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Porter Cup Notebook: Hall plays local favorite
27 Jul 2013
by Benjamin Larsen of AmateurGolf.com

see also: View results for Porter Cup, Niagara Falls Country Club, Gavin Hall Rankings

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Gavin Hall
Gavin Hall

So, it’s not technically his hometown. But Gavin Hall sure played the role of the hometown favorite. Hailing from nearby Pittsford, Hall was cheered on by the largest of galleries. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he played extremely well.

Teeng off in the third to final grouping, Hall started eight shots off the lead and finished tied for eighth.

Hall, of course, is the University of Texas-bound U.S. Open participant, who birdied his way to medalist at the Purchase, N.Y. sectional qualifier.

Oh Canada: Seeing as Lewiston and nearby Niagara Falls also serve as the U.S.-Canadian border, it should go as no surprise that our neighbors to the north were well-represented at the Porter Cup.

Ontario natives Taylor Pendrith and Justin Shin entered the final round as Nos. 1 and 2 on the leaderboard while Chris Hemmerich, Blair Hamilton, Stephane Dubois and Garrett Rank also hail from Canada.

Pendrith, of course, went on to win.

“It just feels a little like a home game,” he said. “It’s relaxing, everything looks the same, feels the same.”

There was additional international flavors to the leaderboard at Niagara Falls Country Club. Australians Brady Watt, Callan O’Reilly, Joshua Munn, Jake McLeod and James Gibellini were joined by Alejandro Tosti, Jaime Lopez Rivarola and Santiago Bauni of Argentina, Charlie Bull, Joshua White and Benjamin Taylor of England, Carlos Ortiz (Mexico), Julio Vegas (Venezuela) and Toni Hakula (Finland).

“This is my first time but I’m enjoying the hospitality,” said Watt. “The little things make it great. I love the event. It was good to experience it myself. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

Texas Twister: University of Texas head coach John Fields had busy Saturday at the Porter Cup. Fields, who guided the Longhorns to the 2012 NCAA Championship, was tasked with following --- in succession --- a trio of players in his program.

In the 11:40 tee time, incoming freshman Gavin Hall, of nearby Pittsford, was paired with current Longhorn Kramer Hickock. In the next group was Beau Hossler, who’ll be a red shirt freshman this fall.

Toni Hakula, another team member, went off at 11:10.

Having his players compete and contend in an event as lofty as the Porter Cup is a feather in Fields’ cap.

“It shows that we’re still moving in the right direction,” Fields said. “We’re thrilled to add Gavin and Beau.”


Results: Porter Cup
1CanadaTaylor PendrithCanada150068-66-63-67--264
2TXTy DunlapWestlake, TX100065-65-70-69--269
T3CanadaJustin ShinCanada70064-67-67-72--270
T3AustraliaBrady WattAustralia70070-65-66-69--270
5FinlandToni HakulaFinland70074-68-66-64--272

View full results for Porter Cup

ABOUT THE Porter Cup

One of the premier amateur events in the nation, this 72-hole stroke play invitational has lots of extra activities that give this event a special flavor. The winning player receives a green blazer, as well as an invitation to the Master of the Amateurs tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Pre-tournament qualifying is a few weeks prior to the event and approximately five spots are available. Starting in 2023, the men's and women's Porter Cup championships are run concurrently with 54 players in each field and alternating tee times. It's been exciting seeing the top players in each division in final pairings on the par-3 18th hole at Niagara Falls CC, with large galleries always appreciative of the rising talent.

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