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| Ray's steady play earns him Rome City-Am title |
August 14, 2011
ROME - Taylor Ray had never played McConnellsville
Golf Club or Rome Country Club before this weekend.
It didn't matter, as the Durham, North Carolina native
followed Saturday's 1-over 71 at McConnellsville with
a 2-over 74 at Rome Country Club for 145 total and a
two-shot victory over Erik Carlson at the Rome
City-Amateur Golf Championship.
Ray - a junior-to-be at Campbell University in North
Carolina - is in Central New York this summer as an
intern at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, as part of
his Professional Golf Management requirements.
For two days, Ray managed his game very well. He
came into Sunday's final round tied for the lead at
1-over-par with Aaron Fiorini, and held a three-stroke
advantage over the other player in the final grouping,
Mike Zurek - the 2011 Utica City-Am champion.
Sunday, Ray kept his cool and just kept hitting
fairways and greens en route to holding off Fiorini by
six strokes and Zurek by seven.
"I really didn't miss a fairway all day aside from No.
18," Ray said. "I also putted really well."
Ray made just two birdies Sunday (Nos. 7 and 8), but
didn't make any big mistakes. After making a tricky
10-foot swinger for par on the 17th, Ray just needed
to make double-bogey 6 on the 18th to win.
"All day, I was just trying to stay ahead of the two guys
I was paired with," Ray said. "I wasn't sure what was
going on ahead of me, but knew they were the closest
when the day started."
Carlson, a Rome Free Academy graduate, also is
studying Professional Golf Management (University of
Maryland Eastern Shore), knows Ray and has
competed against him in a few tournaments down
south.
Carlson knew coming in it would take a great score to
catch Ray, especially after posting a 6-over 76
Saturday at McConnellsville.
He almost did it with an impressive 1-under 71 Sunday.
"I made a lot of par-saving putts today," Carlson said.
"I played well both days, actually, but today I made the
par saves and yesterday I didn't get the same type of
putts to drop. That was the difference."
Fiorini finished third - his best finish at the Rome City.
Sunday's round of 80 came down to several putts that
lipped out and three bad swings - all pulled tee shots
that led to double bogeys (Nos. 7, 11 and 17).
"I played well both days, the difference today was that
I lipped out five putts and made a couple of loose
swings that cost me," said Fiorini, who knows he's
close to getting that elusive victory. "All you can do is
to keep giving yourself chances."
Fiorini, a long-time competitor of the local city-am
circuit and the head golf coach at Camden High
School, knows good golf when he sees it.
"(Ray) was center cut all day today, and it was very
impressive," said Fiorini. " He is a really good player.
He really didn't miss many shots ... I don't think he
missed a fairway the entire day until the 18th."
Defending champion, Steve Conley finished solo fifth
with a 153 total. Jerry Closinski was sixth at 154 and
Brett Bushinger was seventh at 156.
In the Seniors Division, Barry Wengert (153) hung
on for a one-stroke victory over Mark Lloyd and Jim
Day. Joe Kasprzyk (157) was fourth and Ken
Blumberg (159) placed fifth.
In the A Flight, Stephen Pickett shot an impressive
73 Sunday to win by three strokes over Larry Desiato
Jr. (159). Dave Hall (160), Rodney Streeter (161) and
Mike Critelli (163) rounded out the top five.
Super Seniors: Roy Barnes shot 72 Sunday for a
156 total and a two-shot victory over George
Homokay.
Senior B: Steve Cieslak (170) edged Joe Mortis by
three strokes for the win.
B Flight: Ken Caldwell (169) edged Jeremy Ankin by
one shot.
C Flight: Frank Aston Sr. shot 174 for a five-stroke
victory over Jon Fjeld.
D Flight: Ralph Oswell won in a playoff over Dave
Manley after tying with 189 two-day totals.
ROME - Taylor Ray had never played McConnellsville
Golf Club or Rome Country Club before this weekend.
It didn't matter, as the Durham, North Carolina native
followed Saturday's 1-over 71 at McConnellsville with
a 2-over 74 at Rome Country Club for 145 total and a
two-shot victory over Erik Carlson at the Rome
City-Amateur Golf Championship.
Ray - a junior-to-be at Campbell University in North
Carolina - is in Central New York this summer as an
intern at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, as part of
his Professional Golf Management requirements.
For two days, Ray managed his game very well. He
came into Sunday's final round tied for the lead at
1-over-par with Aaron Fiorini, and held a three-stroke
advantage over the other player in the final grouping,
Mike Zurek - the 2011 Utica City-Am champion.
Sunday, Ray kept his cool and just kept hitting
fairways and greens en route to holding off Fiorini by
six strokes and Zurek by seven.
"I really didn't miss a fairway all day aside from No.
18," Ray said. "I also putted really well."
Ray made just two birdies Sunday (Nos. 7 and 8), but
didn't make any big mistakes. After making a tricky
10-foot swinger for par on the 17th, Ray just needed
to make double-bogey 6 on the 18th to win.
"All day, I was just trying to stay ahead of the two guys
I was paired with," Ray said. "I wasn't sure what was
going on ahead of me, but knew they were the closest
when the day started."
Carlson, a Rome Free Academy graduate, also is
studying Professional Golf Management (University of
Maryland Eastern Shore), knows Ray and has
competed against him in a few tournaments down
south.
Carlson knew coming in it would take a great score to
catch Ray, especially after posting a 6-over 76
Saturday at McConnellsville.
He almost did it with an impressive 1-under 71 Sunday.
"I made a lot of par-saving putts today," Carlson said.
"I played well both days, actually, but today I made the
par saves and yesterday I didn't get the same type of
putts to drop. That was the difference."
Fiorini finished third - his best finish at the Rome City.
Sunday's round of 80 came down to several putts that
lipped out and three bad swings - all pulled tee shots
that led to double bogeys (Nos. 7, 11 and 17).
"I played well both days, the difference today was that
I lipped out five putts and made a couple of loose
swings that cost me," said Fiorini, who knows he's
close to getting that elusive victory. "All you can do is
to keep giving yourself chances."
Fiorini, a long-time competitor of the local city-am
circuit and the head golf coach at Camden High
School, knows good golf when he sees it.
"(Ray) was center cut all day today, and it was very
impressive," said Fiorini. " He is a really good player.
He really didn't miss many shots ... I don't think he
missed a fairway the entire day until the 18th."
Defending champion, Steve Conley finished solo fifth
with a 153 total. Jerry Closinski was sixth at 154 and
Brett Bushinger was seventh at 156.
In the Seniors Division, Barry Wengert (153) hung
on for a one-stroke victory over Mark Lloyd and Jim
Day. Joe Kasprzyk (157) was fourth and Ken
Blumberg (159) placed fifth.
In the A Flight, Stephen Pickett shot an impressive
73 Sunday to win by three strokes over Larry Desiato
Jr. (159). Dave Hall (160), Rodney Streeter (161) and
Mike Critelli (163) rounded out the top five.
Super Seniors: Roy Barnes shot 72 Sunday for a
156 total and a two-shot victory over George
Homokay.
Senior B: Steve Cieslak (170) edged Joe Mortis by
three strokes for the win.
B Flight: Ken Caldwell (169) edged Jeremy Ankin by
one shot.
C Flight: Frank Aston Sr. shot 174 for a five-stroke
victory over Jon Fjeld.
D Flight: Ralph Oswell won in a playoff over Dave
Manley after tying with 189 two-day totals.
| 2011 Rome City-Am - Final Round |
Final Results
Championship Flight
Taylor Ray 71-75 145
Erik Carlson 76-71 147
Aaron Fiorini 71-80 151
Mike Zurek 74-78 152
Steve Conley 78-75 153
Jerry Closinski 79-75 154
Brett Bushinger 76-80 156
Agost Raulli 79-78 157
Tom Peters 77-80 157
Chuck Coppola 83-76 159
John Migliore 79-81 160
Matt Hughes 79-81 160
Bob Larsen Jr. 77-84 161
Briant Meagher 78-83 161
Joel Jakubowicz 84-77 161
Scott Blosser 83-83 166
Marc Kullman 85-82 167
Matt Dodge 85-85 170
Jim Korpella 88-85 173
Jeff Gifford 86-87 153
Eamon Dempsey 88-87 175
Seniors
Barry Wengert 73-80 153
Mark Lloyd 78-76 154
Jim Day 76-78 154
Joe Kasprzyk 75-82 157
Ken Blumberg 73-86 159
Tim Rees 85-76 161
J. Michael Graziano 82-79 161
Mike Scheemaker 81-81 162
Mark Jakubowicz 77-88 165
Mike Smith 87-86 173
Jeff Conley 82-92 174
Roger Waligora 88-87 175
Vin Narolis 94-86 180
Wayne Cacciatori 88-93 181
A Flight
Stephen Pickett 83-73 156
Larry Desiato Jr. 80-79 159
Dave Hall 81-79 160
Rodney Streeter 80-81 161
Mike Critelli 80-83 163
Terry Burns 77-86 173
Robert Taylor 82-82 164
Chad Darling 80-84 164
Craig Beach 81-83 164
Trevor Wiggins 83-84 167
Tim Nobis 83-84 167
Norm Pickett 83-85 168
Brian Adams 83-85 168
Darren Howard 86-84 170
Dave Uryniak 82-89 171
Gary Semo 89-82 171
Mark Zieman 85-87 172
Matt Hanus 88-84 172
Steve Matt 86-87 173
Lawrence Natale 92-82 174
Joe Come 89-85 174
Brian LaMay 90-88 178
Tom Swiderski 90-91 181
John Pollex 97-88 185
Tom Knudsen 94-98 192
Last 5 Champions
Championship Division
2011: Taylor Ray 145
2010: Steve Conley 147
2009: Doug DeCarlo 146
2008: Jerry Closinski 145
2007: Matt Campbell 143
Seniors Division
2011: Barry Wengert 153
2010: Jim Castle 150
2009: Roy Barnes 152
2008: Jim Castle 143
2007: Barry Wengert 147
Super Seniors
2011: Roy Barnes 156
2010: Roy Smith 154
2009: Gene Sanborn 166
2008: Jim Allen 173
2007: Irv Chisom 166
A Flight
2011: Stephen Pickett 156
2010: Bob Larsen Jr. 151
2009: Rick Cianfrocco 161
2008: Robert Larsen Jr. 147
2007: Chris Kutas 158
B Flight
2011: Ken Caldwell 169
2010: Terry Burns 166
2009: Robert Taylor 166
2008: Dave Uryniak 165
2007: Tom Knudsen 158
C Flight
2011: Frank Aston Sr. 174
2010: Jon Fjeld 181
2009: Jon Fjeld 170
2008: Richard Zieman 168
2007: Jim Taylor Jr. 172
D Flight
2011: Ralph Oswell 189
2010: Jason Swistak 180
2009: Paul Enslin 186
2008: Rich Zingrino 183
2007: Ira Lyon 195
Seniors B Flight
2011: Steve Cieslak 170
2010: Joe Come 167
2009: Gary Tuttle 172
2008: Garry Tuttle 168
2007: Howie Mata 174
Championship Flight
Taylor Ray 71-75 145
Erik Carlson 76-71 147
Aaron Fiorini 71-80 151
Mike Zurek 74-78 152
Steve Conley 78-75 153
Jerry Closinski 79-75 154
Brett Bushinger 76-80 156
Agost Raulli 79-78 157
Tom Peters 77-80 157
Chuck Coppola 83-76 159
John Migliore 79-81 160
Matt Hughes 79-81 160
Bob Larsen Jr. 77-84 161
Briant Meagher 78-83 161
Joel Jakubowicz 84-77 161
Scott Blosser 83-83 166
Marc Kullman 85-82 167
Matt Dodge 85-85 170
Jim Korpella 88-85 173
Jeff Gifford 86-87 153
Eamon Dempsey 88-87 175
Seniors
Barry Wengert 73-80 153
Mark Lloyd 78-76 154
Jim Day 76-78 154
Joe Kasprzyk 75-82 157
Ken Blumberg 73-86 159
Tim Rees 85-76 161
J. Michael Graziano 82-79 161
Mike Scheemaker 81-81 162
Mark Jakubowicz 77-88 165
Mike Smith 87-86 173
Jeff Conley 82-92 174
Roger Waligora 88-87 175
Vin Narolis 94-86 180
Wayne Cacciatori 88-93 181
A Flight
Stephen Pickett 83-73 156
Larry Desiato Jr. 80-79 159
Dave Hall 81-79 160
Rodney Streeter 80-81 161
Mike Critelli 80-83 163
Terry Burns 77-86 173
Robert Taylor 82-82 164
Chad Darling 80-84 164
Craig Beach 81-83 164
Trevor Wiggins 83-84 167
Tim Nobis 83-84 167
Norm Pickett 83-85 168
Brian Adams 83-85 168
Darren Howard 86-84 170
Dave Uryniak 82-89 171
Gary Semo 89-82 171
Mark Zieman 85-87 172
Matt Hanus 88-84 172
Steve Matt 86-87 173
Lawrence Natale 92-82 174
Joe Come 89-85 174
Brian LaMay 90-88 178
Tom Swiderski 90-91 181
John Pollex 97-88 185
Tom Knudsen 94-98 192
Last 5 Champions
Championship Division
2011: Taylor Ray 145
2010: Steve Conley 147
2009: Doug DeCarlo 146
2008: Jerry Closinski 145
2007: Matt Campbell 143
Seniors Division
2011: Barry Wengert 153
2010: Jim Castle 150
2009: Roy Barnes 152
2008: Jim Castle 143
2007: Barry Wengert 147
Super Seniors
2011: Roy Barnes 156
2010: Roy Smith 154
2009: Gene Sanborn 166
2008: Jim Allen 173
2007: Irv Chisom 166
A Flight
2011: Stephen Pickett 156
2010: Bob Larsen Jr. 151
2009: Rick Cianfrocco 161
2008: Robert Larsen Jr. 147
2007: Chris Kutas 158
B Flight
2011: Ken Caldwell 169
2010: Terry Burns 166
2009: Robert Taylor 166
2008: Dave Uryniak 165
2007: Tom Knudsen 158
C Flight
2011: Frank Aston Sr. 174
2010: Jon Fjeld 181
2009: Jon Fjeld 170
2008: Richard Zieman 168
2007: Jim Taylor Jr. 172
D Flight
2011: Ralph Oswell 189
2010: Jason Swistak 180
2009: Paul Enslin 186
2008: Rich Zingrino 183
2007: Ira Lyon 195
Seniors B Flight
2011: Steve Cieslak 170
2010: Joe Come 167
2009: Gary Tuttle 172
2008: Garry Tuttle 168
2007: Howie Mata 174
Taylor Ray chips to the 17th green during Sunday's final
round of the Rome City Amateur at Rome Country Club.
Ray won the Championship Flight by two strokes over
Erik Carlson.
round of the Rome City Amateur at Rome Country Club.
Ray won the Championship Flight by two strokes over
Erik Carlson.
Edges Carlson by two strokes
BELOW: Aaron Fiorini hits his
tee shot on the par-4 17th hole.
Fiorini finished third in the
Championship Flight.
tee shot on the par-4 17th hole.
Fiorini finished third in the
Championship Flight.
RIGHT:
Stephen Pickett
watches his tee
shot on the
par-4 18th.
Pickett won the
A Flight.
Stephen Pickett
watches his tee
shot on the
par-4 18th.
Pickett won the
A Flight.
LEFT: Jerry
Closinski watches
hit putt track into
the hole for a
birdie on the
par-4 15th.
Closinski watches
hit putt track into
the hole for a
birdie on the
par-4 15th.