For the first time since 1999, the Upper New York State team defeated Ontario 15-5 in the Ada Mackenzie golf matches at East Aurora Country Club Monday and Tuesday.
The New York team jumped out to a 5-0 lead after Monday’s opening day, dominating the Chapman (alternate shot) format.
Going into Tuesday Four Ball (best ball), team captain Kitty Colliflower said it marked the first time in the years she has played that the New York team swept points on the first day.
“We had a great day but with 15 points on Tuesday we couldn’t rest on our laurels,” said Colliflower, who has been team captain for the past 15 years.
Team New York included five players from the Capital Region who have earned state and regional tournament titles, including Mary Sicard of Glens Falls, Mary Scatena of Pinehaven and Susan Kahler, Kathy Harkins and Heidi Harkins of Ballston Spa. Rounding out the team were Colliflower of Oak Hill, Kim Kaul of East Aurora, Jan Lavigne of Ravenwood, Tammy Blyth of Monroe Golf Club and Julie Hamm of Durand Eastman (Rochester).
Sicard and Blyth grabbed all three points on day 2 and the remaining teams all took at least one point to secure the victory in the Solheim Cup-style format.
“We knew going into today that we needed 5.5 points out of 15 to win,” Kahler said. “I felt like our team was very cohesive this year. We spent a lot of time together.”
Named for a Canadian Ada Mackenzie, a pioneer of women’s golf who won international and Canadian golf championships during a long and distinguished career, the event dates back to 1959. Players representing New York have traditionally been members of clubs from the Rochester/Buffalo area.
John Lawrence, a tournament director from Golf Ontario, brought the trophy to Buffalo for the match, stayed for the weekend and posted photos to the…
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