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| State Tournament - Final Round - 2011 |
| Hall wins; Derek Bard fourth |
Eagle leads
sophomore
to state title
sophomore
to state title
June 6
ITHACA - Not many high school
players could accomplish what
Gavin Hall did during his final
hole Monday at the New York
State Championships at Cornell
University's Robert Trent Jones
Golf Course.
The Pittsford-Mendon
sophomore came to the 18th
hole, knowing he needed to do
something special if he wanted
to claim his first state title.
Hall came up with the goods
when he needed it most, hitting
a 320-yard tee shot, then
launching a 5-iron from 215
yards out that cleared trees
and three bunkers to a
tucked-away pin to within 10
feet. He then buried the eagle
putt that ended up giving him a
one stroke victory over Section
V teammate Matt vanNiekerk.
Hall finished with a winning
two-day total of 145.
Skaneateles senior, Eric
Edmunds, was third at 147 and
New Hartford sophomore,
Derek Bard, tied for fourth at
148.
New Hartford 7th-grader, Alec
Bard finished ninth with a 151
total.
After making the eagle, Hall had
to wait for vanNiekerk, who
played in the final group, to
finish. It looked as though it
could be a playoff, but
vanNiekerk's 6-foot birdie
attempt just missed the hole,
giving Hall the victory.
"I hit a perfect shot," Hall said of
his 5-iron. "I just tried to hit it
really high because that's the
only way I could stop it
anywhere near the hole.
"I knew I probably needed to
make the putt. It was downhill
and I hit a really solid putt. It
feels great. It is a good win for
this year and maybe a turning
point for me, because I haven't
played my best this year."
After a disappointing opening
round, Derek Bard came
through with the lowest score of
the day, posting an even-par
72. His performance earned
him a spot, along with
Edmunds, in this weekend's
Federation Tournament at
Bethpage Black Golf Course.
"Today was a lot more
satisfying," said Bard, the
two-time defending Section III
champion. "I'm pleased to make
Federations. It was one of my
goals coming in, so overall I'm
pretty pleased. It's going to be
sick to play Bethpage Black. It
would be awesome to play well
down there."
The day could of been even
more special, if it wasn't for a
rough stretch where he made
three straight bogeys from No.
13 to No. 15 to fall from 2-under
to 1-over par.
"I had four three-putts," said
Bard, who birdied 18 to close at
even par. "It really let me down
today. I'm sure I'm going to look
back and realize I could have
changed the outcome if I putted
better ... but everyone probably
could say something like that."
Edmunds also was in the thick
of the title chase late into
Monday's final round, but made
bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17.
"I feel good about the way I
played," said Edmunds, the
2009 Section III champion, who
will be making his third trip to
the Federation Tournament. "I
tried my best and did what I
could. I'm very happy with third
place."
Alec Bard just missed making
Federations, but won medalist
honors as a top-10 finisher,
quite an accomplishment for a
7th-grader.
"I'm really proud of keeping it
together," Alec Bard said of his
birdie on the 18th after making
three straight bogeys from 15
to 17. "It's great to finish in the
top 10 here. It really will give me
confidence going into
tournaments this summer, just
knowing that I competed with
these great players."
Alec's performance also helped
Section III finish second to Hall
and vanNiekerk's Section V
squad in the team competition.
The victory was a record fourth
straight for Section V.
Remsen senior Keith Smith shot
79 Monday and totaled 163.
Camden's Seth Adams fought
his swing all tournament, but
was able to finish at 168.
"I got off the tee a lot better
today," Smith said of his
four-stroke improvement.
"There were a couple of birdie
putts I usually make that I didn't,
but it was a really amazing
experience just to be here and
the course is amazing. I'm just
glad I got to experience states
during my senior year."
After the tournament, Adams
was already thinking about
returning to compete in 2012.
"If I make it next year, I want to
come into it more relaxed and I
will be able to just focus on
playing golf," said Adams, who
wasn't at his best from tee to
green this week.
"I putted well yesterday," Adams
said of Sunday's round. "My
long game wasn't good at all
either day. I probably hit about
three fairways combined (two
rounds). I can't play a long
course like this one if I don't
drive it well, especially with my
length ... or lack thereof."
Section IV's Patrick Milkovich
finished tied for fourth. Sean
Mahon (Section VI) shot 149 for
a sixth-place finish. Matt Lowe
(Section VIII) and Max
Christiana (Section I) tied for
seventh at 150. Section IV's
Dan Molter was the final
medalist, placing 10th at 152.
SCORES
ITHACA - Not many high school
players could accomplish what
Gavin Hall did during his final
hole Monday at the New York
State Championships at Cornell
University's Robert Trent Jones
Golf Course.
The Pittsford-Mendon
sophomore came to the 18th
hole, knowing he needed to do
something special if he wanted
to claim his first state title.
Hall came up with the goods
when he needed it most, hitting
a 320-yard tee shot, then
launching a 5-iron from 215
yards out that cleared trees
and three bunkers to a
tucked-away pin to within 10
feet. He then buried the eagle
putt that ended up giving him a
one stroke victory over Section
V teammate Matt vanNiekerk.
Hall finished with a winning
two-day total of 145.
Skaneateles senior, Eric
Edmunds, was third at 147 and
New Hartford sophomore,
Derek Bard, tied for fourth at
148.
New Hartford 7th-grader, Alec
Bard finished ninth with a 151
total.
After making the eagle, Hall had
to wait for vanNiekerk, who
played in the final group, to
finish. It looked as though it
could be a playoff, but
vanNiekerk's 6-foot birdie
attempt just missed the hole,
giving Hall the victory.
"I hit a perfect shot," Hall said of
his 5-iron. "I just tried to hit it
really high because that's the
only way I could stop it
anywhere near the hole.
"I knew I probably needed to
make the putt. It was downhill
and I hit a really solid putt. It
feels great. It is a good win for
this year and maybe a turning
point for me, because I haven't
played my best this year."
After a disappointing opening
round, Derek Bard came
through with the lowest score of
the day, posting an even-par
72. His performance earned
him a spot, along with
Edmunds, in this weekend's
Federation Tournament at
Bethpage Black Golf Course.
"Today was a lot more
satisfying," said Bard, the
two-time defending Section III
champion. "I'm pleased to make
Federations. It was one of my
goals coming in, so overall I'm
pretty pleased. It's going to be
sick to play Bethpage Black. It
would be awesome to play well
down there."
The day could of been even
more special, if it wasn't for a
rough stretch where he made
three straight bogeys from No.
13 to No. 15 to fall from 2-under
to 1-over par.
"I had four three-putts," said
Bard, who birdied 18 to close at
even par. "It really let me down
today. I'm sure I'm going to look
back and realize I could have
changed the outcome if I putted
better ... but everyone probably
could say something like that."
Edmunds also was in the thick
of the title chase late into
Monday's final round, but made
bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17.
"I feel good about the way I
played," said Edmunds, the
2009 Section III champion, who
will be making his third trip to
the Federation Tournament. "I
tried my best and did what I
could. I'm very happy with third
place."
Alec Bard just missed making
Federations, but won medalist
honors as a top-10 finisher,
quite an accomplishment for a
7th-grader.
"I'm really proud of keeping it
together," Alec Bard said of his
birdie on the 18th after making
three straight bogeys from 15
to 17. "It's great to finish in the
top 10 here. It really will give me
confidence going into
tournaments this summer, just
knowing that I competed with
these great players."
Alec's performance also helped
Section III finish second to Hall
and vanNiekerk's Section V
squad in the team competition.
The victory was a record fourth
straight for Section V.
Remsen senior Keith Smith shot
79 Monday and totaled 163.
Camden's Seth Adams fought
his swing all tournament, but
was able to finish at 168.
"I got off the tee a lot better
today," Smith said of his
four-stroke improvement.
"There were a couple of birdie
putts I usually make that I didn't,
but it was a really amazing
experience just to be here and
the course is amazing. I'm just
glad I got to experience states
during my senior year."
After the tournament, Adams
was already thinking about
returning to compete in 2012.
"If I make it next year, I want to
come into it more relaxed and I
will be able to just focus on
playing golf," said Adams, who
wasn't at his best from tee to
green this week.
"I putted well yesterday," Adams
said of Sunday's round. "My
long game wasn't good at all
either day. I probably hit about
three fairways combined (two
rounds). I can't play a long
course like this one if I don't
drive it well, especially with my
length ... or lack thereof."
Section IV's Patrick Milkovich
finished tied for fourth. Sean
Mahon (Section VI) shot 149 for
a sixth-place finish. Matt Lowe
(Section VIII) and Max
Christiana (Section I) tied for
seventh at 150. Section IV's
Dan Molter was the final
medalist, placing 10th at 152.
SCORES
Pittsford-Mendon sophomore, Gavin Hall poses for a photo after winning the
New York State Championships at Cornell University's Robert Trent Jones Golf
Course in Ithaca.
New York State Championships at Cornell University's Robert Trent Jones Golf
Course in Ithaca.
ABOVE: Derek Bard hits his second shot on the par-5 18th hole. Bard
finished fourth with a 148 total.
BELOW: Alec Bard watches his drive off the par-4 15th hole. He finished with
a 151 total place ninth.
finished fourth with a 148 total.
BELOW: Alec Bard watches his drive off the par-4 15th hole. He finished with
a 151 total place ninth.
ABOVE: Eric Edmunds reacts after his birdie putt on the par-4 13th hole slides
by the cup. Edmunds finished in solo third.
BELOW: Keith Smith tees off on the par-4 1st hole (his 9th of the day). Smith
shot 79 Monday to help Section III to a second-place finish.
by the cup. Edmunds finished in solo third.
BELOW: Keith Smith tees off on the par-4 1st hole (his 9th of the day). Smith
shot 79 Monday to help Section III to a second-place finish.
RIGHT: Camden's Seth Adams
hits his tee shot on the par-3
17th hole. Adams finished at
168.
hits his tee shot on the par-3
17th hole. Adams finished at
168.
LEFT: Matt vanNiekerk watches his tee
shot on the par-3 14th hole.
vanNiekerk finished in second, one
shot behind Gavin Hall.
BELOW: Gavin Hall putts on the par-3
14th hole. Hall won the title with a
two-day total of 145.
shot on the par-3 14th hole.
vanNiekerk finished in second, one
shot behind Gavin Hall.
BELOW: Gavin Hall putts on the par-3
14th hole. Hall won the title with a
two-day total of 145.
The Section III team poses for a photo after receiving medals for placing second at the New York State
Championships at Cornell University's Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Ithaca. From left, bottom row: John
Clare, Seth Adams and Eric Edmunds. Top row: Alec Bard, Keith Smith, Jeff Baldetti, Derek Bard and Chadd Call.
Missing from the photo is Connor Salanger.
Championships at Cornell University's Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Ithaca. From left, bottom row: John
Clare, Seth Adams and Eric Edmunds. Top row: Alec Bard, Keith Smith, Jeff Baldetti, Derek Bard and Chadd Call.
Missing from the photo is Connor Salanger.