Several area golfers made news last week.
Here’s a recap: CNY PGA Senior Section Championship: Rick Bronson held off Mel Baum to win this title last Thursday and Friday at Oswego Country Club. Bronson fired rounds of 70-70 for a 2-under-par 140 total, while Baum finished at 142. For Bronson, owner of RPM Aerifying, it was his second major title of the season. Earlier he won the CNY PGA Stroke Play Championship. His latest victory landed him a spot in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship, Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the PGA Golf Club at Port St. Lucie, Fla. Joining him will be Baum (Liverpool), third-place finisher Rob Phelps (Onondaga G&CC, 144) and David Rhone (Golf Galaxy, 147), who won the final spot in a playoff with Tony Saraceno (Vestal Hills). Emmett Kelly Masters: Cazenovia Golf Club head pro Dennis Colligan won the 29th edition of this Cavalry Club event with a birdie of the first playoff hole over Beaver Meadows head pro Alex Smith. Both fired rounds of 5-under 67 before Colligan scored a 3 on Cavalry’s difficult ninth hole. Jim Roy finished as low amateur at 68, followed by fellow Bellevue amateur Kevin VandenBerg at 69. Rick Bronson (RPM Aerifying) placed fifth overall at 70 and won the senior pro crown for players 50-over. The payout, among the largest of any tournament in the area, included $2,000 to the top pro and $1,200 for second. Roy received the maximum allowable $750 in merchandise as the top amateur.
State Women’s Senior Amateur: Teresa “T” Cleland continued her strong summer by capturing her first state crown, the New York State Women’s Senior Amateur. Cleland, a senior rookie at age 50, posted rounds of 73-79 for a 6-over 152 total at Thendara Golf Club. Runner-up Jan LaVigne, of Penfield, finished six strokes behind, while Oswego’s Barb Harrison placed sixth at 163.