Troy Claims County’s Biggest Crown

August 13—Pittsfield’s Donnie Troy spent the last two months building his lead in the Player of the Year race in events outside of Berkshire County. During yesterday’s Men’s Allied at Egremont County Club, he all but assured his reign as the area’s top player would continue for at least one more year.

Buoyed by a string of impressive finishes and good play that dates back to early June, the 20-year old Troy carded rounds of 70-73 for a 1-over total and one-stroke victory over Stockbridge’s Andy Congdon, who recorded his second runner-up finish in as many weeks dating back to the Berkshire Hills Singles.

“I wanted to win this because it’s a showdown,” said Troy, who earned 300 Men’s POY points and stretched his lead to 210 points over Congdon.

Both players shot matching rounds of 1-under 70 in the morning and shared the lead. Troy’s round included a 55-foot eagle putt on the par 4 11^th. But the anticipated “showdown” between Troy and Congdon—No. 1 vs. No. 2, young vs. old—ended before it even began.

Congdon completed his round before Troy finished, ate lunch and had already teed off before Troy signed his scorecard. Congdon was by no means avoiding Troy, but instead following traditional Allied protocol, which shuttles players out for their afternoon round 30 minutes after they finish round one.

“I would have liked to have played with the son of a gun because he keeps ducking me,” Congdon joked afterward. “He skipped the Berkshire Hills Singles and wasn’t at the U.S. Amateur qualifier at Stockbridge.”

With Troy playing behind him, Congdon faced a 14-foot birdie putt on the final hole to post an afternoon round of 73 and 143 total. His putt slid past, and minutes later, so did his chances.

“Just the internal feeling, I knew that putt would have helped,” said Congdon, a 6-time Allied Champion.

His feeling proved prophetic, as Troy made two huge par saves to maintain his margin, from 12-feet on No. 14 and six-feet on No. 16.

He then made routine pars on the final two holes to complete a round of 73 that included 17 pars and a double bogey on No. 8.

“I figured if I was 1-over for the tournament, that would be pretty close,” Troy said. “I wanted to give myself birdie chances, but I didn’t want to do anything crazy.”

“This summer’s got better and better,” said Troy, who will leave for the U.S. Amateur in Minnesota on Friday. “My game’s come a long way. I was working on my swing during school. I was worrying a lot. This summer, I was just playing tournaments and not worrying about anything. My short game is the best part of my game and I never thought I’d say that.”

Despite three victories to his name this year, Congdon’s most recent runner-up finishes have left him searching for answers.

“I was driving home from the club and thinking how I can make up that difference,” he said. Something’s lacking. There’s just something that’s a little bit off. I have until next summer to figure it out, because all these younger kids will come back bigger and stronger.”

After a quarterfinal appearance in last month’s Mass. Amateur and an appearance in the U.S. Amateur waiting in the wings, Troy’s success this summer is a direct reflection of the goals he set for himself this spring.

“I envisioned it,” he said. “I thought about it all the time. Now that I have good finishes in these tournaments, I want to win those events next year. To be in the thick of things is what I want. I’m feeling very confident in my game.”

Just don’t expect Troy to tour the town to celebrate.

“If I celebrate, it will only be for one night,” Troy said. “I’ve got to get ready for the U.S. Amateur. I’ve got to keep learning. And I’m having plenty of fun playing golf anyway.”

Men’s Allied

Egremont Country Club

August 13

# Points will also apply to his Senior POY total

*Points will also apply to his Junior POY total, plus 15%

Team Champions: Egremont Country Club