In a week that saw multiple weather delays, a canceled second round and even a tornado warning, a NYS Men’s Amateur Champion was finally crowned at Wanakah Country Club. 

Aidan Spampinato of Cobblestone Creek Country Club completed a wire-to-wire victory, breaking through to hoist the Ganson Depew Cup. 

Spampinato, who turns 22 in August, set the tone for the week with an opening round 67 (-5). The senior at Methodist University went 72-71 across the final two rounds to gain the edge on a seasoned, hard-charging field and claim his first New York State title. 

Unplayable conditions on Wednesday knocked the typically 72 hole tournament down to 54, and another two hour delay on Thursday nearly pushed play into Friday morning. Spampinato did not hit a single shot before play was called off on Day 2 and was through only two holes of his second round before the horn sounded for the delay on Friday morning. 

When play finally did resume, Spampinato navigated damp conditions to put the finishing touches on his performance. While he periodically dropped out of the lead during Friday’s 36-hole marathon, Spampinato refused to give in, making five final round birdies. 

“I just kept trying to plug away, obviously I had a lead but it was so small for most of the tournament,” said Spampinato, shortly after the trophy ceremony. “I knew I had to keep the pedal down and not get too caught up in being in the lead.” 

Due to the weather delay, Spampinato teed off for his final round after 5:00 pm. While a finish before sunset was in doubt, play moved along nicely and Spampinato carried a two-stroke lead into the final hole. He rolled in his final putt on 18 in rapidly dissipating sunlight in front of a lively gallery of over 100 spectators, many of whom were Wanakah club members. 

“To have my name on that trophy for the rest of time, alongside so many great names is really special to me,” said the newly crowned champion. 

The victory punched Spampinato’s ticket to the 2024 U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. 

James Allen of Scarsdale Golf Club, and a past Men’s Amateur Champion finished as the co-runner up alongside Alex Zurat of Oak Hill Country Club. 

Allen, who hoisted the Ganson Depew Cup at Schuyler Meadows in 2021, fired a 72-68-71 tournament for a 211 total (-5). The Penn State Nittany Lion had possession of the lead at one point deep into the final round, but made back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 to fall one behind Spampinato. 

Zurat, who put together three rounds under par, executed a difficult, short-sided chip-in for eagle on 14 to shoot into contention. Like Allen, Zurat also suffered deflating back-to-back bogeys in the final stretch to fall out of the lead. He regrouped for a birdie on 18, gaining one back and finishing one stroke off the lead. His official line was 71-70-70 (-5). 

Another past champion, John Duthie, of Cornell University Golf Course put together a four under tournament to finish in third place. Jack Angelucci of Yahnundasis Golf Club and Josh German of the Meadow Brook Club tied in fifth place at three under par. Nolan Forsman of Winged Foot Golf Club was the final player to finish in red numbers, concluding his tournament in solo seventh at two under. 

The low 20 finishers and ties earn an exception into next year’s Men’s Amateur Championship, which is scheduled to take place at Teugega Country Club in Rome, N.Y. 

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