For those media personnel looking for a story line, it lies about sixty miles east of East Aurora. The town of Pittsford can claim three of the top sixteen scores from round one of qualifying at the International Junior Masters. The event, in its 62nd playing, features a second medal round tomorrow morning before contestants are grouped into match-play flights, according to scores.
Patrick DiPasquale (73), Will Thomson (75) and Gunnar Doyle (77) did their hometown near Rochester proud during a windy round of golf. Thomson is the defending tournament champion, but in Pittsford, he’s just another one of the guys. Two weeks ago, he finished t43 in the Monroe Invitational, an elite amateur event. Tied with DiPasquale for the top spot are Mackenzie Carter of Cobourg, Ontario, and local standout Ben Reichert. Reichert won both the ECIC and Section VI titles this school year, and is looking for a triple crown of sorts.
Another local product, Marc Holzhauer, sits close behind at 76. Holzhauer attended Park School in Amherst for two years, before heading south to Winter Garden, Florida, to take classes and hone his game. A number of other Buffalo-area golfers are within striking distance of the Championship flight, including Brad Belote (79) of Lancaster, Matthew Genaway (79) of Darien Center and Chris Yustin (79) of East Amherst. Visit the #2015IJM website for tomorrow’s tee times and complete results from round one.