The Porter Cup today announced the confirmed contestants for the 6th annual Women’s Porter Cup to take place Wednesday, June 13 through Friday, June 15. Click to view the 2018 WPC Contestants. #WomensPorterCup

Qualifying Tournament Registration For The 60th Porter Cup Now Open LEWISTON, N.Y. (February 15, 2018) – The Porter Cup executive committee today announced the official dates of all three of the Porter Cup tournaments to be held at Niagara Falls Country Club this year. The sixth annual Women’s Porter Cup will be contested from Wednesday, June 13 through Friday, June 15. One of the fastest growing women’s amateur golf tournaments consists of 54-holes medal play with no cut. Field size is limited for players with a USGA handicap index not to exceed 9.4. In July, the world’s top male amateur golfers will once again visit picturesque Niagara Falls Country Club in pursuit of the renowned Porter Cup. The 60th edition of the tournament – sponsored by M&T Bank – will tee off with the first round on Wednesday, July 18 and run through the final round on Saturday, July 21. As previously announced, the winner of the 2018 Porter Cup will receive an exemption into the 2019 LECOM Health Challenge, a Web.com Tour event held at Peek’n Peak Resort in Clymer, New York. In addition, registration for the Porter Cup Qualifier is now open. The 18-hole stroke play qualifier is open to any applicant with a verified USGA handicap of 3.0 or less. The tournament committee offers exemptions to a number of players depending on the field size. For more information on the qualifying tournament, please visit https://portercup.com/mens-division/qualifier-information/. The Senior Porter Cup will wrap up the tournament slate from Wednesday, September 5 through Friday, September 7. The winner of the Senior Porter Cup will receive an exemption into the 2019 Porter Cup tournament. #LECOMHealthChallenge #PorterCup

From left: Evan Rosenberg, LECOM Health Challenge sales manager; Michael Vitch, Porter Cup tournament director; Michelle Turner, LECOM Health Challenge tournament director; Dena Armstrong, Porter Cup tournament director; and Cassie Stein, Porter Cup assistant tournament director. By David Yarger – Niagara Frontier Publications Year in and year out, the best amateur golfers from around the world storm into Lewiston around the middle of July to play in the Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. 2018 will be the 60th anniversary of the tournament. A press event Thursday evening announced the stakes will be even higher this year. In the new banquet hall at the country club, Porter Cup Assistant Tournament Director Cassie Stein and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Health Challenge Tournament Director Michelle Turner revealed the two tournaments have partnered up to give one golfer the opportunity of a lifetime. As many Lewistonians know, the prestigious Porter Cup is a tournament to help golfers from all over the world show their skills and boost their status as an amateur. Golfers such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have come to Lewiston to play in the event. The LECOM Health Challenge is a nationally televised Web.com Tour event held at Peek ‘n Peak’s “Upper Course” in Clymer, New York. The Web.com Tour is a “pre-stage” to the Professional Golfers Association Tour. Golfers who participate in Web.com Tour events are another step closer to their ultimate goal of joining the PGA Tour. The 2018 Porter Cup winner will have the opportunity to play in the 2019 LECOM Health Challenge on a non-restricted exemption, meaning the champion of this year’s Porter Cup will be able to hone their talents in front of thousands at the tournament, and millions watching on Golf Channel. Along with that, the challenge winner takes home $600,000. Turner said, “The Web.com (Tour) truly is a path to the PGA Tour. Three out of every four tour players have started on the Web.com Tour.” Turner noted past Porter Cup players have played in the LECOM Health Challenge, including Beau Hossler, Corey Conners, Denny McCarthy and 2017 challenge champion Chesson Hadley. Hadley, who is currently on the PGA Tour, had four top-10 finishes in his rookie campaign, on his way to winning the 2014 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. In a press release, Hadley said, “As someone who has played in both the Porter Cup and the LECOM Health Challenge, it’s great to see these two events partnering to help advance the golf career of the amateur Porter Cup champion. Both tournaments have been important springboards in my career and I hope the same will be true of this year’s champion.” The non-restricted exemption the Porter Cup champion will receive is one of four exemptions. Two are restricted exemptions for Web.com Tour individuals, and the other two are non-restricted, open to anyone. “We’re really thrilled to partner with your historic and top-notch tournament, the Porter Cup. We hope this is a partnership that will continue on for many years,” Turner said. The two tournaments crossed paths last summer, as Porter Cup Tournament Director Dena Armstrong attended the LECOM Health Challenge. After discussions, Turner said the two events were a perfect pair. “We thought it was a great fit and, as the months went on, it became more and more exciting – and we thought, ‘Gosh, this would be great for both tournaments.’ … We’re very fortunate and excited to be standing here now,” Turner said. Partnering up with a professional tour has been on the mindset of the Porter Cup team, but to see it come to fruition was not only big for the tournament, but the WNY area in general, Stein said. “We always spoke of it; we always wanted to partner with either the PGA Tour or the Web.com Tour, but now that this is the path … it just made the most sense to partner with them and why not bring more business and everything to Western New York?” Stein said. Stein added that, in about a three-week span, there is the Porter Cup, a Junior Golf Association tournament, and the LECOM Health Challenge all around Western New York. With stakes set even higher, it’s expected more golfers than ever will want to play in the Porter Cup and use it as a springboard to try and launch their golf careers even further. Stein said she expects more players trying to enter their name into the Lewiston classic. “This is the path to the PGA Tour now. … When these players get to play in the Web.com tour, they’re just getting that much closer to their ultimate dream in playing on the PGA Tour. So, this is going to bring players from around the world. And even though we have them already, these are gonna bring the top players from around the world; more than we’ve had in past years,” Stein said. The LECOM Health Challenge is usually played around the week of the Fourth of July but, for the 2019 challenge, Turner couldn’t give an exact date. She cited possible Web.com Tour date changes, but added she hoped the dates stayed the same. Nevertheless, a 2018 Porter Cup champion will be heading to Clymer in the summer of 2019 to compete versus some of the best rising golfers. For more information on the challenge, visit www.lecomhealthchallenge.com. With great opportunity looming for Porter Cup golfers, the tournament will also become bigger for fans, too. Attendees could possibly watch the next PGA Tour star bloom right in their own backyard. The 60th annual Porter Cup is scheduled to run from July 18-21. For more information on the Lewiston classic, visit portercup.com. The Porter Cup trophy stands alone on the table during Thursday’s announcement. The event will partner with the LECOM Health Challenge. (Photos by David Yarger) #LECOMHealthChallenge #PorterCup

GOLF: ’18 champ will earn entry to pro event at Peek n’ Peak. BY WYNSTON WILCOX wynston.wilcox@niagara-gazette.com Jan 18, 2018 Wynston Wilcox/staffFrom left, Evan Rosenberg (LECOM sales manager), Michael Vitch (Porter Cup director), Michelle Turner (LECOM director), Dena Armstrong (Porter Cup director) and Cassie Stein (Porter Cup assistant director) pose after announcing a new partnership Thursday at Niagara Falls Country Club. LEWISTON — Representatives from the Porter Cup and the LECOM Health Challenge gathered Thursday at Niagara Falls Country Club to announce a new partnership, effective this year. The winner of the 2018 Porter Cup will earn an automatic exemption into the 2019 LECOM Health Challenge, a Web.Com Tour event held at Peek n’ Peak Resort in Clymer. “We’re thrilled about this announcement and this partnership,” said Michelle Turner, LECOM tournament director. The LECOM Health Challenge is in its third year of a four-year agreement. Turner said after two successful years, she sees potential for the tournament to grow more, and part of that further growth is the partnership. The Porter Cup winner, and the tournament itself, will get plenty of publicity. The Health Challenge is one of 19 Web.com Tour events that are nationally televised, which will bring a little piece of the Porter Cup into the households of golf fans across the country. “Three out of every four (PGA Tour) players have started out on the Web.com Tour,” Turner said. “Porter Cup has a long standing history of bringing world class amateurs to Western New York.” This is the first time the Porter Cup has tried anything like this, though other top amateur events have similar partnerships. “We’ve always spoke of it and always wanted to partner with either the PGA Tour or the Web.com Tour,” said Cassie Stein, assistant director of the Porter Cup. “This is the path to the PGA Tour, so it made the most sense to partner with them.” In terms of getting the idea flowing, it was Porter Cup Director Dena Armstrong that led the push. She brought the original conversation to the LECOM directors and the vision turned into something concrete and both Porter Cup and LECOM were able to finalize and make it happen. And with that, two of the biggest golf tournaments in WNY just got a little bit bigger. Attracting talent from all over the world, playing in the Porter Cup has just added a little more incentive to it. The 2018 LECOM Health Challenge will be played from July 2-8 at the Peek n’ Peak. The Porter Cup will follow shortly thereafter, July 18-21 at Niagara Falls CC. Follow sports reporter Wynston Wilcox on Twitter @wynstonw_. #LECOMHealthChallenge #PorterCup

2018 Porter Cup Champion to play in Western New York 2019 Web.com Tour Event LEWISTON, N.Y. (January 18, 2018) – The LECOM Health Challenge – a Web.com Tour event hosted at Peek’n Peak Resort’s Upper Course – today announced a partnership with the Porter Cup, a tournament attracting the world’s top amateurs hosted at Niagara Falls Country Club. The partnership will provide the 2018 Porter Cup champion with an exemption to play in the 2019 LECOM Health Challenge. “The Porter Cup has a long-standing history of bringing world class amateurs to Western New York,” said LECOM Health Challenge tournament director Michelle Turner. “We are thrilled to provide the Porter Cup champion with the opportunity to further their career in professional golf and play in a Web.com Tour event.” The exemption will provide automatic entry to the tournament, and is one of four exemptions the LECOM Health Challenge can designate. Two of the exemptions are classified as restricted, meaning they must be allocated to individuals who currently hold Web.com Tour status. The remaining two exemptions are non-restricted and can be given to anyone. The exemption provided to the Porter Cup champion will be non-restricted. “We are excited about this partnership between the Porter Cup, LECOM Health and the Web.com Tour. This is not only going to grow the game in Western New York, but especially at Niagara Falls Country Club where the amateur golf roots run deep when it hosts the 60th annual Porter Cup in July,” said Cassie Stein, assistant tournament director of the Porter Cup. “The Porter Cup champion will be honored to receive an exemption into this prestigious Web.com Tour event.” Several past Porter Cup players have played in the LECOM Health Challenge including the 2017 LECOM Health Challenge champion Chesson Hadley, as well as Beau Hossler, Corey Conners and Denny McCarthy. “As someone who has played in both the Porter Cup and the LECOM Health Challenge, it’s great to see these two events partnering to help advance the golf career of the amateur Porter Cup champion,” said 2017 LECOM Health Challenge champion Chesson Hadley. “Both tournaments have been important springboards in my career, and I hope the same will be true of this year’s champion.” The 2018 Porter Cup will be hosted at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, New York on July 18-21, 2018. Annually, the tournament attracts the finest collegiate and mid-amateur players and, throughout the years, has played host to among the most widely recognized and respected players in the game today. Past Porter Cup alumni include PGA TOUR professionals such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas. “We are excited that the 2018 LECOM Health Challenge is aligning with the Porter Cup and the rising stars of the golf world,” said John M. Ferretti, D.O., President of the tournament’s title sponsor the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). “This partnership not only promotes our Web.com Tour event, but also allows LECOM to demonstrate our commitment to the health and well-being of the communities we serve. The 2018 LECOM Health Challenge will be hosted at Peek’n Peak Resort’s Upper Course in Clymer, New York on July 5-8, 2018. Known as the pathway to the PGA Tour, three-out-of-four PGA TOUR professionals began their career on the Web.com Tour. Notable LECOM Health Challenge alumni include: Wesley Bryan, Ollie Schniederjans and 2017 LECOM Health Challenge champion Chesson Hadley. For additional information about the LECOM Health Challenge, please visit www.LECOMHealthChallenge.com. #LECOMHealthChallenge #PorterCup

Brandon Wu slips on the green jacket after winning the 2017 Porter Cup (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News) By Mark Gaughan | Buffalo News Sports Stanford’s Brandon Wu never stumbled or even wobbled on his march to the Porter Cup golf championship Saturday. The college junior-to-be shot a bogey-free, 6-under-par 64 on the final round to cruise to a three-shot victory. Wu finished at 11-under 269 in the 59th annual event at Niagara Falls Country Club. The 64 tied for the third-best final-round score ever by a Porter Cup winner, just a stroke behind the 63s shot by Phil Mickelson in 1990 and Vinny Giles in 1973. So much for the pressure of being locked in a four-way tie entering the final round. “To be honest, I didn’t feel too much pressure out there,” Wu said. “I just tried to stay relaxed and kind of play my own game and let it unfold how it did. Like many in the field of 75, Wu is a golf prodigy. His mom, who followed him all 18 holes, said he showed a skill for both golf and serenity from a young age. “When he was 9 years old, he played in a tournament and I told him he looks like a pro,” said Xiaobing Zhang. “He was very calm and focused. Even when he was little he had good composure.” While the final round lacked drama down the stretch, Wu’s performance was awesome in its calm efficiency. He hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and 11 of 13 fairways. The only approach-shot miss came on the par-5 13th, when his third shot sailed 4 yards long into the rough past a back pin. But he got up and down to save par. He took the lead for good on the par-3 fourth hole when he hit a 6-iron from 200 yards to 4 feet and made the putt. That put him 7-under. Then he stretched his lead to four shots with birdies on 10, 11 and 12 to go 10-under. Georgia Tech senior-to-be Chris Petefish shot 67 and finished second at 8-under. Texas star and sentimental favorite Gavin Hall shot 68 and finished 7-under. It was the sixth top-eight finish in six Porter Cup appearances for Hall, who will turn pro in the fall. Wu was born in Danville, Calif., near San Francisco. He moved at age 8 with his parents, both natives of China, to Beijing and lived in that country for five years. He said his father owns a scrap metal import-and-export business. From age 12 through high school, he attended an elite boarding school in Massachusetts, Deerfield Academy, which costs about $56,000 a year. Wu was ranked No. 60 in the nation among junior golfers when he committed to Stanford. He had a sensational freshman year, making the Pac 12 all-freshman team. He was second-team All-Pac 12 and the No. 3 player for the Cardinal as a sophomore this spring. Wu said his travels and his college preparatory experience at Deerfield have helped mature him. “I think the different experiences you open your horizons a little bit,” he said. “You get to experience different things, see different cultures, see different people. I think you can learn a lot from what other people do really well as well as how they live their lives and see how they’re different.” Stanford teammate Bradley Knox, who finished tied for fifth at 4-under, said Wu was more ready than most for top college golf. “He fit right in,” Knox said. “He qualified for the first tournament as a freshman and was in the starting lineup pretty much the entire year, which for a freshman is pretty impressive.” Wu said the strength of his game is iron play. Knox said it’s driving. “He’s the best driver of the golf ball on our team,” Knox said. “Straight, pretty long. He’s always going to put himself in position where he has a chance to attack the pin.” “Putting has been streaky in the past, but I think it’s starting to come around,” Wu said. “I putted really well today.” Australian Travis Smyth was fourth at 5-under. Knox shot 65 to tie for fifth with Kent State’s Ian Holt and Canadian mid-amateur Garrett Rank. Defending champion Harrison Endycott tied for 13th. Low Buffalo-area player was Williamsville North graduate Ben Reichert, who tied for 42nd. Reichert said he plans to transfer from East Tennessee State to another Division I school, a move he expects to be finalized soon. #BrandonWu #PorterCup

Gavin Hall watches a shot from behind a tree during the final round of the 2017 Porter Cup (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News) By Bucky Gleason | Buffalo News The framed letter has been hanging on a wall in Gavin Hall’s bedroom in Pittsford, a continuous reminder for the past seven years. He was 15 years old and coming off a second-place finish in his first Porter Cup appearance when an ordinary envelope addressed to him arrived in the mail. “It said ‘great playing this summer’ and explained how important it was to go to school and get your education,” Hall said Saturday after finishing third in his sixth and final Porter Cup. “It was really, really special. It was probably the best letter I’ve ever gotten. He signed it, too, which was cool.” Sincerely, Arnold Palmer. The King would be proud of Hall for the way he has conducted himself since that letter arrived. He did get an education at the University of Texas. On Saturday at Niagara Falls Country Club, he carried himself with the class and dignity Palmer exemplified as the people’s champion throughout his legendary career. Palmer’s single act of kindness, taking the time to write a letter to an unknown teenager, had a profound impact on Hall. The 22-year-old knows kids across the Upstate New York are watching him. He hopes to set an example the way Palmer, who died last September, did for the generations that followed. “He’s a role model to this day,” Hall said. “He’s a guy I would like to emulate just with his style, the swagger he carried around the course and the way he handled the people. Rarely do you ever hear anyone say anything bad about that guy. You never do.” Hall caught a glimpse during the four-day tournament of what Palmer endured every week under considerably tougher conditions on the PGA Tour. Hall was the overwhelming favorite among fans who knew his history, how he had played well in the Porter Cup for years but never quite well enough to win. The trend continued Saturday. Hall entered the final round tied for the lead with three others. He was playing in the last group before the largest gallery. He assembled another solid round en route to 68, making him the only player in the tournament to shoot under par in all four rounds. And it still wasn’t enough. Hall ran into a buzzsaw Saturday in Brandon Wu, who fired a 6-under par 64 and won the tournament by three strokes over Christopher Petefish. Hall was four strokes back after shooting 69-67-69-68 in the four rounds. Last year, he lost a four-stroke lead in the final seven holes. This time, he spent the last seven holes trying to catch up. “I feel like my game is there,” Hall said. “It’s certainly sharp. I’ve put a lot of work into it. To play well with the expectations that were put on me, that was huge. I had a lot of pressure to play well. To play well, I’m happy that I did. My game is right there. I’m so excited for the next three events.” Hall graduated from Texas and is likely headed for the Web.com circuit next season. The next step for the former second-team All-American is making the U.S. team for the Walker Cup in September. He already was being considered and improved his chances in the Porter Cup. His fate could depend on how well he played in his next three events – the Western Open, the New York State Amateur and the U.S. Amateur. If he wins any of them, he’ll likely nail down a spot. He could still be chosen if he plays well in all three but fails to win any of them. Newsflash: Winning golf tournaments is difficult. “Gavin has a lot of tools and is a very good player,” said coach Jean-Paul Hebert, who coached Hall for four years as an assistant at Texas. “Golf is tough. Sometimes, it’s tough to get over that hurdle and just win. Sometimes, when you win a tournament, you tend to win some more. It’s hard to win. In golf, if you consider one guy wins and everybody else loses, it’s tough. But second or third should be celebrated.” Wu made winning look easy. He was spectacular with his putter, riding his magic wand to the second-best closing round by a champion in the tournament’s 59-year history. He made six birdies, including four on the back nine while distancing himself from the field, and no bogeys in the final round. Every time Hall attempted to apply pressure, Wu responded. Hall dropped a wedge within 7 feet on No. 10, and Wu answered with a wedge that spun back 2 feet from the hole. Hall missed a 10-footer on No. 11, and Wu made a 20-footer. Hall drove the green on No. 15 and two-putted for birdie while Wu took a conventional route and made birdie with an 8-footer. “The best in the world win 10-15 percent of the time,” Hall said. “It’s not like we’re playing one other guy. People don’t realize how hard it is, but that’s fine. We put on a good show. Brandon made some ridiculous putts. Two-under wasn’t good enough, but I felt like I have myself enough chances to capitalize. I had a lot of looks at it.” In his six Porter Cup appearances, Hall finished second twice, third twice and eighth twice. No player in history has played that well without winning, which is why he was hardly dejected when walking off the course Saturday. He congratulated Wu, was gracious afterward and spent time with kids waiting for him behind the 18th green. Hall has the talent and temperament for a successful PGA career. That much has been obvious since he was 15 years old. Perhaps that’s why Palmer took the time to write him. The kid received the message. He may not be back at the Porter Cup, but he’s hoping to play again before his family and friends – much closer to home. “I’m just beginning,” Hall said. “The next journey is ahead of me. Hopefully, a lot of these fans can come to the 2023 PGA at Oak Hill.” Country Club. “I’ll be right in the prime of my career. It could be pretty special.” #GavinHall #PorterCup

Craig Avery sorts through some of the scoreboard names he has collected of young golfers who have stayed at his Lewiston home during the Porter Cup over the years. (Derek Gee/Buffalo News) By Corey Desiderio | Buffalo News Adam Scott showed up on the doorstep of Craig Avery’s Lewiston home for the first time 19 years ago. It was 11 p.m. July 16, Scott’s 18th birthday, and he’d arrived for a weeklong stay at Avery’s place on Mountain View Drive while he played in the Porter Cup, an elite amateur golf tournament that attracts the top talent from around the globe. Scott was traveling outside of Australia for the first time. All he had with him was his day bag. No luggage. No clubs. The airline company lost them on the way from Los Angeles International Airport. Avery was panicked. Scott, not so much. “He was adamant it would arrive the next day like he was promised at the airport,” Avery said. “He was an 18-year-old with no worries, and he had nothing. He was just chill.” The clubs and luggage arrived right on cue the following morning and all ended up turning out just fine, but little did Avery know that he was housing a kid who would go on to win a Players Championship, a Masters and become one of the top golfers in the world. The Porter Cup is a rite of passage for top collegiate and amateur golfers. A glance at the Official World Golf Ranking shows that many of today’s stars have passed through Niagara Falls Country Club while on their way to the PGA Tour. Three of the PGA’s top 10 golfers – including No. 1 Dustin Johnson, No. 6 Jason Day and No. 10 Rickie Fowler – and 19 of the top 40 have made an appearance at the Porter Cup. Phil Mickelson tied for second in 1989 and won the crown the following year. Tiger Woods and his father, Earl, stayed with club member Dan Cantara in 1994. “On any given Sunday you look on the screen and you see these kids you know,” Avery said. “It’s a really neat feeling.” Longtime members Alan Elia and Avery are two of the 60 or 70 families at the club who open their doors, pantries and pocketbooks for strangers, some of whom they still keep in touch with to this day. It didn’t take long for Avery, who has housed players since 1992, to hear again from Scott. He played in a couple more tournaments after the Porter Cup before heading to school in the fall at UNLV. Craig Avery hits a gofl ball in the rec room of his Lewiston home where he and his family have hosted dozens of young golfers for the Porter Cup over the years, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Derek Gee/Buffalo News) “He had to buy a car but didn’t know how to in America,” Avery said. “I called up a friend of mine in Las Vegas and he helped Adam out. He used to call us his ‘American parents.’ ” Scott returned for his second Porter Cup in 1999 and continues to invite Avery to plenty of tournaments. He’s traveled with friends to TPC Sawgrass in Florida, the U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, Glen Abbey Golf Club near Toronto and more. Other house guests who have stayed in Avery’s attached mother-in-law suite include Steve Marino (2002), Nick Flanagan (2003), Justin Thomas (2011-12) and Patrick Rodgers (2011-13). Elia has been a member of Niagara Falls Country Club his whole life. His parents hosted players when he was 8 or 9 years old until he left for college at Wake Forest. Elia resumed the family tradition in 1999 when he moved from Grand Island. “When I moved back to Lewiston it was an easy thing to do,” Elia said. “I just have such fond memories of the guys being at the house.” Many of the players Elia’s hosted share one common theme: They also went to Wake Forest. That includes 2011 FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas (2002-03), 2012 U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson (2005-07) and Kyle Reifers (2003-05). World No. 1 Johnson, who went to Coastal Carolina, stayed at his place in 2006 and 2007. Elia’s sister, Dena Armstrong, and niece, Cassie Stein, are both assistant tournament directors who are heavily involved in the housing process. “They know my personality, outgoing, like to have fun,” Elia said. “So if there’s not a Wake Forest guy, they try to find someone that’s fun and would be good with my kids. I’m pretty sure we’re 100 percent with kids who’ve stayed with me have asked to stay at my house again if they come back.” Elia’s able to house three or four kids in his place on Lower River Road. One player stays in his pool house. The others displace his kids to the couches. Elia keeps in touch with Reifers, who has been on and off the PGA Tour. They met at a Wake Forest football game last year, and Reifers has stopped by a number of times. He also met on campus with Simpson, who wrote a letter of recommendation for Elia’s daughter to get into Wake Forest. “It’s funny. I wish I’d done a better job of keeping track,” Elia said. “I keep track for a couple years but it sort of fades away.” The schedule is usually jam-packed for the golfers and families involved. Players typically show up Sunday, get a practice round in Monday and play in the Ham Am with a club member Tuesday. The first of four rounds starts Wednesday, and the tournament sponsors a barbecue, a ride on the Maid of the Mist, a dinner dance and an awards dinner after each day. Elia also takes every guest to the Whirlpool Jet Boat tour and an occasional Artpark concert. Each guy’s makeup is different and unique. Some are more fun and outgoing like Johnson. Others are more serious and religious like Simpson. “They’re in your house for seven days, so you see their actual personality traits,” Elia said. “I certainly don’t equate people who go to bed early with better playing.” Most of the participants pack up and head to their next tournament, but some do return to their host family the following year. “These guys come back because it’s one of the top tournaments and every one of them notes that it’s a well-run tournament as well,” Elia said. “They come back for social aspects as much as they do for the tournament itself.” “Golfers just love this tournament,” Avery said. “The community really rolls out the red carpet for these golfers.” While competition is stiff on the course, there’s also one off of it between host families. “People go to work early or get off early to adjust their schedule around their player’s tee times,” Avery said. “We call them ‘my guy.’ We all want our guys to win.” Elia hosted 2007 Porter Cup champ Brian Harman, who won the Wells Fargo Championship in May. Avery’s Rodgers won the 2011 Porter Cup and returned in 2012 and 2013 before turning pro shortly thereafter. “We’re real proud of them,” Avery said. “It feels like it’s your own son.” Flanagan called Avery in 2003 from the U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh and invited him down to come watch the final round. Avery witnessed Flanagan, then 19 years old, outlast Casey Wittenberg in the 37th hole of match play to become the first Australian in 100 years to win the event and the second-youngest champion to Tiger Woods, who was 18 when he won in 1994, the same year he finished tied for eighth at the Porter Cup. A month prior, Wittenberg shot a 266 to win the Porter Cup, eight strokes ahead of Flanagan, who finished tied for 12th. The victory earned Flanagan a spot in the 2004 Masters, which Avery attended the following April. He was also able to meet up with Scott, who was fresh off becoming the youngest golfer at the time to win the Players Championship. “Great people are surrounded by great people,” Avery said. “The golfers we’ve been able to meet are super professionals, but great kids, too.” The best part of keeping these relationships going is “probably going to a PGA event and being recognized and being included in these players’ day,” Avery said. “It’s the same thing if you knew a Buffalo Bill or Toronto Raptor. You’re hanging out with the guy everyone wants pictures and autographs with. It’s just cool.”

Harrison Endycott putts on the ninth hole during the first round of the 59th Annual Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club Wednesday (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News) By Matt Schneidman | Buffalo News Sports Almost 50 people gathered around the 18th green as Harrison Endycott stood over his final putt of the day, a gimme in front of the cup to finish his round at 4-under. A picture of Endycott, in which he cradles the silver Porter Cup trophy with his left arm and dons a Masters-esque green jacket with a wide grin, sits on a table nearby. All eyes at the Porter Cup this week are on the 21-year-old Australian, whose vigorous comeback over Gavin Hall in last year’s final round earned him the title. Endycott is the first defending champion to return to the event since 2012 and the second-highest-ranked golfer in the 72-person field this week at No. 16 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, behind only Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti (No. 12). Endycott’s place as one of the favorites at the 59th Annual Porter Cup held true after 18 holes on Wednesday, his six birdies the most of anybody on the day. After Round 1, Endycott’s 66 put him in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard with fellow Australian Travis Smyth and Georgia Tech’s Christopher Petefish. “Obviously it gets hyped up a bit and you are defending, but I was trying to keep that same mindset of trying to win it again, rather than defend,” Endycott said. ” … Very pleased the way I played today.” Endycott picked up right where he left off last summer at Niagara Falls Country Club, birdieing three of his first five holes, the par-5 third, par-3 fourth and par-4 fifth. Three more birdies throughout the round, mixed in with a pair of bogeys on the par-4 eighth and par-4 14th, have him sitting pretty in his quest to retain his crown. After the round, Endycott waited greenside for Smyth, his buddy from back in Australia. The two, along with the two other Australians in the field, practice twice a week together in Sydney. Endycott and Smyth often chat in practice rounds about being the final two on the course on any tournament’s final day, how a sliver of competition might then actually sneak in between the two close friends. Smyth (right) watches as Endycott celebrates his Porter Cup victory last year. (Harry Scull Jr./The Buffalo News) Wednesday’s first round was the first step, albeit a small one, in making that fantasy become a reality. “For some reason, we’ve just never gone wire to wire,” the 22-year-old Smyth said. “Hopefully it’s this time.” After Smyth finished in the official scorer’s tent, an elderly tournament volunteer chided him about the competition that might develop between him and Endycott if both continue to shoot well. He brushed it off, claiming that the two are just having fun, but added, “We’re all here to win.” Once he reached Endycott, the defending champion gave Smyth a soft right-handed punch on the left shoulder and a “Good stuff, bro” after finding out they were deadlocked after 18 holes. As the pair headed off the course, two elderly men stopped them and pulled out green tournament programs and scuffed-up golf balls. With a black sharpie, the Australians lent their signature to each, Smyth even pulling out a fresh ball from his bag to sign instead. Last year, Smyth stood next to Endycott as his caddy doused him with champagne after the win, Endycott’s tongue sticking far out of his mouth and Smyth grinning ear to ear. Both were jovial again Wednesday standing side-by-side, their own little golf fantasy still a couple days away but having taken the first step. “Travis has been playing well,” Endycott said after his round with Smyth, then up one stroke, still on the course. “Hopefully he gets it done this afternoon and has a good week.” For Endycott’s sake of defending his title, he just has to hope Smyth’s week just isn’t too good.

Pittsford’s Gavin Hall. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News) By Mark Gaughan | Buffalo News Sports Gavin Hall has come oh-so-close to winning the Porter Cup. As his great amateur golf career comes to a close, it would be fitting – almost justice – if he got over the hump and claimed the title in his last chance this week. The Pittsford phenom and University of Texas star has finished in the top eight of the prestigious tournament at Niagara Falls Country Club each of his previous five appearances. He tied for second as a 15-year-old in 2010, tied for eighth in 2013 and 2014 and placed third in 2014. He was runner-up again last summer, finishing a shot behind Australian Harrison Endycott. Hall’s expectation this week? “It’s definitely to win,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge. It’s not easy dealing with expectations, coming here and being expected to play well. But it’s a challenge I’m ready to face. I did a good job last year with it, and this year is no different. I feel I can go out there and compete and be in the hunt in the back nine.” Hall and Endycott were paired together in the first round Wednesday. Hall, 22, has accomplished a ton as an amateur. As a freshman and sophomore in high school, he beat fields of men to win back-to-back Rochester District championships. He played in a PGA Tour event at age 15. He played in the U.S. Open as an 18-year-old. He was second-team All-America as a junior at Texas and was honorable mention All-America his sophomore and senior years. He’s 26th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Now the 5-foot-11, 160-pound left-hander has about two months left before he turns pro. After the Porter Cup, he plays the Western Amateur near Chicago. Then he plays in the New York State Amateur, then the U.S. Amateur in Los Angeles. A good finish in one or more of those could put him on the 10-man U.S. Walker Cup team that will play Great Britain and Ireland in Los Angeles in September. That’s his last big amateur goal. After that, Hall is off to the professional ranks to compete in the Web.com Tour qualifying school in October. “A win obviously would be nice at one of those events,” Hall said. “I just want to play well and do it for myself.” Why does Hall play so well at the Lewiston course? “It just reminds me of a similar course I grew up on, Mendon Golf Club back home,” he said. “Kind of tighter off the tee. You’ve got to be in play. If you put it in the fairway you usually have a wedge or a scoring club in your hand. It just suits my eye and I get a positive feeling when I come to this tournament.” “You have to work it both ways, which I love; I love working it right to left and left to right,” Hall said. That kind of ball-striking ability is not something all tour pros can do, much less top amateurs. “I always look at Tiger Woods when he was playing his best, he worked it both ways,” Hall said. “Adam Scott is the same type of player. He works it both ways. Golf is getting more difficult with the pin set-ups right and left, the way they tuck them. The more you can aim at the center of the green and curve it toward the pin, the better your chances will be.” Endycott shot 4-under 66 on the final round to catch Hall last year. But Hall says he has great vibes from the finish, not bad ones. “It’s so much fun coming back here to the town of Lewiston and with such support from the community,” he said. “Last year there were 300 people following the last group. You just don’t see that at Amateur events.” “I felt like I hit some really quality shots down the stretch,” Hall said. “I felt I didn’t lose that tournament. Harrison won it. He played really well on the back nine. I’m excited I’ve got one more chance.”

By Tim Bulmer, PorterCup.com contributor Gavin Hall has seen Niagara Falls Country Club plenty of times, but it is his intention to leave the course next Saturday in what will likely be his final entry in the Porter Cup tournament as a champion. His objective for the next two months is crystal clear – close out a celebrated amateur career with strong finishes at three of the biggest events in amateur golf: Porter Cup, U.S. Amateur and Walker Cup. Hall returns to NFCC next week with an impressive career scoring total at the Porter Cup. Entering the 2017 tournament, he is a cumulative 41-under par on the par-70 layout in 20 Porter Cup rounds, with only three rounds over par in his five appearances. He is a leading contender to capture the 59th edition of the Porter Cup, and recently spoke about his last 12 months, unattainable barbeque and the upcoming Porter Cup tournament. Q. What does it mean to you to be playing in your sixth Porter Cup tournament? A. Can’t even believe it’s been six years. This is the one tournament that remains the same year in and out. There always seems to be a buzz on holes 15, 16, 17 and 18. Not another tournament like it for an amateur event; it truly has the feel of a U.S. Amateur final with fans walking down the middle of the fairway on a final round Saturday. The more people the better – I feed off the energy in the gallery. Q. You owned a four shot lead heading into the final round of last year’s Porter Cup tournament, only to come up just short against Harrison Endycott. How did that outcome affect you? Was that experience used as motivation over the past year? A. Harrison [Endycott] flat out won the tournament – let’s be honest. But to hit that many quality shots, I was happy with my ball striking in the final round. I was able to handle the pressure playing in the final group. I think the best part was that it ended up becoming mono a mono between Harrison and myself. Q. You’ve finished inside the top 10 in all five of your appearances at the Porter Cup. What would you say makes you consistently play well at Niagara Falls Country Club? A. The course presents a lot of birdie opportunities. The back nine absolutely fits my eye, having to shape right to left and left to right. NFCC is similar to Mendon Golf Club, which I have plenty of experience at. I never use a yardage book, only play with feel, which is to say I feel very comfortable at NFCC. Q. While you’ve had great success on the majority of holes at NFCC, what is it about the par 4 15th that gives you trouble? A. I played it [15] really well in 2010 when Peter Uihlein was in my group. Last year I laid up, I gave myself an opportunity, but made par. More times than not, laying up is the smarter play as a lefty. The green is complex, moving back to front. But I feel confident when I get on the tee box. I’m fired up when crossing the road with the fans hooting and hollering. The hole starts a cool final stretch – something that amateur golfers don’t get a lot of in notable tournaments. Q. You’ve stated previously that the weather tends to be one of the variables during the Porter Cup tournament at NFCC. If the wind is up, what do you draw on with your experience to battle through the conditions? A. I’ve seen it all rain, wind, and having to layer up due to chilly conditions. I don’t think it changes the way I play the course. When the wind is up, the greens firm because the majority of the holes are exposed. Shots from the rough become pretty crispy, so it’s critical to stay in the fairway. Q. With 2017 being a Walker Cup year, does it provide extra motivation to win the Porter Cup in what could be your final year as an amateur? A. Winning the Porter Cup has been a goal of mine since I was 15. Obviously, to win will help, but I feel like the Porter Cup title will have so much meaning on its own. It’s been 10 years since [PGA Tour professional and fellow left-handed golfer] Brian Harman’s victory so hopefully I can replicate the result. Q. What would it mean to be selected by U.S. captain John “Spider” Miller and to play at the Los Angeles Country Club representing your country? A. It’s been a lifelong dream. Every amateur golfer wants the chance to represent their country at the Walker Cup. It was absolutely the right call for me to retain amateur status this year for that opportunity. Q. You finished your senior year at the University of Texas a few months ago. Have you had time to reflect on your collegiate career? What did you enjoy the most about Austin and your experiences there? What if anything would you like to have a chance to do over again? A. I went right to Columbus, Ohio, for a U.S. Open qualifier after leaving Austin, so I really haven’t had time to think about it. I don’t think it will hit me until the fall. I had so many great relationships and friends. During my sophomore year finishing second at the Big 12 Championship, junior year winning The Maxwell, and four-time Big 12 conference champions; it was all very special. But the best part of going to Texas is being a part of the Longhorn family and golf tradition. Knowing that I can call or send a text to Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Kite and many other great golfers to bounce feedback off of is something special. One regret I have is that I never had Franklin’s Barbeque. It was a two-hour plus wait every time I tried to go there. Q. You carded a second-place finish during the stroke play portion of the U.S. Amateur Championship last August, then a suffered a first round loss in match play, what did you learn from that experience, and are you looking forward to playing at Riviera Country Club this August at the U.S. Amateur? A. To be on a championship golf course (Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan) for an amateur gave me confidence, but I’d much rather have gone further in match play. Riviera is probably one of my favorite golf courses in the country. The unique set-up really suits my eye. It should be quite the test; it’s so hard to play from the rough. I think it’ll be great for the television audience as well. Having the primetime schedule on FOX-TV should make it a special U.S. Amateur Championship. Q. You’ve achieved success at every level so far, what are some areas of your game that you find yourself constantly tweaking while looking for improvement? A. I’m always working on wedge game and distance control from 135 yards in. Putting, chipping – parts of the game where you’re able to score significantly. Everyone can put a move on the ball, but to be consistently good around and on the green is another level. Q. Rarely in this game (as in life) is there a straight line to success, undoubtedly there will be stumbles along the way. As you have matured as a person and as a golfer, what interactions and/or relationships have you cherished to keep you focused? A. I keep a fairly close circle. I’m blessed to have the family that I do. I’m so proud to be close with them; they always have my back no matter what. I’m fortunate to have close people in Rochester as well. A lot of my friends are older, three to four years older. Beau Hossler and Dominic Bozzelli are two of my closest friends. Q. As one of the top-ranked amateur players in the world, what guidance would you offer younger amateur players who seek to follow in your footsteps? A. I would say the biggest thing is hard work. There have been so many sacrifices that I’ve had to make, there is no real shortcut. I was hooked on the game in my early teens – I wasn’t forced into the game. I play a lot of different sports as a young kid. But all the choices I’ve made have been my choices which I believe has allowed me to learn from my mistakes but also enjoy the success I’ve had to date.

By Tim Bulmer, PorterCup.com contributor After winning the George L. Coleman Invitational in April – viewed by many as one of mid-amateur golf’s majors – Harvey was overwhelmed with emotion. Winning the Coleman Invitational was a significant moment in his decorated mid-amateur golf career, as he will now have his name on the same trophy that his father, Bill Harvey won back-to-back in 1993-94. Bill Harvey was the southeastern authority in brining recognition to the Porter Cup tournament in the 1960’s. He captured the Porter Cup in 1963, and was a mainstay of the tournament for many years. Mr. Harvey to this day is considered one of the tournament’s most influential contributors. Scott Harvey, is currently the No. 1 ranked mid-amateur golfer in the world by amateurgolf.com, and is coming off of competing in his first U.S. Open at Erin Hills. He is a leading contender to capture the 59th edition of the Porter Cup in July, and recently spoke about his recent play and the upcoming Porter Cup tournament. Q: Talk about your first U.S. Open experience at Erin Hills? What were the positives of Thursday and Friday? A: For me, one thing was that I recognize is the need to not get caught up in a game I don’t normally play. I have to continue to play within myself.  Second round (Friday) I played ultra-conservative. I was timid, I need to play my game, that’s the reason I got there. Definitely a week that’s in my top-three in my life. You don’t know if it’s ever going to happen (attempted to qualify somewhere between 10-12 times prior to 2017). The hospitality was unbelievable, and my grouping with Jamie Lovemark and Michael Putnam was very comfortable. All three of us had healthy conversations throughout both days. Q: How was the practice round with Steve Stricker, Jordan Spieth and Jim Furyk? A: Very respectful, everyone asked what I did as my profession. We discussed real estate, as a couple of the guys are currently in the market for additional property. Just a normal conversation that four guys would have during a round. Steve [Stricker] was like Tiger Woods up there. Q: With you qualifying at a sectional (New Jersey) didn’t leave you with a lot of time to make arrangements, did that settle down by the time you teed off? A: When I qualified, I honestly did not know it [U.S. Open] was the next week. With my job, I was supposed to visit a potential property, and go visit my in-laws in Dallas. But with everything being last minute, I was shocked at how many friends and family made the trip up to Wisconsin. The USGA did such a wonderful job with hospitality – not just for me, but taking care of the people around me. The atmosphere was incredible. Q: You are in a battle with Stuart Hagestad to make the U.S. Walker Cup team. What would playing at Los Angeles Country Club – the host site of the 2017 Walker Cup – mean to you? A course that you’ve won at. A: Well, the decision still has not been made by the USGA regarding number of mid-am’s in the tournament, but it’d be great. Having the Walker Cup there will enhance the experience. It’s a really long, big golf course; it fits my eye, really well. The greens are firm and fast, so that could provide an advantage. Q: This will be your ninth appearance at the Porter Cup. You finished third at last year’s tournament. After the experience at the U.S. Open, how do you feel coming into this year’s event? A; Last year’s tournament became a two-man race, I won the secondary tournament. I would be great. If I can get into the mix on Wednesday and Thursday and continue to play well, it would definitely be quite special to hoist the cup with my father’s name on it. Q: Do you still think about the eagle on 17 in 2015 when preparing to come up to NFCC? What do you like and dislike about playing Niagara Falls Country Club? A: Absolutely. I struggle with the 17th, it doesn’t fit my eye. I could hit a perfect tee ball, but no matter what iron I take for my second shot, I always make a 5. What I like about the course, is that anybody can play it – bombers, plotters, etc. That’s what I believe a great course should be. Q: Having secured The Coleman earlier this year, what would a Porter Cup win mean to you in the same year? A: Anytime I can do something my Dad has done, to finally pull it off would be amazing. Each time I play the tournament, it is really special. It’s hard to put into words. Every year throughout my whole childhood, I’d spend time with my Dad at the course – It [Porter Cup] has been a part of my life forever. No doubt it would be a special thing. Q: You’ve achieved significant success at the mid-am level. What advice would you give aspiring mid-amateur golfers as keys to success? A: It’s more of a mindset thing. Now for something major, fix it and move on [swing change]. Don’t be intimidated, the golf ball doesn’t know what age you are. Sure you will have to play against good players, but they have to play well too to win. Just be confident, you can definitely play to win.