Putting Practice in His Garage Helps Orchard Creek Golf Club Pro to PGA Win
Mike Dyer
 
SARATOGA SPRINGS, May 5 -- The winter months were lonely months for Orchard Creek Golf Club head pro Tom Oppedisano. Snow surrounded his home off Plank Road in Clifton Park. There was no vacation for the 38-year-old golfer. Instead, Oppedisano practiced his putting by building a net in his garage, practicing his putts and having each putt analyzed.

"I had computer analysis on each shot," Oppedisano said Monday at sunny Saratoga Golf & Polo Club.
The strategy worked as the former Pinehaven Country Club and McGregor Links Country Club assistant pro ended a 16-year drought with his first victory in the Northeastern New York PGA weekly tournaments.
Now in his fifth year at Orchard Creek in Altamont, Oppedisano strung five birdies en route to a 4-under-par 66 in the NBT Bank Pro Classic. He won the top prize of $550.

"This is my first win since I was a junior golfer," Oppedisano said afterwards. Latham's Peter Gerard, defending section Player of the Year, finished second and collected $430 for a 68. Head pro at Mill Road Acres Golf Club, Gerard knocked in four birdies for the 68. Windham Country Club head pro Brian Lowe and Lake Placid Golf Club head pro Ian Breen fired 69s for $295 each.

A week ago Albany Country Club head pro Glenn Davis was part of the Pro-Assistant Pro championship. Monday, Davis carded a par-70. He started the back nine with double bogey, bogey and bogey, however.
Frank Mellet, head pro at Colonie Golf & Country Club, also shot 70.

The group which tied with 72s included Edison Club assistant pro John Neet and Pioneer Hills Country Club head pro Mike Stefanik. Capital Hills at Albany head pro Steve Vatter finished with 73. Saratoga Golf & Polo Club head pro Kevin Hughes posted a 74. Lowe, 57, graduate of University of Tulsa, had four birdies for his 69. He finished with three bogeys on the back side.

A vacation in Port St. Luice, Fla. boosted Glenn Davis this year. The 41-year-old Syracuse University alumnus says he spent five weeks practicing golf in Florida. That explains his fast start.  Here are Monday's results:

SARATOGA GOLF & POLO CLUB
(Par 70)

Tom Oppedisano 66; Peter Gerard 68; Brian Lowe 69; Ian Breen 69; Glenn Davis 70; Frank Mellet 70; John Neet 72; Eli Reid 72; Paul Jaycox 72; Mike Stefanik 72; Bob Mucha 73; Tom Sullivan 73; Steve Vatter 73; Bob Meheran 73; Jim Marston 73; Rick Pohle 74; Tom Smack 74; Matt Felber 74; Tye Grissom 74; Kevin Hughes 74.

Josh Hillman 75; Steve Mazzariello 75; Mike Kucera 75; Marc Levesque 75; Willie King 76; Anders Mattson 76; Brian Hampson 77; Jeremy Kerr 77; Ron Choquette 78; David Lis 78; Ryan Durnberg 78; Brian Damon 79; Zach McDougall 79; Keith Sprenger 79; Kent Tarkleson 79; Matt Heighes 79; Jeff Gunning 79; John Durcan 80; Curt Lohrey 81; John Mahon 81; Mark Fretto 81; Erik Tiele 81; Glenn Dickerson 82; Sean Madden 83; Bob Van Auken 84; Ron Ireland 85.