by Jay Skurski, Buffalo News Tournament Director Steve Denn describes the field for this year’s Porter Cup as transitional. Gone are recent champions like Patrick Rodgers (2011) and Richy Werenski (2012), both of whom have started their professional careers. Reigning champion Taylor Pendrith also won’t be back at Niagara Falls Country Club this week. Pendrith has accepted an exemption into the field of the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open – understandable on its own, but even more so when considering it’s the Richmond Hill, Ont. native’s national championship. But as he does every year, Denn has put together another world-class field for this year’s 56th Porter Cup, which runs today through Saturday. Tee times begin at 8:30 a.m. and run through 12:30 p.m. for the 75-player field. “We’ve got quite a bit of turnover this year — a lot of first-time players — which is certainly something that we’ve seen in many past Porter Cups,” Denn said. “It’s kind of the nature of the beast that we’re in. We’re excited about our field.” Part of the reason for the transition is 2014 is a non-Walker Cup year. That means several of the top graduating college players – the primary targets for the Porter Cup – are turning professional at the end of the spring, instead of maintaining their amateur status throughout the summer in an effort to make the Walker Cup team. Beau Hossler is returning to the Porter Cup this year after tying for 12th in last year’s tournament. (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News file photo) “It has its peaks and valleys with regard to when a Walker Cup is played,” Denn said of the Porter Cup field. “When you look through and see the number of Porter Cups each one of these players has competed in, you’ll see a lot of first time Porter Cuppers – probably a good 65 to 70 percent of the field will be joining us for the first time.” The RBC also poached one more potential contender from the Porter Cup field in Corey Conners, a 22-year-old from Listowel, Ont. who’s ranked 16th in the world by the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking. But enough about who’s not here. Instead, let’s count down 10 contenders for this year: 10. Chase Koepka. The 20-year-old junior at the University of South Florida was a third-team All-American in 2014. His older brother, Brooks, finished tied for fourth at the U.S. Open in June, and made the cut last week at the Open Championship. 9. Mike McCoy. The 51-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, is more than just a sentimental favorite. McCoy is the reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur (players 25 and older) champion. He’s got the game to hang with the young kids. His 15th Porter Cup appearance is also a tournament record. 8. Garrett Rank. The 26-year-old from Elmira, Ont. – who works as a hockey referee in the winter – is a Porter Cup veteran making his fifth appearance. He finished second earlier this year at the Players Amateur and without Pendrith and Conners is the top-ranked Canadian in the field. 7. Beau Hossler. The 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Texas was an honorable mention All-American this spring. He finished tied for 12th in his Porter Cup debut last year and is ranked 25th by SPWAR. 6. Geoff Drakeford. As usual, the Porter Cup field includes a strong contingent of Australian players – eight in all – led by Drakeford, who at ninth in the SPWAR is his country’s top-ranked amateur. 5. Gavin Hall. The Pittsford native has knocked on the door in his first two appearances, finishing tied for second as a 15-year-old in 2010, then tied for eighth last year. He 4. Christian Bezuidenhout. The 19-year-old from Pretoria, South Africa, is ranked 17th in the SPWAR. He’s making his Porter Cup debut. 3. Will Murphy. The Sunnehanna Amateur champion earlier this year, Murphy is making his Porter Cup debut ranked 28th in the SPWAR. 2. Zander Lombard. At No. 3 in the SPWAR, Lombard is the highest-ranked player in the field. He’s making his Porter Cup debut, as well. 1.Denny McCarthy. The 21-year-old from Rockville, Md., has knocked on the door in his three previous Porter Cup appearances with finishes of tied for sixth and second the past two years, respectively. McCarthy is ranked 14th by SPWAR. In all, there are eight countries represented in the field. “We’ll still have a top-12 ranked field in the world, looking at all the events,” Denn said. The seven local players in the field include Clarence’s Matt Stasiak, who elected not to defend his title in the New York state amateur and play the Porter Cup instead. He’s joined by three players from East Amherst – Raman Luthra, the 2013 Buffalo District Golf Association points champion – as well as Patrick Sheedy Jr. and Danny Yustin. They got into the field through last month’s qualifying tournament, with Sheedy shooting a 4-under 66 to take medalist honors and Yustin finishing second at 3-under 67. Rounding out the locals are Niagara Falls Country Club champion PJ Alterio, and the player he beat in a playoff for that title, Mike Boss, as well as Jamie Miller.

by Cassie Stein, Golfweek The 56th annual Porter Cup is set to take place this week at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, N.Y. A number of new faces will play in western New York on Wednesday through Saturday, in the 78-player field. A lot of the top names in the amateur game have turned professional, such as 2011 winner Patrick Rodgers, Cory Whitsett and Bobby Wyatt. There was no reason for the former top amateurs in the world to stay amateur since the Walker Cup isn’t until September 2015. Here are a few notes and players to keep an eye on to get ready for the week: New champion to be crowned There will be no repeat champion this year, as Taylor Pendrith will play in this week’s PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open on a sponsor exemption. But the list of champions over the 56 years is impressive –from Ben Crenshaw to Phil Mickelson to Rodgers, have won this prestigious event. Some players who have participated but did not win include Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker. Last five champions: 2013: Pendrith 2012: Ricky Werenski 2011: Rodgers 2010: David Chung 2009: Brendan Gielow Rising stars of tomorrow The week, many of the game’s young, rising collegiate stars will bring their game to Niagara Falls CC. They include: Incoming Texas freshman Doug Ghim (right), who is coming off a runner-up finish at the final U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, will making his first trip to the Western New York region. This is his second event in as many weeks and will continue to play through the U.S. Amateur. Next week he’ll take on the Western Amateur, only 40 minutes from his hometown of Arlington Heights, Ill. Gators duo: Alejandro Tosti, a native of Argentina, will play in his second Porter Cup in as many years. It was announced last week that new UF head coach J.C. Deacon has signed the 18-year-old to a National Letter of Intent to join the team in just a few short weeks. Ryan Celano, 18, of Naples, Fla., qualified for this year’s tournament with a 2-under 68. Other young stars: Zachary Bauchou, 18, 2015 commit to Oklahoma State; and Zander Lombard of South Africa, the 2014 British Amateur runner-up at Royal Portrush. Players to watch Garrett Rank is coming off a strong summer thus far as the 26-year old finished second at the Players Amateur and made it to the Round of 16 at the Public Links. Rank, who is an ice hockey referee during the winter months from balmy Elmira, Canada, had a T-13 finish at the 2012 Porter Cup. Denny McCarthy, a rising senior at Virginia, is looking for his defining moment in amateur golf and this could be the tournament where he finds it. McCarthy, 21, is coming off a successful junior season for the Cavaliers – placing in the top-10 nine times, including a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships as an individual. He has been coming to the Porter Cup since 2012 and finished second in 2012 and T-6 in 2013. Others who could contend (top finish at PC): Max Buckley (T-26, 2013), Beau Hossler (T-12, 2013), Gavin Hall (T-2, 2010) and Trevor Cone (first-year participant).

Sheedy, a 2012 graduate of Florida Tech University, shot 31 on the back nine which included an eagle on the par-5, 12th hole to qualify for the Porter Cup for the second straight year. Danny Yustin of East Amherst, NY and Kevin DeHuff of Coto de Caza, CA were 1-stroke back, carding 3-under par scores of 67. The final five spots were claimed Ryan Celano of Naples, FL and Canadians Austin James, James Krantz, Joseph Kremer and Nicholas Ross who birdied his last three holes.   Their 2-under par scores of 68 were good enough to punch their ticket to the 56th Porter Cup next month. Complete results can be found by clicking here.

By Cassie Stein, Golfweek Take advantage when you can is the adage at Niagara Falls Country Club for the 56th annual Porter Cup. Gavin Hall, who currently sits in second after a second-round, even-par 70, says gaining momentum into the back nine in any given round is crucial if you want to score well out here. “You have to play Nos. 10-13 really well because the last few holes are tough,” Hall said. Hall took advantage as he birdied all three par-5s Thursday, but fell victim to the par 3s as he bogeyed three out of five. Geoff Drakeford takes the second-round lead at the 56th Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. Geoff Drakeford, who earned a runner-up finish last week at the Southern Amateur, shot a 4-under 66 to vault into the lead by one over Hall. Drakeford, of Australia, is playing in one of his final amateur tournaments before turning professional. On Thursday, Drakeford got off to a slow start with a bogey at the first before finding his rhythm, especially between Nos. 8-14 – making six birdies and one bogey during that stretch. Denny McCarthy, a four-year participant at the Porter Cup, echoed Hall’s thoughts on the par 5s. “Definitely have to hit the par 5s,” McCarthy said. “There are three of them and you want to be under par on those.” McCarthy shot a “non-flashy,” 3-under 67 that was good enough for a tie for third after 36 holes. After playing in the tournament for multiple years, McCarthy added that he knows where and where not to hit it on the course because of his experience here. “It’s (Niagara Falls CC) also very similar to mine back home (Argyle Country Club),” said McCarthy. “I just feel really comfortable out here.” McCarthy, a rising senior at Virginia, held the clubhouse lead for five minutes before Hall posted his score and Drakeford later in the day. The 21-year-old also added that if you want a low score out here, you then need to “sprinkle in a few other wedge shots in there.” Dale Brandt-Richards (67), of Australia, and Stephane Dubois (66), of Canada, are the other two players tied with McCarthy at 5-under 135.

By Jay Skurski, Buffalo News Steve Denn takes every invitation he gives out to the Porter Cup seriously. Thirteen-year-old Will Thomson lines up his putt on the 18th green in the Porter Cup on Wednesday. (James P. McCoy/ Buffalo News) So when he offered one to 13-year-old Will Thomson, it wasn’t for publicity’s sake. “I’m certainly going to go on merit,” Denn said. “I’m not going to say, ‘OK, a 13-year-old will be good for media and people coming out being curious.’ That’s not what motivates me.” As such, Denn felt comfortable making Thomson the youngest player to ever play in the Porter Cup. “I just felt that his game is ready,” Denn said. Thomson proved that earlier this month by becoming the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Amateur. He did so by beating fellow Pittsford resident Gavin Hall – the leader after Wednesday’s first round at Niagara Falls Country Club – by four shots during a qualifying tournament at Mendon Golf Club. “Golf seems to be getting younger and younger,” Denn said. “I don’t look at this as a gimmick or anything like that to invite a 13-year-old to the Porter Cup. … If he’s ready for the U.S. Amateur, then he’s certainly ready for the Porter Cup.” Earlier this summer, Thomson won the International Junior Masters at East Aurora Country Club. He’s also the reigning New York State boys (ages 14 and under) champion. In addition, there is a regional appeal to him being from the Rochester area. “I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Thomson said of the invitation. “It was a really big surprise to me. After the U.S. Am qualifier, they called and my dad was yelling to me, saying the Porter Cup wanted to invite me. I thought he was kidding at first. When it ended up being real, I was just shocked.” Thomson, who admitted to being a little intimidated by the field, shot 3-over 73 in the first round, and is in a tie for 54th place. “I played all right. I grinded a little bit,” he said. “I’ve just got to hit the ball a little bit better tomorrow, putt a little bit better, and we’ll see what happens.” … Thomson isn’t the only player in the field to set a Porter Cup record. Mid-amateur Mike McCoy, a 51-year-old from West Des Moines, Iowa, is playing in his 15th Porter Cup, believed to be the most ever. “I’ve enjoyed coming up here,” McCoy said. “I look forward to it every year. It’s always a competitive tournament, and there are great sights to see. It’s kind of a relaxed atmosphere, even though there is keen competition. Everybody’s having a good time.” Back in April, McCoy got the experience of a lifetime. His victory in the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur championship gave him an invitation to the Masters. “It was a great week. I wish the golf had been a little better, but they went out of their way to make sure we had a special experience,” McCoy said. “It was everything you can imagine. It was Disneyland – not a blade of grass was out of place.” McCoy’s son, Nate, caddied for him making the trip even more special. Nate McCoy is currently playing on the Canadian PGA Tour. Mike McCoy opened with a 3-over 73, and is part of the tie for 54th. … For the first time this year, players at the Porter Cup are able to use distance-measuring devices. That’s in step with a United States Golf Association ruling back in February that allowed the use of such devices in amateur events. … The scoring average for the 75-player field was 71.33. The easiest hole was the par-5 third, which played to a stroke average of 4.55, while the par-4 17th hole played to an average of 4.55 strokes, making it the most difficult on a cool, blustery day.

Catherine Peters of Clarence Center watches her tee shot on the par 3 18th during the first round of the Women’s Porter Cup at Niagara Falls CC in Lewiston Thursday, June 11, 2014. (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News) Brian Oakley initially wasn’t sure the Women’s Porter Cup ever was going to get off the ground. Prior to its inaugural event in 2013, commitments were slow to trickle in. “We started off really slow, with only 10 or 15,” said Oakley, the director of Boeing Programs for Magellan Aerospace who doubles as tournament director. “We were looking at it and going, ‘Geez, maybe this isn’t going to fly.’ ” Through a good deal of “begging,” as Oakley put it, the field eventually grew to 39. From there, the hospitality that members at Niagara Falls Country Club are known for took over. “I think what sets us apart is when the girls come here, we treat them quite nicely,” Oakley said. “Their meals are taken care of. Wednesday night, we take them on the Maid of the Mist. We have a terrific players’ dinner plan for them. Pretty much once you get them into Western New York, they’re sold.” That’s when word of mouth takes over. “Once the girls came, they went back and talked to their teammates,” Oakley said. “Some of them wanted to play and couldn’t, for whatever reason, like prior commitments to other tournaments, but to a woman, they were applauding having another event on the circuit.” The results have shown. This year’s field features 66 golfers – and Oakley had applications he had to turn down. Included in the field are eight of the top 100 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “To go from 39 to 66 and then to take it to the next level of the skill set is more than we really hoped we could do in one year,” he said during Wednesday’s first round. “We learned a lot from the first year as to how to market and how to provide invitations to different programs within the college ranks and globally, as well.” The growth of the field in the women’s event actually exceeds the pace in which the men’s tournament grew. In 1959, the inaugural Porter Cup had 40 competitors. That number didn’t reach 60 until 1965. Another similarity: In the inaugural men’s event, more than half of the field was made up of players from Western New York, with nearly all the rest coming from Ontario. This week, 12 of the players are from Western New York, with another four from Rochester. “This is giving our local young ladies the opportunity to feel the pressures and the exhilaration of everything associated with golf,” Oakley said.“We have to be careful that we make the field competitive, but I’m looking at this as kind of a developmental-type tournament for some of our girls who maybe aren’t ready to go into the college ranks yet. They need to be tested. … So we think we have a nice mix of that.” “It’s such a prestigious event that even to be asked is an honor,” said Amherst’s Julie Murphy, the Buffalo District Golf Association Women’s Player of the Year who is playing this week. “It’s a good test for the young kids. It’s good competition for them, to see what’s out there.” The strength of this year’s field will do more than just test the best players in Western New York. It could also attract stronger fields in the future. This year’s tournament has been given a field strength of “C” from the World Amateur Golf Ranking. There are four elite women’s amateur tournaments in the world, and the rest are given letter grades from “A’’ (strongest) through “G’ (weakest) dictated by the caliber of the field. To achieve a “C” rating in just its second year bodes well for the future, according to Oakley. “I’m pleased about that, because hopefully it will get us more notoriety and help us attract even more accomplished players next year,” he said. First-round co-leaders Jennifer Ha and Brittany Marchand are two of the top-100 players in the field. Teammates on the Canadian national women’s amateur team, both opened Wednesday with rounds of 2-under 69. “Overall, I played well,” Marchand said. “On the front nine I was hitting my driver sideways, but I made a few good saves.” I was hitting my irons really well. I was sticking it close when I was in the fairway and had opportunities. It was a little bit of a scramble round, but if I can get my driver straightened out, I’ll be playing pretty solid.” Four players – Hannah Pietila of Brighton, Mich., 17-year-old Princess Superal of the Philippines, and Canadians Augusta James and Christian Foster – are a shot back after opening rounds of 70. The second round begins at 7:30 a.m. today, with the final grouping of Ha, Marchand and Pietila going off at 11 a.m.

A field of 66 top amateur female golfers will descend upon Niagara Falls Country Club from Wednesday June 11th– Friday June 13th when the second annual Women’s Porter Cup gets under way. This year’s 54 hole event has Tournament Chairman Brian Oakley all excited and ready to go. “We are thrilled to be hosting some of the top female amateur golfers in the world here at Niagara Falls Country Club” he said. In addition Oakley is enthused that the field is almost doubled from last year’s inaugural event total of 39. Leading the way will be the entire Canadian National team led by Brooke Henderson (right) currently ranked #3 in the world. Other international stars include two up and coming Phillipine players Pauline DelRosario and Princess Superal. Among local standouts competing will be Cat Peters currently a member of the University of Michigan women’s team and Rene Sobolewski of Vanderbilt University.

Brooke Henderson, 16, is slated to play in the U.S. Women’s Open next week at Pinehurst No. 2.  (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News) LEWISTON – There was only one question to ask after Brooke Henderson’s sublime final round Friday at Niagara Falls Country Club. Just how are there two amateurs on earth ranked higher than her? Henderson, No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, played one of the best rounds ever at NFCC, shooting a 9-under-par 62 to overcome a nine-stroke deficit entering the final round and win the second Women’s Porter Cup with a three-round total of 8-under 205. “The last couple days I was really struggling score-wise, but I was hitting the ball well. Today, I kept that going. I hit the ball pretty good,” said the 16-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., submitting an entry for the understatement of the year. “Unlike the other days, I was able to make some putts, which really kept me rolling. I’m really happy with my round today.” If ever an athlete was in “the zone,” it was Henderson on Friday. “I was,” she said. “Nothing could distract me.” That included a rain delay early in the afternoon that stretched more than an hour. “It actually helped me refocus,” she said of the stoppage in play. “It made me keep my mind on what I wanted to do.” That was to go really, really low. Henderson, who’s entering her senior year of high school, made five birdies and two eagles on the back nine during her round, winning by three strokes over second-round leader Jennifer Ha – her teammate on the Canadian national women’s amateur team – and 17-year-old Princess Superal from the Philippines. The 62 set a Women’s Porter Cup record by three strokes, and is believed to be the course record for a female at NFCC. “She played that well every day, but today she capitalized on her chances,” Canadian amateur team coach Tristan Mullally said. “I’m really proud she’s done this, because she’s proved to herself – more than anybody else – that she can go low when she needs to.” Henderson got off to a blistering start, going 6 under through her first 11 holes. She tied for the lead at 5-under with a long eagle putt on the par-5 11th hole by draining a 40-foot putt. “I was just trying to lag it up there to make birdie, and the next thing I know, it dropped in,” she said. “It was a long one.” Ha, meanwhile, got off to a miserable start. She entered the day with a three-stroke lead, but dropped three shots by the turn. A birdie on the par-5 12th hole briefly gave her a one-stroke advantage back, but she lost that by three-putting from 15 feet on the par-3 13th hole. “It was just one of those days. I wasn’t putting great. I was hitting the ball fine, but I got myself into a couple tricky spots and didn’t shoot as well as I’d hoped,” she said. “On 13, I got a little bit aggressive with my birdie putt. I only had 15 feet and I was really trying to make it. I knew Brooke was making a move. I rolled it 3 feet by. It was a careless mistake.” Still, Ha remained only a shot back until reaching the par-3 16th hole. Her tee shot landed on the green but well short, giving her a 50-foot uphill birdie putt. She wasn’t able to convert, then dropped another shot by leaving her par putt on the edge of the hole – a common occurrence all day. “Definitely the worst round she could have had in terms of the way she played. She missed a lot of short putts,” Mullally said of Henderson’s 3-over 74. “The guys here have done a great job to get this golf course in this condition with the weather, but the greens can be a little bit erratic. You need a little bit of luck, and Jen just didn’t get that today.” At almost the same time as Ha three-putted, Henderson hit a 5-wood to 15 feet on the par-5 17th hole and went on to make the eagle putt and establish a four-stroke lead. “I’m really happy for Brooke,” said Ha, a 20-year-old from Calgary who won the Mid-American Conference championship this spring with Kent State. “I know she’s a great player and this is going to give her a lot of confidence.” Henderson opened the tournament with a 4-over 75, and was tied for 16th place after the first round. Mullally’s job was to convince her she hadn’t played herself out of the tournament. “As time came around, she knew if she had a good round Thursday, it might give her that opportunity. Nobody expects to shoot 9-under-par, but the fact that she has … it’s incredible,” he said. Henderson had some help from two supremely qualified caddies during the tournament. For the first two rounds, Steve Denn, the men’s Porter Cup tournament director, was on her bag. In the final round, Henderson’s sister, Brittany, did the job. Brittany Henderson interned last summer at NFCC and plays on the Sun Coast Ladies Tour in Florida. “He was a great caddie,” she said. “It was all on me the first couple rounds. He was awesome, but I love when my sister’s on the bag.” Brittany Henderson caddied for her younger sister last week during the LPGA Tour event in Waterloo, Ont., and will be on the bag again at the U.S. Women’s Open next week at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Henderson made the cut as a 15-year-old in last year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Sebonack Golf Club on Long Island. “We have a really strong bond, and I love when she’s there,” Brooke Henderson said. “This was such a great atmosphere, and it’s a huge confidence booster for me.” … It was a good day all around for those at NFCC, as member Mike Boss won the Buffalo District Golf Association’s men’s Match Play championship, 1 up, over Chris Covelli (Wanakah) at Transit Valley Country Club. Boss was back at NFCC in time to carry the scoreboard for Henderson’s group during her win.

By Jay Skurski, Buffalo News It’s easy to envy John Sawin. The 29-year-old who calls San Francisco home is truly living the dream. Back in March, Sawin walked away from his investment-banking job as a vice president with Barclays in Menlo Park, Calif., to reconnect with what he calls his true passion – competitive amateur golf. “It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made,” Sawin said after the third round of the Porter Cup on Friday at Niagara Falls Country Club. “I didn’t really set any expectations for my golf game when I left work. I just wanted to see what would happen. “The worst thing that could happen is I don’t play that well and I go back to the same job I had. And I got six months off. How bad could that be? The upside is I could play really great and kind of put myself on the national map and try to do these things year in and year out.” While this week has been a bit of a struggle – Sawin shot 6-over 76 Friday and is in a tie for 53rd at 7-over for the tournament – there have been plenty of successes, as well. He’s qualified for both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur. “Can I win a U.S. Mid-Am? That would get me into the Masters. Can I be in contention for one of those two Walker Cup Mid-Am spots? That’s stuff I don’t know if it’s realistic until I play a full season and see where I stand,” he said. “I feel like I’m getting comfortable out here. It’s just been a blast, and I’ve really enjoyed my travels. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and it’s given me a fresh perspective on things.” Sawin graduated from Princeton University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He was a member of three Ivy League championship teams, and named to the All-Ivy League first team three times. After college, he started his career in Manhattan, pretty much abandoning golf. After relocating to San Francisco, though, he started playing again. Unmarried and without kids – and with the bank account to go along with seven years of long hours as an investment banker, leaving little time to spend the money – Sawin decided in March to leave his job and play in as many amateur tournaments as he could this summer. “I basically went from 0 to 60 in terms of competitive golf, so it’s a lot,” he said. “I think I’ve made a few scheduling mistakes, just putting things so close together. Staying fresh has been tough.” Sawin will keep up his busy schedule through October, when he’ll defend his title in the Stocker Cup, in Carmel, Calif. After that, it will be back to San Francisco to figure out the next step in his life. He’s already got two job offers waiting for him in investment banking. “I’m not sure if that’s the best fit for me, or if there is some other slightly different career that would allow me to play more competitive golf,” he said. “That’s something I’m going to have to make a decision about. I’ll see how I feel and see how I played.” … Silver Creek’s Jamie Miller was unable to back up a 3-under 67 Thursday in the second round, shooting a 4-over 74 Friday. Still, being in the field has been a thrill. “I was really excited, because I haven’t had a chance to play as much with work and all, so it was just really nice,” he said. “It’s been awesome.” Miller works as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley. He joked that his co-workers probably think he plays a lot, but that he’s only getting a round or two in per week. Coming from that to competing with the best amateurs in the world is quite a change. “It is, but it’s kind of like riding a bike,” said Miller, who plays out of Tri-County Country Club. “You don’t really forget, but you make more little mistakes, so you’ve got to try to minimize those as much as possible. I’m sure everybody that’s a mid-am can vouch for that. You get rounds like yesterday … then you get rounds like today.” Miller is in a tie for 39th, at 4-over 214 through 54 holes. The top 25 players in the field get invitations to next year’s tournament, so he has a realistic goal for today. “I think I can go out and shoot something under par tomorrow and see what happens,” he said. East Amherst’s Danny Yustin, who plays out of Transit Valley, is the low local player in the field, in a tie for 20th at even par 210 after a round of 2-under 68. Other locals in the field include: East Amherst’s Raman Luthra (tied for 58th), Clarence’s Matt Stasiak (T60), Lewiston’s Mike Boss (T65), East Amherst’s Patrick Sheedy Jr. (T70) and Lewiston’s PJ Alterio (75). … The third round played to a scoring average of 71.55 strokes, the toughest round so far. The par-4 ninth hole, which played into the wind of the Niagara Escarpment, was the toughest hole, at an average of 4.43 strokes. Meanwhile, the par-5 third hole was easy to solve by the competitors, playing to an average of 4.37 shots.

LEWISTON – Not rain, not wind and not any of the other 83 players in the field could stop Taylor Pendrith this week at the 55th Porter Cup. The 22-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., handled the elements perfectly on a soaked Saturday at Niagara Falls Country Club, shooting a final-round of 3-under-par 67 to easily lock up what he called the biggest victory of his career. Taylor Pendrith made it difficult for others to catch him during the final round of the Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. (Matthew Masin/Buffalo News) “Just to look at the names who’ve won this tournament, it’s pretty awesome,” Pendrith said. “It feels very special.” Pendrith’’s total of 16-under 264 is the third-best score in tournament history. His five-stroke margin of victory over Texan Tyler Dunlap is the most since 2007, when Brian Harman blew away the field with a tournament-record 22-under-par. “He’’s making it look easy right now,” said 2012 winner Richy Werenski, as he watched Pendrith make his victory stroll up to the 18th green. “I didn’’t make a single birdie today, so I thought the course was tough. He’s playing it pretty darn good.” Pendrith began the day with a one-shot lead over Justin Shin, his teammate on the Canadian national team, and was two up on Dunlap. The potential for any final-round drama, however, was largely erased by the seventh hole. Pendrith opened with four pars, the last of which came thanks to a clutch up-and-down on the par-3 fourth hole. “I think the momentum changed on the fourth hole,” he said. “I made a 15-footer, and it was a very tough putt. From there, I got a little confidence with the putter.” Pendrith made his move starting on No. 5. He attacked the pin on the difficult par-4 despite its location tucked behind a bunker, and had a 4-foot birdie putt that he converted. On the sixth tee, he took advantage of his prodigious length by bombing a 357-yard drive down the middle, leaving just 60 yards to the pin. He made birdie there to open a four-shot lead. His tee shot on the par-3 seventh hole, which had the markers moved all the way up to 128 yards, came to rest about a foot from the hole. After that tap-in birdie, he was up six because Dunlap failed to save par from the front bunker. “I played with him Friday when he had a 63, and he gunned it,” said Australian Brady Watt, who was in the penultimate group Saturday and finished tied for third. “He’s a really deserving champion. I knew I had to go super low today, or he needed to falter, but I was thinking: ‘there’s no way. He’s playing too well.’ ” Pendrith’’s last bit of consternation came on the 10th tee. With the wind at its strongest and the rain beginning to fall steadily, he hit his drive right, perilously close to the out of bounds markers. He hit a provisional ball, but was able to find his original tee shot in bounds. From there, he saved par. “I was lucky to get par there. I was actually just trying to make a five actually from that position, but par was a bonus,” he said. “I knew it was going to be difficult. I knew there was going to be a lot of bogeys being made out there with the weather and the wind.” Pendrith did drop a shot at the par-3 12th hole, but quickly responded by sinking a birdie on the par-5 13th. Much of the back nine for the final group was played in a steady rain, which made the already difficult prospect of catching Pendrith nearly impossible. “It was tough conditions out there,” said Shin, who had been 13-under on the back nine through the first three rounds, but managed to go just 1-under Saturday. Shin was happy to see Pendrith become just the third Canadian winner in Porter Cup history. “He played great golf today,” Shin said. “He stayed calm and hit a lot of quality shots.” Next on Pendrith’’s schedule is the Canadian Amateur, from Aug. 6-9. After that, it’s back to Kent State for his senior season. The defending Mid-American Conference champion said a Porter Cup victory will give him plenty of confidence. “I hadn’t been playing particularly well coming into this tournament,” he said. “I just kind of relaxed and said, ‘well you haven’t been playing good, you might as well go out there and try and shoot a lot under par.’ It worked.” I’m pretty pleased with myself.” That was evident on the 18th green, when his 6-foot par putt slipped inside the left edge. A shy smile crept across his face as the ball disappeared. Almost a half an hour later — as he stood on the escarpment with a million-dollar view of Canada behind him – and posed for pictures with the trophy in his winners green jacket, the smile still hadn’t gone away.

LEWISTON – The relationship between the Porter Cup and Canada is easy to understand from a seat on the back patio of Niagara Falls Country Club. From high atop the Niagara escarpment, there’s a can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it view of the Niagara River below snaking between two countries. It’s enough to make you want to tee up a Titleist and take a shot at landing a ball in Queenston. Last year, after Ontario’s Taylor Pendrith ended a 28-year drought for Canadian men by winning the tournament, an impromptu version of “O Canada” broke out as he accepted the trophy. It might be time to cue up the chorus again. Four of the top five spots on the leader board after two rounds of the Women’s Porter Cup are occupied by our northern neighbors, including leader Jennifer Ha, a 20-year-old from Calgary. She shot a sparkling round of 6-under 65 Thursday that included two eagles, giving her a two-round total of 8-under 134 and opening a three-shot lead over 21-year-old Brittany Marchand of Mono, Ont., – her teammate on the Canadian national women’s amateur team. “With the welcome we’ve had, we’ve certainly not been treated as outsiders, but as locals,” said Tristan Mullally, the Canadian national women’s team coach. Ha certainly looked at home Thursday, running off nine straight pars to open her second round before carding 30 on the way in. Her score of 65 matched the Women’s Porter Cup record set in the inaugural event by champion Casie Cathrea, who has since turned professional. “I hit my woods really solid today, so it gave me a lot of opportunities, especially on the par 5s,” Ha said. She took advantage of those on the back nine twice, first at No. 12. After a solid drive split the fairway, Ha knocked a 20-degree hybrid to within 6 feet and then converted the downhill eagle putt. On No. 17, which plays as a par 4 for the men and has been converted this week to a par 5, she again reached the green in two after a solid drive and another fairway wood. She then converted a 20-foot eagle putt. “I don’t think I’ve ever made two eagles in one round,” she said afterward with a beaming smile. “It was pretty awesome.” There are five members of the Canadian women’s amateur team competing this week. All are in the top 100 of the World Golf Amateur Ranking, and all are in the top eight of the leader board through two rounds. Marchand shot a 3-under 68 Friday for a two-round total of 5-under 137. They’ll be joined in today’s final threesome by 17-year-old Princess Superal of the Philippines, who is at 4-under 138 after a round of 3-under 68 Friday. Team Canada members Augusta James and Brooke Henderson, the world’s No. 3 amateur player, are in the penultimate group today after rounds of 1-under 70 and 3-under 68, respectively. “Having seen this event last year … we knew this is something we wanted to support,” Mullally said. “The club here has been awesome. They’re experts at what they do here. It’s really easy for us to just come in, practice, and do our thing. “It’s a tournament that we know is going to be great in the future. It is already, but it’s going to grow and get better. It’s good to be at the grass-roots of it and get on board now.” When the men’s event started in 1959, it wasn’t even known as the Porter Cup. It was called the International Invitational, a name that suggested its proximity to the border. “Canadians go back as far as the tournament does,” said men’s Porter Cup director Steve Denn, who’s spent this week caddying for Henderson. “They’re obviously right next to us, so it just makes sense. … Hopefully they’re going to enjoy their experience and it becomes something where we get them to come down every year.” The low Western New Yorker in the 65-player field through two rounds is Clarence’s Cat Peters. She’s at 8-over 150 after a round of 3-over 74 Friday.

Hall holds second after up-and-down play By Taylor Nigrelli, Buffalo News During the second day of Porter Cup action, the top of the leader board was something of a revolving door. Some appeared to be well set up after a solid morning round, only to be buried by a litany of better afternoon scores. Some dominated on the front nine only to fall apart in the second half and get lost among a crowded contending pack. Gavin Hall at the 56th Annual Porter Cup Tournament at the Niagara Falls Country Club on Thursday, July 24, 2014. (Harry Scull Jr. /Buffalo News) When all the smoke had cleared, Geoff Drakeford (7-under) and Gavin Hall (6-under) sat alone in first and second place, respectively. Drakeford was tied for fourth place with a three-under 67 in the first round but tied for Thursday’s best score with a four-under 66. The Australian had an inauspicious start to the second round, but overcame it with a strong stretch in the middle. He bogeyed the first and sixth holes and birdied the third hole to put himself at 1-over through seven holes. The 22-year-old then birdied on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th holes, – six of seven holes – to put himself at 4-under. He bogeyed the 12th and 15th holes and birdied the 17th to complete an up-and-down round. Drakeford didn’t hit overly impressive or special shots. He just drove well, chipped well, gave himself favorable green position and nailed the ensuing makable putts throughout. “Everything seemed to be working,” Drakeford said. “If you can get your driver going and you can hit your wedges right, you can get it nice and close for putting. “I don’t think I made any long putts today. I just hit my wedges well and put it on the green.” While Drakeford built on a solid first round, Hall wasn’t nearly as good as he was Wednesday. He shot an even 70 to keep his overall score at six-under par. Luckily for him, many of his competitors fell short of their first-round pace, keeping him near the top of the leader board. Hall had some quality holes – he had four birdies – but he also bogeyed four times, struggling especially on the very par-3 holes he dominated on Wednesday. Three of his four bogeys came on par-3 holes – No. 4, 12 and 16. “Today was definitely a little more up-and-down,” Hall said. “I didn’t hit the par threes as well. That was the key, I just missed a lot of greens.” Hall drove well and putted well enough to his liking, but he struggled with his iron play. On more than one occasion, he ended up in the sand and struggled to get the ball to favorable positions on the green. “To choose one thing” that wasn’t clicking, “I’d say my iron play,” Hall said. “I have to tighten that up a little bit. The rough’s too thick. The sand’s tough to hit out of.” It was an inconsistent round for Hall, a Pittsford native who now plays for the University of Texas, but he knows he’s in a good position going into the final two rounds of the tournament. “I couldn’t get any momentum,” Hall said. “Every time I’d hit a birdie, I’d hit a bogey. Other than that, I’m pretty pleased about how I’m playing right now. I feel like I’m in control of where I want the ball to go. I’m really putting it well, I’m excited for the weekend.” Behind Hall and Drakeford, there’s quite a log jam. Dale Brandt-Richards, Stephane Dubois and Denny McCarthy are locked in a third-place tie at 5-under. David Boote, Max Buckley, Matt Crenshaw, Taylor Funk, Doug Ghim and Bobby Holden are tied at 4-under.