The LPGA’s developmental tour, the Duramed FUTURES Tour, and Schenectady-based supermarket chain, Price Chopper, have teamed to keep the annual stop in the Capital Area.

Price Chopper is now the title sponsor for the FUTURES’ season-ending tournament: the $120,000 Price Chopper Tour Championship, which will be held September 3-5 at the Capital Hills at Albany.

“Price Chopper and the Duramed FUTURES Tour share a commitment to its employees and players, as well as the community,” said Zayra F. Calderon, CEO of the Duramed FUTURES Tour.  “The Duramed FUTURES Tour continues to inspire young girls to become the future stars of the LPGA and we are delighted to be teaming up with Price Chopper as the new title sponsor for our season-ending event in Albany.”

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SCHENECTADY – What was once known as the annual Skins game has given way to the Ellis Medicine Pro-Am played Monday, June 21 at Mohawk Golf Club.

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The gate at Pebble Beach Golf Links

By John Craig 

I know it’s taboo on a golf course to break out the cell phone and start yakking away.  I frown on it, that’s for sure.  But heck, I was by myself on Pebble Beach, and I wanted to share the experience with someone who might appreciate it, and who I knew would answer the phone. On the 12th tee, I called my parents. 

My mother answered and even though she’s not a golfer, she was glad for me and understood the significance of the place and that the U.S. Open is being held there and that her son was playing the course. She then told me dad was taking a nap. Oh well.  That was one of two or three times when I was able to just look around and drink in the fact that I was playing Pebble Beach Golf Links for a moment. 

The second was on the 15th when I rolled in a 42-foot putt. But I’m getting ahead of myself.   

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John Craig hosts Capitalareagolf.com Radio, Fridays at 5pm on WOFX, 980AM

Capitalareagolf.com, your source for local golf coverage, brings you 18-holes in one hour every week on the air.

We are “teeing up” a radio show on Fox Sports 980AM, WOFX, which debuts this Friday, June 11, and runs weekly from 5pm-6pm. Capitalareagolf.com Radio gets you “game ready” – whether you are playing, watching or just headed to the range to hit a bucket.

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Notah Begay III at Turning Stone Resort

A dozen of the world’s best golfers – men and women – will triple the size of the annual Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge. The third annual event at Turning Stone Resort will feature a 12-player field at the Atunyote Golf Club on August 31.

Men: Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas, Hunter Mahan, Vijay Singh, Rickie Fowler and Begay. Women: recent LPGA retirees Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa, plus Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel and Anna Rawson. Begay and Villegas return from last year’s Skins Game that also included Tiger Woods and Mike Weir and raised $1.2 million.

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Berliner, Grissom, DeJohn qualify. Donovan and Jaycox alternates at Olde Kinderhook Golf Club

VALATIE – Scott Berliner, an assistant pro at Shaker Ridge Country Club, admitted he was “very nervous” on the first hole Tuesday as he pulled out his 3W and smacked his tee shot at 9:30AM. By 3:30PM, when most of the scores had been posted at Olde Kinderhook Golf Club, he had a big grin on his face as he held the medal signifying low round of the U.S. Open Qualifier.

“Every kid dreams of winning the U.S. Open and now I’m one step closer to actually competing in a U.S. Open, which is the ultimate goal,” said Berliner. “It’s something I try to focus on.”

(click on picture to view slideshow)

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The U.S. Open Qualifier is set for Tuesday, May 18 at Olde Kinderhook Golf Club.

52 golfers are scheduled to tee it up including last week’s Tri-County Match Play champ and former Union College quarterback Chad Stoffer, Stadium Two-man champ (May 2) and last year’s CRAGA Stroke Play champ Jeb Buchanan and his partner in the Stadium win John Vaccaro (2009 CRAGA Player of the Year). Albany Country Club’s Glenn Davis (2009 NENY PGA Player of the year), Capital Hills’ Steve Vatter, Mohawk’s Jeremy Kerr along with assistant pros Scott Berliner (Shaker Ridge), Tye Grissom (Wolferts Roost) and Ian Breen (Colonie G & CC) are also on the slate.

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Fields for the Duramed FUTURES Tour will expand to 150 players, from 144, during the summer months. Longer daylight hours will enable six additional players to enter tournaments, offering more playing opportunities for the Tour’s membership, according to tour officials.

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Click on the trophy to see pictures from the 2010 competition

By John Craig

NISKAYUNA – The Capital Region Amateurs put their foot down, and more importantly, the ball in the hole to beat the Northeastern New York PGA Team for the first time since 2004 to win the 8th Annual Gazette Cup Matches Wednesday.

“It’s fun to finally win against these guys because we’ve been beaten up so many times,” said David Hayes of Schuyler Meadows Club.

“It was time,” said Dave Mooradian of CC of Troy. “We’ve been getting murdered for [four] years in a row.”

The Amateur Team won 27 ½ – 26 ½. They led 9 ½ – 8 ½ after nine holes. A total of 54 points were up for grabs Wednesday at Mohawk Golf Club.  The tournament is sponsored by the Schenectady Daily Gazette newspaper.

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