Jim Scorse
(NYSGA Photo)

And his 3-under 69 was just good enough.

Scorse began the round tied with Locust Hill’s Adam Condello, both at 3-under par. On the first hole, Condello jumped to a quick 2-stroke lead with a birdie to Scorse’s bogey, who failed to get up-and-down from the front bunker.

communications /NEWSHome » About » Communications » NewsSCORSE WINS 2016 NYS MID-AMATEUR AT STAFFORDSeptember 25, 2016Stafford, NY – Jim Scorse knew that he wouldn’t be able to coast his way to victory in the 33rd NYS Mid-Amateur, even at Stafford CC, his home course. He was going to have to play his best to beat the field.

And his 3-under 69 was just good enough.

Scorse began the round tied with Locust Hill’s Adam Condello, both at 3-under par. On the first hole, Condello jumped to a quick 2-stroke lead with a birdie to Scorse’s bogey, who failed to get up-and-down from the front bunker.

The final leaderboard

Condello played steadily with the lead making par after par. Scorse got back to 3-under with a birdie on the par-5 5th, and then pulled even with Condello after another birdie on the par-4 6th. Scorse would fall 1-stroke back after another bad bogey on the 7th, a relatively easy par-5.

The pair would continue to make pars until Scorse made an eagle on the 15th, a short, dog-leg left par-5. Condello made par, so Scorse now had a 1-stroke lead. Both made par on the long par-4 16th, as well as the par-4 17th.

The 18th at Stafford is a 280 yard par-4, with a blind tee shot to a well bunkered green. Scorse had the honor on the tee, and nearly drove the green with his ball settling just over the green on the right side. Condello drove over the left side of the green, and had a much more difficult chip to the front hole location.

Condello’s chip landed perfectly on the back edge of the green and started its decent to the front of the green. The ball tracked to the hole, but stopped just a few inches short. He would settle for birdie and a final round of 2-under 70, with included those two birdies and 16 pars.

To win, Scorse would need to get up-and-down for a three. Scorse’s short game had been his saving grace all day, with some incredible up-and-downs from very difficult spots. This final chip was played well, ending up just a couple feet to the hole. He made the putt to win by one, earning his second NYS Mid-Amateur title.

The top-20 finishers in this year's championship earned exemptions into the 2017 NYS Mid-Amateur at Yahnundasis, and the top-10 are exempt from qualifying for the 2017 NYS Men's Amateur Championship.

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