Hill Mounts Final Round Comeback to Claim 2026 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial Title at Stafford Country Club
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Cobblestone Member Earns District Title at Age 19
CLICK HERE for final results from the 2026 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial
CLICK HERE for a post-Championship interview with 2026 District Champion Alex Hll
CLICK HERE to view a photo album from Round 3 of the 2026 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial
CLICK HERE for a profile of Stafford Country Club and the 2026 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial
By DAVE EATON
STAFFORD, NY – On Thursday, July 16, 19-year-old Alex Hill took a three-shot lead in the opening round of the 2026 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial at Stafford Country Club after posting an impressive 5-under-par 67.
That lead, however, quickly evaporated during Round 2, as Hill struggled to post a 5-over round of 77 and other players surged forward – including Sodus Bay Heights member Brian Albertazzi, who jumped out to a three-shot lead of his own with a 36-hole total of 5-under 139.
During the Final Round of this year’s District Championship however, Hill, who plays out of Cobblestone Creek Country Club, remained patient while others around him struggled, biding his time and holding ground.
By the end of the day, that strategy worked well for him as he claimed a 1-shot victory in one of the most competitive Ryan Memorial District Championships in recent memory.
Getting In The Right Frame of Mind
Following his opening round, Hill said that his strategy had been to imagine “starting at 6-over and try get back to even par,” which worked well on that day. However, his struggles in Friday’s second round forced him to take a different approach. With the Stafford greens rolling firm and fast, he knew patience would be the word of the day for Saturday’s Final Round.
“I just remembered that I was doing a lot better than yesterday and it could always get worse so I just kept trying to feel what I was feeling earlier and it really worked out,” he said.
Hill’s first-round “get back to par” strategy would have seemed tailor-made for his situation as he began the third and final round. Starting the day five shots back in a tie for fifth place, Hill faced a steep climb back to the top, with several accomplished players in front of him – including three fellow Cobblestone members; Philip Minnehan (a past RDGA Match Play champion), Christian Chapman (a past RDGA District champion), and Colin Barber.
A New Plan of Action
Knowing how Stafford was playing – and his own experiences the day before – Hill held fast, not flinching when he carded an occasional bogey and not getting too aggressive when birdies came.
“I didn’t think about that as much today,” Hill noted. “I just thought – keep it simple, fairways and greens, and maybe a putt or two will drop.”
Another factor that Hill had to deal with throughout the final day were weather delays, three of which halted play for up to an hour each as torrential rains and nearby lightning strikes brought players back to the clubhouse to await the dangerous conditions.
“It was really hard to play out there,” he recalled. “First day was good, second day was really tough and today with the on and offs it was a real grind for everybody out there.”
The third weather delay was particularly frustrating for the handful of players at the very top of the leaderboard. With just two groups – six players – left on the course and all six either in the 18th fairway or near the 18th green, the final weather delay was the longest, adding suspense to the anticipated finish much like a final-lap caution flag restart at the Daytona 500.
With 5 players within 2 shots of the lead – including Hill and Chapman tied for the lead at 1-under-par – the final hole “restart” lived up to the hype.
“Down the stretch I really thought I was a couple behind – I didn’t know I was tied for the lead until the first rain delay when we all came inside and I saw the leaderboard. So I was kinda spazzed out when I saw that,” Hill admitted.
Down to the Final Putt in the Final Round
Hill, in the next-to-last group near the green, needed to get up-and-down for par to keep his hopes for a title alive. He did so, sinking a 4-foot par putt to finish regulation play at 1-under-par, 215 for his 54-hole total.
Chapman was next, in the final group with Barber and Albertazzi. Playing his second shot from the left side rough, Chapman needed to get up and down for par from just off the green. Leaving his third shot about 5 feet from the hole, however, Chapman missed the putt and holed out for bogey, leaving Hill as the last player standing – and the only player in the field to finish under par.
Although Hill’s victory at age 19 might come as a surprise to some, the Colgate University Junior has been playing at a high level for some time – including winning the 2024 RDGA Junior Championship title and being a part of the winning RDGA Williamson Cup team in 2023.
During the presentation of the John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial trophy, Chuck Ryan, brother of tournament namesake John H. Ryan Jr., mentioned how much Hill reminded him of his brother, who won his first of two District titles at the same age.
Hill to Receive Many Perks as RDGA District Champion
Providing Hill with moral support through the Championship was his collegiate coach, JP Kircher, who was also playing in the field – not to mention several of his teammates, who were in town to play in the 85th Monroe Invitational, beginning on Monday.
“Coach was, after the rounds, he was very supportive of me,” Hill said. “Even after yesterday he was like – you’re still in this, you got it, keep your head on your shoulders and you’ll play great tomorrow. And throughout the day, I had guys from my team watching the leaderboard. And when I finished I saw all their text messages, so it felt great to have the team behind me.”
For Hill, not only does winning the RDGA District Championship title come with all the prestige of a major amateur competition, but he also receives exemptions into the 2027 New York State Men’s Amateur Championship, as well as this year’s Monroe Invitational. He also receives points towards the 2026 RDGA Men’s Player of the Year award as well as World Amateur Golf Ranking points.
District Championship Low Senior Medal Claimed by Jim Scorse
Also awarded, following the conclusion of this year’s District Championship, was the annual Low Senior Medal – presented to the top scoring player age 55 or above. This year’s Low Senior Medal went to a player of no surprise to anyone – 61-year-old Jim Scorse, who was playing on his home course at Stafford.
Scorse finished in a tie for seventh place this year, posting a 4-under-par 220 total for the 54 hole Championship.
(Photo by RDGA Boatwright Intern Erin Zornow.)
The John Henry Ryan Gentleman of Golf Award Presented to Ron Plummer
One other presentation made following the conclusion of this year’s Championship was for the 10th annual John Henry Ryan Gentleman of Golf Award – recognizing sportsmanship in a player, administrator or leader and voted on by players in the starting field of each year’s District Championship.
This year’s John Henry Ryan Award went to past RDGA Senior Match Play Champion Ron Plummer of Ridgemont Country Club.
(Photo by RDGA Director of Communications Dave Eaton.)
Special thanks to Stafford Country Club PGA Head Professional Eric Haile and his staff; Superintendent Mike Armstrong and his staff; Club President Joe Muscarella, as well as the hospitality of the Caledonia membership – all of whom helped make the 2026 RDGA District Championship a success.
The Rochester District Golf Association is led by Executive Director Tim Vangellow and is a proud Allied Golf Association of the USGA, serving Rochester area golfers since 1929.
