Chasing Tracks

Troy Following Footsteps of Donovan, Salinetti

August 25—One hour after accepting his Berkshire County player of the year award, Pittsfield’s Donnie Troy was at home, doing pull-ups and chin-ups.

“If I want to get to the level where I want to go,” explained Troy, “where Donovan and Salinetti are, I need to get bigger.”

As a 19-year-old enveloped in a culture that demands sooner rather than later, Troy is riding the express lane to a level of competitive golf that will soon span well beyond Berkshire County’s amateur circle.

For now, though, the parallel between Troy’s progression to the professional ranks bears an eerie resemblance to the paths taken by the aforementioned Donovan and Salinetti.

In 1997, 19-year-old Jim Salinetti, less than two weeks removed from winning the Mass. Amateur, cruised to an easy victory in the Berkshire Hills Singles. Weeks later, Salinetti added the New England Amateur to his resume.

Although Troy has yet to qualify for the Mass. Amateur and missed the cut in this year’s New England Amateur, he has posted top three finishes in two of his last three Berkshire Hills Singles appearances.

Since his narrow defeat at Berkshire Hills in late July to Ed Budz, in which Troy missed five putts inside five-feet during the final round, Troy authored a month long stretch that saw him record four sub-par rounds, including three in the 60s.

“I haven’t consistently shot under par like this my entire life,” Troy said after his victory at Wyantenuck. “The last three weeks, the Western Mass. Am, shooting 5-under, and (at Wyantenuck), shooting 2-under. I know I can shoot under par now. I did not have that confidence entering the summer. That’s a whole new level. There’s a big difference between even and 1-under.”

Perhaps no one understands that miniscule difference better than Matt Donovan, who hid among Salinetti’s shadow as an unheralded amateur, and has gradually blossomed into one of New England’s top professionals. His victory in the 1999 Wyantenuck Singles, like Troy’s, came shortly before departing for college. Donovan, who regularly plays with Troy at the Country Club of Pittsfield, has witnessed Troy’s game come of age first hand.

“I’m very impressed with how he’s matured,” said Donovan. “The sky is the limit. He hits it plenty far enough. That’s not an issue. It’s all upstairs, and he has a good grasp on that. He’s got three more years of college, and that’s only a positive.”

The only negative: Troy’s 4-under par aggregate in his final three tournaments, which propelled him past Budz for player of the year honors.

In six events, Troy’s scoring average of 71.66 included three scores in the 60s and none higher than 76.

So what does all of this mean for the precocious Troy, who returned to Eckerd College (Fla.) for his sophomore year on Aug. 31?

“Tons of confidence,” he said, without hesitation. “I really think I can win (in college) this year. It’s a huge thing to shoot under par consistently. And the last three weeks I have been. It’s not just a phase. I think that I’ll be able to continue to do it. I’m looking forward to maybe getting a first win or definitely getting myself in contention.”

Until then, it’s back to the chin-up bar.