PGA of America Golf Associate Matt Campbell edged amateur John Duthie to win the overall title at the Emmett Kelly Masters at the Cavalry Club Aug. 11.

 

“This is my first win at the Emmett Kelly Masters,” said Campbell, who won his second straight Section Assistants Championship earlier this month. “It’s nice to finally win this and get my name on the trophy with a lot of talented golfers.”

 

The 44th annual event was a back-and-forth battle between Campbell (Teugega Country Club) and Duthie, of Lansing.

 

Duthie seized the lead by closing out the front nine with four straight birdies to go 4-under. But Campbell overtook Duthie on the back nine thanks to five birdies.

 

FINAL RESULTS

 

Campbell pointed to two key birdie putts that contributed to his win.

 

“I had two huge putts on 16 and 17 for birdie,” he said “It was nice to make those especially since I knew I needed them after looking at the leaderboard.”

 

Campbell played 14 straight holes without a bogey and finished 8-under-par 64. He finished with nine birdies against one bogey.

 

“It was a really solid round and I just keep everything in front of me all day,” Campbell said. “I made one bad swing on hole 4 that cost me a bogey. But the rest of the round, I just plotted it around and left myself with solid chances all day.”

 

Duthie’s only blemish was a bogey on No. 1 and went 17 straight holes without a bogey. The 2024 Apogee Management Investment Champion carded eight birdies and finished as the tournament top amateur at 7-under 65.

 

Defending champion and amateur Ryan Borruso finished tied for 14th.

 

Seven-time Emmett Kelly Masters champion Mark Tucker, PGA finished first among the PGA of America Golf Professionals. Tucker carded a 3-under 69 and was tied for sixth overall.

 

Bernie Herceg, PGA (The Links at Hiawatha Landing) had a notable tournament achievement with a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th hole.

 

The field consisted of 63 players, both amateur and professional golfers.

 

Campbell recognized the Central New York PGA for its tournament efforts.

 

“I would like to add a thank you for all the help the CNY PGA does to provide such great tournaments,” he said. “And also a shoutout to my playing partners (John Clare and Spencer Baum). We had one hell of a group and it was a lot of fun.”

 

The CNY PGA would like to recognize the continued support of the Kelly family.