Scorse Soars to Seventh RDGA Mid Am Title at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club

Stafford's Jim Scorse celebrates his seventh RDGA Mid Amateur Championship title after finishing with a two-shot advantage at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club on August 12, 2018.

CLICK HERE for the full LEADERBOARD from the 2018 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship

CLICK HERE for a PHOTO GALLERY from the 2018 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship

CLICK HERE for a post-tournament INTERVIEW with 2018 Mid Am Champion Jim Scorse

CLICK HERE for a feature article on tournament host SODUS BAY HEIGHTS GOLF CLUB

For most of the opening round of the two-day, 36-hole 2018 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club - which is open to male amateurs ages 25 and above - it looked as though the event might be affected by adverse weather conditions for the third year in a row.

As play began on Friday, August 17, rain was coming down at a steady rate - adding to the nearly six inches of rain that had fallen on the course earlier in the week. Thanks to the efforts of first-year course Superintendent Todd VanKouwenberg, however, the course remained not only playable throughout the remainder of the Championship - but provided a stern, but fair test for the field.

By the conclusion of the Championship on Saturday, August 18, Stafford Country Club member Jim Scorse proved himself equal to any challenge posed by the venerable 94-year-old Sodus Bay Heights, as he captured his seventh RDGA Mid Amateur Championship title, finishing two shots ahead of his nearest competitor.

The first round of the 36-hole 2018 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship was completed despite the steady rain - and produced a tightly-packed leaderboard that featured many of the top names in local amateur golf.

Playing from the par-72 Black Tees at 6,682 yards, four players grabbed a share of the lead after the first round, each with scores of 2-over-par 74: Kevin Peters of Ridgemont, Dan Wesley of Mendon Golf Club, Doug Slattery of Brook-Lea Country Club and Bob Zeman, playing on his home course at Sodus.

In all, 10 players were within two shots of the lead heading into the second and final round.

During Saturday's second round, Scorse staged an impressive comeback, overcoming a 3-over-par 75 in Friday's first round. Scorse recorded four birdies and one bogey en route to a 3-under-par 69 on Saturday to finish at even-par 144 for the Championship.

Jim Scorse drained this 6-footer for birdie on No.9 during the final round of the 2018 RDGA Mid Am at Sodus Bay Heights on August 18. It was one of his four birdies in the round en route to a 3-under-par 69.

Scorse, who had been struggling with his putter in the events leading up to the RDGA Mid Amateur, erased the memory of four bogies and one double bogey in the first round and found his putting stroke in Round Two - including draining a six-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth hole and an even more impressive 20-foot birdie on the par-4 18th hole.

Finishing two shots behind Scorse was Dan Wesley of Mendon Golf Club.

Wesley - who is also the University of Rochester Men's Golf Coach - began the day in a four-way share of the lead with Peters, Slattery and Zeman and posted an even-par 72 on Saturday to finish at 2-over-par 146 for the Championship.

Raymond Demonte of Monroe Golf Club finished in third place overall, adding a round of 72 to his first round score of 76 to finish at 4-over-par 148.

Each of the top three finishers also earned exemptions into the 2019 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial at Penfield Country Club.

For Scorse, this victory represented his seventh title in the RDGA Mid Amateur Championship since the inception of the event in 2007 - including wins in 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015. This was also his second RDGA Championship title of the 2018 season, having also won the RDGA Match Play Championship in May on his home course at Stafford.

One of the RDGA's annual major championships, the District Mid Amateur is open to top male amateurs age 25 or above.

The RDGA wishes to thank the staff and members of Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club - including PGA Head Professional Ben Wilson and Club Manager Mike Munger - for their hospitality and efforts to help make this year's RDGA Mid Amateur Championship a success.

A beautifully-maintained Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club played host to the 2018 RDGA Mid Amateur Championship on August 17 and 18. In spite of some early first-round rain, the conditions were perfect for Championship golf.

Rochester District Golf Association

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