Former Siena basketball player Downey sets course record in first round of NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Golf Championship

Downey, 35, of Locust Hill Country Club, used plenty of that course knowledge, coupled with a strong driver and hot putter, to fire a course-record 9-under-par 63 in the opening round of the 40th annual NYS Mens Mid-Amateur Golf Championship Friday.

Although he still tries to play a little hoops now and then, golf is definitely his game these days, and his resume proves it.

He won the 2023 NYS Mens Amateur at Wykagyl CC and capped off a brilliant campaign a year ago with a fourth-place finish (low amateur) in the 2023 Western Open, as well as a 10th place showing at last years NYS Mid-Amateur.

This season, the assistant basketball coach for his alma mater, Fairport High School, was tied for second in the prestigious Monroe Invitational.

He was also the runner-up at the 2022 NYS Mid-Amateur Golf Championship at Seven Oaks.

I played in the state Am and choked that away, Downey said.

But Im pretty familiar with the course.

It was way different.

In 2021, it was firm and fast.

Today, you could bomb and gouge.

That was a big advantage for me today.

Downey said another Siena connection helped him on the greens.

I made a couple of 15-20 footers.

Connor Keel is a freshman at Siena.

He was my caddie today, and we read putts very similarly.

We kind of read putts the same way.

I coached him in basketball.

Connor and I have a special connection.

Its not his first course record for Downey.

I feel like Im finally tournament tested, he said.

That might be my third course record.

At Seven Oaks, I shot 64 or 65, and at Brooke Lea at the [Rochester] Districts, I tied the course record with a 65.

Being [from] Siena, its pretty special to hold this course record outright.

The course played so soft today.

Im pretty good at hitting the flighted wedges, and if you dont hit them correctly, the ball can spin right off the greens on days like this.

Downey birdied the first three holes, gave up his only bogey on the fourth hole and then tacked on birdies on the ninth, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes.

Austin Teal, a member of the host club, led the Capital Region contingent as one of nine players tied at 2-under-par 70.

Also posting that score were Carter Thompson of The Creek, Joseph Feeney of Midvale CC, Willis Reardon Wills of Piping Rock Club, Blake Gianniny of the CC of Rochester, Kristopher Boyes of Cherry Hill Club, Jim Hirsch of the NYSGA eClub-Central Region, Andy Bernatovicz of Ricer Oaks GC and Joel Jakubowicz of Yahnundasis GC.

I didnt hit it too close today, but hit some solid shots.

A lot of two-putts today, said the 30-year-old Teal, who works locally remotely for a business in Jacksonville, Florida.

You know all the lines off the tees and subtle breaks on the greens.

It was fairly straight forward today but the rain softened the course quite a bit.

Ben Bates of the NYSGA eClub-Capital Region and Sean Puleo of the host club tied for 11th with 71.

I feel like I know this course well enough not to have an excuse, said Bates, who has won the last three Schenectady Classic tournaments and owns five titles overall.

I feel like sometimes in tournaments, I focus even more.

Tournament golf is different.

You need to play it to understand.

Bates, a Skidmore College product and former NYS Boys Amateur champion, liked the way he played.

I just like the competition, he said.

I just want to make both cuts.

Id love to have a chance on Sunday like I did two years ago at Seven Oaks, but top 10 would be great.

Im sure the course will play much tougher this weekend as it dries out.

I think off the tee I have an advantage being a member here, said the 26-year-old Puleo, an accountant who lives in Atlanta now.

I didnt make any putts.

My longest putt I made was on 16 and it was a couple of feet.

Then I made another short one on 17.

They were my only birdies on the day.

The cut for Saturdays second round was 4-over-par 76.

There will be another cut to the low 30 and ties for Sundays final round.

Other Capital Region representatives making the cut were David Ioele of Saratoga National GC (73), Tim DiStefano of the host club (73), Jim Gifford of Mohawk GC (73), Benjamin Rublee of the CC of Troy (73), former champion Matt Clarke of Cazenovia CC (74), Spencer Sautin of NYSGA eClub-Capital region (74), Joe Fitzsimmoins of Shaker Ridge CC (74), Joe Quijano of the CC of Troy (75), Ryan Foster of the host Club (75), Tom McGinn of Mohawk GC (75), Kyle Sumple of the CC of Troy (75), Phillip Duell of Mohawk GC (75), Dan Russo of the host club (75), Joe Marro of Mohawk GC (76), Greg Stopera of Shaker Ridge CC (76) and former champion Jim Welch of Olde Kinderhook GC (76).

(Par 72) Leaders Kyle Downey (Locust Hills CC) 63, Kristopher Boyes (Cherry Hill) 70, Jim Hirsch (NYSGA eClub) 70, Andy Bernatovicz (River Oaks GC) 70, Blake Gianniny (CC of Rochester) 70, Joe Feeney (Midvale CC) 70, Joel Jakubowicz (Yahnundasis GC) 70, Austin Teal (Schuyler Meadows) 70, Wills Reardon (Piping Rock) 70, Carter Thompson (The Creek) 70, Sean Puleo (Schuyler Meadows) 71, Taylor Rising (Monroe GC) 71, Patrick Mainey (Powelton Club) 71, Andrew Lord (Hudson Hills GC) 71, Ben Bates (NYSGA eClub) 71, Christopher OKeefe (MEGA eClub) 72, John Duthie (Cornell University GC) 72, Brandon Desain (Wayne Hills CC) 72.

Other locals who made the cut Jim Gifford (Mohawk GC) 73, Benjamin Rublee (CC of Troy) 73, Tim DiStefano (Schuyler Meadows) 73, Patrick Hayes (Schuyler Meadows) 73, Matt Clark (Cazenovia CC) 74, Spencer Sautin (NYSGA eClub) 74, Joe Fitzsimmons (Shaker Ridge CC) 74, Ryan Foster (Schuyler Meadows) 75, Kyle Sumple (CC of Troy) 75, Dan Russo (Schuyler Meadows) 75, Joe Quijano (CC of Troy), Phillip Duell (Mohawk GC) 75, Tom McGinn (Mohawk GC) 75, Joe Marro (Mohawk GC) 76, Jim Welch (Olde Kinderhook GC) 76, Greg Stopera (Shaker Ridge CC) 76..

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