97th Westchester Amateur - Recap
Amateur Championship
MATCH PLAY TREE
97th Amateur Finals
Josh Goldenberg was not going to be stopped. The 19-year old from Scarsdale wasn't even going to let a stiff back bother him. Goldenberg carried his bag all 3 days, he's just used to doing it. Playing High School (Scarsdale HS) & College (UPenn) Golf will lead to that. The 36-hole final did not start off the way Josh may have liked. After putting his approach shot in the water, he found himself 1 down to savvy veteran Rob Johnson (Dutchess). The next 10 holes, Goldenberg played in 4-under par, and you could see the confidence build with each and every hole he won. On the 11th hole, a 467-yard uphill par 5, Goldenberg his 3 wood off the tee, and then a 9 Iron, (YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT 9 IRON), to 5 feet for eagle. Josh found himself 5 up after 11. Johnson won the 12th and 13th holes to cut into Goldenberg's lead, but that was as close as he would get. Goldenberg won 3 of the last 5 holes in the morning session to end 6 up after 18 holes.
The Afternoon 18 began, but it was much of the same. Goldenberg continued to pound the ball down the fairway, and was piling up Greens in Regulations. Josh shot even par over the 12 holes in the afternoon, which was capped off with a birdie on the downhill 12th hole. Josh won 7 & 6 and will now his name added to the the oldest and longest running event that the Westchester Golf Association has to offer. Congrats to our 97th Amateur Champion!
Senior Amateur Championship
Senior Amateur Finals
What a match! Jon Groveman (Connecticut) won his 3rd Westchester Senior Amateur Championship in the past 5 years, after outlasting Herrol Pryce (Baychester). Groveman had it going early, with 3 birdies in the first 5 holes, to go 3 Up early. But Pryce wasn't going down easy, won the 7th, 8th & 9th holes, and brought the match back to all square. The back nine was some great golf. In trying conditions, neither player let the rain bother them. Both players continued to hit fairways and go flag hunting, as their irons were on point.
Pryce was 2 Up after a 20 foot birdie on 13, but Groveman birdied 14 to get it back to 1 Up. Pryce was 1 Up on 18 tee, and hit his tee shot into the 2nd cut on the right. After a chop out, he missed short and right of the green, and soon after conceeded the 18th hole, and we were on to a playoff. Both players parred the 19th hole, and we moved on the 210-yard par 3, 2nd. Groveman hit a tremendous iron shot hole high, to 18 feet. Pryce came up short, and left himself a 25 footer for par. After Pryce failed to convert, Groveman lagged it to inches, and the Match was over.
Super-Senior Amateur Championship
Super Senior Amateur Finals
Shawn McLoughlin successfully defeated his title, and has completed the 3-peat! Shawn has now won the last 3 Westchester Super Senior Amateur Championships, (2014 - Westchester CC, 2015 - Rockrimmon CC), but it wasn't easy by any means. Jim Hamburger (McCann) was up to the task, and gave Shawn a run for his money. After an early deficit, Hamburger battled back from 2-down, and the match was all square thru 10. Hamburger won 11 with a birdie, and 12 with a par to go 2 Up on McLoughlin. But the Two-Time Defending Champion turned in on start on the 13th hole. Shawn won the next 4 Holes, to go 2 Up with 2 to play. McLoughlin sealed the deal with a solid par on 18 to reclaim his title!