Ithaca, N.Y. — An NYSGA Net Event record 88 participants took aim at Robert Trent Jones G.C. in the fifth ‘State Days’ tournament of the season on Sunday. View Pictures

Five various flights, which were based upon course handicap, experienced a well crafted course that had its share of challenges in store for Sunday’s field of competitors. Results

Once again, the final pairing would not disappoint in NYSGA Net Event play as it produced a winner in its respective flight for the second time in as many outings. Clifton Park resident Brian Davis fired a net total of 3-under-par 69 to register the top spot in the 0-9 CH flight, the lowest handicap flight in the men’s division. Players who had finished their round convened outside near the leaderboard as they waited for the final group to turn in their scorecards. The dramatic finish was aided by Davis’ 1:30 tee time, which happened to be forty minutes after the last group in the 0-9 CH flight.

Davis, whose first appearance in the State Days came at Seven Oaks C.C., began his round with a birdie on the opening 375-yard par-4. “I started out pretty strong in the beginning with a birdie on that first hole,” says Davis. He remained even through seven holes of play before he recorded his first double bogey at the par-5 eighth hole. Davis then made par at the ninth hole for a score of 2-over 38 on the front but managed to run into some trouble at the start of the back nine. “It narrowed right down on the back nine which started costing me some strokes but then I turned it around and was 1-under through the last four holes,” says Davis.

Davis, who was playing the Cornell course for the first time, made some alterations to his game plan in order to stay focused down the stretch. “The last tournament I played with you guys I didn’t finish up strong and I was upset with myself so I tried to keep my head together and not get ahead of myself and just take it one stroke at a time,” says Davis. “I really focused on slowing down the back swing and making good contact and not trying to steer it.”

In the next men’s handicap flight (CH 10-14), 25 individuals vied for the top finish in the largest division of the day. In the end, it was Kenneth Gravante, of North Syracuse, who walked away with the best net score at 6-under-par 66.

“It was my first net event,” says Gravante. “A bunch of the guys said Ken you have to play the Cornell course so I said OK and we tried it out. I never saw the course before but one of the guys did so he was our local knowledge.” Gravante’s road to success began with a front nine score of 3-over-par 39 that included four straight pars from nos. 6-9. He overcame a barrage of bogeys between nos. 14-16 but tallied a three at the par-3 17^th and notched his lone birdie of the day on the 18^th hole. “On 18, I hit my drive to about 60 feet off the front of the green so I made a birdie on that hole and then I pared 17 so that’s really what made my round with two 3’s on the last two holes,” says Gravante.

In the final men’s flight (CH 15 and over), Terry Taylor was the leader in the clubhouse for nearly two hours with an 8-under-par net total 64. Taylor, who resides in Ithaca, was the last participant named to the field of 88 as he was first an alternate on the waiting list. “I live in Ithaca and I’ve played the front nine three times but the first time I played the back was yesterday,” says Taylor. He played bogey golf on the front nine and survived a triple bogey which came at the par-5 16^th to hold, at times, a measurable lead over his flight. However, nearly two hours later, Robert Smith, of Syracuse, would put together a similar net total of 8-under-par to share the lead with Taylor. Smith eventually won the flight as the tiebreaker leaned in his favor due to playing the back nine three strokes better at 7-over-par 43.

Meanwhile, the two women’s flights were separated by course handicaps above 20 and those below that number. As for the former, Amy Monnat took her flight by storm as the only player to post a net total under par at 4-under 68. Monnat, who resides in Baldwinsville, put together consistent nine hole scores of 43 and 42, respectively. Despite a double bogey on the par-5 16^th, Monnat swapped pars and bogeys on the back nine in just a 6-over-par gross total effort.

Kristy Ann Weber was another player who found success in her flight despite playing at a later tee time. Weber, who is from Moravia, decisively anchored the 21 and over CH flight with a five stroke advantage after her net total of 6-under-par 66. With 18 groups already playing before her, Weber noticed a terrain that had underwent some expected wear and tear by the time she made her way through. “There were certainly some footmarks and bumpy spots on the green,” says Weber, in review of the course. “I thought the greens were pretty interesting. Our Head Pro told us we would enjoy the undulations at this course.” Regardless, Weber managed to handle the greens and the terrain en route to capturing first place in her respective division.

The next event in the State Days tournament series will be held at Western Turnpike GC on Saturday, August 29th.

Submitted by Kevin Solan

NYSGA Media Intern