by Cassie Stein, GolfWeek Rain rain go away. From Lewiston to Merion, Mother Nature is effecting play all over the country Thursday. The Women’s Porter Cup was in a two-hour weather delay at 8:30 this morning. Less than an hour later, it was decided that play would be cancelled for the day. Therefore, the inaugural Women’s Porter Cup will be shortened to 36 holes after rain fell from the middle of the night to about 10 a.m. It’s not raining too heavy anymore, but it’s still a constant drizzle. There has been so much rain at Niagara Falls Country Club this year that the grounds crew’s rain gauge is broken. So they can’t tell how much rain has fallen, but it’s a lot. The day won’t be a waste for the women. They will head to the Maid of the Mist this afternoon, a boat ride that takes you under Niagara Falls. More rain – or in this case – a lot of water. Play will resume Friday at 8 a.m. The players might tee off on No. 10 for the start of the final round, as the back nine dries out more quickly – giving the grounds crew more time to work on the front nine, if needed.

By Jay Skurski | News Sports Reporter | @JaySkurski Scott Harvey got to the tee on the par-4 17th hole at Niagara Falls Country Club on Wednesday with his usual plan. “Make a five,” Harvey joked. That’s how difficult No. 17 – with out of bounds looming on both sides of the fairway – can be. Harvey, though, did much better than that during the first round of the Porter Cup. His 7-iron from 175 yards out found the bottom of the cup for an eagle, the highlight of a 6-under round of 64 that gives him a one-shot lead after 18 holes. “You can’t see it from the fairway. You can see the top of the flagstick, but that’s it,” Harvey said. “I knew I hit a decent shot. I definitely didn’t think it was in. … Generally with that hole, I just plan on making a five, it’s such a hard hole. I make five way more than I make four, so to make a two, that’s crazy.” Harvey followed up his eagle with a long birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole. “Today could have been even par just as easily as it was a 64,” he said. “I had a couple bad bounces here and there, but I had some really good things happen right there at the end.” Harvey knows how important the closing stretch of holes at NFCC can be. The 37-year-old mid-amateur from Kernersville, N.C., is playing in his seventh Porter Cup. While it may surprise some that a mid-am is leading a field of some of the best amateur players in the country, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s Harvey. In the past year alone, he’s won the United States Golf Association’s Mid-Amateur – getting an invitation to this year’s Masters – and the South American Amateur championship. “About a year and a half ago I changed my swing just a little bit,” Harvey said, trying to explain the run he’s been on. “I held the clubface a little more square up top. That’s enabled me to play better in bigger events. My misses aren’t as bad and I’m just a little bit more consistent.” Harvey, who works in real estate in his home state, is one shot up on fellow North Carolinian Trevor Cone and Pittsford’s Gavin Hall after the first round. Cone, a 22-year-old graduate of the University of Virginia, closed with a ridiculous stretch of 5-under on the final five holes. That included an eagle on the par-4 15th hole, his second eagle of his round. Cone needed just 13 strokes over the last five holes. “These guys are all great players,” Harvey said. “They’re going to go low. It doesn’t matter the course or the condition. There’s going to be some really low rounds tomorrow and the rest of the week, so I’m not really getting ahead of myself. … My mindset was just to play really well to keep up with the kids. I’m off to a good start, but there’s a long way to go.” Twenty-eight players broke par on a hot, sometimes breezy day on the Niagara Escarpment. Among the three players at 4-under and two strokes back is Blair Hamilton, a 21-year-old from nearby Burlington, Ont., who last week made the cut at the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey. “It was a pretty special experience,” Hamilton said. “I live about 15 minutes away from Glen Abbey. To have the hometown crowd, so many friends and family out there watching and supporting me … it was really kind of living out a dream.” Hamilton, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Houston, also picked up a new putter at the Glen Abbey pro shop, and so far it’s been a wise investment. Starting with a 15-footer for birdie on the second hole, he knocked in six more birdies during his round, several on long putts. Five more players sit three shots back at 3-under 67 on a day when the scoring average of 78 players was just over par, at 70.74. In the group at 3-under is 21-year-old Ryan Troyer of Dover, Ohio. He got into the field of this Porter Cup the hard way, by shooting a 68 at last month’s qualifying tournament. Troyer jump-started his round with an eagle on the par-5 third hole when his second shot left him just a 10-foot putt. He followed that with birdies on Nos. 5, 7 and 8 to go out in 5-under 30. His momentum stalled with a double bogey on the par-3 12th hole. “I just hit a bad 9-iron in a place I couldn’t hit it,” he said. “I knew I couldn’t hit it there, and I did anyway. … I played well all day. On the back I didn’t give myself as many looks for birdie, but it was a solid round.” Troyer, who attends Malone University, is ranked 4,379th by the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking, so it’s safe to call him an underdog in a field with top-100 players. “I knew I’d have a chance to put up some good numbers this week,” he said. “It is difficult playing with these guys, because you know they’re going to put up these good numbers, but you’ve just got to play your own game. This course really sets up well for me.” The second round begins at 8 a.m. Thursday, with tee times going through 12:35 p.m. email: jskurski@buffnews.com

By Jay Skurski | News Sports Reporter | @JaySkurski Jake Katz’s return to competitive golf was predictably sporadic Wednesday. There was some good – like a 20-foot birdie putt on the second hole. But unfortunately for Katz, the bad moments outweighed the good in the first round of the Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. The 26-year-old from Williamsville carded an opening-round of 6-over-par 76 in one of his first competitive rounds since regaining his amateur status earlier this year. Katz abandoned his goal of playing professionally in the spring last year, meaning it’s been 15 months since he’s been in the type of pressure situations the Porter Cup presents. “It’s fun to get the competitive juices going,” he said. “This is my first real crack at being an amateur again, so it’s fun. … It was cool to have every shot, every putt mean something again.” Katz admitted before the tournament about being worried about what type of shape his game would be in. His day job as a financial planner has kept him from practicing much. “My game has not been good,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s not where I want it to be. The clubface feels like it can turn over and a quick hook is right around the corner. I’ve been fighting it off. I battled early on, then lost some steam in the middle of the round.” The par-5s proved to be Katz’s undoing. He played those three holes in 2-over – a big disappointment for a player with Katz’s length off the tee. “I had four ‘sixs,’ which is never good,” he said. “But I birdied No. 5, then had good birdie chances on seven, eight and nine and couldn’t get any of them to go.” Katz made the turn in 1-over 36, but struggled to a 5-over 40 coming in. The big mistake came on the par-4 17th hole when he drove the ball out of bounds. “I just hit one way, way right,” he said. “It just got away from me coming in.” Back in 2010, Katz played in the final group – the last local player to seriously contend. Wednesday’s 76 marked the highest score he’s ever shot at NFCC, by his own recollection. Leading the way among the local players was East Amherst’s Danny Yustin, who shot a round of 2-under 68 and is in a tie for 12th, four shots behind leader Scott Harvey. Yustin overcame a double bogey on the par-5 11th hole with birdies on the par-5 13th and par-4 15th to keep together a solid round. Clarence’s Marc Holzhauer, Lewiston’s Mike Boss and East Amherst’s Ben Reichert are part of a tie for 48th after they each opened with a round of 2-over 72, while Silver Creek’s Jamie Miller carded a 5-over 75. … History was made at the Porter Cup on Wednesday. For the first time ever, players were permitted to wear shorts. That’s what happens when the mercury rises to 90 degrees, as it did Wednesday along the Niagara Escarpment. Tournament director Steve Denn made the call to permit shorts Tuesday after looking at the forecast, which calls for another day in the upper 80s Thursday. Some of the Southern players in the field, however, got a chuckle about the conditions. “They’re complaining about the heat up here? I think it feels great,” said Kyle Mueller of Watkinsville, Ga. “I thought about wearing pants, just to carry on the tradition.” … The 477-yard par-4 ninth hole played the most difficult Wednesday, to a stroke average of 4.36, while the par-4 15th hole was easiest, at 3.71. email: jskurski@buffnews.com

By Jay Skurski, Buffalo News With the 56th Porter Cup in the books, it’s natural for attention to turn to No. 57. That will be Steve Denn’s 15th as tournament director, and it probably won’t be his last. “It’s a labor of love, obviously,” Denn said. “This year was a little bit more difficult, quite frankly, than in prior years – partly because of the condition of the course back in May. That’s when the light switch always seemed to go off – ‘OK, it’s Porter Cup mode, I need to start really focusing on getting the tournament going.’ “Right now, I’m fully committed. I don’t see any end in sight.” Ben Eccles hits a shot to the green on the 15th hole during the final round of the Porter Cup at the Niagara Falls Country Club. (James P. McCoy/ Buffalo News) Denn’s job comes with a great deal of pressure. He’s expected to produce a field every year that ranks as one of the best in the country. “Quite frankly, I don’t think there’s anybody else who wants the job,” he joked. “I know there’s a lot of responsibility with regard to upholding the traditions of the tournament and everything, so it’s a role that I relish. “Obviously I grew up with the tournament, so I’m going to do everything I can to make sure the prestige is upheld. Everybody, they want to give back in some way to the community or to whatever their cause may be. I’ve been on earth now for 45 years and I’m looking at the things that I love, and outside of my family, the Porter Cup is next. That’s going to be the way I choose to give back at least for the foreseeable future.” During the second Women’s Porter Cup in June, Denn served as a caddy for eventual winner Brooke Henderson in the first two rounds. “These are my roots,” he said at the time. “I don’t get to do that kind of stuff during the men’s Porter Cup, so I like to. I’ve got such fond memories when I was a little kid, even as a spotter. Spotters are kind of a boring job and I used to love it. I sat on the fourth hole and I was probably 8 or 9 and I used to go out and fix the player’s ball marks as they hit into the green, just to kind of occupy the time. I was just so into it.” One of Denn’s biggest challenges this year was the condition of the course back in the spring. The brutal Western New York winter caused severe damage to 16 of Niagara Falls Country Club’s greens. “I had at least five or six players or parents contact me asking me if the Porter Cup was going to be cancelled,” Denn said. “Personally, I was nervous. We got a late start to a lot of things, but the course has rebounded tremendously.” During the awards ceremony Saturday after Australian Geoff Drakeford’s one-stroke victory, Denn had those in attendance give a standing ovation to Dave Meteer, the superintendent of grounds and maintenance. He’s to be commended for a great job,” Denn said. “He’s a workhorse.” … The William J. McMahon Porter Cup Award, which is given annually to the qualifying medalist of the previous year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur championship, went to Matt Mattare. Named after a co-founder and long-time director of the Porter Cup, the award includes a contribution to the charity of the recipient’s choice. Mattare finished in a tie for 36th, at 4-over 284. The second annual Tom Denn Award, which is given out to a recipient who has shown loyalty and commitment to the Porter Cup, went to Bill Harvey posthumously. It was accepted Tuesday night at the player’s dinner by Scott Harvey, Bill’s son. … The low local player in the field was East Amherst’s Danny Yustin, who carded an even-par 70 in the final round to finish in a tie for 18th place, at even-par 280 for the tournament. As a result, Yustin will receive an invitation to next year’s tournament. The top 25 and ties receive the invitation, with the cutoff this year being 1-over 281. Other local players in the field included: Silver Creek’s Jamie Miller (tied for 38th after a 71 Saturday gave him a 5-over 285), East Amherst’s Patrick Sheedy and Clarence’s Matt Stasiak (part of a tie for 59th), Lewiston’s Mike Boss (68th), East Amherst’s Raman Luthra (tied for 69th) and Buffalo’s PJ Alterio (75th). … Saturday’s final round was statistically the most difficult, playing a course average of 71.75 strokes. For the second straight day, the par-4 ninth hole was the most difficult, playing to an average of 4.55 strokes. As it did all tournament, the par-5 third hole was the easiest, averaging 4.53 strokes Saturday.

By Cassie Stein, Golfweek Geoff Drakeford showed no signs of slowing down Friday. Geoff Drakeford during the third round of the 56th Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. (Alexander Fisher) Drakeford, of Australia, fired a 2-under 68 in the third round of the 56th annual Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club to take a three-shot lead into Saturday’s final round. Drakeford is 9 under for the tournament. After opening with a pair of pars on Friday, Drakeford used the par-5 third hole to get his round jumpstarted. With fellow competitor Jarrod Freeman, a fellow Aussie who had completed his third round early in the day, on his bag, Drakeford was able to overcome a poor tee shot on the third, getting his second shot to the green by going under one tree and over a second. He two-putted from there for a birdie. “We are great mates (he and Jarrod),” Drakeford said. “We just talk, not about golf and it just takes your mind off the whole golf thing. “… I just really calmed down after that shot on 3 today, and it was good.” Drakeford took a two-shot lead into the turn and got to double digits under par at the par-5 13th, hitting a 3-wood on a string from 237 yards, setting up a 10-footer for eagle, which he drained. “From there I thought I was going to keep cruising, but I hit a couple of bad putts coming in,” Drakeford added. His late bogeys came the Nos. 14 and 17. Others in the final group didn’t bode as well as Drakeford on Friday. Local favorite Gavin Hall finished with a 72 to get in at 4 under, while Denny McCarthy finished at 2 under after a 73. It was players in the Noon starting time that shot up the leaderboard. David Boote, a rising junior at Stanford from England, shot his third consecutive 68, while Ben Eccles, of Australia, shot 67 to sit in second at 6-under 204 – three shots back of Drakeford. Boote talked to former Cardinal and 2011 Porter Cup champion Patrick Rodgers prior to his first start at Niagara Falls Country Club. “He said to keep the ball in play and not be too aggressive off the tees,” said Boote “And just make sure you have a shot into the green every time. “I have absolutely taken that advice to heart this week.” Boote and Eccles will just need to “go low” according to Boote in order to catch Drakeford, who is ranked No. 67 in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings. Drakeford will try and become the first Aussie to win the green jacket on Saturday since Simon Nash in 2002. “I just need to do what I’ve done and stay confident and just cruise my way around and don’t get ahead of yourself,” Drakeford said.

By Jay Skurski | News Sports Reporter | @JaySkurski There will be a youth movement of sorts at this year’s Porter Cup. Of the 76 players scheduled as of the middle of this month to appear in this year’s 57th annual tournament, more than half the field, 39, are playing in their first Porter Cup. Another 18 will participate for just the second time. That’s simply a sign of the times, according to tournament director Steve Denn. “They’re turning pro earlier,” Denn said. “The ‘Jordan Spieth factor’ is what we as amateur golf tournament directors have to deal with. He spent one year at the University of Texas, and obviously he’s an extremely talented player, but I think the confidence level of all these players is such that ‘if Spieth can do it, I can do it.’ ” That means spending four years in college – especially for the elite players – is becoming less of a certainty. Denn pointed out another good example in Patrick Rodgers, the 2011 Porter Cup champion. “He vowed that he was going to get his degree from the University of Stanford, and he lasted three years” before turning professional, Denn said. “The pull of the pro game is just too much. Justin Thomas is another guy. He was here for two Porter Cups, but guys staying four years, especially the elite players who have aspirations to play professionally, we’re seeing them go a little bit earlier.” That has meant Denn finds himself looking more at the results of junior tournaments. “When I see potential openings that we have in our field, all things considered, if we have a guy who’s a junior versus a guy who’s maybe an incoming freshman, we’re going to lean toward inviting the freshman because we like to have some continuity where we have players visit us for more than one year,” he said. That way players “really get to know their host family and spend some time with them.” That lure of professional paychecks has also made it more difficult to identify the top-level mid-amateur players, those 25 and older who have no aspirations, or at least have none yet, to turn pro. There are 14 such players in this year’s field. “Mid-amateurs have kind of – I don’t want to say they’ve gone the way of dinosaur – but they’re becoming more and more difficult to identify,” Denn said. “We want to honor the traditions of amateurism. I don’t think you can do so any more than inviting the mid-amateurs, the ‘career’ amateurs.” Among the mid-amateurs in this year’s field are well-known local players Jake Katz and Jamie Miller. Katz, 26, has regained his amateur status after attempting a professional career and has the best recent finish among locals, when he tied for 10th in 2010. Miller, 30, is the reigning New York State Golf Association men’s mid-amateur champion. They will look to become the first local winner in 50 years, since Ward Wettlaufer in 1965. Here is a list of 10 more contenders, in alphabetical order. • Derek Bard: A 20-year-old from New Hartford, Bard is the 2015 Sunnehanna Amateur champion. A junior at the University of Virginia, Bard is 26th in the most recent Scratch Players World Amateur ranking. “It’s nice to see some of these New York guys represent themselves and their schools well on the national stage,” Denn said. • Ben Eccles: Australia usually sends a strong contingent, and this year is no different. Eccles played in the final group last year, eventually finishing in a tie for fourth place behind countryman Geoff Drakeford. Eccles is ranked 59th by SPWAR. Drakeford turned professional shortly after his victory in 2014 and won’t be back to defend his title. • Gavin Hall: The 20-year-old from Pittsford is playing in his fourth Porter Cup and has never finished worst than a tie for ninth. • Scott Harvey: The top mid-amateur in the field, Harvey has had an amazing run over the past year. His victory in the 2014 USGA Mid-Amateur championship earned him an invitation to this year’s Masters. He also traveled to Peru in January and the South American Amateur championship. The 37-year-old from North Carolina, who will play in his seventh Porter Cup, should be a lock to make the U.S. Walker Cup team, which will be named later this summer. “He’s been riding quite a hot streak,” Denn said. • Carter Jenkins: A 20-year-old junior at the University of North Carolina, Jenkins has won both the North Carolina and Carolinas amateur championships, the latter his third straight in that event, making him the first player since 1923 with that many wins. He’s ranked 83rd by SPWAR and is “one of the hottest players in the country right now,” according to Denn. • Dru Love: The son of PGA Tour veteran Davis Love III, Dru Love is a 21-year-old junior at the University of Alabama. He won this year’s Georgia State Amateur. • Denny McCarthy: If there were a betting favorite, it would be McCarthy, a 22-year-old from Rockville, Md., who’s making his fifth Porter Cup appearance and would desperately like to win it before turning professional this fall. McCarthy had a pair of runner-up finishes, in 2014 and 2012, and is the highest-ranked player in this year’s field, at No. 8 by SPWAR. Earlier this summer, he made the cut and finished in a tie for 42nd at the U.S. Open. “I think the top of anybody’s list of hopefuls is Denny McCarthy,” Denn said. “ He loves the event and obviously we love hosting him. He’s a very impressive player and very impressive young man.” • Will Murphy: The University of South Carolina graduate is the 2014 Sunnehanna champion and is currently ranked 69th by SPWAR. • Alejandro Tosti: The 19-year-old from Argentina – one of seven countries represented in this year’s field – is ranked 29th by SPWAR and won the 2014 Stroke Amateur championship in his homeland. He’s a sophomore at the University of Florida. • Danny Yustin: Of the six local players in the field, Yustin has to be considered the one with the best chance. The 22-year-old from East Amherst graduated this year from the University of Hartford. He’s in the field thanks to a tie for 18th place last year (those making the top 20 are invited back). Yustin recently shot an 8-under 62 in the final round of the Eastern Amateur, eventually losing in a playoff to James Clark (who’s also in this week’s field). “That’s a national-caliber tournament … so to shoot 62 and ultimately finish in second place is pretty impressive,” Denn said. “He’s a pretty exciting player. He’s got a chance.” email: jskurski@buffnews.com

Drakeford tops field of 75 amateur golfers By Jay Skurski, Buffalo News Geoff Drakeford of Australia plays an iron shot on the 16th hole on his way to the Porter Cup championship Saturday at the Niagara Falls Country Club. (James P. McCoy/ Buffalo News) Geoff Drakeford avoided looking at a leader board all week at the Porter Cup – until approaching the green on his 72nd and final hole Saturday. He was greeted with good news when he got there. The 22-year-old Australian held a two-shot lead over countryman Ben Eccles, meaning only a respective bogey-birdie finish could keep Drakeford from donning the winner’s green jacket at Niagara Falls Country Club. With Eccles looking at a long birdie putt from the fringe and Drakeford in the front-right bunker, there was still work to be done. Drakeford blasted out to 4 feet, and had two putts from there to win when Eccles’ birdie putt came up short. The easy-going Australian needed them both, but ultimately came away with what he called the biggest victory of his career. Drakeford finished at 8-under 272 for the week, a shot clear of University of Virginia senior Denny McCarthy and University of Texas sophomore Beau Hossler. Drakeford is the first Australian to win since Simon Nash in 2002. “It feels really good,” said Drakeford, who finished runner-up in the 2013 Australian Amateur. “It’s been a long time since a win has come around, so it’s a great feeling. I haven’t felt like this for a long time.” Drakeford came into the round thinking he’d need to shoot 1- or 2-under – “anything in the red” – to win. He ultimately finished at 1-over, proving true the old adage that the Porter Cup doesn’t really start until the leaders reach the par-3 16th hole. “Nerves were fine all the way through,” Drakeford said, until he “got to the last three holes and I was starting to feel it a little bit more.” Eccles, a 19-year-old from Torquay, Australia, put the pressure on with a birdie on the par-3 15th hole to close within a shot. “I knew I had to push him basically all day,” Eccles said. “Geoff’s been playing well all summer, and it was only a matter of time before he had a win. It was nice to be in contention and I had a really good week, so I’m happy with myself.” Eccles’ tee shot on the par-3 16th found the putting surface, while Drakeford drove it into the right bunker. He was able to blast out to 5 feet for a crucial sand save, while Eccles’ birdie putt just missed. “Standing on 16 tee, I had a good feeling,” Eccles said. “I made a good putt, it just didn’t go in.” On the par-4 17th, Drakeford went the safe route and hit an iron down the middle. Eccles went with driver, and it landed literally inches from going out of bounds to the right. “I had just been trying to stick to what I’ve been doing, and I hit a bad shot off the tee,” he said. He wasn’t able to recover after chipping out, missing his par putt that gave Drakeford the breathing room he would need going to No. 18. With the out of bounds of Lewiston Road looming to the left, Drakeford hit an 8-iron into the front bunker. Once he was safely out, the tournament was effectively his. Eccles ended up with a bogey for a round of even par 70, leaving him in fourth place. McCarthy made the day’s big charge. His bogey-free 65 was the low score of the final round. “I just played a solid round. I put the ball in some good places, made some nice putts, and made some good par saves,” he said. “I missed a couple birdie chances I’d like to have back, but it’s out of my control now. I’m still really pleased with the way I’m playing.” McCarthy’s round came a day after he shot a 73, his highest score in four Porter Cup appearances. “I was reminded by a couple people that that was the worst round I ever shot out here,” he said with a laugh Saturday. “It’s pretty easy to forget about that with all the support. The people here are just great, so I came out with a clear mind and just did what I could do.” McCarthy was already thinking about making one more Cup run next year. “I’d definitely love to come back,” he said. “This is my favorite tournament.” Hossler might also be back. The 19-year-old from Mission Viejo, Calif., was an honorable mention All-American this year. He’s currently ranked No. 11 in the world. Hossler shot 2-under 68 Saturday, but was never able to make a move on the back nine, shooting 1-over coming in. Drakeford, meanwhile, won’t be back. His victory comes in one of his final amateur tournaments. He will play the Western Amateur in Chicago next week before returning home to Australia to gear up for the European Tour’s qualifying school, which begins in late September. “This is a big confidence boost,” said the world’s third-ranked amateur player. “I’m really looking forward to getting out on Tour.”

Harvey, Jenkins one back at Porter Cup By Jay Skurski | News Sports Reporter | @JaySkurski It’s shaping up to be a shootout over the final two rounds of the 57th Porter Cup. A second straight day of favorable conditions along the Niagara Escarpment led to another set of solid scores at Niagara Falls Country Club on Thursday, with Pittsford’s Gavin Hall holding a one-shot lead after 36 holes. Hall, a 20-year-old junior at Texas who made All-American honorable mention this past season, is at 8-under-par 132 after a round of 3-under 67 Thursday. Pittsford’s Gavin Hall was helped by a morning tee time. (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News) “I’ve always been comfortable on this course,” said Hall, who in his three previous Porter Cups has finished no worse than a tie for ninth. “I’m just happy to be in contention these next couple days.” Playing in the morning wave – a more-favorable draw as the wind began to gust in the afternoon – Hall came out hot. He birdied his first three holes and it looked for a time like his round could be something special. The momentum stalled, however, with a pair of bogeys as he made the turn at 1-under 34 on the opening nine. He rebounded nicely with three birdies against only one bogey on the inward nine. “I was grinding a little bit,” Hall said. “The wind started to pick up on the back nine a little bit more and the pins were bucket, but I made some great putts.” A key for Hall and any of the other contenders over the final two rounds is how well they play the closing four holes. “If you can play those under par or at par, I’m really happy,” said Hall, who has done that by going 2-under in that stretch the first two rounds. “I feel comfortable on the greens and have converted a lot of par putts, which has kept the momentum going in my rounds.” Hall will play in the final threesome Friday along with a pair of North Carolinians in Scott Harvey and Carter Jenkins. Both of them are at 7-under 133. Harvey, the first-round leader, shot 1-under 69 Thursday. Jenkins, meanwhile, had the low round of the day, a 5-under 65 that included an eagle on the par-4 15th hole. Trevor Cone, a 22-year-old University of Virginia graduate, is also at 7-under 133. He’ll be part of the penultimate group along with his Cavaliers teammate, Denny McCarthy, and South Carolina’s Will Murphy. McCarthy, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 8 by the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking, is at 6-under 134 after a round of 4-under 66 Thursday. Playing in the same group as Hall, Murphy blistered the back nine with a 5-under 30 to give him a round of 4-under 66. “I’ve been putting well and hitting good wedges all week, but I just haven’t been in the fairway,” he said. “I got a little bit frustrated at the turn and decided to put the ball in play. From there, it was just good yardages, good looks the whole back nine.” Hall, Murphy and Alabama’s Michael Johnson (68) were a combined 9-under Thursday. “We were all feeding off each other,” Murphy said. “Playing with the guy who’s leading the tournament is always good. It gives you a lot of confidence.” To a man, every player in the field has lauded the conditions of the course. Warm temperatures and wind have dried it out quickly, though, which means tournament organizers have a decision to make on how much water to put down. “It’s firming up quite a bit,” Harvey said. “The greens are getting pretty speedy. The early rounds tomorrow, somebody could go really low and get back in it if the winds are down. But if it keeps firming up, it’s going to be pretty demanding for everybody.” Harvey is attempting to become the first mid-amateur (players 25 and older) to win the tournament since Gene Elliott in 1998. “Today was about the lowest I could have shot,” he said. “I never really gave myself many birdie opportunities.” Harvey knows that a similar round Friday likely won’t be enough to separate himself on a star-studded leader board. “That’s pretty much always the way it is at the Porter Cup,” the 37-year-old said. “I’ve got to continue to get everything I can out of my game to keep up with these kids, because they’re going to play good.” Josh Whalen, a 20-year-old from Napanee, Ont., is at 5-under 135 through two rounds, while France’s Ugo Coussaud and Johnson are at 4-over 134, just four shots off the lead. “Make lots of birdies,” Hall said of his game plan for the final two rounds. “That’s just how it is here. Everybody’s good, everybody can make birdies. The golf course is in great shape to convert and go low out here.” email: jskurski@buffnews.com

By Jay Skurski | News Sports Reporter | @JaySkurski Marc Holzhauer of Clarence won the International Junior Masters in June and picked up an invitation to the Porter Cup. (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News) It wasn’t long ago that Marc Holzhauer’s spot at the Porter Cup was next to the 18th green. It was there that Holzhauer would watch some of the country’s best amateur players as they finished their rounds at Niagara Falls Country Club. One day, Holzhauer hoped, that would be him out there. That moment has arrived for the 17-year-old from Clarence, who’s playing in his first Porter Cup this year. “It feels awesome to play in such a great event,” said Holzhauer, who was extended an invitation after his victory in the International Junior Masters last month. “I’ve come here for the last four or five years, so it felt really good to get the invite.” Holzhauer played in the Porter Cup qualifying tournament just a few days after his IJM win, missing out on a playoff by one shot after making a bogey on the par-3 18th. “Everyone kept telling me I was going to get in, but I didn’t know if I would,” he said. The IJM winner doesn’t receive an official exemption into the Porter Cup, but each of the past two winners – Holzhauer and Pittsford’s Will Thomson in 2014 – have been invited. It helps that each of them have local ties, but it’s also a sign of a building relationship between the Porter Cup and Junior Masters. “I really like playing with people watching and being part of such a great field,” Holzhauer said. “I didn’t play great today, but there’s two more days left. There’s a lot I can learn from watching these players and taking it to my other tournaments.” Holzhauer will compete in the New York State Golf Association’s Junior Championship next week at Cedar Lake Club in Clayville, then the American Junior Golf Association’s New Era Junior Championship at Harvest Hill the following week. After that, it’s back to Florida for his senior year at the Core Golf Academy. Holzhauer is tied for 70th in the 78-player field after a round of 8-over 78 Thursday. Leading the six local players in the field is East Amherst’s Danny Yustin, who shot a 2-over 72 Thursday and is tied for 15th at even-par 140 through 36 holes. East Amherst’s Ben Reichert also shot 2-over 72 Thursday and is at 4-over 144, while Lewiston’s Mike Boss and Williamsville’s Jake Katz each shot 5-over 75 in the second round. Silver Creek’s Jamie Miller carded an 81. … Kevin DeHuff got in the easy way this time. A 22-year-old from Coto de Caza, Calif., DeHuff has made the cross-country trip the past two years to play in the Porter Cup’s qualifying tournament. This year, however, the Pepperdine University graduate was extended an invitation to the field. “I’m so happy to be back,” said DeHuff, who sits at 1-over 141 through 36 holes. “It’s definitely the most fun tournament I’ve ever played in. That’s definitely what keeps me coming back. “The course is really fun to play. They get it tough. It’s not the toughest track to begin with, but they make it pretty difficult with the rough and everything.” DeHuff, who’s ranked No. 367 by the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking, finished in fourth place earlier this summer at the Monroe Invitational in Rochester. He’s playing in the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Weston Golf Club in Toronto next month as one of his final amateur events before turning professional and attending Web.com Tour qualifying school in his home state in September. As for how he makes traveling the country as an amateur work, DeHuff admitted his mother is “a saint.” “Getting to do this is a blessing,” he said. “I love it here. I’m happy that I’m able to get back one more time before turning pro.” … The Porter Cup has some reinforcements this year. Members of the Niagara University women’s and men’s basketball teams are assisting with the operation of the tournament to earn credits with the School of Hospitality and Tourism. The student-athletes have worked in the bag room, updated the scoreboard and called in scores from various spots on the course, among other tasks. … Friday is Kids’ Day at the Porter Cup. Children 16 and under can register at the main scoreboard next to the 10th tee to receive a Porter Cup souvenir and be entered into a drawing for a grand prize. … New to the Porter Cup this year is a long-drive contest, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday after the conclusion of the third round. email: jskurski@buffnews.com

Welcome to the Niagara Falls Country Club, host of the 57th Annual Porter Cup. Each year, the tournament builds on the foundation laid down previously to reach new heights of excellence in amateur golf. The tournament is pleased to again have a collection of the world’s best collegiate, international and mid-amateur golfers. Top players from the United States, Canada,Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, India and France will be vying to have their name engraved on the Alexander L. Porter Cup. Denny McCarthy Scott Harvey 2014 Porter Cup runner-up Denny McCarthy will return to improve upon last year’s finish and will have many challengers including 2014 United States Mid-Amateur Champion Scott Harvey, 2015 Sunnehanna Amateur Champion Derek Bard and 2015 Southern Amateur Champion Taylor Funk. We would like to thank our Official Corporate Sponsor M&T Bank for their long-time financial support of the tournament. Without our partnership, the tournament simply could not exist in its present capacity and we are excited about continuing our relationship for many years to come. The Committee would like to acknowledge the membership of the Niagara Falls Country Club for enthusiastically and graciously sacrificing a week of mid-season golf in the spirit of maintaining the wonderful tradition of Porter Cup. Your support of the tournament is greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Donna Tomkins, our 2015 General Chairman, and her Committees of volunteers for the dedication and commitment they have displayed to make this special week run so smoothly. Special appreciation is in order for our Grounds Superintendent Dave Meteer and the entire Grounds crew. Head Golf Professional John Boss and his folks in the Pro Shop are to be acknowledged for their efforts and professionalism. Finally, we are grateful to lead official Mike Murphy and his Committee for returning to NFCC to once again coordinate and enforce USGA Tournament Rules. We look forward to another successful Championship and hope you enjoy the 57th edition of Porter Cup.

By amateurgolf.com Trailing second-round leader Christina Foster of Canada by two entering Friday, Valdes, a soon-to-be senior in high school from Morelia, Mexico, shot into the lead with the lowest round of the tournament. With Foster finishing with 68 in round three, Valdes’ victory came by just a single stroke. The tournament featured a strong showing from Canadian ladies, as following Foster’s second place finish came Quebec native Josee Doyon, the first-round leader who placed third. Next was a tied-for-fourth place display from former NC State golfer Brittany Marchand of Ontario and a sixth-place finish from Jennifer Ha of Calgary. Doyon, a senior at Kent State University, opened with 68 on Wednesday to lead by two and closed out the tournament with rounds of 72 and 71. This was the third annual running of the event, which is the sister tournament to the Men’s Porter Cup, held each year since 1959. Casie Cathrea captured the inaugural event back in 2013, while Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson was the champion in 2014.

By Cassie Stein, Golfweek Geoff Drakeford during the final round of the 56th Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. (Alexander Fisher) After a third-round leaderboard that featured Australians in three of the top five spots, one managed to walk away with the prestigious title. Australian Geoff Drakeford held on to win the 56th annual Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club on Saturday by a single shot over Denny McCarthy of Rockville, Md., and eau Hossler of Mission Veijo, Calif. “It feels really good,” Drakeford said. “It’s been a long while since a ‘W’ has come around. It’s a great feeling.” Drakeford maintained a two-shot lead for most of the front nine with fellow Aussie and housemate this week, Ben Eccles, giving him a run on the front nine, but only moving within two shots of the lead after a birdie on No. 7. Drakeford moved to double digits with a birdie on No. 3, only to give it away on No. 4 – keeping the field well within reach. The Aussie would respond by moving to 11 under with birdies on Nos. 5 and 10. But that’s when things got a bit tighter. Drakeford made bogey on the par-5 11th after a perfect drive in the middle of the fairway. He then went on to double bogey the par-3 12th after sailing it over the green and three-putting – dropping him into a tie for the lead with Hossler. Hossler, in the penultimate pairing, went in the water off the tee on No. 13, but recovered to save par. Drakeford made a nice 5-footer for birdie on the same hole a group later to take the lead for good. McCarthy was also making a push for Drakeford’s title – six groups ahead. He shot a bogey-free, 5-under 65 – the low round of the day – to jump back into position and post his 7-under 273 total, but it was not enough. Once again, Drakeford had fellow competitor and Aussie Jarrod Freeman on the bag Saturday. Drakeford and Freeman kept it light most of the day, but made their most tactical decision of the afternoon on the 17th tee. They decided to play it safe after the long-hitting Drakeford thought driver would be too much with the wind at his back. “We agreed on an iron, and stuck to it,” Freeman said. Drakeford went to the 72nd hole with a two-shot lead. A poor tee shot off the tee on with his 8-iron, Drakeford found the bunker. He two-putted for bogey and a 1-over 71. He becomes the first Australian to win the green jacket since Simon Nash in 2002. Drakeford, No. 67 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, will move on to play in the Western Amateur next week at Beverly Country Club in Chicago. That will be his last amateur event before making the transition to professional golf. He will attend European Tour Q-School in the fall. “It’s a confident booster for getting out,” Drakeford said. “I’m really looking forward to it (pro golf).”