Reminder - Niagara Frontier Scratch Invite 8/4

The Niagara Frontier Scratch Invite is scheduled for this Saturday 8/4.  If you are interested in playing, please call the proshop at (716) 745-3329 to sign up.

Luthra wins Lonnie Nielson Invite...Takes Commanding BDGA Points Lead

Raman Luthra of Crag Burn continued his great play this summer with a victory at the Lonnie Nielson Invitational on Monday.  Raman spectacular summer has included a win at the BDGA Match Play and BDGA Mid-Am, and was runner-up at the Erie County Amateur (losing in a playoff) and Elkdale Open (he and his partner Matt Stasiak also won the Burt Nash scratch invite at Crag Burn).  The tournament was a 36-hole, modified stableford format, with eagles worth +5, birdies +2, pars 0, bogeys -1, and double bogeys (or more) -3.  Raman finished with a two round total of +6  in blustery winds, to cap a 5 point victory.  Finishing runner-up was Chris Covelli (Crag Burn) and John Clark (Crag Burn) with +1.

BDGA Points and Tourney Results Update

Sorry for the delay (had my first baby last week), but the BDGA points listing and 2012 Tournament Results have been updated through 6/3/12 (Elkdale).  In Summary, Raman Luthra shot and even par 71 at a windy Park CC to capture the Buffalo District Mid-Am title (his second BDGA title of the year), and Jonathan Clark shot an even par 70 to win in a playoff against Luthra at the Elkdale Open, successfully defending his title of a year ago.

Blackwell wins BDGA Tournament of Champions

Men's Division:
James Blackwell, the 2011 BDGA Junior Player of the Year, and the 2011 NYSGA Junior Champion shot a round of 69, three under par to win the Men’s title.  Following a fine front side where he shot a one over par 37, James turned in on, on the back with a four under par 32, including an eagle on the 10th hole, after driving the green, with a 313 yard drive.  Click on the final results for scores from the Men’s Tournament of Champions held today at Fox Valley Country Club.  James is headed to Ball State University in Indiana where he will play for the team there.  Four shots behind Blackwell, were the duo of Desmond Stoll and Danny Yustin.

Women's Division:

High school junior, and 2011 BDGA Women’s Individual Champion, Michelle Hanes, showed her game today, posting a round of 77, to win the women's title by 3 strokes over Barb Rieman and Chelsea Dantonio.  Click on the final results for scores from the women's division.  A front nine score of 1 over par 37, set Michelle up for victory.  Michelle will be defending her BDGA Women’s Individual Championship title at Bridgewater CC at the end of June.

This tournament has been brought back into the BDGA championship rotation, after an absence of a decade. It is hoped that over the coming years, this becomes a major event.  For further information I can be reached at the number listed below.

Tom Sprague-Executive Director, BDGA

cell phone – 716.634.0119


Article written by Tom Sprague, Executive Director of the BDGA.

Luthra beats Stasiak in BDGA Match Play Final

Raman Luthra defeated Matt Stasiak 2 and 1 in the finals of the Buffalo District Match Play Championship today held at Country Club of Buffalo.  The BDGA Match play tournament includes the top 16 players from the 2011 points listing.  Luthra was able to get revenge on Stasiak, who beat him in the semi-finals of last year's tournament (Stasiak lost to Jake Katz in the finals). This is Luthra's second BDGA Men's title (also won the 2009 Men's Stroke Play Championship held at Lochness Links in Canada).  Luthra is awarded 250 BDGA points for this win, with Stasiak earning 175 for finishing runner up.  See the final match play bracket included in the "2012 Tournament Results" link on the right side of the blog.

Mike Boss wins WNY PGA Open

Mike Boss of Niagara Falls CC shot a (+1) 71 on a firm, difficult Niagara Falls Country Club on Monday (5/14) to win the Amateur Division of the Western NY Open.  Boss takes the early lead in the "Race for the BDGA Points Title" earning 120 BDGA points.  Finishing in a tie for 2nd place was Nick Morreale and 29 time NFCC club Champion Fred Silver, who both shot (+3) 73.  Raman Luthra of Crag Burn finished 4th with a (+4) 74 and PJ Alterio of Niagara Falls CC and Mike Mercier of Monroe GC finished in a tie for 5th with (+5) 75.  See all scores from the event in the "2012 Tournament Results" link on the blog, or at the WNY PGA Website at the following link: WNY PGA Open Scores.

2012 Golf Calendar

The Golf Calendar for amateur golf in the Western NY region has has been updated for 2012.  Please click on the link on the top right of the page, and start planning your summer schedule.