron Ireland (Saratoga Golf & Polo Club) 2.00
Tom Haggerty (Glens Falls CC) 2.00

2011 ASSISTANT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(through Oct. 11 points standings)

This became a regular pose for Scott Berliner this year, here at Town of Colonie after winning the Assistants' Stroke Play, with Callaway tech rep Christin Boeckman

Scott Berliner (Normanside CC) 1,875.00
Ian Breen (Colonie G&CC) 1,189.88
Matt Felber (Albany CC) 1,176.25
David Lis (Wolferts Roost CC) 1,057.50
Kevin Bennison (Taconic GC) 819.88
Milton Torres Jr. (Wahconah CC) 750.00
Kevin Cain (Colonie G&CC) 511.13
John Andrews (Burden Lake CC) 491.25
Chris Sanger (Red Hook GC) 477.50
Jesse Muller (Windham CC) 427.50
Nathan Kain (The Edison Club) 364.50
Jason Whitmire (Cobleskill G&CC) 352.50
Steve Plata (Saratoga National GC) 345.00
Scott Battiste (Eagle Crest GC) 334.88
Tyson Briggs (Stockbridge GC) 271.13
Josh Upson (The Edison Club) 247.50
Ryan McCarty (Mohawk GC) 230.63
Adam Catanzarite (Van Patten GC) 166.13
Anthony Therrian (Saratoga Golf & Polo) 157.50
Michael Hillman (Berkshire Hills CC) 97.50
Drew Walsh (Saratoga National GC) 96.00
Brinson Byrd (Wolferts Roost CC) 67.50
Michael Berthiaume (McGregor Links CC) 67.50
Jeff Betti (Albany CC) 45.00
Matt Daley (Mohawk GC) 43.50
Bill Wigand III (Battenkill CC) 30.00
Sebastian Evans (Stockbridge GC) 27.00
Rich Scott (Fox Run GC) 18.75
Johnny Stahl (Westport CC) 9.00
Ben Banks (Colonie G&CC) 6.00
Jonathan Wilgus (Catskill GC) 6.00

2011 SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
(Final Standings)

Paul Jaycox (Cobleskill G&CC) 2,936.25
Rick Pohle (Taconic GC) 2,097.50
Frank Mellet (Colonie G&CC) 1,805.00
Peter Gerard (Mill Road Acres GC) 1,480.00
Brian Lowe (Windham CC) 877.50
Keith Sprenger (Catskill GC) 783.75
David Strawn (Cranwell Resort & GC) 540.00
Rocky Catalano (Ausable Club) 532.50
John Durcan (Alapaha GC) 313.75
Willie King (Plattsburgh Golf) 311.25
Craig McLean (The Edison Club) 277.50
Tim Lonergan (Wolferts Roost CC) 262.50
Tom Smack (Top of the World GC) 225.00
Kent Tarkleson (Tark’s Indoor GC) 195.00
Tom Sullivan (Wyantenuck CC) 195.00
John Mahon (Red Hook GC) 191.25
Rick Wolcott (Rolling Hills @ Antlers CC) 157.50
Ron Choquette (PGA Retired Member) 135.00
Harvey Bostic, Sr. (PGA Life Member) 105.00
Jim Schouller (PGA Life Member) 105.00
George Mackey (Ticonderoga CC) 97.50
Dan Spooner (The Leatherstocking GC) 82.50
Curt Lohrey (Airway Meadows GC) 48.75
Harvey Bostic Jr. (PGA Life Member) 45.00
Kirk Armstrong (Whispering Pines) 30.00
Tom Haggerty (Glens Falls CC) 12.00
Ron Ireland (Saratoga Golf & Polo Club) 9.0

VARDON STROKE AVERAGE
(Final Standings – must have 8 rounds and 0 “No Cards” to be eligible)

Bob Mucha of Greenock CC drops this birdie in the NENY Stroke Play at The Edison Club

Bob Mucha (Greenock CC) 72.30 (10 rounds)
Ian Breen (Colonie G&CC) 73.45 (11)
Rick Pohle (Taconic GC) 74.00 (10)
Paul Jaycox (Cobleskill G&CC) 74.45 (11)
Glenn Davis (Albany CC) 74.63 (8)
Tom Oppedisano (McGregor Links CC) 74.91 (11)
Kevin Cain (Colonie G&CC) 75.56 (9)
David Lis (Wolferts Roost CC) 75.73 (11)
Todd Manderson (Ballston Spa CC) 75.88 (8)
Noel Gebauer (Town of Colonie) 80.13 (8)

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.

RESULTS

68: Scott Berliner (Normanside CC) 36-32, $400
70: Ian Breen (Colonie G&CC) 36-34, $280
72: Bob Mucha (Greenock CC) 37-35, $190
75: Paul Jaycox (Cobleskill G&CC) 38-37
76: Josh Hillman (Berkshire Hills CC) 38-38
79: David Lis (Wolferts Roost CC) 38-41, Tom Oppedisano (McGregor Links CC) 42-37
81: Anders Mattson (Saratoga National GC) 40-41
WD: Noel Gebauer (Town of Colonie), Craig McLean (The Edison Club)

Skins Results ($14.25 each)
#1:  Berliner, 3
#4: Mucha, 4
#5: Mattson, 3
#7: Breen, 4
#12: Berliner, 2
#16: Oppedisano, 3
#17: Berliner, 3

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.

Hanefeld, 55, a PGA Life member, shot a 3-over 75 — the highest closing round by a winner in the showcase event for senior PGA pros – at Creighton Farms to finish at 6-under 282. Runner-up Ken Martin, from Wellington, Florida, had a two-stroke lead after 16 holes, but bogeyed the final two holes for a 74.

Hanefeld, the 2008 winner, had seven birdies and two bogeys in the second round to break the 36-hole record of 134 set by Reed Hughes of Senatobia, MS, in 2006. Hanefeld opened with a 6-under 66 on Thursday at River Creek Club.

Because of wet conditions, preferred lies were used. Creighton Farms is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.

The top 35 finishers earned spots in the Senior PGA Championship in May at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, MI. The top-five receive exemptions into the final stage of the 2011 Champions Tour Q-school.