Siena College graduate Bigley & Skidmore Senior DeJohn Earn Berths in US Open sectional

Skidmore College Senior Earns Medalist Laurels in U.S. Open Local Qualifier by MIKE DYER

VOORHEESVILLE, May 19…..Just days removed from competing in the NCAA Division III Golf Championship, Skidmore College senior-to-be Chris DeJohn set a new target Tuesday in competing in the U.S. Open.

DeJohn, 22, All-America golfer at Skidmore, knocked in four birdies for a 3-under-par 69 at Albany Country Club to win medalist honors and advance to another U.S. Open sectional. His goal is to compete in the 109th annual U.S. Open at Bethpage Black Course June 18-21.

Joining DeJohn are Siena College graduate Bryan Bigley (Pinehaven Country Club); Quebec’s Mathieu Rivard; and Kingston’s Mike Tulacz.

Tulacz tied Wolferts Roost Country Club assistant pro Tye Grissom with a 72. Tulacz then parred the first extra hole and won the berth in a playoff. Grissom is now an alternate.

As recently as Sunday DeJohn was in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and helping Skidmore to a 10th place finish in the NCAA Division III Team Championship. He finished 15th overall.

DeJohn said he had only one bogey Tuesday — on the 17th hole. None of his birdie putts traveled more than 8 feet.

In Connecticut, he was better known for his hockey exploits than his golf skills. He scored as many as 50 goals as a right winger.

Ex-Skidmore College head coach Tim Brown coaxed DeJohn into beginning classes at Skidmore with the Thoroughbreds.

Bigley, 24, now a professional who recently won two tournaments in South Carolina, had a 71 on Tuesday. Bigley is a graduate of Schalmont High as well as Siena.

It is the second time Bigley has earned a berth in a U.S. Open sectional.

Area golfers fared well with The Edison Club’s Jim Gifford posting 73. Wolferts Roost’s lefty Jeb Buchanan and Capital Hills at Albany head pro Steve Vatter each had 73s.

The 109th U.S. Open will be held June 18-21 at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, L.I. First place is worth $1.3 million.
Tiger Woods is the defending champion. 

Here are Tuesday’s final results:
ALBANY COUNTRY CLUB (Par 72)

Chris DeJohn 69; Bryan Bigley 71; Phillippe-Andre Bannon 71; x-Mike Tulacz 72.
Alternate: Tye Grissom 72.

Failed to Make Cut; Jim Gifford 73; Ron Philo Jr. 73; Steve Vatter 73; Jeb Buchanan 73; Dal Daily 73; Scott Berliner 74; John Vaccaro 75; Mathieuw Rivard 75; Ryan Simpson 76; David Mooradian 76; Justin Deitz 76; Bob Boudreau 76; Trevor Jaycox 76; Tom Oppedisano 77;  John Neet 77; Len Bush 77; Steve Quillinan Jr. 77; Greg Levings 77; Matt McMahon 77; Frank Mellet 77; Matt Felber 78; Kevin Hughes 78;  John Korniak 78; Jeremy Kerr 79; Glenn Davis 79; Dan Russo 79;  Bobby Cain 80; Kyle Sleasman 80;  Mike Duncan 80; Jim Cocca 81; Chad Stoffer 82; Joey Fitzsimmons 83; Todd Czepiel 83; Ryan Prinzo 84; Joe Macaluso 84; Nick Longo 85.

x-denotes won one-hole playoff.  

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