The Hudson Valley Hacker: Golf Blog

Local qualifying for the U.S. Open continues with a Westchester qualifier at Trump National in Briarcliff Manor on Thursday May 17.

Here are the local golfers in the field: Chris Connell (Newburgh); Ross Corts (Central Valley); Cody Cox (Milford, Pa.); John Giordano III (Kiamesha Lake); Way Ismail (Tuxedo Park); E.J. Mahany (Westtown); Jeff Schaller (Kingston); Joe Spivak (Harriman); John Stoltz (Middletown); Justin Whipple (Accord).

Liberty’s Nick Yaun is playing in local qualifying on Tuesday May 15 at Alpine (N.J.) Country Club.

The following golfers failed to make it out of local qualifying earlier this week:

Sean Curtin (Harriman, Monroe-Woodbury graduate) – 83 at Pine Barrens Golf Club, Jackson, N.J. on May 10
Andrew DeForest (Rondout Valley graduate) – 83 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla on May 8
Bobby Heins (Monticello native) – 75 at Wheatley Hills GC, East Williston on May 7
John Schmoll (Otterkill golf professional) – 85 at Wheatley Hills GC, East Williston on May
Mike Tulacz (Kingston graduate) – 71, tied for 12th, at MetroWest GC, Orlando, Fla.

Chris DeForest will be looking to keep his momentum going at the Nationwide’s Stadion Classic in Athens, Ga. this week.

DeForest, a 2007 Rondout Valley graduate and tour rookie, tied for 30th at the Nationwide South Georgia Classic Sunday to tie for 30th and earned $3,812.50, his biggest paycheck in six starts this season.

The Stadion Classic will be played on the campus of the University of Georgia.

Johnson Wagner, a 1998 James I. O’Neill graduate, may be at an advantage playing the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship.

The tournament is held at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C, the course which Wagner plays out of.

Wagner, who lives in Charlotte,  ranks fifth in FedEx Cup standings and has already won $2 million this season.

Two golfers with local ties advance to the round of 32 of the MasterCard Westchester PGA Championship at the Whipporwill Club in Armonk Monday.

Dave Fusco, a 1985 Monroe-Woodbury graduate, defeated Pete Stefanchik of Ardsley 3 & 2. Heins posted a 3&2 win over John Reeves of Willow Ridge.

Fusco plays Cory Muller of the County Club of Darien (Conn.) Tuesday. Heins faces Danny Balin of Burning Tree.

Other local results were:
Rob Labritz (GlenArbor) d. Joe Spivak (Garrison, Monroe-Woodbury graduate) 5 &3
Kyle Baehler (Apawamis) d. John Schmoll (Otterkill, Campbell Hall) 1-up
Pat Massi (Griff Harris) d. Nick Yaun (Brae Burn, 2001 Liberty graduate) 2&1

Chris DeForest birdied four of his last seven holes and finished with a 3-under-par in the second round of the Nationwide South Georgia Classic.

DeForest, a 2007 Rondout Valley graduate, is tied for 32nd (2-under 142) at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga. He made his third cut in his sixth start of the season. DeForest trails second-round leader Luke List by seven strokes.

This could help DeForest’s confidence. DeForest had missed two cuts on the Nationwide’s California swing.

DeForest settled in Friday after a wild first round. He had an eagle, four birdies, four bogeys and a triple bogey Thursday.

Chris DeForest played 28 holes at the Nationwide Tour Stonebrae Championship Friday and finished at 5-over-par after two rounds in Hayward, Calif.

DeForest, a 2007 Rondout Valley graduate finished his first round at 3-over 73 and was right back on the TPC Stonebrae course for a 2-over par 72.

Play was suspended Friday with 79 golfers waiting to complete their second round. The projected cut is 2-over par.

DeForest eagled the par-5 third hole in his second round to get 2-over par but he bogeyed five of next 10 holes.

Chris DeForest’s first round at the Nationwide Stonebrae Championship was limited to eight holes Thursday.

DeForest, a 2007 Rondout Valley graduate, didn’t tee off until 6:55 p.m. EST before of a two-hour fog delay at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, Calif.. He played the back nine at even-par and is tied 26th when play was suspended.

DeForest birdied holes 12 and 14 and bogeyed No. 13 and 16.

NFL great Jerry Rice is 8-over through 8 holes.

When I asked golf analyst Brian Crowell more than a week ago, who he felt could make a run at Augusta, Bubba Watson’s name popped up.

Lefties historically play well at Augusta, said Crowell, a Wallkill graduate who anchored coverage on DirecTV and masters.com the last four days.

But, Crowell was a little leery of picking Watson to win because of his inconsistent putting this season.

Turns out Watson had two chances on the second playoff green to win the Masters after a 150-yard second shot to eight feet. Watson sunk a tap-in par to capture his first major.

Johnson Wagner, a 1998 James I. O’Neill graduate, started his second round Friday at 7-over par.

Wagner shot a 2-over 74 in his second round at Augusta and had 8 pars, 6 bogeys, and 4 birdies.

Wagner’s off to a tough start shooting bogey, birdie, bogey, par, bogey.

Wagner’s birdie on the par-5, 575 second hole was his first of the tournament.

Wagner bogeys par-4, 450-yard seventh hole, now at 10-over.

Two straight pars for Wagner on No. 8 and 9.

Wagner bogeys par-4, 495-yard No. 10 heads to Amen Corner at 11-over.

Wagner runs long par putt a few inches from hole on No. 11

Wagner hits tee shot about 12 ft above hole on par-3, 12th. Makes birdie, second of tournament, back to 11-over.

Back-to-back birdies, Wagner miss a super, long eagle putt on No. 13.

Wagner pars  440-yard 14th hole.

Wagner chip off fairway on third shot is short on par-5, 15th, long birdie putt ahead. Wagner makes long birdie putt off the edge of green, moves to 9-over with 3 holes left.

Wagner’s tee shot on par-3, 16th hits high on green but rolls to about four feet from hole. Wagner runs birdie putt right, settles for par on 16.

Wagner finishes his second Masters with two pars.

Johnson Wagner, a 1998 James I. O’Neill graduate, has 12 pars, five bogeys and double bogey Thursday at the Masters in Augusta, Ga.

Wagner bogeyed the par-3, 240-yard fourth hole. Twelve golfers have bogeyed No. 4  in the early groups.

Wagner leaves par putt short on the par-4, 11th hole and takes second bogey. Tough start on Amen Corner.

Tom Watson, playing in Wagner’s group, receives an ovation at the 12th tee.

Wagner finds front bunker off the tee on par-3, 155-yard 12th hole.

Wallkill’s own Brian Crowell is calling the action on masters.com

Wagner chips out of bunker to a few feet right on No. 12.  He misses short putt and takes a bogey to slide to 3-over.

Wagner bogeys all 3 holes of Amen Corner, falls to 4-over through 13 holes.

Wagner is still without a birdie in his first round.

Wagner’s fourth straight bogey on par-4, 440-yard 14th hole.

Wagner took a double bogey 7 on the par-5, 15th and finished with three straight pars.

Johnson Wagner will play in his fifth major of his PGA Tour career at the Masters Thursday.

Tom Watson, a two-time Masters champion, and amateur Hideki Matsuyama will play with Wagner for the first two rounds. The group tees off at 9:40 a.m. Thursday and 12:58 p.m. Friday.

Here’s how Wagner, a 1998 James I. O’Neill graduate, has fared in his first four majors.

2004 U.S. Open (Shinnecock): 77-77-154, missed cut
2007 U.S. Open (Oakmont) : 77-83-160, missed cut
2008 Masters (Augusta): 72-74-74-75-295, tied for 36th
2008 PGA Championship (Oakland Hills): 78-71-149, missed cut by one stroke