JONESVILLE, June 11 — Is this the year the jinx ends? It’s been 23 years since Jay Gunning of Town of Colonie won the last New York State Golf Association champion.

A top-flight squad of 18 golfers qualified Thursday here at Van Patten Golf Club for the 87th annual New York State Golf Association men’s amateur championship.The big showdown comes July 14-16 at Ravenwood Golf Club in Rochester.

Chris Barach, 22-year-old Skidmore College senior out of Mohawk Golf Club, won medalist honors Thursday at Van Patten with a 71. Amsterdam’s T.J. Sumigray had a par-72 round.
Other top area players who made the cut included Wolferts Roost’s lefty-swinging Jeb Buchanan and Shaker Ridge’s lefty Jim Cocca. Five-time Tri-County champ Dan Russo will be heading west. So will former Troy Invitational champ David Hayes of Schuyler Meadows Club.
Former New Jersey Devils goalkeeper Chris Terreri out of Glens Falls Country Club and Matt Canavan of McGregor Links made the cut. A lot will be expected from Winding Brook’s Jim Welch, a two-time Tri-County champ and 2-time Troy Inv winner.

  Here are Thursday’s results:

VAN PATTEN GOLF CLUB (Par 72)

Chris Barach 71; T. J. Sumigray 72; Jeb Buchanan 73; Jim Cocca 73; Jeff Pachter 74; Chris Haggerty 74; Matt McCaffrey 75; Chris Terreri 75; Mike Duncan 75; Erik Thomas 75; Alex Arrigo 75; Dan Russo 75; Matt Canavan 76; Jim Welch 76; David Hayes 76; Andrew Strom 77; Chris Driscoll 77. 

Failed to Qualify: Connor Delaney 78; Vince Fioravanti 78; Kyle Armstrong 79; Andrew LaRocque 79; Andrew Weise 79; Joe Parrottino 79; Jake Spitalny 79; Doug Hart 79.

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