The 2022 RDGA District Championship arrived at the Country Club of Rochester (CCR) last week, bringing with it the inaugural RDGA Hall of Fame Ceremony, as well as memories of a past champion who won the title on his home course 40 years ago – later lending his name to the tournament.
On the eve of this year’s RDGA District Championship, many local golf community leaders met at CCR on July 12 to induct the first eight members of the RDGA Hall of Fame. Among many greats, both living and passed, were four individuals with close ties to the host club, including women’s amateur champion Jean Trainor, professional champion Walter Hagen, long-time Head Professional Sam Urzetta, and men’s amateur great Don Allen, who recently passed away.
Also inducted were local amateur greats John Kircher and Jim Scorse; administrator, Rules official and past chair of U.S. Open and LPGA Championships held in Rochester, Jerry Stahl; and Mike Sorce, a tireless RDGA volunteer, past President, current Rules official and chairman of the RDGA Foundation.
Championship week at CCR also brought back memories of the late John H. Ryan Jr. who, 40 years ago this summer, captured his second consecutive RDGA District Championship on his home course at CCR, then lost his life to a boating accident two weeks later at age 20. Since then, The RDGA District Championship has honored his memory by adding the title of John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial.
The District Championship concluded July 16 with a memorable final round battle between some of the top men’s amateurs in the Rochester area.
Following Friday’s 36-hole cut to the low 40 players and ties, Saturday’s third and final round opened with just one player – Christian Chapman of Cobblestone Creek Country Club – under par over the first two days of competition. After opening with a 2-over-par 72 on Thursday, Chapman roared to the top of the leaderboard Friday with a 5-under-par 65 to enter the final round with a 3-shot lead over his nearest competitor.
On Saturday, as Chapman was completing a 1-over-par first nine that included a birdie at No.2 and double bogey at 3, the three players that began the round closest to him – Alex Zurat, Nick Sortino and Kevin Peters – also struggled to tread water.
Meanwhile, two players were surging to challenge Chapman down the stretch.
CCR member Jack Gianniny birdied the third hole and bogied the fourth to gain one shot on Chapman at the turn. At the same time, Webster’s Bobby McCartney also applied pressure with a birdie on No.1, followed by an eagle on No.2 and eventually completing the first nine at 1-under-par – gaining two shots on Chapman.
On the second nine on Saturday, most players struggled as the continued warm, dry and breezy conditions helped firm up the greens to make putting difficult on the final day. Gianniny was one of the few to figure out the greens on his home course Saturday afternoon, finishing with the day’s low score – a 1-under-par 69 – for a 4-over-par 214 total for the tournament. McCartney also struggled on the second nine Saturday but still managed to finish with even-par 70 and a 2-over 212 for the Championship.
All of it, however, was not enough to unseat Chapman from his position atop the leaderboard – even though he, too, struggled Saturday to finish at 74. A couple of clutch putts helped him finish with a 1-over-par 211 total for the Championship and secure a 2-shot victory for his first RDGA District Championship title.
This year’s RDGA Championship field was a study in contrasts with the youngest to make the cut being 14-year-old Barrett Paolini – as well as players up to the age of 68-year-old Mark Battle, who also made the cut.
Leading the way was five-time RDGA District Champion Jim Scorse – who earlier in the week was inducted into the RDGA Hall of Fame. Scorse posted rounds of 74-70-71 for a 5-over-par 215 total to finish in a tie for fourth place and win the medal for low senior player (age 55 and above).
Following his victory, Chapman, who earlier this summer won the RDGA Match Play Championship title, indicated that this might have been his final title as an amateur, as he plans to head south this winter to work on his game and consider his options as a pro tour player.
In an emotional victory speech, Chapman thanked all his supporters, family, friends – and the RDGA – for helping him and supporting him to get to this place in his career.
“I would especially like to thank my parents,” he added, “for all they did to support me from the time I was a junior golfer to now and to give me this opportunity.”
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