LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — On the amateur golf scene, it doesn’t get much better than the Porter Cup.
Held annually at the Niagara Falls Country Club, the prestigious tournament has served as a proving ground for 68 major champions, boasting an alumni list that includes legends like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka. While the field always draws top-tier talent from across the globe, this week, a strong contingent of local talent is taking center stage.
For several competitors, stepping onto the tee box carries the special weight of representing Western New York.
Hometown Pride on the Links
Several local natives are in the field this week, and they aren’t taking the hometown advantage for granted:
- Billy Hanes (Elma): For the 40-year-old, the tournament is a long-standing tradition. “It’s great to represent Buffalo here. I actually first played in this when I was 16 … so that’s cool to be a part of this for a long time.”
- Jack Tebeau (Hamburg): Tebeau received his tournament exemption letter on his birthday, calling it a great gift. “It’s an awesome field to be in and to be one of the few local guys representing the area. It’s a pretty cool thing.”
- Kristopher Boyes (Tonawanda): Boyes is making the tournament a family affair. “This means a lot to the community and it’s just such a prestigious event. It really does mean a lot to me, and it’s great to have my dad on the bag, too.”
- Gwendolyn Yarnall (East Aurora): Now in her sixth year playing the Porter Cup, Yarnall heavily values the hometown crowd. “It means a lot to me that I get to be near home and have a lot of people come out and support me.”
- Rosalie DiNunzio (Clarence): Making her third appearance, DiNunzio is playing her favorite track. “Every year I say this is my favorite course in the area, so it just works out perfectly to be able to play in the tournament as well.”
A Rising Star from Lockport
Among the local competitors is one of the youngest players in this year’s field, Natalie Wasik. The Lockport native and soon-to-be high school sophomore is fully embracing the opportunity to compete in her backyard…