Turning Stone Executive bows out, Gavin Hall recieves sponsor exemption
Upstate New York will play host to the Turning Stone Resort Championship this week, which takes place at the Turning Stone Resort in the Mohawk Valley from August 5th to 8th. The second last event of the PGA season has already been glazed with controversy.
Turning Stone Resort executive Ray Halbritter has bowed out of the competition in order to quell controversy that his sponsor exemption prohibits eligible players from participating. Halbritter, 60, announced that he will withdraw and give his exemption to another player. Halbritter had no intent on distracting from the championship and merely wanted to celebrate the tournament.
“My intention in qualifying to be eligible to play in our Turning Stone Resort Championship was to participate in a competitive opportunity which any golfer would enjoy, to celebrate, not detract from, our wonderful tournament, its players and fans.”
Halbritter was one of the main forces that brought the PGA Tour event to the Turning Stone Resort four years ago. Exemptions into tournaments are usually handed out to PGA Tour players or elite amateurs; Halbritter was able to enter after he gave himself one of the Resort’s four sponsor exemptions.
Gavin Hall is an elite amateur who received one of Turning Stone Resort’s sponsor exemptions. Hall is a Pittsford N.Y. high school sophomore and two-time winner of the New York State Boys Amateur. He is forgoing the opportunity to defend his title for a third year to participate at Turning Stone.
"It was unfortunate that I had to withdraw from the State Junior, but I think I had a pretty good excuse – playing in a PGA Tour event," Hall said laughing after practice rounds at Turning Stone’s Atunyote Golf Club on Monday."It would have been nice to contend there, but it’s pretty awesome to be out here."
Hall enters the tournament after a four-week roll in the Amateur league. He set an all-time tournament scoring record when he shot a 10-under par 62 in the U.S. Junior Amateur. Hall then advanced to match play but eventually lost by one hole.
Hall won his second title at the prestigious Rochester District Armature Championship where he finished 13 under par. And at last week’s Porter Cup Hall tied for second place.
“I’m proud of the way I played and handled myself. I held my ground and held my composure against some of the great amateur players in the world. I’m going to take a lot out of this week,” Hall said after losing to David Chung, the highest ranked amateur in the world, at the Porter Cup.
But on the Atunyote golf course Hall was the centre of attention, signing autographs and smiling as he posed for pictures with fans. Though he is only 15-years old, Hall maintained the composure of a professional. His practice round looked good too; on the first hole his tee shot carried 315 yards and his second shot brought him within 15 feet of the pin.
Hall is required to compete all week in order to win a qualifying spot in the main event which takes place on the weekend. The Turning Stone Resort Championship has a $4 million purse on the line, $720,000 going to the winner, and will see 132 players competing.
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