Capital Region golfers make strong showing in NYS Men’s Mid-Amateur Golf Championship

Downey, a former Siena College basketball standout and the winner of the 2023 NYS Mens Amateur, wasnt quite as sharp as he was during Fridays impressive course-record round of 9-under-par 63, but that was to be expected.

The 35-year-old Locust Hill CC member still shot a 71 and owns a two-day total of 10-under-par for a huge eight-shot advantage over Wills Reardon of Piping Rock Club (72-142).

But the local contingent, led by CC of Troys Benjamin Rublee with a 70-143, good for a tie for third place, made its presence felt.

Also making the final-day cut of the low 30 and ties were Jim Gifford of Mohawk Golf Club (71-144), Sean Puleo of the host club (73-144), Ben Bates of NYSGA eClub-Capital Region (75-146), Austin Teal of the host club (76-146), Ryan Foster of the host club (72-147), David Ioele of Saratoga National GC (74-147), Spencer Sautin of NYSGA eClub-Capital Region (75-149) and Tom McGinn of Mohawk GC (75-150).

Downey hopes that he is up for the challenge of holding onto a huge lead.

I texted my brother and my brother-in-law and asked them how to play with the lead, said the Fairport High School grad.

Ive been in the lead before, but it never panned out very well for me.

Im a competitor who sees a finish line ahead of you and tries to claw and scratch your way up to the top.

But when youre in the lead, all youre thinking about when you are in the middle of the fairway are negative thoughts like dont hit it here or there.

My plan is to shoot a 66 and shut the door.

As long as I drive it well like I did today, Ill be in a good spot.

Then, if I mess up a few holes, Ill still be OK.

Downey admitted that his approach shots werent very sharp Saturday.

The course was definitely more challenging, but unfortunately, I made it more challenging on myself, he said.

I hit the driver very well and missed only one or two fairways, but I put myself in some horrific spots from the middle of the fairway .Today, I was too steep with my wedges.

They werent crisp like they were [Friday].

Today, I had no idea.

My confidence wasnt there.

Rublee had to make a quick exit from the course to get to his job, but he played well enough to lead the local group and gain a spot in the final threesome along with Downey and Reardon.

Rublee, a regular contender in the Troy Invitational, made six birdies to offset five bogeys en route to becoming one of only five players under par through two rounds.

Gifford was happy with his even-par round, but it could have been a little better.

Plus, Downey is a good friend of his and he didnt like the fact that his fellow Siena College grad has bragging rights so far.

Honestly, I played about the same as I did [Friday].

I hit a couple of really close ones and took advantage of some of the shorter holes, Gifford said.

But I missed four or five putts inside five feet, including an 18-inch putt that was basically a tap-in, but then horse-shoed around right back at me.

Its nice to be in contention, but its not necessarily in contention after the way Kyle is playing.

We played the U.S.

Four-Ball together and teamed up often.

Hes a good buddy of mine and a Siena grad.

But when you shoot 73 and lose by 10 like I did Friday, it feels like youre being beat up out there.

Puleo is also even-par after two rounds despite a balky putter.

At this stage, you cant be angry with even par, he said.

If I was putting better, Id be a little closer.

I havent made a putt outside of five feet all weekend.

Both Austin and Bates, a five-time Schenectady Classic champion, are 2-over-par.

I didnt putt well, said Bates, a Skidmore College grad and former NYS Boys Amateur titlist.

I just wasnt sharp.

I had too many bogeys today.

The course was a lot tougher, and I thought it would be.

There were some very tough pins, and there wasnt much room to hit the ball near them, but it was nothing unfair.

Ill probably be in the middle of the pack [for the final round] but Im not disappointed.

Thats just golf.

Teal is hoping to finish strong, although he admitted that Downey put way too much space between himself and the rest of the field.

I played OK, but I made one big mistake today when I hit the wrong ball on the 11th hole.

That cost me two strokes, he said.

I also had two or three mud balls, and we couldnt touch the ball in the fairway today.

It wasnt my day all along.

But maybe I can sneak into the top five.

Hes [Downey] playing great.

(Par 72-144) Made the cut Kyle Downey (Locust Hill CC) 71-134, Wills Reardon (Piping Rock Club) 72-142, Benjamin Rublee (CC of Troy) 70-143, Blake Gianniny (CC of Rochester) 73-143, Joseph Feeney (Midvale CC) 73-143, Jim Gifford (Mohawk GC) 71-144, John Duthie (Cornell University GC) 72-144, Sean Puleo (Schuyler Meadows Club) 73-144, Patrick Nealon (Cloverbank CC) 71-144, Alec Bard (Cedar Lake Club) 72-145, Jim Hirsch (NYSGA eClub-Central NY) 75-145, Andrew Watson (72-146), Troy Allen (Strafford CC) 72-146, Drew Taylor (NYSGA eClub-Central NY) 72-146, Ben Bates (NYSGA eClub-Capital Region) 75-146, Austin Teal (Schuyler Meadows Club) 76-146, Ryan Foster (Schuyler Meadows Club) 72-147, Andrew Kay (Oak Hill CC) 73-147, Mark Mumford (Westchester CC) 74-147, David Ioele (Saratoga National GC) 74-147, Taylor Rising (Monroe GC) 76-147, Carter Thompson (The Creek) 77-147, Joel Jakubowicz (Yuhnundasis GC) 77-147, Doug Kleeschulte (Wiltwyck GC) 74-148, Daniel Gabel (Mahopac G&BC) 75-148, Spencer Sautin (NYSGA eClub-Capital Region) 75-149, Christopher Connell (Oriris G&CC) 76-149, Patrick Mainey (Powelton Club) 78-149, Andy Bernatovicz (River Oaks GC) 79-149, Josh Desain (Wayne Hills CC) 74-150, Tom McGinn (Mohawk GC) 75-150, Alex Lowenthal 75-150, Jonathan Renza (75-150)..

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