Humble and modest, Lou Deal used to count a pair of events with spectators as his fondest golfing memories. After last weekend, one exceptional achievement rose to the top of his list.
The 64-year-old Amsterdam high school product won his first major tournament when he defeated Kelly Borden in a one-hole knockout match for the Amsterdam City Championship at the Municipal Golf Course in Amsterdam. Amsterdam last weekend. Deal and Borden each shot 77 in the first round, then both posted a 2 over par 73 in the last round before coming up the first hole for the playoffs. The face value of the deal sealed the deal, so to speak.
“I probably played the City Championship about 20 times,” Deal recalls. “A few years ago, I think I won the third or fourth flight when I was just starting out. They had a lot more players back then, and you were piloted by handicap. This is the first time that I have done it well in the current format.
While Deal is certainly an accomplished player, he doesn’t take his achievements on the course too seriously.
“I just like playing the game and hanging out with friends on the weekends,” he said. “I really like playing with different people of different caliber and watching them play.”
Before last weekend, Deal’s most memorable golfing feats were as an Observer.
“In 2016 a friend of mine who plays at Shaker Ridge Country Club offered us tickets to the Masters 2016 in Augusta, and I really enjoyed watching these guys play,” he said.
“The other thing I really remember is that a local pro, Doug Mochrie, came to the course every year after his father passed away to host a memorial tournament. He was married to Dottie Pepper at the time, and we got to watch Doug and Dottie play and play. It was very interesting and enjoyable.
Deal normally plays in a league on Monday nights, then plays in weekend events on Saturday and Sunday. Most of his pals have been playing almost every day since they’ve retired.
“I still work full time and can’t wait to retire and play more,” Deal said. “I have been playing golf for over 40 years. My mother-in-law and my father-in-law taught me the game. I didn’t play when I was young. I played baseball and basketball a lot when I was in school and right after high school I went out and got a job. It was like that at the time. “
Deal has held positions in manufacturing and printing for most of his life and currently works for a high end rewards / keepsake company.
He plays with a solid handicap of 6 and once reduced his count to 4.
“I don’t think I’m having the best part of my game,” he said. “Some days I drive it well, and other days I put it on and steal it well. I can’t say which part of my game is the best. There are days when you can hit this driver amazingly, but you can’t steal and putter. Then the reverse happens the next time you play. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, you don’t. It is a game of humility. I have learned over the years that this is not the club. It is the operator.
Last year, Deal made his first appearance in the championship flight of this Amsterdam City Championship event, and he enjoyed the experience.
“I was paired with Mike Arminio, Danny Russo and Matt Nasadoski,” Deal said. “I’ve seen Danny Russo play before, but I had never played with him until last year, he was a gentleman through and through. I think he won this event in four consecutive decades, and I know he won it last year. He is always encouraging and never has anything bad to say about anyone.
Deal’s career-low round is a 68 on his home course, and he has four holes in one to his name, all on the 16th hole.
“I would like to thank the Amsterdam Municipal team for keeping the course in exceptional conditions, especially given the very dry weather we experienced,” said Deal. “Plus Kevin Canale is a great pro. It’s nice to have him back here after a few years away. Kevin has made a big difference here.
Matt Beck and Dan Stopera finished first and second in the low net in the men’s overall standings.
Mike Arminio won the senior men’s raw bottom, followed by Tim O’Brien, while John Rossi and Skip Phillips finished 1-2 at senior net. Kim Brumley and Chris Sherlock were the top two in the women’s raw division, and Lise Cappuccio and Rosemary Martuscello took top prizes at women’s net.
OPEN CDPHP
The Symetra Tour’s Open CDPHP, which was originally scheduled as a regular touring event in May, has been rescheduled as a one-day pro-am Friday at Capital Hills in Albany. The locals fared rather well in difficult scoring conditions, especially Kennedy Swedick.
The 13-year-old Swede, soon to return to school competition for the Albany Academy, scored a 5-on-par 76 as one of four special exemptions on the field which included 35 professionals from the Symetra Tour.
Swedick is nationally ranked in her age group and is both the reigning Section II girls’ champion and the Northeastern New York PGA Junior Tour champion for her age group.
University of Albany women’s golf coach Colleen Cashman McSween, who played for the sixth time in this tournament, led the local contingent with 75. She has participated in over 100 professional tournaments during her career of player, finished nine times in the top 10 in Futures / Symetra Tournaments and won the Next Generation Futures Tampa Bay Golf Classic in 2003. UAlbany Products Megan Henry of Epping, England and Madison Walker of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., Shot 77 and 87, respectively
Emma Jandel, of Dayton Ohio but currently living in Atlanta, won the event with a score of 4 under par, 67. She was the only player to exceed par.
CHIP STROKE
The fields fill up quickly for the annual Schenectady Classic from September 10 to 13 at the municipal golf course in Schenectady. There will be three divisions: open men, senior men and women. Requests are available at the golf store or by calling 518-382-5155. The registration deadline is September 4th.
The Saratoga County Amateur Golf Championship will be held September 18 at the Eagle Crest Golf Club and September 19 at the Edison Club. The format will be 36 holes without cut and raw medal set only. There will be an open division and a senior division (50 and over). The registration fee will be $ 85 and include the rounds and the motorized cart. For more information, contact John Peterson at Eagle Crest GC (518-877-7802, ext. 229) or Brad Gardner at The Edison Club (518-399-2992).
Capital Hills in Albany senior pro Steve Vatter won the PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship in Northeast New York State with a 1 over par of 74-71-145 at Hiland Golf Club Thursday. Brian Lowe of Catskill Golf Club was second at 5 on par, followed by defending champion Dal Daily of Battenkill at 8 on par.
The next major event for the local pros is their NENY PGA Professional Championship Monday and Tuesday at Eagle Crest Golf Club.
Scott Berliner, nine-time NENY PGA Player of the Year, a 45-year-old professional assistant at Saratoga Spa Golf Course, tied for ninth at the Lenox Advisors New York State Open at Bethpage Black on Long Island this week. He was 2 above par for three laps on this extremely difficult track.
The Columbia Golf & Country Club hosts the 66th Annual NEWGA Peggy Enos Senior Championship Monday and Tuesday. Pat Mayne is the reigning champion and Sandra Weckter is the reigning champion in the 70+ division.
The Bill Moll Triple Play Championship, named after the deceased local star, is scheduled for September 28 at Eagle Crest Golf Club. The 27-hole event will feature nine two-person scrimmage holes, nine two-way alternate shooting holes and nine two-man best ball holes. The registration fee is $ 240 per team. Teams in this raw event only can have two amateurs or one pro and one amateur. The registration deadline is September 21. Send checks payable to Eagle Crest Golf Club at Eagle Crest Golf, 1004 Route 146A, Clifton Park, NY 12065.
HOLE-IN-ONE
In the Amsterdam City Championship, Greg Semione completed the 16th hole of the Amsterdam municipal golf course.
At Pinehaven Country Club, Bob Smith recorded his second career ace on the 128-yard ninth hole with a pitching wedge.
Ballston Spa’s Matthew Izykowski recorded a hole-in-one on the 131-yard fifth hole with a pitching wedge at the Fairways of Halfmoon Golf Course.
EAGLES
Mike Arminio tied the 17th hole par 4 and Matt Nasadoski tied the third hole par 5 in the Amsterdam City Championship game at Amsterdam Municipal.
Clyde Driggers hit the fourth par 5 hole at Mechanicville Golf Club. He hits the green with a 4-hybrid.
Kyle Bryant hit the third par 5 hole while competing in the Jimmy Dees League at Ballston Spa Country Club.
Contact Bob Weiner at [email protected] or @ BobWeiner58 on Twitter.
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