When professional golf was in its infancy, a common refrain on the circuit was “Send the trophy to Westchester” because of the number of local pros who won the US Open and other events. Today, the same could be said of Westchester collegiate amateurs whose accomplishments in July alone represent a significant trend.
James Nicholas again hoists the Arcola Cup. Photo courtesy of Gary Weir, Westchester CC.
James Nicholas, a Yale junior from Scarsdale who plays out of Westchester Country Club, captured the Arcola Cup for the second year in a row early in July. After tying at six under after 36 holes in regulation, Nicholas made a 10 foot birdie putt to win over Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow CC. Nicholas won last year with another six-under 138 to finish two shots ahead of fellow New Yorker Darin Goldstein. The win was a key factor toward 2017 MGA Player of the Year honors for Nicholas.
Next up was Cameron Young, a rising senior at Wake Forest and son of Sleepy Hollow CC head pro David Young, who became only the seventh amateur to win the Westchester Open in its 96-year history. His 7-stroke runaway win started with a first-round course record 63 at Sunningdale CC. Last year, Young tied the course record at Bethpage Black en route to winning the NY State Open.
Cameron Young ties Sunningdale course record to win Westchester Open. Photo courtesy of the Westchester Golf Association.
David Pastore of Fairview — also a Westchester Open winner as an amateur — played as a pro and earned the $7,200 top prize as low professional at 5-under 205. Amateur Ryan Rodriguez of Mansion Ridge tied for third overall with Casey Pyne of Stanwich and defending champion Danny Balin of Westchester Country Club and John Stoltz of Shawangunk finished tied fifth at 2-under 208.
Kyra Cox repeats her triumph at the NY State Women’s Amateur. Photo courtesy of the NYS Golf Association.
When Kyra Cox of South Salem starts her college career in August at Furman University in Greenville, SC, she might need an extra dorm room just for golf trophies. The latest addition to the trophy shelf is for the NY State Women’s Amateur Championship she won in mid-July. The wire-to-wire seven-stroke win at Yahnundasis Golf Club was actually the second NYS Women’s Am triumph for the John Jay High graduate, the first coming in 2015 — when she was a high school freshman.
Cox is the top-ranked player in New York and earned all-state accolades the last two seasons as the top player on the John Jay High Boys’ team.